ICANN participation

What it is | One of the highlights of the Summit is the opportunity for each At-Large Structure (ALS) to exhibit their activities through the submission of posters, written material, audio and audiovisual works, and online materials to the Fair and Poster Exhibition that will be on permanent display throughout the ICANN meeting for all meeting attendees to see. The opening event will give each ALS representative an opportunity to view the ICANN-related activities of the participating ALS organisations and interact with one another in an informal atmosphere.

The opening will feature hosted beer, wine, and soft drinks, as well as hors d’oeuvres.

The attendees from the ICANN Fellowship Programme will be joining the Summit delegates at this event, giving ALSes a chance to meet and speak to this group of attendees, who are new to the ICANN community.

Why it is important | This is a unique opportunity for the whole At-Large community to meet and discuss issues with their fellow delegates in an informal setting and to meet with Fellowship Programme participants. It is also an opportunity for all delegates to see and be shown information on the activities of their At-Large colleagues throughout the world in an interactive, hands-on way.

Who should attend? | At-Large Summit delegates, Fellowship programme participants, and supporting staff for both. Others may attend by invitation only.

Interpretation | Informal interpretation provided by participants.

Remote Participation Options | There will be no remote participation for this session.

Summit Microsite | The At-Large Summit microsite has complete information at http://www.atlarge.icann.org/summit.

Background: What is the “At-Large Summit”?

The Mexico City meeting is a landmark for ICANN’s At-Large community (“At-Large” is the name used for the individual Internet user community participating in ICANN).

The whole At-Large community will be meeting together face-to-face in the ‘At-Large Summit’. Approximately 90 representatives of At-Large organisations (called “At-Large Structures”) are already confirmed. You will be able to spot them easily, as each will have a ribbon indicating their status as a Summit delegate attached to their ICANN meeting badges.

The Summit is being held 28 February through 5 March 2009 at the Mexico City Sheraton and also at the nearby Melia Mexico Reforma Hotel. All ICANN meeting attendees are invited and encouraged to attend the sessions, all of which are open to everyone.

As proposed by the At-Large community, the Summit has the following objectives:

• Develop the community’s capacity for engagement in ICANN by increasing its knowledge and understanding of the key issues confronting ICANN and ICANN’s roles and responsibilities;
• Provide an opportunity for the community to finalise and present its advice on some of the most important issues facing the ICANN community today; and last but not least,
• Highlight the successes of the community in recent years and build upon them to ensure that the interests of the world’s more than 1 billion individual Internet users are well represented in the development of Internet name and number policy.