Hi Sam,

just to make 2 corrections here:
- NCUC has already a representative, James Gannon, to NCSG FC and I do
think he participated in your election
- NCSG doesn't have a bank account.

Best,

Rafik


2016-07-03 21:29 GMT+09:00 Sam Lanfranco <[log in to unmask]>:

> I would like to thank those who have wished me well in the position as
> Chair of the NCSG finance committee and take this opportunity to make a
> short assessment of the issues and challenges to be faced. First, here is a
> bit of background. I am the long serving treasurer for a small community
> museum support group whose budget amounts are similar to those involved in
> this position. I have been on non-profit boards with annual budgets of
> several million dollars , and with a past as board chair I am well aware of
> the transparency and accountability requirements for fiduciary
> responsibility.
>
> I am now also the treasurer for NPOC and will represent NPOC on the
> finance committee. Tapani, as chair of NCSG, is on the committee. NCUC will
> designate a person to the committee.
>
> Initially I have two goals. The first is to propose a reporting scheme for
> NCSG, NCUC and NPOC to report out financial information in ways that
> support transparency and accountability, as a matter of best practice and
> not because of any worries about accountability. The second is look for
> possible improvements for how the modest (minimal) funding is administered.
> That involves dealing with a number of minor but bedeviling issues. None of
> our three entities has an independent legal status (we are not NGO’s).
> Thus, most financial systems will not allow us to have independent bank
> accounts. At the moment the NPOC account is held by an individual, as is
> the case I believe for NCSG and NCUC. Also, for such accounts national tax
> authorities may treat deposits as “personal income” and impose taxes. The
> committee will explore (the rather limited) options for independent bank
> accounts. The occasional suggestion that NCSG, et. al., look to
> incorporation as not-for-profit entities brings additional complications
> and is an unlikely option.
>
> Some of the comments have brought up the prospects for “fund raising”.
> Certainly, if George Soros turned up with his Open Government support
> cheque/check book, we would figure out how to be grateful recipients, but
> that is unlikely.  At the moment the activities of our groups may have
> modest ongoing financial support from some quarters, but we mainly gain
> effectiveness in outreach and engagement by partnering in with others to do
> what we do. That is probably where we best continue our efforts to leverage
> our effectiveness in outreach and engagement, and in recruiting support for
> engagement within ICANN's activities. I note that “partnership” is goal #17
> in the UN’s list of 17 Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs).
>
> It is beyond the scope of the finance committee but we might collectively
> consider doing an annual report of such collaborative outreach and
> engagement to document the extent of our multistakeholder engagement with
> our constituencies and their interests in Internet governance, interests
> that in their case may go well beyond ICANN’s internal remit.  Such a
> report would be in addition to ICANN's efforts at internal Key Performance
> Indicators (PKIs). Lastly, any and all suggestions are gratefully accepted.
>
> Sam Lanfranco, NCSG Finance Committee
>