[RZERC] RZERC Membership Appointment & Chair Election Update

[Jim Reid]

> On 24 Oct 2019, at 14:59, Steve Sheng <steve.sheng at icann.org> wrote:
> 
> - You are correct that IETF does not need to reappoint, as your term ends in 2020.

That’s not quite right Steve. Though my term does end next year. Every summer the IAB asks if I want to continue for another year or not. If I say yes, they tell you I’m still their stuckee. If not, they’d issue a call for volunteers and appoint somebody else. ie Whoever the IAB selects isn’t automatically serving a 4 year term.

> - Regarding your thoughts about the appointing organization's timeline and RZERC's appointment timeline, it is a good point. The situation is not ideal, I hope an RZERC review will address the appointment timeline issue. 

This confuses me Steve. What’s wrong with the current stuation and appointment mechanisms? I see no justification for a review => unnecessary debate about process. If the issue is some of the nominating organisations haven’t contacted you/Danielle surely that’s what needs to be resolved? This shouldn’t justify RZERC carrying out a process review. Or am I missing something?

My aversion to spending time and effort on process is well known. Though when there’s a clear problem statement or justification, I am willing to work on process stuff. IMO we’re nowhere near that point. Maybe others can correct me on this specific issue. I simply don’t understand what needs to be fixed or why/how the proposed time-line does that.

> - Acknowledge your points about the timing of the appointment and the timing of selection of chair. This is something we can see how to improve in the future. For this chair election, we think  confirmed memberships are needed because we need to know those who stand for chair elections will have at least two years left in their terms.

So why not get those confirmations and do it soon? That seems a much more pragmatic way to proceed instead of moving the goalposts for everything when that isn’t really needed.

> - Regarding the timing of the chair selection, the operational procedure specify we need to have one month for the nomination period, which would not allow us enough time to make this decision at the RZERC meeting at ICANN66.  That's why we send the email for a special meeting in November.

That’s all very well Steve. But Danielle’s email is proposing we select a new chairman at the end of February. Can somebody please explain what’s going on? Are we to replace Duane next month or next year? Does the call for nominations end this week (or theresabouts) or some time in January 2020?

My confusion is getting worse.