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ISOCNZ - ISOC Report 24/08/00

by Dr Jenny Shearer, Honorary Research Fellow, Computer Science Department, University of Auckland, ISOC New Zealand Chapter in Formation contact; Dr Howard Frederick, Director, New Zealand Centre for Innovation and Entrepreneurship. UNITEC Faculty of Business, Auckland; ISOCNZ Social Impact Committee Chair.

Executive summary

ISOCNZ (Internet Society of New Zealand) drew its name from ISOC (The Internet Society) and since 1995 there has been interest in affiliating. There is no incompatibility or contradiction between the two organisations; indeed, there would be a lot of synergies by affiliating. ISOCNZ could become a national “Chapter” of ISOC. There are already 58 Chapters and 86 Chapters-in-formation (including New Zealand). However, if ISOCNZ were to become a national chapter of ISOC, this would result in more than doubling the existing subscription of ISOCNZ members. ISOC is considering a new status to be called Associate Member. This would preserve the unique character of ISOCNZ, would be less financially demanding, and would us to participate in ISOC affairs. However, ISOC has been slow in announcing this new type of affiliation. We recommend that the best course of action for the purpose of moving ISOC forward to implement the “associate membership” would be to apply for Associate Membership and give ISOC six months to make a decision. Meanwhile, ISOCNZ should provide modest administrative support for the formation of an ISOC Chapter in New Zealand by members who choose to do so. Draft resolutions are in the body of this document.

Introduction

ISOCNZ (Internet Society of New Zealand) drew its name from an oft-expressed intention of founding members in 1995 that the ISOCNZ should become a Chapter of the Internet Society (ISOC).

Yet joining ISOC was put on the backburner because operating .nz domain name system, vested in ISOCNZ by Waikato University, became our primary concern and kept efforts concentrated elsewhere. In 1997 a company, DOMAINZ, was set up to run the DNS in New Zealand under ISOCNZ policy direction.

In 1998 ISOCNZ submitted an ISOC Chapter Application, but this document observed that there were significant problems posed by the pricing structure of ISOC membership when it was superimposed on the subscription of the existing ISOCNZ organisation. At that time ISOC was overhauling its Chapters structure, and ISOCNZ participated in a working group that addressed changes to be made. Since that time the issue lapsed.

Chairman's (Higgins) Report dated 1st November 1998 stated:

ISOC Negotiations ISOCNZ has been, for some time, negotiating with ISOC for some sort of membership status. The sticking point has primarily been the membership structure of ISOC which would have meant that ISOCNZ would have to take a subordinate role and be unable to continue to operate with the freedom it currently has. ISOC also has rules about involvement in commercial ventures and requiring chapters to obtain permission to make public statements. One outcome of the negotiations has been to get ISOC to look harder at its Chapter rules and structure and they seem to be gradually coming around to our point of view. I feel though, that we have some way to go yet before we arrive at an acceptable agreement.

Jenny Shearer comments on Jim Higgins's report: The “sticking point” has been cost. There is no indication that ISOCNZ would have to take a subordinate role. There is no requirement to ask permission for public statements (ISOC wishes to see contentious public statements to ensure that they comply with guiding principles that are similar to ISOCNZ's), and ISOCNZ's policy role in respect to Domainz is acceptable to ISOC because ISOCNZ is a non-profit body. I was a member of the Chapters restructuring working group and though I wrote a discussion paper, the above issues were not raised in it, though I addressed the issue of cost. ISOCNZ members generally are aware that the issues raised by Jim Higgins lack substance, as is indicated by consistent support by the membership for ISOC. There is no requirement for Chapters to seek permission to make public statements within the country, and no legal penalty for defying ISOC on public statements outside the country. My understanding is that the concern is that statements observe guiding principles, not that they conform to the ISOC policy line as such.

AGM resolution

This year's ISOCNZ AGM addressed the issue again:

MOVED: Shearer/Hine) THAT ISOCNZ supports the formation of a New Zealand ISOC Chapter.

(MOVED: Nah/Shearer) Amended by the addition of the words "or form an affiliation, relationship or partnership with ISOC". CARRIED

AGM26 (MOVED: Shearer/Hine) THAT ISOCNZ supports the formation of a New Zealand ISOC Chapter or form an affiliation, relationship or partnership with ISOC.

CARRIED For 130/Against 45

ISOCNZ Council moved on July 28, 2000:

00/153 (MOVED: Hine/Gray) THAT Jenny Shearer and Howard Frederick be invited to prepare a report for the August or September Council Meeting detailing the advantages and disadvantages of the different possible affiliations with ISOC, the report to include some input on the feelings of the membership. CARRIED U

  • Jenny Shearer comments: After I submitted the motion, but before the AGM, I had discussions with ISOC during which it became clear that ISOC would welcome an associate scenario under new guidelines, which are now being developed. Taking into account the existing New Zealand Chapter in Formation, it became apparent that an optimal solution might be for ISOCNZ to become an associate organisation, and to support an ISOC Chapter in a close relationship. This was duly explained at the AGM, and Lin Nah proposed an amendment to expedite this solution, “and/or form an affiliation, relationship or partnership with ISOC". This amendment was carried. I note that the motion is incorrectly minuted, and will seek correction. Presumably the recorded proceedings will confirm this, as the Chair sought clarification and I confirmed the wording as and/or.
  • Howard Frederick comments: The mean of the resolution is a bit confusing. The section BEFORE THE OR ("THAT ISOCNZ supports the formation of a New Zealand ISOC Chapter") I think the meaning is: ISOCNZ supports the formation of a New Zealand ISOC chapter. But there is nothing saying that ISOCNZ itself should form an ISOC chapter. Nor does it exclude that. AFTER THE OR ("form an affiliation, relationship or partnership with ISOC") once again, there's nothing explicitly saying the *ISOCNZ* must form an affiliation, relationship or partnership with ISOC. But what is an affiliation, a relationship or a partnership? ISOC has chapters. For example, nowhere on the ISOC Web site does it talk about “affiliates”.

