Re: [gnso-improvem-impl-sc] REMINDER re: Notes/Actions: SCI Meeting 24 March 2016

["WUKnoben" <wolf-ulrich.knoben@xxxxxxxxxxx>]

My suggestions in brief:
  a.. Deadline for designations: 14 calendar days following the council meeting 
  b.. Scenario 3: agreed. I Think we should discuss the case of failing the 
chair election during a 2nd round. To my knowledge in this case a new 
nomination round starts – which should be open to all, even to the Interm VCs 
  c.. Scenario 4: agreed. same point as above, with respect to the non voting 
NCA

Best regards

Wolf-Ulrich



From: Julie Hedlund 
Sent: Thursday, March 31, 2016 5:27 PM
To: gnso-improvem-impl-sc@xxxxxxxxx 
Subject: [gnso-improvem-impl-sc] REMINDER re: Notes/Actions: SCI Meeting 24 
March 2016

Dear SCI members,

Please see as a reminder the notes/actions below in preparation for the 
continued discussion at our next meeting on Thursday, 07 April.

Kind regards,
Julie

Julie Hedlund, Policy Director

From: <owner-gnso-improvem-impl-sc@xxxxxxxxx> on behalf of Julie Hedlund 
<julie.hedlund@xxxxxxxxx>
Date: Thursday, March 24, 2016 at 4:36 PM
To: "gnso-improvem-impl-sc@xxxxxxxxx" <gnso-improvem-impl-sc@xxxxxxxxx>
Subject: [gnso-improvem-impl-sc] Notes/Actions: SCI Meeting 24 March 2016


Dear SCI members,

Please see below the notes/actions captured from the SCI meeting held on 24 
March.  Please let us know if you have any questions or comments.  During 
today’s call it was agreed that discussion could continue on the list 
concerning these notes/actions.  I’ve included the suggestions provided by IPC, 
as these were included in today’s discussion.  The suggested changes for your 
review are in red/brackets as indicated below.

Staff will separately send a notice for a call in two weeks on Thursday, 07 
April at the usual time of 1800 UTC.

Kind regards,
Julie

Notes/Actions re Remaining Issue on Chair/Vice Chair Elections:

ISSUE 2: Is there a gap to be addressed when the Vice Chairs' terms end at the 
same time as that of the Chair, and no Chair is conclusively elected by that 
time?


SCENARIO 1: A new GNSO Council Chair is not elected, but both Vice Chairs are 
continuing on the Council.
Suggestion: “In the case where no Chair is conclusively elected, the two Vice 
Chairs shall jointly oversee the Chair election and conduct Council business 
until such time as a new Chair is elected.”
Pros: Simplest solution with minimal changes to the GNSO Operating Procedures.  
Used in Dublin.
Cons: Are there concerns with the Vice Chairs conducting Council business?  



Notes: There were no objections to the Vice Chairs conducting Council business.




**ACTION ITEM: The suggestion above is accepted.

  
SCENARIO 2: A new GNSO Council Chair is not elected, but one Vice Chair is 
continuing on the Council, while the other Vice Chair’s term on the Council is 
ending. 

IPC suggestion:  If one Vice Chair seat is being vacated, the relevant House 
should appoint an Interim Vice Chair to work with the continuing Vice Chair in 
the other House to conduct Council business. 



Suggestion: “In the case where one of Vice-Chair's terms on the Council ends at 
the same time as the Chair, and no Chair is conclusively elected, [OPTION 1: 
the remaining Vice Chair shall oversee the Chair election and conduct Council 
business until such time as a new Chair is elected] OR [OPTION 2: the House 
with a vacant Vice-Chair position shall designate an Interim Vice Chair to join 
the continuing Vice Chair would to oversee the Chair eletion and conduct 
Council business.  The deadline for the vacant House to designate its Interim 
Vice Chair is 10 calendar days following the Council meeting at which no Chair 
was conclusively elected [OR: 14 calendar days following the Council meeting at 
which no Chair was conclusively elected] [OR: 1 week prior to the next 
scheduled GNSO Council meeting.]


Pros: A simple solution with minimal changes to the GNSO Operating Procedures.  
Similar to the procedure in Dublin. 
Cons: One one House is represented in the Vice Chair position.  Are there 
concerns with one Vice Chair conducting Council business? [Note: The previously 
noted disadvantage would no longer apply if the other House can designate an 
Interim Vice Chair.]


