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<DIV>Hi,</DIV>
<DIV> </DIV>
<DIV>Besides the procedural issue, my concern was, and is, the sense (from reviewing the new Council operating procedures) that if a Councilor is going to be absent from a vote, the only way he/she can actually get to vote - assuming the issue is not one that relates specifically to a PDP Bylaw, Council procedure or vacancy (which triggers the Absentee Voting procedures in 4.4) - is on issues that dictate an abstention.</DIV>
<DIV> </DIV>
<DIV>The problem is that 4.5 (on Abstentions) presuppose only 2 situations where an abstention is justified: (1) volitional (where a Councillor "elects to refrain from participating and voting", see 4.5.2(a); and (2) obligational (i.e. professional, personal or political conflicts), see 4.5.2(b). These then trigger the procedural remedies we've discussed (including a proxy vote).</DIV>
<DIV> </DIV>
<DIV>I completely agree that Councilors are fully expected and required (including in 4.5.1) to participate actively and discharge their duties responsibly, such that instances of absent and/or proxy voting are minimized and not encouraged. However, it seems to me that there will be instances where a Councilor simply cannot be at a meeting, but fully wishes to vote on a motion that is not one that triggers either 4.4 or 4.5. In other words, he/she does not need to "elect to refrain" from voting, and is not otherwise obligated to abstain.</DIV>
<DIV> </DIV>
<DIV>As currently worded, neither 4.4 nor 4.5 (including the language on proxies) would seem to cover this type of situation, which arguably could be handled via a relatively straightforward proxy process.</DIV>
<DIV> </DIV>
<DIV>Am I missing something, reading the procedures too narrowly, or ... ? (maybe being a pest? :)</DIV>
<DIV> </DIV>
<DIV>Thanks and cheers</DIV>
<DIV>Mary</DIV>
<DIV> </DIV>
<DIV>In such a case, the new Operating Procedures do not seem to allow for a relatively simple - but documented and accountable - mechanism by which such a case could be handled through a proxy.</DIV>
<DIV> </DIV>
<DIV>
<DIV><STRONG><FONT color=#800080>Mary W S Wong</FONT></STRONG></DIV>
<DIV><EM>Professor of Law</EM></DIV>
<DIV><EM>Chair, Graduate IP Programs</EM></DIV>
<ADDRESS>UNIVERSITY OF NEW HAMPSHIRE SCHOOL OF LAW</ADDRESS>
<ADDRESS>Two White Street</ADDRESS>
<ADDRESS>Concord, NH 03301</ADDRESS>
<ADDRESS>USA</ADDRESS>
<ADDRESS>Email: <A href="mailto:mary.wong@law.unh.edu">mary.wong@law.unh.edu</A></ADDRESS>
<ADDRESS>Phone: 1-603-513-5143</ADDRESS>
<ADDRESS>Webpage: <A href="http://www.law.unh.edu/marywong/index.php">http://www.law.unh.edu/marywong/index.php</A></ADDRESS>
<ADDRESS>Selected writings available on the Social Science Research Network (SSRN) at: <A href="http://ssrn.com/author=437584">http://ssrn.com/author=437584</A></ADDRESS><BR><BR>>>> </DIV>
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<TD><STRONG>From: </STRONG></TD>
<TD>Stéphane Van Gelder<stephane.vangelder@indom.com></TD></TR>
<TR vAlign=top>
<TD><STRONG>To:</STRONG></TD>
<TD>"Gomes, Chuck" <cgomes@verisign.com></TD></TR>
<TR vAlign=top>
<TD><STRONG>CC:</STRONG></TD>
<TD>"Council GNSO" <council@gnso.icann.org>, <robert.hoggarth@icann.org>, <ken.bour@verizon.net></TD></TR>
<TR vAlign=top>
<TD><STRONG>Date: </STRONG></TD>
<TD>9/8/2010 4:39 PM</TD></TR>
<TR vAlign=top>
<TD><STRONG>Subject: </STRONG></TD>
<TD>Re: [council] Proxy Voting Procedures</TD></TR></TBODY></TABLE>Thanks Chuck. I had read that very article as I prepared for today's meeting yesterday, as I was looking at the various links pertaining to absences and voting that Glen sent to the Council list before this meeting.