Alternative courses of action

This report addresses the issue of the relationship that would best realise the intention of ISOCNZ members and identifies choices of structure and identifies related issues to be addressed. Here are possible actions:

  • That ISOCNZ could become an ISOC Chapter. This would enable New Zealand to have a voice and a vote in ISOC global activities, and facilitate New Zealand participation in ISOC committees as well as the Chapter Council. It would enable New Zealand representation of South Pacific interests, which are traditionally promoted by New Zealand.
  • That ISOCNZ could participate in the yet-to-be-announced Associations Membership Program and play a role in facilitating the creation of an ISOC Chapter in New Zealand. This would preserve the unique character of ISOCNZ as it has developed, would be less financially demanding on the organisation, and would allow the realisation of objectives of global participation in ISOC affairs. An outline of a possible association membership program can be found at http://www.dkaplan.net/isoc/associat.htm
  • That ISOCNZ could re-brand itself, surrender the name, and leave an ISOC Chapter to develop separately. We do not intend here to delve into the rebranding issue, but if Council chose this option, a thorough study should be launched.

ISOC and its Work

After comparing the two organisations founding documents, aside from the national versus global focus and the obvious mission of ISOCNZ to operate the .nz domain space, there is no incompatibility or contradiction between the two organisations. There are fifty-eight chapters of ISOC (see Appendix) ranging from Argentina to Venezuela and eighty-six chapters in formation (see Appendix) ranging from Albania to Yugoslavia and including New Zealand (contact: Jenny Shearer). There is a Primer for Creating a Local ISOC Chapter and Policies and Procedures for Establishing New Chapters (see Appendix). There is a Chapter Application (see Appendix) as well as proposed “Bylaws of the [ your chapter name ] Chapter of the Internet Society” (see Appendix). There is also a newchapters mailing list, the aim of which is to facilitate the setting up of new ISOC chapters around the world by enabling exchange between people wishing to set up new chapters, those who have already set up chapters and ISOC officials.

Tarek Kamel is ISOC VP for Chapters and he focuses particularly on the needs of developing countries. The purposes of the Chapters Council are:

  • Help identify new chapters and support their start-up
  • Share best practices across chapters
  • Provide counsel on chapter and meeting operations
  • Define and monitor minimum operation requirements of chapters
  • Coordinate with secretariat on specific issues and recommendations
  • Review and recommend special projects
  • Review administration process and recommend changes
  • Review and distribute chapters' annual reports

On March 5-6 of 2000 the Chapters Council met in Cairo. It began with an African Chapters Meeting (see appendix). Programs for Initial Chapter Action included: Multilingual Support and Development - France; Internet Exchange Points - Burkina Faso; E-Commerce – England; Infrastructure/Resources/Access – Togo; Chapter Respectability/Credibility – Israel; I-Clubs – Benin; E-Government - Morocco

Planned actions of the Chapter council also include improvement of services inside chapters: deployment of best practices; increase chapter support resources; increase PR support to chapters; establish chapter minimum operating criteria; establish policy development and communication process for greater chapter involvement; find supplemental funding for worthwhile local programs.

An unsympathetic critique of chapter activities was presented by Jan Prins, Managing Director Dutch Chapter at the CC meeting July 19th Yokohama.

  • There is no clear idea of what chapter is or should be
  • Only few chapters really contribute to ISOC global mission and membership
  • The Board of Trustees and the staff do not see Chapters as a critical success factor in ISOC's future

New Zealand chapter-in-formation

In 2000 a New Zealand ISOC Chapter in formation was initiated by Jenny Shearer. E-mails to the isocnz-l list provided a total of eleven ISOC members, who have indicated their willingness to form a Chapter. A total of 25 individual ISOC members are required for formation of a Chapter. Most members are ISOCNZ members. This development indicates the willingness of some ISOCNZ members to join both organisations and pay the full subscriptions. However the Chapter in Formation has not yet reached the stage of being able to set up Chapter bylaws, committees, and elections of officers.

ISOCNZ / ISOC STRUCTURES

The structure of ISOCNZ contains unique features in terms of standard ISOC Chapter structure, as it was set up as a Society without specific reference to ISOC Chapters. However Jenny Shearer's discussions with ISOC officers in 1998 found that there were no organisational impediments to ISOCNZ becoming a Chapter.

Of particular concern at the time was the policy oversight function of ISOCNZ in respect to DOMAINZ. However, this was not considered to be a problem by ISOC in view of the Articles of Association of ISOCNZ statement that the Society is a non-profit common interest body [Articles of Association 1995]. Areas of minor difference such as structure of the Society's officer designations were considered to be acceptable within the framework of a responsible Society structure.

