*Subject*: *INVITATION TO JOIN WORKING GROUP ON MAIN SESSIONS FOR UPDATING GUIDELINES* Dear MAG Members, IG Community, Et al, Pursuant to the MAG virtual meeting yesterday, and the approval for the formation of a Working Group on Main Sessions (WGMS), an invitation is extended to all, to join the WGMS and provide contributions. I am thankful to Liesyl for agreeing to co-facilitate the WGMS. *You are invited to join the WGMS and provide comments on the recommendations for Main Session Guidelines, prepared last year for IGF 2015 * i) You are cordially invited to join the WGMS by signing up on the dedicated mailing list for the Working Group, which will be set up by the secretariat. In the meantime, you could send me, Leisyl and the secretariat an email, so we can start consolidating names of those interested in contributing to the WGMS activities. ii) Additionally, please spread the word via community networks, in case non-MAG volunteers are interested in joining the WGMS, or providing comments on the Guidelines for Main Sessions from last year. Kindly feel free to circulate this email widely. *WGMS: Suggested Purpose, Scope and Timelines* 1. WGMS is a recommendatory structure. Its recommendations are subject to approval by MAG. 2. To update the 2015 Guidelines and Adoption of Criteria for Themes for Main Sessions (attached). These were prepared by Subi Chaturvedi and Flavio Wagner for IGF 2015. Significant parts (not all) continue to be relevant for 2016. However, Section 1 (Criteria for adoption of themes for main sessions) was primarily framed in view of the WSIS Review and the then proposed activity related to the extension of IGF in 2015. This section, in particular, needs to be updated to reflect the contemporary narrative, relevant issues and prevailing environment in the IG space, ahead of IGF 2016. 3. The Main Sessions are expected to focus on themes consistent with the overarching theme for IGF 2016: “*Enabling Inclusive and Sustainable Growth*”. As you are aware, sub-themes for IGF 2016 are yet to be finalized. 4. The updating of Guidelines, is to be completed in a short period of 3 weeks. Breakup of broad timelines are proposed for discussion within the Working Group: (i) Week 1 for open consultation, starting with this email. (ii) Week 2 for reconciliation, update and writing up of fresh MS Guidelines for 2016, based on comments and inputs received. Possible WGMS virtual WebEx meeting if needed; (iii) Week 3 for finalization of Guidelines, with recommendations being sent to MAG for approval before May 16, 2016. 5. Later, in addition to the above, if needed and called upon by the MAG / co–facilitators or the secretariat, WGMS may assist with MS scheduling / time management, to fit the Main Sessions grid (attached) and any onsite administrative / coordination activities related to main sessions in collaboration with secretariat and host. 6. WGMS *does not* have any role in planning individual main sessions. This is the prerogative of respective co-facilitators and volunteers, planning and executing each of the approved main sessions. However, members of the WGMS are free join, and can contribute to the work of any co-facilitator(s) planning main sessions. *Immediate Next Steps by Tuesday, May 3, 2016* (i) Those interested in joining the WGMS may kindly send an email to Leisyl ([log in to unmask]), secretariat ([log in to unmask]), and me ( [log in to unmask] & [log in to unmask]). They will be included on the mailing list for WGMS. Kindly avoid copying everyone on the MAG, as many working groups are under formation, and multiple emails may lead to confusion and clogging of inboxes. (ii) Most importantly, please review the MS Guidelines from 2015 and provide section wise inputs (preferable) to update relevant sections, or add a new section, as appropriate, by end-of-business, Tuesday, May 3, 2016. Best Regards, Virat Bhatia and Leisyl Franz *Co-Facilitators * *WGMS 2016* _______________________________________________ Igfmaglist mailing list [log in to unmask] http://intgovforum.org/mailman/listinfo/igfmaglist_intgovforum.org