<DIV><BR></DIV>
<DIV>I did not have the same understanding as you re the requirement to request for a proxy in advance of the meeting (where does it say that in sub-section i. below?). I would argue that in Tim's case, the appointing organization, i.e. the RrSG, had established a position. This was not 'stated' on the public Council list, but article i. does not say this should be done in this way. I agree there is ambiguity here and my intent is not to second-guess the decision you made in today's meeting. But as this processes are still a bit new to us all, I just want to make sure we iron out some of the wrinkles so that if we have this type of situation again, we know how to handle it.</DIV>
<DIV><BR></DIV>
<DIV>Thanks,</DIV>
<DIV><BR></DIV>
<DIV>Stéphane</DIV>
<DIV><BR>
<DIV>
<DIV>Le 8 sept. 2010 à 19:25, Gomes, Chuck a écrit :</DIV><BR class=Apple-interchange-newline>
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<P dir=ltr><SPAN lang=en-us><FONT face=Calibri>Here is my response to St</FONT></SPAN><SPAN lang=en-us><FONT face=Calibri>é</FONT></SPAN><SPAN lang=en-us><FONT face=Calibri>phane</FONT></SPAN><SPAN lang=en-us><FONT face=Calibri>’</FONT></SPAN><SPAN lang=en-us><FONT face=Calibri>s question regarding the GNSO Operating Procedures</FONT></SPAN><SPAN lang=en-us><FONT face=Calibri> (GOP)</FONT></SPAN><SPAN lang=en-us><FONT face=Calibri> requirements regarding proxy voting.</FONT></SPAN></P>
<P dir=ltr><SPAN lang=en-us><FONT face=Calibri>Here is the applicable excerpt from the GOP, Section 4.5.3</FONT></SPAN><SPAN lang=en-us><FONT face=Calibri>.b</FONT></SPAN><SPAN lang=en-us><FONT face=Calibri>, Remedies</FONT></SPAN><SPAN lang=en-us><FONT face=Calibri>:</FONT></SPAN></P>
<P dir=ltr><SPAN lang=en-us></SPAN><SPAN lang=en-us></SPAN><SPAN lang=en-us><FONT color=#000000>“</FONT></SPAN><SPAN lang=en-us></SPAN><SPAN lang=en-us></SPAN><SPAN lang=en-us><FONT color=#000000>Proxy Voting</FONT></SPAN><SPAN lang=en-us></SPAN><SPAN lang=en-us></SPAN><SPAN lang=en-us></SPAN></P>
<DIV><SPAN lang=en-us></SPAN><SPAN lang=en-us></SPAN><SPAN lang=en-us><FONT color=#000000></FONT></SPAN><BR class=webkit-block-placeholder> </DIV>
<P dir=ltr><SPAN lang=en-us><FONT color=#000000>The second method to be considered in avoiding the consequences of an abstention is the use of proxy voting, where the vote of an abstaining Councilor is transferred to another GNSO Councilor.</FONT></SPAN><SPAN lang=en-us></SPAN><SPAN lang=en-us></SPAN><SPAN lang=en-us></SPAN></P>
<DIV><SPAN lang=en-us></SPAN><SPAN lang=en-us></SPAN><SPAN lang=en-us><FONT color=#000000></FONT></SPAN><BR class=webkit-block-placeholder> </DIV>
<P dir=ltr><SPAN lang=en-us></SPAN><SPAN lang=en-us></SPAN><SPAN lang=en-us><FONT color=#000000>i. For abstentions declared by Councilors not appointed by the Nominating Committee and where voting direction is not a viable remedy, the appointing organization may transfer the vote of the abstaining Councilor to: (1) the House Nominating Committee Appointee (NCA), (2) another of its Constituency Councilors (where applicable), or (3) another Councilor within the Stakeholder Group. The appointing organization must be able to establish an affirmative or negative voting position, subject to provisions contained in its Charter or Bylaws, on the applicable measure/motion for which one of its Councilors has declared an intention to abstain. The Councilor to whom the vote is transferred shall exercise a vote in line with the appointing organization’s stated position. </FONT></SPAN></P>
