[council] Board Update

[Denise Michel <denise.michel@xxxxxxxxx>]

Dear Council and Community Members,

Unfortunately I am on travel and unable to join the Council call
today.  I am providing a "Board update" via email and would be happy
to provide additional information later today, if needed.

Regards,
Denise

Denise Michel
ICANN Vice President
Policy Development

The preliminary report of the Board's 23 April 2009 meeting is posted
at <http://www.icann.org/en/minutes/prelim-report-23apr09.htm>.  I
would like to call the GNSO's attention to three items in particular:

1)  GNSO Improvements -- Implementation Efforts and Council Restructuring

Staff provided an update to the Board on the status of the GNSO
Improvements Implementation Efforts and the work remaining prior to
the June 2009 implementation timeline approved by the Board. Staff and
Board addressed specific issues relating to the outstanding petitions
and charters of new Stakeholder Groups and potential amendment of
those documents, as well as petitions and charters for new
Constituency groups and the anticipated receipt of further petitions.
Staff was directed to continue work towards implementation, and no
Board action was taken.  The Board's Structural Improvement Committee
will be discussing these issues at their 14 April 2009 meeting and may
provide the Board with recommended actions.

2) RAA Amendments

The Board discussed the amendments and directed Staff to send a letter
to the US DOC confirming the benefits of the new RAA,
prior to the Board's final approval. The Board is expected to act on
the amendments at their next (21 May) meeting. This information was
provided to the Council list on 24 April by Director Bruce Tonkin (see
<http://gnso.icann.org/mailing-lists/archives/council/msg06692.html>).

3) Working Group to Review the Structure of ICANN’s Present Geographic Regions

The Board briefly discussed the proposed charter of the community-wide
working group to review the structure of ICANN’s present geographic
regions.  As a question was raised by a Board member, the Board
deferred approval of the charter until their next (21 May) meeting.

The full agenda for the Board's 23 April meeting is included below, FYI.

  A. Consent Agenda

   1. Approval of Minutes – 3 February 2009 and 12 February 2009
   2. Approval of Board Audit Committee’s Recommendation for
Engagement of Auditors for FY09-10
   3. Approval of Charter of Community-Wide Working Group to Review
The Structure of ICANN’s Present Geographic Regions
   4. Approval of Board Governance Committee’s Recommendation
regarding Ombudsman Framework
   5. Approval of Board Governance Committee’s Recommendation for
Posting of the Revised Conflict of Interest Policy for Public Comment
   6. Approval of Board Governance Committee’s Recommendation of
Procedures for Board Nominations
   7. Approval of Redelegation of .NG
   8. Approval of Phased Allocation Process for Single & Two-Character
Domain Names in .BIZ, including proposed Contract Amendment
   9. Approval of Posting for Public Comment the Plan for Enhancing
Internet Security, Stability & Resiliency
  10. Approval of Staff to Follow the Global Policy Proposal for the
Allocation of IPv4 Blocks to Regional Internet Registries

B. Regular Agenda

   1. GNSO Improvements
         1. Implementation Efforts
         2. GNSO Council Restructuring
   2. New gTLD Implementation Updates
         1. Implementation Recommendation Team
         2. Geographical Names
         3. Timeline
   3. Approval of Seoul Budget - October 2009 Meeting Location
   4. Agenda for Upcoming Board Retreat
   5. Other Business
   6. Board Executive Session

C. Informational Agenda

   1. Registrar Accreditation Agreement Update
   2. .PRO Registry Agreement Renewal
   3. IDNccTLD Update
   4. Update on FY10 Operational Planning & Budget Process
   5. Reports from Board Committees
         1. Audit Committee – 28 February 2009 Preliminary Report
         2. Board Governance Committee – 11 February 2009 and 28
February 2009 Minutes
         3. Finance Committee – 10 February 2009 Minutes and 28
February 2009 Preliminary Report
         4. IANA Committee – 28 January 2009 and 16 February 2009
Minutes and 1 March 2009 Preliminary Report
         5. Public Participation Committee – 17 February 2009 and 28
February 2009 Minutes
         6. Risk Committee – 27 January 2009 and 1 March 2009
Preliminary Reports
         7. Structural Improvements Committee – 10 February 2009
Minutes and 28 February 2009 Preliminary Report