Thank you Milton.  I agree it was a worthwhile discussion and we were able to clarify several misunderstandings and recalibrate expectations regarding the NCSG membership application process so the SG should be less likely to have these hiccups in the future.

Specifically, it was clarified that when new NCSG membership applications are submitted, they need to be submitted by the organization making the application itself (not the chair of NCUC or NPOC).  Although Konstantinos & Amber (as chairs of NCUC & NPOC) will come up with a membership form that can be submitted to the NCSG-EC and the constituency at the same time.  Applications will be responded to by the EC within 2 weeks from submission.  The NCSG-EC will conduct its due diligence and verify the applicants and make its decision as agreed in the NCSG charter.   

So with respect to the recent election results and the handling of membership applications, it was a very productive conversation and I am hopeful that we now have a clearer understanding of how to move forward.  Actually, the NCSG Charter, which was agreed to by the NCSG membership, NCUC, NPOC and the ICANN Board proscribes many of the mechanisms and processes that should be followed for administration of the SG.

It is my hope and sincere wish that past differences can be put aside and we can all begin working together in a cooperative and constructive fashion to build a stronger SG that promotes the interests of all noncommercial users of the DNS.  NCSG welcomes its new members, including NPOC members, and is looking forward to working with the participants in the coming months to build a stronger and more diverse SG at ICANN.

Thank you,
Robin Gross
NCSG Chair


On Oct 28, 2011, at 6:23 AM, Milton L Mueller wrote:

> Dear members
> NCSG EC members, NCUC members and NPOC leadership met in Dakar yesterday with the ICANN Ombudsman acting as a neutral mediator. 
> The meeting focused on future practices for handling new membership applications; there was and is no talk of undoing the election any more.
> I think we identified some of the misunderstandings and process hiccups that led to the initial problem and reached an agreement on how to process membership applications in the future. I'll let Robin Gross, the new NCSG Chair, fill you in on the details. 
> 
> Milton L. Mueller
> Professor, Syracuse University School of Information Studies
> Internet Governance Project
> http://blog.internetgovernance.org 
> 




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