Membership

The provisions National Chapter By-laws must conform to the membership provisions specified in the Internet Society Bylaws Article V, Section1, which state: “The chapter shall have two classes of members: Organizational Members and Individual Members”. This means that all members of the New Zealand chapter must also be members of the Internet Society, in other words, duplicate membership and double fees. Individual memberships to ISOC cost US$35.

The issue of cost remains current. The 1998 ISOC Chapter Application (authored by Colin Jackson and Jenny Shearer) observed:

Associate membership of ISOC at US$35 per annum is relatively expensive for New Zealanders. It exceeds the NZ$50 (about US$29) currently charged by ISOCNZ to its individual members (New Zealand's GNP per capita is slightly less than half of the United States). ISOCNZ does have an alternative source of revenue – income derived from policy setting activities in respect of the Domain Name System – however ISOCNZ takes the view that it is unreasonable to fully fund ISOC membership for its own members off activities for which it holds a monopoly.

Thus all ISOCNZ members would have to acquire two memberships totalling some NZ$ 120 per year.

A key observation of this report is that if ISOCNZ were to become a national chapter of ISOC, this would result in more than doubling the existing subscription of ISOCNZ members in order to pay ISOC subscriptions as well. This may present a major problem in terms of retaining ISOCNZ members.

Officers

A national New Zealand chapter must have a Chair, Vice Chair, Secretary, and Treasurer, and may establish other offices as well. The big difference is the role of the Secretary. If ISOCNZ were to become an ISOC Chapter, then the Secretary would have to prepare the Chapter's Activity Report for submission to ISOC Headquarters.

The officers' term of office is one year. Its standing committees are similar to our existing ones. Its temporary committees are equivalent to our working groups. There are no other contradictions or incompatibilities to ISOCNZ practice or policy in terms of the organisational requirements.

Organisation implications

A key observation of this report is that we would not wish to proliferate administrative systems for related voluntary organisations such as ISOCNZ and a New Zealand Chapter of ISOC. This creates unnecessary work and duplication of functions in relation to a small country, which has a limited pool of members to draw upon.

Our Articles of Association (Para. 2.5) seem to imply that the administration of an ISOC Chapter could be supplied by the existing staff of ISOCNZ with the cost to be met by ISOCNZ. This could be considered in terms of the Articles of Association as part of its objective to coordinate activities of a national Internet resource, in this case an ISOC Chapter. However, the workload of administering our ISOC relations would not be insignificant.

In the area of public positions and statements, as an Associate organisation, ISOCNZ would not, according to information so far available, be liable for the review of public statements, which are required from Chapters as follows:

Officials of local chapters may make public statements and take public positions as long as such statements are:

Related to and advance the purposes of the Internet Society;

Not contrary to a position taken by the Board of Trustees;

Prepared and presented in a professional manner;

Not likely to give rise to any significant liability of a legal or juridical nature.

Where there is any question regarding the appropriateness of a public position or statement, the chapter is expected to consult with the Society's headquarters. If the statement is one before a governmental body outside the national boundaries of the country within which the chapter is located, such consultation is mandatory and prior approval must be obtained.

The Society's headquarters shall be informed of all significant public positions and statements taken or issued by a chapter - preferably in advance, but in any case within 24 hours after issuing the statement.

All public positions and statements made by a chapter shall clearly indicate the source as the _______ Chapter of the Internet Society".

It is possible to imagine some rare eventualities where the New Zealand ISOCNZ position or the New Zealand ISOC Chapter position might differ with ISOC's position, but in practice the above conditions have been invoked when there is a severe conflict with the Guiding Principles of ISOC, for example a country chapter supporting radical censorship legislation. In these cases, the penalty is likely to be a letter from ISOC.

Conclusion and Recommendations

ISOCNZ currently performs oversight of DOMAINZ. It also takes responsibility for commentary and policy development on national Internet issues and ICANN related issues. It would thus be appropriate for ISOCNZ to develop an “international arm” in order to pursue global objectives of the Internet community as identified by ISOC.

The development of an associate relationship with ISOC and the support of an ISOC Chapter could thus be viewed as an important development in the role of ISOCNZ in supporting the development of the Internet. It would reinforce its role as a central co-ordinator for important Internet policy functions. The ISOC Chapter could provide an ISOCNZ Council member, in the same role as that of the Industry representative Council member position currently provided (but not currently filled).

The more than doubling of membership fees, not to mention possible (admittedly rare) conflicts in public statements, plus the established identity of ISOCNZ in its present form, leads to the conclusion that full Chapter status is not the optimal solution for ISOCNZ itself.

The other possibility is to become part of the new movement toward Association Membership. ISOC is in the process of developing a partnership/affiliate relationship system for existing organisations that wish to share in its work and give support, but wish to retain their own identity. Jenny Shearer believes this relationship most likely would involve a subscription of US$10 -15 per member after the first year. Part of the role of an associate organisation is to support ISOC membership. There would appear to be an opportunity for ISOCNZ to take on this associate role and as part of its commitments, to facilitate and provide administrative support for an ISOC Chapter.

An affiliation to ISOC would create less cost to ISOCNZ members and enable it to retain the “independent” international characterisation it has taken on. Administrative support of an ISOC Chapter, while not required by associate status, would however fulfil the AGM vote to support formation of an ISOC Chapter, with its full voting and participation rights.

