Re: [Fwd: Re: [gnso-travel-dt] Travel drafting team mailing list open]

[Greg Ruth <greg_ruth@xxxxxxxxx>]

I agree with Robin.  Moreover, I am nonplussed by Tim's emphasis on "need".  
Travel support for the Board or for NCAs is not based on need.  And it would be 
insulting (and absurd) to ask anyone to "demonstrate" need.  The GNSO travel 
support is not a fellowship or charity, it is support specifically for those 
who are engaged in the policy making work of the GNSO, enabling them to attend 
face-to-face meetings.  I believe that it is up to the individual 
constituencies to decide how best to use these funds to enable their 
representation in this work.

 
----- Original Message ----
From: Robin Gross <robin@xxxxxxxxxxxxx>
To: gnso-travel-dt@xxxxxxxxx
Sent: Wednesday, October 8, 2008 10:13:40 PM
Subject: Re: [Fwd: Re: [gnso-travel-dt] Travel drafting team mailing list open]


I have a different take on the GNSO travel policy.  My first preference is for 
all travel funds to be specifically allocated to GNSO Councilors to participate 
in GNSO meetings.

If that is not possible, then constituencies should be permitted to use their 
travel funds as they choose to send the members they feel they need at the 
meeting.   It should not be up to a committee of all constituencies to decide 
who to send to represent any particular constituency.  Constituencies are in 
the best position to know how to use their funds (rather than well-meaning 
members of other constituencies).

Thanks,
Robin


On Oct 4, 2008, at 8:31 AM, Glen de Saint Géry wrote:



Ken Stubbs wrote: 

Please post this to the travel wg list. i tried earlier but it evidently my 
send never got thru


Ken Stubbs wrote: 

Fellow committee members, 

Here is a personal suggestion regarding the Travel Support policy and it's 
administration as well as some personal observations . 
The proposed procedure is used currently by many non-profit public institutions 
& organizations 
and could be very applicable as a model for managing these discretionary 
expenses.


1. Suggestions
       Pool all proposed budgeted dollars for travel support to GNSO
From this pool, fund travel for chairs of SO
Develop set criteria to be used by applicants from the GNSO  to demonstrate 
need to apply for travel support funding
Applications for support would be submitted  through the GNSO Secretariat
These requests would be given to a newly constituted Travel support committee 
within ICANN (i.e.could be formed by a representative from each SO, as well as 
the CFO), supported by staff,   to review the applications
Publish all information on any approved travel support (name of recipient, 
affiliation, rationale, etc.) on ICANN website
Other procedures established relative to time line, funding limits, payment 
process, etc. would apply
The essential key to this process is "Transparency" . This proposed procedure 
insures this "Transparency" as well providing a definable process for
assisting qualified persons who show a clear "need" for travel support. This 
process can also help insure that funds are not just expended because they are 
budgeted.

2. Personal Observations & Commentary:
Many of the parties on the names council are professional policy staff & are 
being compensated as by their respective companies (i.e. Verizon, British 
Telecom, Telstra, major law firms and large trade and professional  
associations like INTA or AIM) ,as part of their job-related activities, to 
advocate and work within the ICANN policy development process and for these 
parties, participation in ICANN activities such as the names council are 
strictly job-related activities and not personal volunteer actions (such as  
those of the NomCOM appointees). As such i feel that they should not receive 
travel support for ICANN meetings.   
I fully subsidizing  persons representing  broad community and individual user 
interests and feel that,  if they have an individual need for travel 
assistance, 
it should be made on a case-by-case basis.
I also feel very strongly that authority to select recipients & fund their 
travel support should NOT vest in the names council as a body or with the Chair 
or Vice-chair.  
Optically, this could easily send a negative "self-interest"  message the the 
general community. 

Regards,


Ken Stubbs









IP JUSTICE
Robin Gross, Executive Director
1192 Haight Street, San Francisco, CA  94117  USA
p: +1-415-553-6261    f: +1-415-462-6451
w: http://www.ipjustice.org ;    e: robin@xxxxxxxxxxxxx