RE: [gnso-osc-ops] SOI and a Bit of Levity

["Ray Fassett" <ray@xxxxxxxxx>]

Yes, I see the humor, thanks for sharing that Julie.  Personally, I also
interpret a valid message in there for us to appreciate that has to do with
this language from Section 4.5.2 in the Rules of Procedure that I consider
important and significant to the Rules:

 

Disclaimer concerning the term "Conflict of Interest": There are certain
financial interests and, possibly, incentives associated with GNSO actions
that affect Internet domain name policies. As they pertain to GNSO Council
voting actions, such interests are expected to be documented in a
Councilor's required Statement and/or Disclosure of Interest (see Chapter
5.0) and do not require that the Councilor abstain from participating and
voting. GNSO Councilors do not have a fiduciary responsibility to act in the
best interests of ICANN in discharging their responsibilities on the
Council. While the deliberations and decisions of ICANN are made in the
interests of the global Internet community as a whole, GNSO Councilors are
understood, in some cases, to represent the views of organizations and
interest groups that would materially benefit from policies recommended by
the GNSO. It is understood that Councilors are often employed by or
represent those affected parties and such relationships could engender
subsequent benefit to Councilors as individuals. As a result of these
special circumstances and to avoid confusion with ICANN's Conflict of
Interest Policy, which does not pertain to GNSO Council matters, the term
"Conflict of Interest" will not pertain when a GNSO Councilor argues for and
votes "Yes" or "No" on a matter which, by virtue of that action, directly or
indirectly benefits that individual financially or economically; however,
that interpretation does not imply that circumstances cannot occur in which
a Councilor may perceive his/her situation as obligating a formal
abstention.

 

 

From: owner-gnso-osc-ops@xxxxxxxxx [mailto:owner-gnso-osc-ops@xxxxxxxxx] On
Behalf Of Julie Hedlund
Sent: Thursday, September 09, 2010 8:53 AM
To: gnso-osc-ops
Subject: [gnso-osc-ops] SOI and a Bit of Levity

 

Dear Ray and Work Team members,

I thought you might appreciate the following SOI from Antony Van Couvering
for the SOAC-MAPO Working Group and the bit of levity it brings to the
process :-)

Julie

Antony Van Couvering Statement of Internet

1.  Current vocation, employer and position:

Current vocation:  Waiting for Godot
Employer: Minds + Machines, LLC
Position: CEO
 
2.  Type of work performed in #1 above:  Tiddlywinks and experimenting with
different comic verse forms. For instance limericks:

The GAC denounced Public Morality
With a decisive instrumentality
Saying "Now you must fix
This Module Six,
And don't speak to us of reality!"

The difference between content and string
Is a devil to solve in Beijing
Or indeed Glasgow
For it's easy to see how
The choice is annoying to Konstantine

And clerihews:

Bertrand de La Chapelle
Is a hard man to quell
His new status gives him authority
To once again propose a category

Chuck Gomes is fair
That's why he's Chair
He said, "I don't want to cause vexation,
But I'll be out of touch on vacation."

3.    Identify any financial ownership or senior management/leadership
interest in registries, registrars or other firms that are interested
parties in ICANN policy or any entity with which ICANN has a transaction,
contract, or other arrangement.

I have an arrangement with Richard Tindal never to speak about that night in
Paris. 
 
4.    Identify any type of commercial or non-commercial interest in ICANN
GNSO policy development processes and outcomes. 

-- I have an insatiable interest in working group proceedings and often
listen to my comprehensive collection of MP3 recordings of teleconferences.
I secretly make my own recordings and I hope to make money by selling
pirated versions that include snippets from the beginnings and ends of calls
that are not included in the official MP3s provided by ICANN. 

Are you representing other parties? 

-- There's a party?  I represent that what are called parties at ICANN are
nothing of the kind.  All the real parties are elsewhere.  I do not
represent any of them.

Describe any arrangements/agreements between you and any other group,
constituency or person(s) regarding your nomination/selection as a work team
member. 

--  The business constituency and I have an agreement that I will not join
them, nor be selected by them for any ICANN work.  I pay AT&T $150/month and
my therapist $300/hr.

Describe any tangible or intangible benefit that you receive from
participation in such processes. 

-- So, so many.  It has kept me off the street and prevented a possibly
lucrative life of crime.  I have a very good knowledge of hotels near the
L.A. airport.  I have been lectured on the importance of the global
information society by ministers of communication of several autocratic
states.  I have over 1 million miles on American Airlines.  I know now that
trademarks exist to protect the consumer.  I have learned that unlike any
other technology, the cost of a domain name magically increases as a
registry makes more of them.  I can't say if these benefits are tangible or
intangible.   

For example, if you are an academic or NGO and use your position to advance
your ability to participate, this should be a part of the statement of
interest, just as should employment by a contracted party, or a business
relationship with a non- contracted party who has an interest in policy
outcomes.

-- Sensu stricto, I am an NGO, unaffiliated with any government, although my
company does provide taxes to the State of New York for the privilege of
paying me to write SOIs.  This has not advanced my interests in the least. 
 
5.   Are you a member of a GNSO Constituency / Stakeholder Group, and if
yes, which one(s)?  No, but I still have my ICANN membership card.