We thus offer the following resolutions to Council:

  • That ISOCNZ not become a Chapter of ISOC.
  • That in order to move ISOC forward on the “associate membership”, ISOCNZ should resolve to apply for Associate Membership and give ISOC six months to make a decision.
  • That ISOCNZ provide administrative support for the formation of an ISOC Chapter in New Zealand by members.
Dr Jenny Shearer and Dr Howard Frederick 22nd August 2000

APPENDICES

Appendix: Mission and Strategies of ISOC

Internet Society Mission Statement proclaims: “"To assure the open development, evolution and use of the Internet for the benefit of all people throughout the world."

ISOC's “About” pages states: The Internet SOCiety (ISOC) is a professional membership society with more than 150 organizational and 6,000 individual members in over 100 countries. It provides leadership in addressing issues that confront the future of the Internet, and is the organization home for the groups responsible for Internet infrastructure standards, including the Internet Engineering Task Force (IETF) and the Internet Architecture Board (IAB). The Society's individual and organizational members are bound by a common stake in maintaining the viability and global scaling of the Internet. They comprise the companies, government agencies, and foundations that have created the Internet and its technologies as well as innovative new entrepreneurial organizations contributing to maintain that dynamic. Visit their home pages to see how Internet innovators are creatively using the network. The Society is governed by its Board of Trustees elected by its membership around the world.

Further, the Internet Society:

Facilitates open development of standards, protocols, administration and the technical infrastructure of the Internet

Supports education in developing countries specifically, and wherever the need exists

Promotes professional development and opportunities for association to Internet leadership

Provides reliable information about the Internet

Provides forums for discussion of issues that affect Internet evolution, development and use -- technical, commercial, societal, etc.

Fosters an environment for international cooperation, community, and a culture that enables self-governance to work

Serves as a focal point for cooperative efforts to promote the Internet as a positive tool to benefit all people throughout the world

Provides management and coordination for on-strategy initiatives and outreach efforts -- humanitarian, educational, societal, etc.

Appendix Frequently-Asked-Questions [about chapters]

HOW MANY PEOPLE ARE NEEDED TO FORM A CHAPTER?

25 members of ISOC. They don't have to be members when you decide to form the chapter. But they must be by the time you apply to become a chapter.

CAN THERE BE MORE THAN ONE CHAPTER IN A COUNTRY?

Yes. In fact, the more local the chapter's area, the more narrow can be its focus. Chapters do not receive an exclusive "franchise" or territory from ISOC. Overlap can exist. Of course, it's usually in the interest of the members to avoid overlap and join forces to have a more effective voice.

HOW DO WE FIND OTHER MEMBERS WHO MIGHT WANT TO JOIN A CHAPTER?

ISOC will send a letter to members in your area, suggesting that they contact you to help form the chapter. You can also recruit non-members to join ISOC.

CAN NON-MEMBERS OF ISOC JOIN A CHAPTER?

Only ISOC members can belong to an ISOC chapter. However, membership is not necessary for participation in activities of the Society or its Chapters.

CAN ORGANIZATIONS JOIN A CHAPTER?

Yes, but they must also be organizational members of ISOC.

HOW MUCH EXTRA DOES IT COST TO JOIN A CHAPTER?

There is no additional charge imposed by ISOC. Some existing chapters charge dues to belong; some do not. It is a chapter decision, and usually based upon the type of activities and programs a chapter wishes to implement, and whether or not they can be self-sustaining.

Appendix Bylaws for National Chapters

Note to Chapter Organizers

If any of the terms of this model draft are inconsistent with applicable local law, the chapter will be expected to comply with local law and notify ISOC of such discrepancies.

Annotation conventions:
*...*   Mandatory phrases
[....]   REPLACE WORDING WITH YOUR CHAPTER INFORMATION
(....)   Additional comments and clarification of text

If you have any further questions, please contact Terry Weigler

Bylaws of the  [ your chapter name ] Chapter of the Internet Society

Article I. - Name
1.  * This organization shall be called the [ your chapter name ] Chapter of the Internet Society.*

Article II. - Purpose
(Each chapter shall have an explicit statement of purpose, which shall not be inconsistent with the purpose set forth in the ISOC Articles of Incorporation, and shall clearly indicate that the Chapter is organized as a not for profit organization under applicable law.)
1.  [Chapters of the Internet Society serve the Society's purposes by serving the interests of a segment of the global Internet community through a local presence, focus on local issues and developments, and use of local languages.]
2.  This Chapter will serve persons who live or work in  [your geographic area.]
3. * This Chapter is chartered by the Internet Society. These bylaws neither supersede nor abrogate any of the Bylaws of the Internet Society that regulate chapter affairs.*

Article III. - Membership
(The provisions of this section must conform to the member ship provisions specified in the Internet Society Bylaws Article V, Section1, which state: The chapter shall have two classes of members: Organizational Members and Individual Members)
1.  * All members of a chapter shall also be members of the Internet Society. Membership is not necessary, however, for participation in activities of the society or its chapters.*
2.  *All individuals and organizations falling within the defined scope of the chapter shall be eligible for membership without discrimination.*
3.  * Membership in the Chapter shall be open to all ISOC members in the locality served by the Chapter upon request and payment of any local dues, as determined by the Executive Committee.*
4.  [Student membership shall be open to all full-time students; student membership dues shall be determined by the Executive Council, but shall not exceed 75 percent of regular member dues.]