<P dir=ltr><SPAN lang=en-us></SPAN><SPAN lang=en-us></SPAN><SPAN lang=en-us><FONT color=#000000>ii. If an abstention is declared by a House NCA, once formal notification has occurred pursuant to the procedures in Paragraph 4.5.4-a, a proxy is automatically transferred to the GNSO Council’s unaffiliated NCA (hereinafter Council NCA) and any vote cast will be counted within the House to which the abstaining NCA is assigned. The Council NCA may exercise only one proxy at a time; therefore, the first abstention remedy properly transferred to the Council NCA, including all measures/motions specified, takes precedence. It should be noted that, because NCAs do not have an appointing organization, as defined in these procedures (see Section 1.3.1), to provide specific voting direction, the Council NCA may exercise his/her best judgment, including abstaining, on the matter at issue. If the Council NCA abstains or does not cast a vote for any other reason, no further remedies are available and the automatic proxy will be nullified. The original House NCA will be recorded in the minutes as having abstained from the vote.</FONT></SPAN><SPAN lang=en-us></SPAN><SPAN lang=en-us><FONT color=#000000>”</FONT></SPAN><SPAN lang=en-us></SPAN><SPAN lang=en-us></SPAN></P>
<P dir=ltr><SPAN lang=en-us><FONT color=#000000>If I interpret the above correctly</FONT></SPAN><SPAN lang=en-us></SPAN><SPAN lang=en-us><FONT color=#000000>, for proxies to have been allowed in today</FONT></SPAN><SPAN lang=en-us></SPAN><SPAN lang=en-us><FONT color=#000000>’</FONT></SPAN><SPAN lang=en-us></SPAN><SPAN lang=en-us><FONT color=#000000>s meeting the following would have need to have happened</FONT></SPAN><SPAN lang=en-us></SPAN><SPAN lang=en-us><FONT color=#000000> in advance</FONT></SPAN><SPAN lang=en-us></SPAN><SPAN lang=en-us><FONT color=#000000>:</FONT></SPAN><SPAN lang=en-us></SPAN><SPAN lang=en-us><FONT color=#000000> </FONT></SPAN><SPAN lang=en-us></SPAN><SPAN lang=en-us></SPAN><SPAN lang=en-us> <FONT color=#000000>The appointing organization of</FONT></SPAN><SPAN lang=en-us></SPAN><SPAN lang=en-us></SPAN><SPAN lang=en-us> <FONT color=#000000>the Councilor who has to abstain (be</FONT></SPAN><SPAN lang=en-us></SPAN><SPAN lang=en-us></SPAN><SPAN lang=en-us><FONT color=#000000>cause of planned absence or other reasons)</FONT></SPAN><SPAN lang=en-us></SPAN><SPAN lang=en-us></SPAN><SPAN lang=en-us> <FONT color=#000000>“must be able to establish an affirmative or negative voting position”</FONT></SPAN><SPAN lang=en-us></SPAN><SPAN lang=en-us></SPAN><SPAN lang=en-us><FONT color=#000000> and that would have needed to have sent to Secretary</FONT></SPAN><SPAN lang=en-us></SPAN><SPAN lang=en-us></SPAN><SPAN lang=en-us><FONT color=#000000>. I believe Staff has prepared a template to</FONT></SPAN><SPAN lang=en-us></SPAN><SPAN lang=en-us></SPAN><SPAN lang=en-us> <FONT color=#000000>facilitate</FONT></SPAN><SPAN lang=en-us></SPAN><SPAN lang=en-us></SPAN><SPAN lang=en-us><FONT color=#000000></FONT></SPAN><SPAN lang=en-us></SPAN><SPAN lang=en-us></SPAN><SPAN lang=en-us> <FONT color=#000000>this.</FONT></SPAN><SPAN lang=en-us></SPAN><SPAN lang=en-us></SPAN><SPAN lang=en-us><FONT color=#000000> That did not happen in any of the cases where proxies were requested today.</FONT></SPAN></P>
<P dir=ltr><SPAN lang=en-us><FONT color=#000000>I cc</FONT></SPAN><SPAN lang=en-us></SPAN><SPAN lang=en-us></SPAN><SPAN lang=en-us><FONT color=#000000>’</FONT></SPAN><SPAN lang=en-us></SPAN><SPAN lang=en-us></SPAN><SPAN lang=en-us><FONT color=#000000>d Rob and Ken so that they can correct me if my interpretation is in error.</FONT></SPAN></P>
<P dir=ltr><SPAN lang=en-us><FONT color=#000000>Chuck</FONT></SPAN><SPAN lang=en-us></SPAN><SPAN lang=en-us></SPAN><SPAN lang=en-us></SPAN></P></DIV></BLOCKQUOTE></DIV><BR></DIV></DIV></TD></TR></TBODY></TABLE><BR>
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