I wanted to make a few comments on why I joined.

I have long been associated with the NCUC at a distance as a member  
of, or as someone who donated to, several of the organizations that  
belong to the NCUC. But I was never a member and actually did not plan  
to become an individual member - I had other plans in mind.

I am joining at this time, however,  not only because I support the  
public-interest principles that are the foundation of NCUC, but  
because I want to express my solidarity with a Stakeholder Group that  
has received short shrift from ICANN in the process of establishing  
itself.  The ICANN Board has now approved a Stakeholder Group Charter  
that was not created through the bottom-up process but by ICANN Policy  
Staff in a top-down manner.  The ICANN Board has also blatantly  
ignored the bottom-up process that did occur and the community outrage  
that ensued.  I am also disturbed that the requirement for parity and  
equal conditions among the 4 Stakeholder Groups, something that was  
central to the restructuring plan, has been ignored when it comes to  
the NCSG.

At this time, I  think it is important for me as an individual to take  
a stand and to be counted with those who were so used and abused by  
the ICANN system.  I am proud that my membership was approved and that  
I can stand with you all in a continuing struggle to see that the  
legitimate bottom-up processes and the will of civil society  
participants in ICANN are respected.

I further appreciate that the NCUC has accepted me as a member even  
though I am still a Nomcom Appointee to the GNSO Council and as such  
still bound to represent the public interest as I understand it and  
not necessarily according to NCUC positions; though, of course, often  
these two coincide.  As the current chair of the GNSO Council, it also  
remains my responsibility to work toward consensus solutions despite  
what I may believe is the 'best' solution.  For the remainder of my  
term I will continue to function within the council as an NomCom  
Appointee and as Chair in the same manner as I have up until now.   
That is, I will not be speaking for the NCUC positon in any issues  
within the purview of the GNSO Council, but will continue to speak in  
my independent capacity.  My term as a member of GNSO council, and as  
its chair, ends on 30 October 2009.

Again, I am happy to have joined you.

a.