FW: ICANN Travel support policy

["Metalitz, Steven" <met@xxxxxxx>]

 Doug, 

I have just learned that the comment on this topic submitted by Cyril
Chua on behalf of the IPC does not appear on the public list of comments
received at http://forum.icann.org/lists/travel-support-policy/.  I am
not sure how this happened but in any case I append the comment here and
ask that it be considered and also posted on the comment forum.  Thank
you.  

Steve Metalitz, IPC president 

-----Original Message-----
From: cyrilchua@xxxxxxxxxxxxxx [mailto:cyrilchua@xxxxxxxxxxxxxx] 
Sent: Thursday, April 24, 2008 9:29 AM
To: Metalitz, Steven
Subject: ICANN Travel support policy


Submitted this morning.  Here goes.
----- Forwarded by Cyril Chua/SG/ATMDLaw on 24/04/2008 09:28 PM -----
 

Cyril Chua/SG/ATMDLaw
24/04/2008 10:06  AM
To travel-support-policy@xxxxxxxxx

There is undeniable support within the GNSO council and in particular the
Intellectual Property Constituency (IPC) for a transparent and sustainable
travel support policy.  The IPC is not specially funded by any business group
or non-governmental organization.  Members of the IPC attending GNSO Council
events at ICANN meetings are volunteers who are generally bearing their own
cost for such travel personally or through their professional offices.  It is
neither fair nor reasonable that such members should fully bear the cost of
attending such meetings.  Further, as the cost of attending ICANN meetings
increases annually, it becomes more difficult for our members to attend such
meetings.  The IPC understands the balance between the organizational need
for such support and the budgetary concerns which ICANN may have.  In light
of the above, IPC proposes as follows:

  a.  All GNSO council members should be reimbursed of their coach class
  travel and accommodation expenses for standard rooms.  As the council
  members are essentially volunteers contributing their time to the shaping
  of policies, it is only equitable that they should be supported for
  expenditures which are incidental to such contribution.  In this regard,
  ICANN may wish to study the experiences of NGOs and UN affiliated
  organizations with global travel support policies. 

  b.  Bearing in mind the need for ICANN to maintain a global presence, ICANN
  should consider hosting meetings at locations which are easily accessible
  and where the cost of accommodation is not exorbitant.  In this regard,
  ICANN should consider hosting meetings in permanent hub locations located
  in different geographical regions. 

  c.  Any travel policy should be reviewed annually, taking into
  consideration changes in circumstances (cost of travel support, changes
  arising from reforms within the ICANN structure etc). 

  d.  Reducing the number of meetings to twice a year would help reduce
  travel cost for members participating in the meetings. 

Cyril Chua
On behalf of the Intellectual Property Constituency