Article IV. - Officers
1.  The officers of this Chapter shall be: Chair, Vice Chair, Secretary, and Treasurer.
(Some chapters combine the offices of Secretary and Treasurer into one position. Other offices, such as Second Vice Chair or Program Chair may also be established in this article. Whatever offices are defined, there should be a corresponding section in the next article, Duties.)
(Provisions for filling vacancies left by resignations should be included in this article. Provisions for limiting the number of terms a person can serve in a position may also be included in this article.)
2.  The officers shall be elected at the annual Election (or Business) meeting. They shall take office on [ date ] and serve for  [ define term of office.]
(It is recommended that the Chapter's election be held at the last or next to last meeting of the Chapter's fiscal year or by mail ballot with the results announced at the Election meeting. This provides for or a period of transition from the outgoing Council to the incoming Council. Although it is discouraged, there are several Chapters that specify the term of office as Election meeting to Election meeting as indicated in the following:)
(Alternate: They shall take office immediately upon election and serve until their successor is elected.)

Article V. - Duties of Officers
1.  The chair is the principal officer and is responsible for leading the Chapters and managing its activities in accordance with the policies and procedures of the Internet Society and these bylaws. The Chair shall preside at all meetings of this Chapter and of its Executive Council.  [With the advice of the Chapter's Executive Council, the Chair shall appoint all members of committees of this chapter and all Committee chairmen.]
2.  The Vice Chair shall preside at meetings in the absence of the Chair.
3.  The Secretary shall keep the minutes of all Chapter and Executive Council meetings. Other duties of the Secretary include:
(Some reporting to ISOC Headquarters is required by ISOC Policies include:  an annual activity report (Document 94-253), officer information, and an annual financial report.  It is common to assign the duties for the first two of those to the Secretary.)
A) Preparation of the Annual Chapter Report for presentation to the Chapter at the Annual Election Meeting.
B) Preparation of the Chapter's Activity Report and submission of this report to ISOC Headquarters.
C) Notification to ISOC Headquarters of any changes in the elected officers of the Chapter.
D) Submission of any proposed amendment to these Vice President of chapters for approval .
(As noted, in Article XI of these sample bylaws, proposed amendments must be approved before they can be submitted to the Chapter's membership for a vote.)
4. The Treasurer shall collect dues, pay all bills, and maintain the Chapter's financial records. Duties of the Treasurer shall also include:
A) Preparation of the Chapter's Annual Financial Report for presentation to the Chapter at the Annual Election meeting.
B)* Completion and submission of the Annual Financial Report to ISOC Headquarters.*
(This is a mandatory report - it is required by ISOC Document 94-253)

Article VI. - Executive Council
The Executive Council shall consist of the present Chapter officers, the immediate Past Chair, the chairmen of the Chapter's standing committees and up to Members-at- Large.
(Some Chapter Councils consist of the current officers, the Past Chair, the chairmen of all committees, and representatives to other organizations. This structure is in lieu of any Members-at-Large.)
The term of the members of the Council shall coincide with the terms of the officers. They shall take office on the first day of the fiscal year and serve for one year.

Article VII. - Standing Committees
The Standing Committees of the Chapter shall be [List committee in your Chapter, i.e.;Program, Arrangements, Education, Membership, Publicity, etc.]
(The number and functions of committees is determined by your Chapter activities and goals. Think about what you want to do this year and the in the foreseeable future and establish standing committees that correspond to those activities and the corresponding assignment of duties. Then define the general duties of the committees.)
2. The Program Committee shall plan and make arrangements for the technical programs of the Chapter's meetings in accordance with the membership's interests and the aims of the Chapter as set forth in Article II.
[Include the descriptions of the other standing committees here.]

Article VIII. - Temporary Committees
1.  With the advice of the Chapter Executive Council, the Chair may appoint such temporary committees as appropriate.
2.  A Nominating Committee, consisting of at least three members of this Chapter, at least two of whom shall not be members of the Executive Council, shall be appointed by the Chapter Chair at least two months prior to the Election meeting.
(Some Chapters assign this function to the Past Chair, if available, as the person with no other required duties who knows what all the jobs required. You can also include when the slate of officers must be presented. The Committee can also be responsible for identifying people who may serve on the various committees.)
[3.  An Audit Committee shall be appointed by the Chapter Chair at the close of the fiscal year to assure the accuracy of the accounting of the Chapter's funds for the year. This Committee should also verify the accuracy of the Financial Report prepared by the Treasurer for submission to ISOC.]
(Descriptions of other Temporary Committees should be included in this Article.

Article IX. - Meetings
1.  *The Chapter shall hold meetings only in places that are open and accessible to all members of the Society.* Meetings shall be held as planned by the Program Committee.
(You may have additional local government requirements about openness to the public and accessibility for the handicapped.)
2.  The Annual Business meeting shall be held at the last meeting of the program [ your chapter fiscal ] year. At this meeting, the Secretary and Treasurer each shall present a report. Also, the election of officers shall be held.
(This ties to Article IV, Officers, and their election. If you choose an alternative there, this section should correspond. For Chapters that conduct their elections by mail ballot, this section could read: Also, the Chair shall announce the results of the election of officers for the coming year.)
3.  * Notices of the place and time of all meetings shall be distributed to all members at least one week prior to any meeting, by Internet mail or by oral, telegraphic, or other written notice,duly served on or mailed .*
(Your chapter may want to define how many meetings their will be each year.)

