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Board of Trustees2003 Board ElectionCandidatesCandidate Profile: Jonathan Robinjonathanrobin@messagerie.net Jonathan would encourage greater BoT recognition of the role of Chapters, and an explicit link between Chapters' representatives and their constituency - which is not the case at present. We need good faith in dealing with Chapter related affairs, clarification of the roles of both Chapter and Global membership, and proactive Chapter support - perceived by many to be insufficient, to retain ISOC's credibility. Jonathan's experience and activities in favour of ISOC's Mission Statement, and the lead role taken in ensuring UNESCO recognition of ISOC as an NGO was explicitly commended in a "Thank You" letter to him and to the BoT by the previous Chair of ISOC. Given the international focus on Disabilities this year it seems appropriate to mention that Jonathan serves on the Advisory Board of the International Center for Disability Resources on the Internet http://www.icdri.org and was Co-Author ISTF Special Needs WG Jonathan would work through the Board of Trustees to raise awareness among Chapter and Global membership of the importance of this. As rapporteur of the WSIS UNESCO NGO Forum Emerging Technologies Theme and of its final Geneva PrepCom II Report this year, Jonathan obtained explicit support for archive integrity and for IPv6. For Bucarest PrepCom Jonathan WSIS Jonathan organized the funding of a dozen East European ISOC representatives. As Trustee, Jonathan would seek to widen the relationships with other NGOs and international organisations, rather than these relationships decline - which is the perception that many at present have of ISOC. Over 3 years growing awareness of IPv6, and as a member of the European Commission IPv6 Task Force http://www.ipv6tf.org and Vice President of the French IPv6 TF Jonathan has initiated explicit endorsement from the WSIS Executive Secretariat, from the French Prime Minister following the September IPv6 Task Force French Senate launch, and at the Intergovernmental Conference during the English E-Envoy Summit http://www.e-envoy.gov.uk/e-summit where Jonathan was the only international Civil Society representative invited. Awareness of the interface between the technical, legal, and societal implications of IPv6 needs reinforcing Jonathan would seek to grow Chapter awareness of PIR funding possibilities - and of the need to avoid all conflicts of interest between projects put forward through members of the Board of Trustees and those elsewhere in ISOC. Regional Chapter Councils could be empowered to evaluate projects for PIR Funding. In respect of relationships between Chapters and ISOC Organization Members there is at present no exchange platform. This could reinforce all parties. Should ISOC's financial situation improve, one would hope that 10% of Organization Members' subscriptions could be remitted to the national Chapter of their Head Office, if they are not also members of that Chapter. That would also encourage Chapters to seek new ISOC Organization members. Jonathan would seek a BoT ruling that no more than 30% of Vice Presidents could be drawn from one country - many perceive the current figure to be unrepresentative, untransparent and US Centric. There are aspects of the "new governance plan" , notably in respect of BoT Election participation, which Jonathan would urge the BoT to reconsider in the interests of ISOC's credibility and democratic transparency. Jonathan would work towards a more transparent definition of the roles and responsibilities of all parties especially in respect of the societal impacts of emerging technologies. This does not mean that Standards should be ignored, but that they should be determined with an appropriate understanding of human factors and of the legal implications of Internet architectural modifications which seem insufficiently integrated by many actors at present. The human factor is too often ignored in the initial stages of standards implementation - leaving lawyers to pick up the pieces. Jonathan's long term commitment to ISOC's Mission Statement that the Internet is for Everyone has as its corollary a desire to create a win/win situation for ISOC's membership and extended constituency both for Organisation and for individual membership. This ethical independance, attested by Jonathan's work as Election Chair of the former ISTF, may not make some people happy, it may be perceived by some to be "divisive" but it has the merit both of making people think, and of avoiding double-think. This candidacy platform aims at offering Chapter Chairs a viable choice, which if refused, will at least stand for the record in future. ISOC's principles reinforce its historical legitimacy with the perception of added value. If we lose our principles then we will have only ourselves to blame - and there is "In My Humble Opinion" a need to clear the air of the perception of "new governance" disinformation to allow the Board of Trustees of the Internet Society to be respected everywhere. BIOGRAPHY Jonathan has since early 2000 taken a lead role in growing awareness on IPv6 societal issues http://www.fr.ipv6tf.org Initiaton of ISOC participation in several European and International conferences and meetings. Other initiatives include : Swedish Government Conferences There is much more that could be said, and more examples of Jonathan's work for ISOC, notably in the context of the French Chapter and of the European Chapters Coordination Council. He is available for any questions that Chapter Chairs or their membership would like to ask and regrets that no "Ask the Candidates" facility is anticipated this year which would allow all those entrusted to represent their Chapters in this election a wider basis on which to base their decision. |
