RE: [gnso-geo-dg] ICANN Board Motion on Geo Diversity

["Gomes, Chuck" <cgomes@xxxxxxxxxxxx>]

Good points Olga.  I would like to hear from our geo group how people
react to changing 'citizenship' in our comments to "citizenship or
domincile".  Because Tim was a strong advocate of this, I especially
would like to see his thoughts about this. 
 
Chuck


________________________________

        From: olgacavalli@xxxxxxxxx [mailto:olgacavalli@xxxxxxxxx] On
Behalf Of Olga Cavalli
        Sent: Friday, September 05, 2008 11:24 AM
        To: Gomes, Chuck
        Cc: gnso-geo-dg@xxxxxxxxx
        Subject: Re: [gnso-geo-dg] ICANN Board Motion on Geo Diversity
        
        
        Chuck,
        I agree with you that this possible flexibility for the NonCom
appointed directors is relevant to our discussion and also for selecting
good candidates for the Board.
        In general reading the outcomes of our document, the set of
principles that we drafted also brings flexibility to the geo-reginos
issue.
        I can think of only one principle that may have a different
perspective:
        

        4. Geographic requirements relevant to membership of ICANN
bodies should be
        measured by citizenship.

        Also, reading the text of the Board preliminary report some
questions comes to my mind. 
        

        It says "some of the candidates have often lived in a country
for many years,.."
        
        and
        
         "given that many people have lived for long periods of time in,
and represent the interests of, countries in which they may not be
citizens...." 

        Defining what "many years" and "long periods of time" will be
relevant to make this flexibility effective.


        Have a nice weekend!
        Regards
        Olga
        
        
        
        
        
        2008/9/4 Gomes, Chuck <cgomes@xxxxxxxxxxxx>
        

                Please note the following exerpt from the ICANN Board
Preliminary Report of its meeting on 28 August.  It provides some
increased flexibility in applying geographical diversity requirements
for the eight NomCom appointed directors and John Jeffrey noted in the
discussion that "diversity calculations should be consistent for seats 9
though 14".  I find this very relevant to the recommendation we made in
our proposed GNSO comments regarding the formation of a community wide
WG on geo regions; this approach would provide a little more flexibility
with regard to GNSO director selections if a similar motion changes the
Bylaws in that regard and it provides one exampe of how increased
flexibility could be provided in meeting geographic diversity
requirements on the GNSO Council.
                 
                Chuck
                 
                "Nominating Committee's Recommendation for ICANN Bylaws
Change regarding Criteria for Board Member Selection 

                John Jeffrey presented a proposed Bylaws change and
requested that the Board permit Management to post the proposed changes
for public comments. 

                Over the past several years, the Nominating Committee
has expressed concern that being required to count more than one country
of citizenship for diversity purposes often makes it difficult to select
the best candidates for the Board seats that the Nominating Committee is
mandated to fill. In carrying out its responsibilities to fill Seats 1
through 8, the Nominating Committee shall seek to ensure that the ICANN
Board is composed of members who in the aggregate display diversity in
geography, culture, skills, experience, and perspective, by applying the
criteria set forth in Bylaws. 

                The Nominating Committee also noted that some of the
candidates have often lived in a country for many years, and thereby
better represent the interests of that country than any country of which
the candidates may be citizens. 

                As the Nominating Committee requested, the General
Counsel provided the Nominating Committee with suggested Bylaws
revisions to reflect the Nominating Committee's stated goals. In the
proposal, domicile, not just citizenship, is to be considered in the
diversity calculation. The Nominating Committee members have unanimously
agreed that the proposed Bylaws revisions would alleviate the concerns. 

                John Jeffrey noted that considering the possibility of
revising the method for calculating diversity for seats 1 through 8,
staff determined that such diversity calculations should be consistent
for seats 9 though 14 and have proposed revisions accordingly. 

                Bruce Tonkin moved and Harald Alvestrand seconded a
motion that the proposed changes to the bylaws be posted for public
comment and then considered again by the Board, via the following
resolution: 

                Whereas, the Nominating Committee has expressed concern
that, pursuant to the Bylaws mandated diversity requirements that no
more than five Board members be citizens of any one geographic region,
the Nominating Committee is required to count all countries of
citizenship for each candidate. 

                Whereas, the Nominating Committee has noted that the
requirement to count all countries of citizenship has caused some
selection difficulties each year over the past several years. 

                Whereas, the Nominating Committee has also expressed
concern that the calculation is presently limited to citizenship given
that many people have lived for long periods of time in, and represent
the interests of, countries in which they may not be citizens. 

                Whereas, making a diversity calculation pursuant to the
ICANN Bylaws as it relates to Board member selection for seats 1 through
14 should be consistent. 

                It is hereby resolved (__.2008) that the following
proposed revisions to Article VI, Sections 2.2 and 2.3, shall be posted
for public comment in accordance with ICANN's normal process for
proposed Bylaw revisions."