Re: [council] Gala tickets and volunteers...

["Mary Wong" <MWong@xxxxxxxxxxxxx>]

I agree with Tim that it seems to defeat the purpose if the most active 
volunteers at ICANN don't get an equal chance to attend the main event.
 
More broadly, I find it troubling that these events are listed as "networking 
events" on the schedule, but occasionally (usually at meetings where there are 
very many attendees, e.g. Paris and now Brussels) an "ordinary" member of the 
community (e.g. not a Board or Council member) is told, after traveling to the 
meeting and after he/she has been asked to name his/her hotel for transport to 
the gala, that he/she needs a ticket on a "first come first served" basis (BTW 
the meeting website merely hints vaguely at this, saying that "Invitations will 
be available ... starting on Tuesday etc.") 
 
I appreciate that this kind of decision is made by the host/sponsor for 
logistical reasons, and not ICANN, but to me it could - and probably will - be 
taken as a poor reflection of ICANN (especially when so much volunteer time is 
being asked of the community). I also appreciate that as a Council member I get 
a ticket and in advance (thank you Glen!!!!) but if I were a non-Council but 
active WG member, I might be troubled by that too.
 
It seems to me that if the host/sponsor cannot hold a splashy event that can 
accommodate as many members of the community as wish to attend (some of whom 
may be here for the first time or who may be funding themselves), then either 
hold a less fancy/ambitious event so that more can attend, or don't hold one at 
all (or at least don't advertise it as a gala open to all).
 
All right, now someone tell me this is "outside the scope of Council" :)
 
Have a good day of meetings, everyone!
Mary
 
Mary W S Wong
Professor of Law & Chair, Graduate IP Programs
Franklin Pierce Law Center
Two White Street
Concord, NH 03301
USA
Email: mwong@xxxxxxxxxxxxx
Phone: 1-603-513-5143
Webpage: http://www.piercelaw.edu/marywong/index.php
Selected writings available on the Social Science Research Network (SSRN) at: 
http://ssrn.com/author=437584


>>> 


From: "Tim Ruiz" <tim@xxxxxxxxxxx>
To:"GNSO Council " <council@xxxxxxxxxxxxxx>
Date: 6/22/2010 3:00 AM
Subject: [council] Gala tickets and volunteers...

I learned this morning that the ATRT members do not get Gala tickets similar to 
the way the Council received them. It seems to me that if the primary social 
event at these meetings is going to have limited availability that active 
volunteers in current working groups, work teams, etc. of the ACs and SOs 
should have some preference.

 
I'm not sure if there is anything we can do about it at this point, but Glen, 
is there any way that at least the ATRT members can be sure to get tickets if 
any of them want them?  And going forward, this is something that should be 
given some thought. It may even serve as an incentive for participation in the 
work of the ACs and SOs.
 
Tim 


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