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Beginner's Guide to Participating in At-Large

Beginner's Guide to Participating in At-Large

Nov 22, 2011

Below is a draft table of contents and list of subtopics for the Beginner's Guide to Participating in At-Large.  ALAC members are asked to submit their comments via the Add Comments function on this page.  If possible, please submit your initial comments as soon as possible -- by 25 November 2011.  There will also be time to submit further comments as the project progresses.  Many thanks.

The expected timeline for this project is as follows:

Rough draft text with list of recommended graphics and photos for review   2 December 2011   
Changes back to Lynn   16 December 2011   
Second draft text in layout for staff review   6 January 2011   
Changes back to Lynn   13 January 2011   
Third and final draft for ALAC review   20 January 2011   
Changes back to Lynn   27 January 2011   
Final English version sent for translation   3 February 2011   
Translated version for ALAC review   24 February 2011   
Translated version changes back to Lynn   2 March 2011   
Final posted in all languages online   8 March 2011  

 


 


 

Beginner’s Guide to Participating in At-Large:  Draft table of contents and subtopics

About 20 pages if largely text; more if many graphics (prefer many graphics)

Possible sources of graphics

Olivier’s multi-stakeholder presentation on At-Large

Sebastien’s At-Large presentation

 

Introduction:  Can my voice affect Internet policy?

  • Describe overarching point of participation:  how an individual At-Large member’s idea, if resonates with others, can work it’s way up the chain (member to ALS to RALO to ALAC to Board) and become Internet policy.

  • Example:  Halting of domain name tasting (see Scott’s summary)

  • Graphic:  Add a graphic of an idea working its way up chain, possibly Olivier’s slide of bottom-up information flow (p. 15)

  • Link to podcast with Olivier (if best used here)

What is ICANN? (brief section)

  • Multi-stakeholder model

  • Structure of ICANN

  • Graphic:  Olivier’s slide detailing ICANN multi-stakeholder model (p. 10); other slides in same presentation perhaps useful.

What is At-Large?

How is At-Large organized? 

  • Structure of At-Large:  ALSes, RALOs, ALAC, ALAC ExCom

    • Graphic:  Use At-Large structural diagram; Google map of ALSes; Olivier’s slide of bottom-up info flow (p. 15)

  • Explain how regions connected to At-Large; regions are all different & semi-autonomous

    • Each RALO has own organizing documents/MOUs, requirement re vice chairs, allowance for individual members, etc.  With At-Large Improvements, all RALOs working on having individual members.

  • Bottom-up process within At-Large (how a policy statement evolves) – Maybe should be a separate section

    • Consider process diagrams for policy input in Olivier’s presentation (pp. 16-18).

  • Standing ALAC Subcommittees

  • Standing ALAC Working Groups (WGs)

  • Other WGs (incl. gTLD WG)

  • Cross-AC/SO WGs

What are the various At-Large officers, liaisons and appointments responsible for?

  • ALAC officers (ExCom members):  ALAC Chair, ALAC Vice Chairs, ALAC Rapporteur

  • ALAC liaisons (to GNSO, ccNSO, SSR, .mobi, IDN policy, and NCSG – confirm that these are only Bylaw-mandated liaisons)

  • At-Large Delegates to the NomCom (when regionally distributed; ALAC still appoints)

  • At-Large Members of Review Team(s)

  • Regional officers:  RALO chairs, vice chairs, secretariats

  • At-Large-selected ICANN Board member

How are At-Large officers, liaisons and appointments chosen?

  • Election process (officers) vs. selection process (liaisons)

How can I get involved in At-Large?

  • Join RALO via an ALS or as an individual member (NARALO already allows individual members; EURALO has developed process but not yet accepting individual members – check this with Wolf; other RALOs working on provisions to allow individual participation).

  • Participate in calls of RALOs, subcommittees, and WGs (according to At-Large Rules of Procedure):  Officially join them as At-Large member or just participate in discussions (official voting limited)

  • RALO monthly calls

  • ALAC Subcommittees

    • Finance & Budget Subcommittee – All At-Large members welcome (not just ALAC)

  • Working Groups (WGs) – list (standing) WGs and what they do - All At-Large members welcome (not just ALAC)

  • ICANN Meetings – Fellowship program and Newcomers Program

What technology tools will help me participate in At-Large?

  • Web pages (ICANN, At-Large)

  • Confluence wiki pages (At-Large, RALO, WG, etc.)

  • Adigo telephone lines

  • Adobe Connect Meeting Rooms

  • Mailing lists (ALAC, RALOs, etc.) – Explain what each is used for (more than current one line)

  • At-Large and Regional Events Calendars

  • BigPulse voting

  • Facebook, Twitter, LinkedIn

What policy areas has At-Large focused on?

  • Of course, changes all the time.  Give links to policy Web (and maybe wiki) pages giving current work.

  • General areas of past work

    • Include key example policies that At-Large has worked on (with links to ALAC statements, etc. – ALAC would have to choose them) (for example:  JAS statement with GAC)

Why does At-Large focus as much on process as it does (opposed to substance/policy)?

  • At-Large is part of ICANN, and ICANN is constantly evolving and renewing itself – because the Internet is constantly evolving.

  • Policy is discussed in WGs (elsewhere, ALAC, etc.?)

  • Process is discussed on mailing lists and in meetings (which, WGs, ALAC, etc.?)

  • Main ALAC process discussions and related WGs:  At-Large Improvements, etc.

What is the role of ICANN’s Staff?

  • At-Large Staff (At-Large Director, Regional Affairs Manager, Coordinator, XXXX)

  • Policy Staff

  • Communications Staff

  • Global Partnerships Staff

Whom should I contact with questions?

  • Not sure separate section needed; perhaps can be part of above.

Appendix 1:  References, important sources

 

Appendix 2:  Brief glossary of acronyms