[ga] [At-Large] Discussion of At-Large Budget Line Item

[Danny Younger <dannyyounger@xxxxxxxxx>]

The text below was just posted to the ICANN Announce
List.  I am requesting a thorough analysis and
discussion of this budgetary line item on the GA list.
 Please note that there are financial incentives
(travel allowances) being offered to non-ALAC At-Large
representatives.  
http://www.icann.org/announcements/budget-briefing-29nov05.pdf

C. At Large and Community Projects

General Description
This line item falls under ?Developing Country
Internet Community Projects? in the adopted budget.
At-Large activities include expenses to improve upon
the significant progress that has been made on the
creation and involvement of ICANN At-Large. As ICANN
attempts Regional At-Large Organisations, additional
start-up funds are needed. To increase the likelihood
of establishing the At-Large framework envisioned in
the bylaws, additional ICANN support is required for
At-Large organizing/outreach, including staff support
to secure the involvement of a significant number of
At-Large Structures in each region in ICANN policy
activities, and face-to-face interactions at ICANN
meetings of At-Large community leaders.

Line item amount: $381K
Run rate: $188K [The run rate varies from month to
month. Higher levels of expenditures are made during
the ICANN meetings due to travel expenses. During this
period, ALAC will hold activity levels and meeting
travel at rates consistent with last year.]

Detailed spending:
− $133,500 ? Development and distribution of
informational materials, support for RALO organizing
meetings, secretariat support for RALO formation
efforts, and inregion
staff/consultant services to support At-Large
organizing and outreach objectives;
− $235,000 ? Travel for ALAC members and key
At-Large leaders to ICANN meetings to conduct ALAC
policy development and outreach activities, and travel
for ALAC members and/or At-Large leaders to attend 2
key outreach events in each region;
− $12,500 ? Administration expenses to support
At-Large efforts, including regular conference call
meetings.

Task description
The At-Large and Community Projects budget of $381,000
will be used to build upon the significant progress
that has been made in the creation of a global
framework of "At-Large" user groups and their
involvement in ICANN, including the work of the
At-Large Advisory Committee. To increase the
likelihood of fully establishing the At-Large
framework envisioned in the bylaws, these funds will
support:

− At-Large organizing and outreach, including
staff support to inform and educate the global
At-Large community and secure the involvement of a
significant number of individual Internet user groups
(At-Large Structures) in each region in ICANN;

− Community efforts to create Regional At-Large
Organizations (RALOs) (as called for in the bylaws),
including support for RALO planning and formation
meetings, efforts to develop RALO MoUs and supporting
documents, support for At-Large representatives'
participation in meetings and events to advance
RALO formation and involvement in ICANN issues;

− At-Large Advisory Committee policy development
and communication efforts, including resources to help
the ALAC coordinate with At-Large Structures globally
and communicate their activities to the At-Large
community, and to support the ALAC?s efforts to
develop policy advice that promotes individual
user community interests.

Recommendation
ALAC enjoys broad community support. Additional
funding is required in order to provide the resources
necessary to finalise the formation of RALOs. It is
recommended that the Board approve this line item.


		
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