Hi Bill,

As I answered on the At-Large list, I am appreciative of your message, and
of the NCSG efforts to preserve common sense.

The GNSO is welcome to do whatever it wants to unilaterally regarding its
internal processes, but it cannot impose such regulation on others. As you
rightly point out, had the guidelines been followed rigidly the JAS effort
may have never happened, and that would have been an unacceptable outcome.

It is significant -- and very telling -- that the GNSO policy about working
with other constituencies was itself formed in isolation from these
constituencies. This was definitely an opportunity missed, but I won't lose
sleep over it. It's my understanding that the At-Large Community has always
been eager to participate in cross-community groups, but we will not have
the terms of that participation dictated to us -- especially if such terms
try to artificially limit our bylaw-mandated role to advance the interests
of Internet end-users.

- Evan