Re: [ALSC-Forum] Logical Analysis etc

[Sandy Harris]

Mike Roberts wrote:

> This is an exceedingly inaccurate view of the events of the summer of
> 1998.  ...

Perhaps, but it makes some points which you should not ignore.
 
> ICANN makes policy decisions by resolution of the Board.  If you
> review the decision record since 1998, all of which is available at
> <http://www.icann.org/minutes/notes-minutes.htm>, you will find the
> documentation of every decision, including findings of consensus
> within the community, in that record.

So I go looking there and find the board minutes:
http://www.icann.org/minutes/minutes-06nov98.html
where they adopted the original bylaws:
http://www.icann.org/bylaws-pr06nov98.html

And those bylaws include this:
 
| Section 4. QUALIFICATION OF DIRECTORS AFTER THE INITIAL BOARD
|
| Each Board after the Initial Board shall be comprised as follows: 
|
|   (i) Three (3) Directors ... Address Supporting Organization,..
|
|   (ii) Three (3) Directors ... Domain Name Supporting Organization,..
|
|   (iii) Three (3) Directors ... Protocol Supporting Organization ...
|
|   (iv) Nine (9) At Large Directors, selected pursuant to a process
|      to be established ...
|
|   (v) The ... President of the Corporation.

Proposing to change that, reducing the number of At Large directors,
as a solution to problems with the election process, is nonsense.

For one thing, it clearly does not solve the problem it allegedly
addresses. An election for six directors is no easier a logistical
problem that for 9, or for that matter for 18.

For another, it clearly contradicts what ICANN Chairman Dyson told
NTIA at the time:

http://www.ntia.doc.gov/ntiahome/press/ICANN111098.htm

" ... elect the nine At Large Directors. ... the Board has an unconditional
"    mandate to create a membership structure that will elect the At Large 
"    Directors of the Board
"
" ... the Board, which will consist of the elected representatives of the
"     entire Internet community
"
" Esther Dyson 
" Interim Chairman 
" On Behalf of the ICANN Board

The problem the Board should look at is how to get nine At Large Directors
elected and seated, not how to reduce the number.