Article X. - Disbursements and Dues
1.  Disbursements from the Treasury for Chapter expenditures shall be made by the Treasurer with authorization of the Executive Council and shall be included in the minutes of its meetings.
2.  Dues shall be fixed annually by the Executive Council.

Article XI. - Amendment and Voting Procedures
1.  *All proposed changes to these Chapter Bylaws shall have been approved by the Vice President of Chapters before being presented to the Chapter membership for a vote.*
2.  No official business of the Chapter shall be conducted unless a quorum of the Chapter is present.
3.  A quorum of the Chapter shall be defined as [ xx ] percent of the voting membership of the Chapter or  [ at least 10 ] members, which ever is greater.
4.  A simple majority of the members present and voting shall be required to carry a motion.
(To vote on the Bylaws, the Chapter should have a quorum (50% of the members present unless specified otherwise) and the action will be passed by a plurality of affirmative votes (majority of those voting yea or nay.))
5. Officers will be elected by a plurality of votes cast. If the election is conducted by mail ballot, sufficient ballots must be returned to have constituted a quorum.
(If elections are conducted by mail ballot, specific procedures should be included here, especially ballot preparation, how ballots are distributed, and how long the membership has to return the ballots.)

Article XII. - Dissolution of the Chapter
1.  Dissolution of this Chapter by consent of the members shall consist of unanimous agreement of all its officers together with a majority vote at a meeting which has been publicized in advance to all members of the Chapter for the purpose of taking this vote.
2.  Should this Chapter be dissolved, its assets shall be transferred to [organization.]
(Please include a plan for the dissolution of the chapter and where any remaining funds will be transferred.)

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Appendix Policies and Procedures for Establishing New Chapters

This document, which was drafted by Mark Selby, Martin Burack and Don Heath, describes the Society's policies and procedures in the establishment of Chapters of the Internet Society. It was accepted by the ISOC Board of Trustees on 24 June 1997.

  1. Establishment of Chapters
    1. Any responsible party may submit a request to establish a chapter to the Society's International Headquarters Secretariat.
    2. The Society's VP of Chapters (or Designee) will consult with the Executive Director of the Society on the matter and provide some immediate response to the requesting party regarding the feasibility of establishing such a chapter.
    3. The requesting party will then provide a detailed written charter for the proposed chapter - addressing all of the items contained in this policy statement and guideline.
    4. Upon receipt the final draft charter, a second review will be undertaken and approval made by the VP of Chapters in consultation with the Executive Director and the President.
    5. If the response at any point in establishing a chapter is negative, the party can appeal directly to the Board of Trustees. Final approval of chapters lies with the Board of Trustees.

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APPENDIX Purpose of Chapters

Chapters of the Internet Society serve the Society's purposes by serving the interests of a segment of the global Internet community through a local presence, focus on local issues and developments, including cultural, commercial and use of local languages. Every chapter shall have an explicit statement of purpose.

Scope of Chapters

Chapters may be established on a non-exclusive basis to cater to the needs of any specific, cohesive community of interest. Generally this will be a regional community, within national boundaries.

Where a significant overlap of the defined communities arises from the proposed creation of a new chapter, a compelling reason must exist for such a redundancy. This does not preclude formation of city/state/department chapters where a chapter extends to national borders.

Funding of Chapters

Chapters will generally be funded by local membership dues or grants.

Chapters may also generate funds as follows:

Organizational members of ISOC may become organizational members of chapters by paying a supplemental fee, to be determined by the chapter, directly to the chapter.

An organization may become an "individual membership partner" whereby it pays the ISOC Chapter membership fees for a minimum of five individuals and receives local chapter recognition for the organization's support.

Chapters may solicit funds from local organizations to support chapter activities.

Dues may be charged for chapter individual membership in addition to the dues that the individual member pays to ISOC.

Public Positions and Statements

Specific officials of local chapters may make public statements and take public positions as long as such statements are:

Related to and advance the purposes of the Internet Society;

Not contrary to a position taken by the Board of Trustees;

Prepared and presented in a professional manner;

Not likely to give rise to any significant liability of a legal or juridical nature.

Where there is any question regarding the appropriateness of a public position or statement, the chapter is expected to consult with the Society's headquarters. If the statement is one before a governmental body outside the national boundaries of the country within which the chapter is located, such consultation is mandatory and prior approval must be obtained.

The Society's headquarters shall be informed of all significant public positions and statements taken or issued by a chapter - preferably in advance, but in any case within 24 hours after issuing the statement.

All public positions and statements made by a chapter shall clearly indicate the source as the "_______ Chapter of the Internet Society".

Members

All individuals and organizations falling within the defined scope of the chapter shall be eligible for membership without discrimination.

All members of a chapter shall also be members of the Internet Society. Membership is not necessary, however, for participation in activities of the Society or its chapters

Liabilities

The Internet Society shall not be liable for any act or omission or incurred liability of any kind of any Chapter.

Organization

Chapters will be encouraged but not required to constitute themselves as not-for-profit corporate persons.

