Re: [gnso-travel-dt] Chair Travel Funding

["Anthony Harris" <harris@xxxxxxxxxxxxx>]

I think Chuck's request should be supported.
Having the GNSO Council Chair engaging in
the IGF process, can only benefit ICANN and
it's stakeholders in this important fora.

Tony Harris
  ----- Original Message ----- 
  From: Gomes, Chuck 
  To: Olga Cavalli 
  Cc: gnso-travel-dt@xxxxxxxxx 
  Sent: Monday, March 15, 2010 6:18 PM
  Subject: [gnso-travel-dt] Chair Travel Funding


  Olga

  I want to request guidance from the GNSO Travel DT regarding a special travel 
funding issue before bringing it to the Council.

  I have been invited to participate in the Russia IGF in my capacity as GNSO 
Council Chair.  It is scheduled for May 13-14.  Because I will be doing this 
not as a representative of VeriSign, there is not a reasonable business case to 
request VeriSign to fund my travel, so I would like to get feedback from the 
members of the Travel DT with regard to this.

  First of all, let me say that I have never used ICANN provided travel funding 
to attend ICANN meetings and I do not plan to do that for any of the scheduled 
ICANN in-person meeting scheduled this year.  The reasons for this are: 1) I do 
not want there to be even a perception of conflict at those meetings when I 
wear my multiple hats of Council Chair, RySG representative and VeriSign 
representative; 2) the RySG consistently took a position that it opposed ICANN 
travel funding except in cases of demonstrated need.

  Second, let me say that I understand that the Travel Funding practice to date 
has been for ICANN sponsored events and that the Russia IGF is not in that 
category.  So one of the problems would be the possibility of setting 
precedents for other travel needs in similar situations.  For example, Other 
countries or geographical regions also hold their own IGF meetings, so what 
would happen if I am invited to those as well, to represent the GNSO?  I think 
this is a legitimate concern.  All I can say is that I was first contacted 
about the Russia IGF over six months in advance of the meeting and I have not 
been invited to any other country/regional IGF meetings for 2010 or after.  
Clearly, if ICANN funding is considered for this, it would need to be done with 
the limitation that travel funds are available and that this instance would be 
a one-time consideration; any similar requests in my role as chair would have 
to be vetted independently and would have to have similar advance notice like 
was given with the Russia IGF.

  I also recognize that ICANN has had to trim expenses and I would not want to 
negatively impact the ability of any GNSO members to receive travel funding to 
the Brussels meeting as a result of my request.

  Any thoughts that any members of the Travel DT, including negative ones, 
would be appreciated.  I promised both Theresa Swinehart and Kevin Wilson that 
I would get back to them on this but have waiting raising it because of the 
huge number of issues that we have been dealing with in the GNSO.

  Chuck