[Rt4-whois] Not crazy about Robert's Rules

Wilfried Woeber, UniVie/ACOnet Woeber at CC.UniVie.ac.at
Wed Nov 10 13:56:00 UTC 2010


lynn at goodsecurityconsulting.com wrote:

> Yes! strongly agree with you Emily

+1 from my end.
Wilfried

>     -------- Original Message --------
>     Subject: Re: [Rt4-whois] Not crazy about Robert's Rules
>     From: Emily Taylor <emily.taylor at etlaw.co.uk
>     <mailto:emily.taylor at etlaw.co.uk>>
>     Date: Wed, November 10, 2010 8:49 am
>     To: "Kim G. von Arx" <kim at vonarx.ca <mailto:kim at vonarx.ca>>
>     Cc: Woeber at CC.UniVie.ac.at <mailto:Woeber at CC.UniVie.ac.at>,
>     rt4-whois at icann.org <mailto:rt4-whois at icann.org>
> 
>     Dear all
> 
>     Sounds like we are converging towards a pragmatic approach here, ie
>     no-one wants to place procedure before substance (I'm sure we all
>     bear the scars of other committees which become process obsessed!),
>     we want to work in an informal way, towards consensus, and use
>     existing frameworks for non-binding guidance if and when we get stuck.
> 
>     Best,
> 
>     Emily
> 
>     PS I also missed the link to the Wiki.  Thanks for the reminder.
> 
> 
>     On 10 Nov 2010, at 13:46, Kim G. von Arx wrote:
> 
>>     Dear All:
>>
>>     I tend to agree with Kathy.  I've also used Robert's Rules and, as
>>     I had suggested a while back, Wainberg's Rules, for many years and
>>     both are complex and require some expertise by the Chair and/or
>>     moderator to properly use them.  If we were to adopt formal rules,
>>     I would still suggest that Wainberg's are more appropriate than
>>     Robert's rules.  
>>
>>     Having said that, I don't' want to waste any time on discussing
>>     which of those we should use and simply propose that we use the
>>     guidelines already established by various team members and the
>>     ICANN conventions and, if we encounter an issue which has not been
>>     dealt with in either instances, we can consult Robert's or
>>     Wainberg's rules to find an appropriate path.
>>
>>     Kim
>>
>>
>>     On 10 Nov 2010, at 08:23, Kathy Kleiman wrote:
>>
>>>     Hi Wilifried and All,
>>
>>>     I am not crazy about Robert's Rules. Please know that I have used
>>>     them for many, many years, and like anything else, they are a
>>>     tool and a weapon in the hands of people who are expert with
>>>     them. You can use Robert's Rules to encourage discussion, and to
>>>     shut it down. I find them a version of crowd control -- which is
>>>     very necessary in a large legislative  body.
>>
>>>
>>>     But we are not a large legislative body. We are a small,
>>>     collegial, expert group. In that case, traditional ICANN rules
>>>     would seem to be in order -- they are not documented, not formal,
>>>     but very well known.  They require listening carefully to the
>>>     comments of the others in the group, working through the issues
>>>     together, and trying to arrive at a consensus (or agreement) that
>>>     everyone feels is somewhat reasonable.
>>
>>>
>>>     No one "wins," in my experience, in the ICANN committee arena. It
>>>     is a give and take.
>>
>>>
>>>     And I really like the voting rules circulated yesterday by Lynn,
>>>     Sharon and Bill. I think they encapsulate important rules, a
>>>     limited set, and give us a basic framework. Truly, I think that
>>>     is all we will need.
>>
>>>
>>>     Dear All,
>>
>>>     Sending this message in advance of our conference call tomorrow.
>>
>>>     Bill Smith, Sharon Lemon and I took the action item on our last
>>>     call to propose a voting agreement for the group.
>>
>>>
>>>     Different views and discussion are welcomed.  This is offered in
>>>     the interest of making our call tomorrow as productive as
>>>     possible.  Please note that ICANN values of consensus and
>>>     transparency have been considered in this proposal. Here it is:
>>
>>>
>>>     Proposed Whois RT Voting Agreement
>>
>>>
>>>     1) A quorum of 50% of RT members is required to conduct a vote.
>>
>>>
>>>     2) A winning vote requires 75% approval or support.
>>
>>>
>>>     3) Each RT member has one vote; the ICANN CEO (or his alternate)
>>>     has one vote; all other supporting ICANN staff will not have
>>>     voting privileges.
>>
>>>
>>>     4) Straw polls are permitted and do not prevent or restrict a
>>>     final vote.
>>