Chapters will have as a minimum a defined Board of Directors, Officers, a written charter, members and a fixed headquarters address.

Chapters will be responsible for maintaining a current list of members that is available to the International Secretariat at all times. Arrangements may be made for the International Secretariat assisting chapters in this task.

Chapters may be subject to an annual review conducted by ISOC, or by an individual appointed by the Secretariat, to ensure that the Chapter is adhering to ISOC and Chapter policies and procedures.

Chapters must submit to ISOC the Chapter's Annual Financial Report, Annual Activity Report and other reports as may be requested by ISOC.

Chapters will have their status reconfirmed by the ISOC Secretariat at least once every 36 months.

Activities

A chapter may undertake any activity reasonably related to and in furtherance of the purposes of the Internet Society in its scope of jurisdiction.

Appendix Resolution 97-17. ISOC Chapter Policy

RESOLVED, that the Board adopts the following document as the ISOC Policy on the Establishment and conduct of Chapters of the Internet Society:

This document describes the Society's policies and procedures in the establishment and conduct of chapters of the Internet Society

  1. Establishment of Chapters
    Any responsible party may submit a request to establish a chapter to the ISOC Secretariat.
    ISOC's Vice-President for Chapters (or designee) will consult with the ISOC Executive Director on the matter and provide some immediate response to the requesting party regarding the feasibility of establishing such a chapter.
    The requesting party will then provide a detailed written charter for the proposed chapter, addressing all of the items contained in this policy statement and guideline.
    Upon receipt of the final draft charter, a second review will be undertaken by ISOC and approval made by the Vice-President for Chapters in consultation with the Executive Director and the President.
    If the response at any point in establishing a chapter is negative, the party can appeal directly to the Board of Trustees. Final approval of chapters lies with the Board of Trustees.
  2. Purpose of Chapters
    Chapters of the Internet Society serve the Society's purposes by serving the interests of a segment of the global Internet community through a local presence, focus on local issues and developments, including cultural, commercial and use of local languages. Every chapter shall have an explicit statement of purpose.
  3. Scope of Chapters
    Chapters may be established on a non-exclusive basis to cater to the needs of any specific, cohesive community of interest. Generally this will be a regional community within national boundaries.
    Where a significant overlap of the defined communities arises from the proposed creation of a new chapter, a compelling reason must exist for such a redundancy. This does not preclude formation of City/State/Province/Department chapters where a chapter already extends to national boundaries.
  4. Funding of Chapters
    Chapters will generally be funded by local membership dues or grants.
    Chapters may also generate funds as follows:
    Organizational members of ISOC may become organizational members of chapters by paying a supplemental fee, to be determined by the Chapter, directly to the Chapter.
    An organization may become an "Individual Membership Partner" whereby it pays the ISOC membership fees for a minimum of five individuals and receives local chapter recognition for the organisational support.
    Chapters may solicit funds from local organizations to support chapter activities.
    Dues may be charged for chapter individual memberships in addition to the dues that the individual member pays to ISOC.
  5. Public Positions and Statements
    Specific officials of chapters may make public statements and take public positions as long as such statements are:
    Related to and advance the purposes of the Internet Society
    Not contrary to a position taken by the Board of Trustees
    Prepared and presented in a professional manner
    Not likely to give rise to any significant liability of a legal or juridical nature.
    Where there is any question regarding the appropriateness of a public position or statement, the chapter is expected to consult with the Society's headquarters. If the statement is one made before a governmental body outside of the national boundaries of the country within which the chapter is located, such consultation is mandatory and prior approval must be obtained.
    The Society's headquarters shall be informed of all significant public positions and statements taken or issued by a chapter, preferably in advance, but in any case within 24 hours after issuing the statement.
    All public positions and statements made by a chapter shall clearly indicate the source as the "- - Chapter of the Internet Society".
  6. Members
    All individuals and organizations falling within the defined scope of the chapter shall be eligible for membership without discrimination except for just cause.
    All members of a chapter shall also be members of ISOC. Membership is not necessary, however, for participation in the activities of the society or its chapters.
    The Chapter shall have at least 25 financial individual members of ISOC
  7. Liabilities
    The Internet Society shall not be liable for any act or omission or incurred liability of any kind of any Chapter.
  8. Organization
    Chapters will be encouraged but not required to constitutes themselves as not-for-profit corporate persons.
    Chapters will have as a minimum a defined Board of Directors, Officers, a written charter, members and a fixed corporate address.
    Chapters will be responsible for maintaining a current list of members that is available to the Internet Society Secretariat at all times. Arrangements may be made for the Internet Society Secretariat assisting chapters in this task.
    Chapters may be subject to an annual review conducted by the ISOC Secretariat, or by an individual appointed by the ISOC Secretariat, to ensure that the chapter is adhering to ISOC and Chapter policies and procedures.
    Chapters must submit to ISOC the chapter's annual financial report, annual activity report, and other reports as may be requested by ISOC.
    Chapters will have their status reconfirmed by the ISOC Secretariat at least once every 36 months.
  9. Activities
    A Chapter may undertake any activity reasonably related to and in furtherance of the purposes of the Internet Society in its scope of jurisdiction.

