<div>I am in agreement with Ross on this subject. We need to focus on the substance of the meeting than the location, particularly if the grounds are based on a threat to us by 'Washington insiders'. </div>
<div> </div>
<div>I believe we can trust ourselves as professionals and apply objectivity to manage our affairs, as that is what is expected of us in service to ICANN.</div>
<div> </div>
<div>Besides all the good 'insiders' have been indited! </div>
<div> </div>
<div>Sophia <br><br> </div>
<div><span class="gmail_quote">On 28/01/06, <b class="gmail_sendername">Ross Rader</b> <<a onclick="return top.js.OpenExtLink(window,event,this)" href="mailto:ross@tucows.com" target="_blank">ross@tucows.com</a>> wrote:
</span>
<blockquote class="gmail_quote" style="PADDING-LEFT: 1ex; MARGIN: 0px 0px 0px 0.8ex; BORDER-LEFT: #ccc 1px solid">All -<br><br>The GNSO hasn't had a meeting in the United States since 2001. In the<br>entire history of ICANN, we have only had three meetings in the United
<br>States and five in all of North America. There are no meetings scheduled<br>in North America, nor Asia-Pacific, for all of 2006. I'm not sure what<br>all the fuss is about here, who these "insiders" are, or really, what
<br>the actual substance of these objections might be. Regardless of the<br>external influences, the GNSO still follows a moderately democratic<br>process in a fairly transparent manner.<br><br>My strongest preference would be that we allow our chair, who lives
<br>half-way around the world from Washington himself, the courtesy to<br>attend to his job - which includes scheduling this meeting - while we<br>focus on matters of substance, such as discussing which inputs will be<br>
required for this meeting to be successful.<br><br>And while we're on the subject, my preference would be that we cater<br>lunch so that we may work through it. I'm certain that there is room in<br>the GNSO budget for this small luxury.
<br><br>Regards from sunny Toronto,<br><br>-ross<br><br><br><br>Avri Doria wrote:<br>> Hi,<br>><br>> I won't be able to attend. Probably can't even attend remotely.<br>><br>> I do not understand how we decided to schedule it at this time and in
<br>> this location. Have we taken a final vote on this?<br>><br>> I do believe I object.<br>><br>> a.<br>><br>> On 27 jan 2006, at 13.35, <a onclick="return top.js.OpenExtLink(window,event,this)" href="mailto:GNSO.SECRETARIAT@GNSO.ICANN.ORG" target="_blank">
GNSO.SECRETARIAT@GNSO.ICANN.ORG </a>wrote:<br>><br>>><br>>> [To: council[at]gnso.icann.org]<br>>><br>>> Dear Council Members,<br>>><br>>> As requested by Bruce Tonkin, the GNSO Council chair, I am providing an
<br>>> update on the proposed meeting in the Washington DC area.<br>>> The proposed dates are:<br>>><br>>> Thursday 23 February from 1:30 pm to 5:00pm<br>>> Friday 24 February from 9:00 am to 5:00pm (Open Forum planned for half a
<br>>> day)<br>>> Saturday 25 February from 8:30 am to 12:30 pm<br>>><br>>> In view of these meetings, there will be no GNSO Council meeting as<br>>> planned on 21 February 2006. <a onclick="return top.js.OpenExtLink(window,event,this)" href="http://gnso.icann.org/calendar/#feb" target="_blank">
http://gnso.icann.org/calendar/#feb</a><br>>><br>>> The room space can accommodate 30 people at an open U shape table and<br>>> there will be 10 extra chairs on the sides.<br>>> Some of the constituencies have informed me that their representatives
<br>>> will participate remotely and that they would like to have one or two<br>>> additional designated representatives for on site attendance. If you<br>>> will be participating remotely, the constituency should agree who will
<br>>> attend the meeting in person and let me know as soon as possible please.<br>>> DIAL IN will be provided for remote participation of councillors.<br>>><br>>> The meeting room has a podium, pc projector, wireless Internet
<br>>> connectivity and microphones.<br>>><br>>> The cost would be for drinks and food, and will depend on the number<br>>> of people attending, but I am told a sandwich/salad style lunch can be<br>
>> catered for at usually about 350- 400 US$ for about 35 people. There<br>>> is a contribution for unlimited coffee, sodas, and juice that we are<br>>> asked to make -- which is much nicer than having to worry about
<br>>> ordering catering for drinks. That might be about 150- 175 US$ An<br>>> alternative is to break for lunch. There are numerous lunch places to<br>>> buy salads, soup, sandwiches "on one's own".
<br>>><br>>> I have contacted about 10 hotels in down town Washington and the room<br>>> rates vary from 190 to 250 US$. In order to negotiate a reasonable<br>>> price, and hold sleeping rooms, I do have to know how many rooms will be
<br>>> needed and would be most grateful if you could give me an indication<br>>> whether you will be attending or who will be attending from your<br>>> constituency.<br>>><br>>> There are 3 airports serving the Washington DC area:
<br>>> - Regan national airport is the closest being 15 to 20 minutes cab drive<br>>> to Down Town Washington DC.<br>>> - Baltimore (BW1) is about 1hour 15 minutes but does have subway<br>>> transport between the airport and Down Town Washington DC.
<br>>> - Dulles (IAD) is about 50 to 60 minutes away by cab or shuttle and<br>>> there is an excellent shuttle service between Dulles airport and Down<br>>> Town. There is no subway nor are there trains between Dulles and Down
<br>>> Town Washington DC.<br>>><br>>> I hope this helps. Please contact me if you have any questions and<br>>> please let me know whether you will be attending in person or by<br>>> remote particiaption.
<br>>><br>>> Thank you.<br>>> Kind regards,<br>>><br>>> Glen<br>>><br>>> Glen de Saint Géry<br>>> GNSO Secretariat - ICANN<br>>> gnso.secretariat[at]gnso.icann.org<br>
>> <a onclick="return top.js.OpenExtLink(window,event,this)" href="http://gnso.icann.org/" target="_blank">http://gnso.icann.org</a><br>>><br>>><br>>><br>><br>><br><br></blockquote></div><br>
<br clear="all"><br>-- <br>Sophia Bekele<br>Voice/Fax: 925-935-1598<br>Mob:925-818-0948 <br><a onclick="return top.js.OpenExtLink(window,event,this)" href="mailto:sophiabekele@gmail.com" target="_blank">sophiabekele@gmail.com
</a><br>SKYPE: skypesoph<br><a onclick="return top.js.OpenExtLink(window,event,this)" href="http://www.cbsintl.com/" target="_blank">www.cbsintl.com</a><br>