[council] Next GNSO Council chair - and Vice-chairs ?

[Robin Gross]

My comment was not related to Bruce.  But rather, a desire to create 
standard and customary checks and balances in ICANN governance 
structures.  A vice-chair is a standard and customary mechanism for 
checks and balances in many governance structures. 

But let's not pretend that a chair has equal power to other councilors.  
The chair decides where there agreement; the chair decides what to 
include in reports and what to omit; the chair decides whether to call 
something "strong support" or just "support".  There are a number of 
ways in which a chair can influence the outcome  -  and yes, that is why 
it is imperative that a chair be as neutral as possible.

Robin


Gomes, Chuck wrote:

>I am interested in the use of the term 'power'.  Obviously, the chair
>has important influence over the procedings of the Council and that is
>why strong leadership skills are critical.  But that is also why the
>ability to lead in a neutral manner is also critical.  If any chair uses
>the position to exercise undo 'power' or influence to advocate his/her
>own views, then it would be our responsibilities as Councilors to
>object.  A Council member has the same voting power whether that member
>is chair or not.
>
>I believe that Bruce has done an amazing job in this regard and it will
>be a big challenge for the next chair to do as well, but that is what we
>should strive for.
>
>Chuck Gomes
> 
>"This message is intended for the use of the individual or entity to
>which it is addressed, and may contain information that is privileged,
>confidential and exempt from disclosure under applicable law. Any
>unauthorized use, distribution, or disclosure is strictly prohibited. If
>you have received this message in error, please notify sender
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>>-----Original Message-----
>>From: owner-council at gnso.icann.org 
>>[mailto:owner-council at gnso.icann.org] On Behalf Of Robin Gross
>>Sent: Monday, April 16, 2007 5:38 PM
>>To: council at gnso.icann.org
>>Subject: Re: [council] Next GNSO Council chair - and Vice-chairs ?
>>
>>I support the idea of council vice-chairs to distribute both 
>>the workload and the power of the chairmanship to other councilors.
>>
>>I think that the vice-chair should be the person with the 2nd 
>>most votes in the final round of voting for chairman. 
>>
>>We should examine appropriate checks and balances of power 
>>within council as part of the over-all GNSO review and improvements.
>>
>>Robin
>>
>>
>>
>>Gomes, Chuck wrote:
>>
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>>
>>>I personally think that the idea of a chair and one or two 
>>>      
>>>
>>vice chairs 
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>>>is worth discussing further for possible usage in the remainder of 
>>>Bruce's term (until the annual meeting).  As Philip 
>>>      
>>>
>>indicates, it might 
>>    
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>>>be a reasonable way to better distribute the work load of Council 
>>>leadership.  It would also allow some time for the work of the Board 
>>>Governance committee regarding the GNSO review to progress 
>>>      
>>>
>>and at the 
>>    
>>
>>>same time give us some time to test the idea.
>>>
>>>I like Philip am interested in what others think.
>>>
>>>Chuck Gomes
>>>
>>>"This message is intended for the use of the individual or entity to 
>>>which it is addressed, and may contain information that is 
>>>      
>>>
>>privileged, 
>>    
>>
>>>confidential and exempt from disclosure under applicable law. Any 
>>>unauthorized use, distribution, or disclosure is strictly 
>>>      
>>>
>>prohibited. 
>>    
>>
>>>If you have received this message in error, please notify sender 
>>>immediately and destroy/delete the original transmission."
>>>
>>>
>>> 
>>>
>>>      
>>>
>>>>-----Original Message-----
>>>>From: owner-council at gnso.icann.org
>>>>[mailto:owner-council at gnso.icann.org] On Behalf Of Philip Sheppard
>>>>Sent: Monday, April 16, 2007 5:19 AM
>>>>To: council at gnso.icann.org
>>>>Subject: [council] Next GNSO Council chair - and Vice-chairs ?
>>>>
>>>>
>>>>I am comfortable with the idea of the next appointment being till 
>>>>after the AGM - to help synchronise the term.
>>>>
>>>>Let me start on list, a discussion we had face to face with some 
>>>>council members in Lisbon and the idea of both a chair and 
>>>>        
>>>>
>>one or two 
>>    
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>>>>vice chairs also.
>>>>I see this model working well for a few reasons:
>>>>- clear responsibility for deputising for chair when the 
>>>>        
>>>>
>>chair cannot 
>>    
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>>>>make a meeting/call for any reason;
>>>>- a vice chair could also chair any committees of the whole if 
>>>>convened in future;
>>>>- at a time of multiple overlapping issues, vice chairs 
>>>>        
>>>>
>>could be given 
>>    
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>>>>an issue responsibility to help oversee not the policy 
>>>>        
>>>>
>>(that would be 
>>    
>>
>>>>the TF chair) but any administrative and coordination questions 
>>>>(especially useful when the TF chair is not a council member).
>>>>
>>>>There is nothing in the by-laws to prevent us from such 
>>>>        
>>>>
>>appointments.
>>    
>>
>>>>What do other Council members think ?
>>>>Philip
>>>>
>>>>
>>>>   
>>>>
>>>>        
>>>>
>>> 
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