+1 Ayden

-Michael

On Sun, Jul 3, 2016 at 3:48 PM, Ayden Férdeline <[log in to unmask]> wrote:

> It is great to hear that both James and Sam have joined Tapani in stepping
> into this important role. I must say, Sam, I do like your idea of an annual
> report — this would be an excellent resource not only for ensuring we are
> doing our part in realising the Sustainable Development Goals, but so that
> we can measure our own progress and ensure that we are working in a way
> that is consistent with our own, internally-set strategic and regional
> engagement strategies. Thank you again for stepping forward here, James,
> Sam, and Tapani.
>
> - Ayden
>
>
>
> On Sun, Jul 3, 2016 2:04 PM, Rafik Dammak [log in to unmask] wrote:
>
>> 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
>>
>>
>>
>
> Ayden Férdeline
> Statement of Interest
> <https://community.icann.org/display/gnsosoi/Ayden+Férdeline+SOI>
>