> -----Original Message-----

> 

> because of  ICANN's Culture of Secrecy, nothing has been said. We also

> do not know why [ICANN] did it - maybe it just did not fit into anyone's

> schedule.  So a discussion that brings out these issues and explores the

> reasons why it might have made sense for them to have made the decision

> they did, might also be useful.

> 



I think Avri's comment above indicates why we SHOULD make a statement on this as NCSG or NCUC. 

First, it encourages and promotes support within the broader ICANN community. Second, if indeed ICANN's staff and Board refused to attend this thing for the wrong reasons, we push it in the right direction.



This has been an interesting discussion regarding the status of NCSG as a "creature" of ICANN or as an independent civil society organization that can take positions. Obviously it kind of straddles the fence.