[ALSC-Forum] Re: Straw Poll

[DannyYounger]

Joanna, 

You raise several good points, but allow me to address my fundamental 
concern...

In my limited experience within ICANN, I have noted that those that are 
charged with either "forging" consensus or "managing" consensus make a habit 
of only giving lip-service to consensus whenever such consensus stands at 
odds with their own self-interest.   

The members in this forum (and in every other forum that has discussed the 
At-Large) have expressed the need and obligation to seat nine At-Large 
Directors.  Will the ALSC abide by this consensus?  Probably not.  There is 
little indication so far of correlation between our input and the output 
generated by this Committee.  

You have asked if I will be submitting the results of this poll to the ALSC.  
Frankly, in my view there is not much value in providing a report to a 
Committee seemingly predisposed to ignoring the consensus view of the 
community.  Our efforts will be better served by submitting a formal report 
to the Department of Commerce.

ICANN has warranted in its third status report to the DoC that it has created 
an At Large Membership Study Committee with the objective of generating a 
consensus solution to the issue of general Internet user participation and 
involvement in ICANN.  If the solution does not reflect a "consensus", it 
becomes our obligation to challenge this solution in the appropriate venue.  
I, for one, will not allow ICANN to abrogate its founding compact with the US 
government without a sustained fight.

Having nine Directors is the birthright of the At-Large.