>>>
>>>     5) RT members may authorize another RT member to vote in proxy.
>>
>>>
>>>     6) Each RT member may designate an alternate to attend meetings
>>>     either remotely or in person.
>>
>>>     However, the alternate will not have voting privileges, with the
>>>     exception of the ICANN CEO alternate.
>>
>>>
>>>     7) Meetings will be recorded and available for RT members who are
>>>     unable to attend.
>>
>>>
>>>     8) Voting requests will be communicated in writing via email with
>>>     a minimum of 3 business days notice to respond.
>>
>>>
>>>     9) Vote responses may be submitted via email or by verbal
>>>     response on conference call meetings.
>>
>>>
>>>     10) Each RT member will be identified with their vote.
>>
>>>
>>>     Kathy Kleiman
>>
>>>     Director of Policy
>>
>>>     .ORG The Public Interest Registry
>>
>>>     Direct: +1 703 889-5756  Mobile: +1 703 371-6846
>>
>>>
>>>     Visit us online!
>>
>>>     Check out events & blogs at .ORG Buzz!
>>
>>>     Find us on Facebook | dotorg
>>
>>>     See the .ORG Buzz! Photo Gallery on Flickr
>>
>>>     See our video library on YouTube
>>
>>>
>>>     CONFIDENTIALITY NOTE:
>>
>>>     Proprietary and confidential to .ORG, The Public Interest
>>>     Registry.  If received in error, please inform sender and then
>>>     delete.
>>
>>>
>>>
>>>
>>>
>>>     -----Original Message-----
>>
>>>     From: rt4-whois-bounces at icann.org
>>>     <mailto:rt4-whois-bounces at icann.org>
>>>     [mailto:rt4-whois-bounces at icann.org] On Behalf Of Wilfried
>>>     Woeber, UniVie/ACOnet
>>
>>>     Sent: Wednesday, November 10, 2010 7:40 AM
>>
>>>     To: Emily Taylor
>>
>>>     Cc: rt4-whois at icann.org <mailto:rt4-whois at icann.org>
>>
>>>     Subject: Re: [Rt4-whois] Role of Chair and Vice-Chair for Whois
>>>     Review Team
>>
>>>
>>>     Emily Taylor wrote:
>>
>>>
>>>>     Dear Lynn, Bill and Sharon,
>>
>>>>
>>>>     Thanks for your work on the role of Chair and Vice-Chair.  I have a
>>
>>>>     couple of queries/suggestions, which I hope we can pick up in
>>>>     today's call:
>>
>>>>
>>>>     I agree that the Chair/Vice Chair should play a neutral role,
>>>>     and I see
>>
>>>>     the purpose to ensure that voices are heard, themes summarised
>>>>     and a way
>>
>>>>     through is formulated which takes into account all relevant,
>>>>     legitimate
>>
>>>>     interests.  Reviewing the exchanges on this list, I think this
>>>>     group is
>>
>>>>     going to have to work hard to listen and take account of others'
>>>>     views -
>>
>>>>     if we can crack this, we should be OK!
>>
>>>>
>>>>
>>>>     My query is this:  given that we have all been put forward for
>>>>     this team
>>
>>>>     on the basis of our experience, what do you think should happen
>>>>     when the
>>
>>>>     Chair/Vice-Chair wants to put forward their own personal view.
>>>>      Do they
>>
>>>>     step out of the role for the time being?  Do they just not do that?
>>
>>>
>>>
>>>     I have submitted my take on this aspect already and Bill (iirc)
>>>     replied
>>
>>>     that this is covered by Robert's Rules of Order.
>>
>>>
>>>     Beinf illiterate wrt this beast, I have to believe this until I
>>>     find the
>>
>>>     time to read up on this stuff.
>>
>>>
>>>>     Kind regards
>>
>>>>
>>>>     Emily
>>
>>>
>>>     Wilfried.
>>
>>>     _______________________________________________
>>
>>>     Rt4-whois mailing list
>>
>>>     Rt4-whois at icann.org <mailto:Rt4-whois at icann.org>
>>
>>>     https://mm.icann.org/mailman/listinfo/rt4-whois
>>
>>>
>>>     _______________________________________________
>>
>>>     Rt4-whois mailing list
>>
>>>     Rt4-whois at icann.org <mailto:Rt4-whois at icann.org>
>>
>>>     https://mm.icann.org/mailman/listinfo/rt4-whois
>>
>>
> 
>     Emily Taylor Consultant (Internet Law and Governance)
>     76 Temple Road, Oxford OX4 2EZ UK
>     telephone: * 01865 582 811*   mobile: * 07540 049 322*
>     emily.taylor at etlaw.co.uk <mailto:emily.taylor at etlaw.co.uk>
>     www.etlaw.co.uk <http://www.etlaw.co.uk>
> 
>     ------------------------------------------------------------------------
>     _______________________________________________
>     Rt4-whois mailing list
>     Rt4-whois at icann.org <mailto:Rt4-whois at icann.org>
>     https://mm.icann.org/mailman/listinfo/rt4-whois




More information about the Rt4-whois mailing list