Appendix Current ISOC Chapters/

Argentina
Australia
Belgium
Belgium, Wallonie
Benin
Brazil
Bulgaria
Cameroon
Canada
Canada, Québec
Canada, Toronto
Denmark
Egypt, Arab Republic of
England
Finland
France
Gabon
Gambia, Republic of The
Germany
Ghana
Greece
Hungary
Israel
Italy
Japan
Korea, Republic of
Mali
Mexico
Morocco
Netherlands
Nigeria
Norway
Pacific Islands
Peru
Philippines
Saudi Arabia
Scotland
South Africa
Spain, Andalucia
Spain, Aragon
Spain, Catalonia
Spain, Galicia
Sweden
Switzerland, Geneva
Taiwan
Thailand
Turkey, Istanbul
Uganda
USA, California, Los Angeles
USA, Florida (Southern)
USA, Hawaii
USA, Illinois, Chicago
USA, New Jersey
USA, New York City Metro Area
USA, South Central Texas
USA, Washington DC Area
Venezuela
Appendix ISOC Chapters in Formation

Albania
Armenia
Austria, Vienna
Bahrain
Belarus
Belgium; Flanders
Bolivia
Burkina Faso
Chile
Colombia
Cote d'Ivoire
Cyprus
Dominican Republic
Ecuador
Ethiopia
Republic of Georgia
Guatemala
Honduras
India; Andhra Pradesh
Indonesia
Ireland
Jordan
Lebanon
Lithuania
Luxembourg
Macedonia
Madagascar
Malaysia
Malta
Moldova
New Zealand
Nicaragua
Niger
Oman
Pakistan
Palestine
Panama
Paraguay
Poland
Portugal
Russian Federation; Tatarstan
Rwanda
Senegal
Sierra Leone
Singapore
Spain, Basque
Spain, Valencia
Sudan
Syria
Togo
Trinidad & Tobago
Tunisia
Turkmenistan
Uganda - Western
United Arab Emirates
Uruguay
USA; Arizona, Phoenix
USA; California, Beverly Hills
USA; California, East Bay
USA; California, San Diego
USA; California, San Francisco Bay Area
USA; California, Silicon Valley
USA; Georgia, Atlanta Area
USA; Michigan
USA; Massachusetts, Boston
USA; Nebraska, Omaha
USA; Ohio, Cincinnati
USA; Ohio, Cleveland
USA; Ohio, Columbus
USA; North Carolina, Charlotte Metropolitan area
USA; Pennsylvania - Central
USA; Pennsylvania - Philadelphia
USA; South Carolina
USA; Texas, Dallas
USA; Texas, Houston
USA; Vermont
USA; Wisconsin
Viet Nam
Yugoslavia

Appendix Chapters Report By Tarek Kamel

VP - Chapters, ISOC

Powerpoint July 2000
Duties of the Chapters Council
Help Identify New Chapters and Support their Start-up
Share Best Practices across Chapters
Provide Counsel on Chapter and Meeting Operations
Define and Monitor Minimum Operation Requirements of Chapters
Coordinate with Secretariat on Specific Issues and Recommendations
Review and Recommend Special Projects
Review Administration Process and Recommend Changes
Review and Distribute Chapters' Annual Reports
African Chapters Meeting: (March 5 2000)
15 African Countries Represented
Country Presentations on Internet Development in Africa
Establishment of Working Groups in 6 Areas of Development
African Working Groups:
E-Commerce - Egypt
Telecenters - Morocco
Education - South Africa
Infrastructure Development - Togo
Training - Nigeria
E-Governance - Madagascar
Chapters Council Meeting: (March 6 2000)
First Regional Meeting
27 Countries Represented
Composition of the Chapters Council
Brainstorming on Areas of Possible Project Development
Establishment of Programs for Initial Chapter Action
Composition of the Chapters Council:
Chair (1) Calls for an Annual Meeting, Can Hold Position 1 Year or More
CC Steering Group (7) Present Program Chairs
CC Body        Program Groups Representatives from all Regions
Programs for Initial Chapter Action
Multilingual Support and Development - France
Internet Exchange Points - Burkina Faso
E-Commerce - England
Infrastructure/Resources/Access - Togo
Chapter Respectability/Credibility - Israel
I-Clubs - Benin
E-Government - Morocco
Future Plans
Follow-up on Sistership Programs Between Chapters
Participation to ThinkQuest
Cairo Chapters Meeting Follow-up
Organize Regional Chapter Events
Encourage the Establishment of Chapters in Developing Countries as a Vehicle for Internet Awareness and Penetration
Improve Services within Chapters
Organize Educative Programs for Chapters
Cooperate with other ISOC Programs
The Need for Sistership Programs
Support Newly Established Chapters
Help Chapters Grow in Number and Competence
Exchange of Knowledge
Ideas for Sistership Programs
Exchange Visits, Information, Programs, Plans, …
Organize Joint Educative Workshops
Exchange Experiences Regarding Chapter Administration
Create Joint Discussion Lists
Special Projects
Virtual Communities
Improvement of Services inside Chapters
Deployment of Best Practices
Increase Chapter Support Resources
Increase PR Support to Chapters
Establish Chapter Minimum Operating Criteria
Establish Policy Development and Communication Process for Greater Chapter Involvement
Find Supplemental Funding for Worthwhile Local Programs

©2000 The Internet Society of New Zealand
Last updated 22 August 2000

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