[council] Proposed Bylaws Revision Open For Comment

[Glen de Saint Géry <Glen@xxxxxxxxx>]

[To: council[at]gnso.icann.org; liaison6c[at]gnso.icann.org]
[To: ga[at]gnso.icann.org; announce[at]gnso.icann.org]
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http://www.icann.org/en/announcements/announcement-23sep08-en.htm
Proposed Bylaws Revision Open For Comment

23 September 2008

Today ICANN is opening a public comment period on a proposed bylaw revision 
[PDF, 21K] from the ICANN Nominating Committee. The proposed revision would 
update the diversity requirements for selecting ICANN Board members to include 
domicile with country of citizenship.

Over the past several years, the Nominating Committee has expressed concern 
that being required to count more than one country of citizenship for diversity 
purposes often makes it difficult to select the best candidates for the Board 
seats that the Nominating Committee is mandated to fill. In carrying out its 
responsibilities to fill Seats 1 through 8, the Nominating Committee shall seek 
to ensure that the ICANN Board is composed of members who in the aggregate 
display diversity in geography, culture, skills, experience, and perspective, 
by applying the criteria set forth in Bylaws.

The Nominating Committee also noted that some of the candidates have often 
lived in a country for many years, and thereby better represent the interests 
of that country than any country of which the candidates may be citizens.

In the proposal, domicile, not just citizenship, is to be considered in the 
diversity calculation. The Nominating Committee members unanimously agreed that 
the proposed Bylaws revisions would alleviate the concerns.

During the 28 August 2008 meeting of the ICANN Board of Directors, the Board 
passed the following resolution:

Whereas, the Nominating Committee has expressed concern that, pursuant to the 
Bylaws mandated diversity requirements that no more than five Board members be 
citizens of any one geographic region, the Nominating Committee is required to 
count all countries of citizenship for each candidate.

Whereas, the Nominating Committee has noted that the requirement to count all 
countries of citizenship has caused some selection difficulties each year over 
the past several years.

Whereas, the Nominating Committee has also expressed concern that the 
calculation is presently limited to citizenship given that many people have 
lived for long periods of time in, and represent the interests of, countries in 
which they may not be citizens.

Whereas, making a diversity calculation pursuant to the ICANN Bylaws as it 
relates to Board member selection for seats 1 through 14 should be consistent.

It is hereby resolved (2008.08.28.03) that the following proposed revisions to 
Article VI, Sections 2.2 and 2.3, shall be posted for public comment in 
accordance with ICANN's normal process for proposed Bylaw revisions.

Comments on the proposed bylaw revision may be submitted to 
nomcom-bylaw-revision@xxxxxxxxx will be considered until 23 October 2008 23:59 
UTC. Comments may be viewed at 
http://forum.icann.org/lists/nomcom-bylaw-revision/.

Glen de Saint Géry
GNSO Secretariat
gnso.secretariat@xxxxxxxxxxxxxx
http://gnso.icann.org