Notes:  There were no objections to the Vice Chairs (including an Interim Vice 
Chair designated by a House) conducting Council business. 

Question: What is the time limit for the vacant House to to designate an 
Interim Vice Chair?  Note the three options suggested during the call: 1) 10 
calendar days after the failed Chair election; 2) 14 calendar days after the 
failed Chair election; or 3) 1 week prior to the next scheduled GNSO Council 
meeting.


** ACTION ITEM: Review additional text in red/brackets above and indicate which 
deadline option you prefer.

SCENARIO 3: A new GNSO Council Chair is not elected in the first round, and 
neither of the two Vice Chairs is continuing on the Council. 
IPC Suggestion: should be clear that an appointed Interim Vice Chair is not 
prohibited from continuing as Vice Chair after the Council Chair election is 
concluded, provided the relevant House agrees on that Vice Chair continuing.  
“their service in those roles would end” should be clarified.

Suggestion: “In the case where both Vice-Chairs’ terms on the Council end at 
the same time as the Chair, and no Chair is conclusively elected, this 
procedure would apply: Each House should designate a new or continuing 
Councilor, which may include the voting and non-voting NCAs, to temporarily 
fill the role of Vice Chair on an interim basis, not as an elected Vice Chair. 
The deadline for each House to designate its Interim Vice Chair is 10 calendar 
days following the Council meeting at which no Chair was conclusively elected 
[OR: 14 calendar days following the Council meeting at which no Chair was 
conclusively elected] [OR: 1 week prior to the next scheduled GNSO Council 
meeting.] The Designated Interim Vice Chairs will co-chair the Chair election 
and conduct Council business until such time as a Chair is conclusively 
elected. Once the election is completed their service in those roles would end. 
Candidates for Chair will not be eligible to serve as Designated Interim Vice 
Chairs, to avoid potential conflicts of interest. [However, Interim Vice Chairs 
are not prohibited from being appointed as continuing Vice Chairs by their 
respective Houses following a successful Chair election.] 

Pros: Avoids changes to the Bylaws or a Special Circumstance vote.
Cons: Not clear if there are concerns from the Council or the NomCom for the 
non-voting NCAs to be included, or conducting Council business. 



Notes: 

- Strike “non-voting” from the NCA option.  
- Add "The deadline for each House to designate its Interim Vice Chair is 10 
calendar days following the Council meeting at which no Chair was conclusively 
elected OR: 14 calendar days following the Council meeting at which no Chair 
was conclusively elected OR: 1 week prior to the next scheduled GNSO Council 
meeting”. 
- After “potential conflicts of interest” add, “However, Interim Vice Chairs 
are not prohibited from being appointed as continuing Vice Chairs by their 
respective Houses following a successful Chair election."  



** ACTION ITEM: Review additional text in red/brackets above and indicate which 
deadline option you prefer.


SCENARIO 4: A new GNSO Council Chair is not elected, neither of the two Vice 
Chairs is continuing on the Council, and the Houses do not designate Interim 
Vice Chairs. Suggestion: “If both Houses should fail to temporarily fill the 
role of Vice Chair on an interim basis, [the] non-voting NCA will be designated 
Interim Chair to oversee the election and conduct Council business until such 
time as a Chair is conclusively elected. The deadline for each House to 
designate its Interim Vice Chair is 10 calendar days following the Council 
meeting at which no Chair was conclusively elected [OR: 14 calendar days 
following the Council meeting at which no Chair was conclusively elected] [OR: 
1 week prior to the next scheduled GNSO Council meeting]" IPC Suggestion: The 
reference should be to “the” non-voting NCA since there is only one.  An 
inexperienced incoming non-voting NCA conducting Council business may be a 
concern but this scenario is a “last resort” and may also provide motivation 
for the Houses to appoint Interim Vice Chairs quickly as noted by Amr and Sara 
in chat on Monday.  Important to specify at what point Scenario 4 takes effect, 
i.e. how much time do the Houses have to appoint Vice Chairs in Scenario 3? 

Pros: Avoids changes to the Bylaws or a Special Circumstance vote.
Cons: Are there concerns from the Council or the NomCom for a non-voting NCA to 
be in the role of the Chair and conducting business? 

Notes: Insert the suggested deadlines for the Houses to designate the Interim 
Vice Chairs and change reference relating to “the non-voting NCA".



** ACTION ITEM: Review additional text in red/brackets above and indicate which 
deadline option you prefer.