Re: [Membership] The People's Republic of ICANN?

[edyson@edventure.com (Esther Dyson)]

Getting the public involved is, among other things, a job for our
much-vilified "public-outreach" firm.  It is also something that should
happen semi-automatically when people campaign to be elected as AL directors.

Esther

At 11:11 AM 06/02/99 -0500, Michael Sondow wrote:
>Daniel Kaplan a écrit:
>> So I still believe:
>> 
>> 1/ That ICANN should be very proactive in getting domain names and IP
>> address holders to be members. This could take several forms, for instance,
>> free (although voluntary) membership registration, the fees being included
>> in the DN/IPA registration fees.
>
>I've given some thought to this, which has been a bone of contention, and I
>still think it's a good idea. If people registering domain names were
>automatically made members, by having a small membership fee deducted from
>their registration fees, it would help them to get involved in ICANN, which
>is to the good, IMHO. I'm one of those who thinks that it won't be easy to
>get people involved, especially the average domain name holders. It's the
>same problem with getting people to vote in public elections. So, if they
>were automatically members by registering a domain name, they would identify
>with ICANN and at least find out what it is.
>
>For example, besides deducting the membership fee, a sheet of information
>about ICANN and the SOs could be sent along with the DN registration
>documents. A membership card could even be sent, and an invitation to look
>at the ICANN website and to join a mailing list (hopefully there will be
>numerous mailing lists by then, both of ICANN and the SOs). Most won't do
>anything about it, but some will, and ICANN will get people involved this
>way.
>
>> 2/ That there should be some fee for anyone to join, so as to >
discourage excessive fraud as well as people whose interest is 
>> not high enough.
>
>I like the idea of a contribution instead of a fee, for non-domain name
>holders who want to join, with a minimum of, say, one dollar. I've suggested
>this before, and there was some positive response to it. It's worth giving
>more thought to. For a fee to be high enough to discourage fraud, it would
>also be too high for many serious participants from underdeveloped
>countries. But an energetic contribution policy, in which companies and
>others who can afford to make a contribution are pressed to do so, is
>perfectly usual for non-profit organizations. 
>
>I've been a member of many of these, and this was how we got much of tour
>operating funds. The membership committee actively solicits contributions,
>and the suggested amounts can even be put onto the membership information.
>You know, like: "A contribution of $500 is suggested for corporations; $100
>for smaller companies; $50 for associations; and $20 for individuals who can
>afford it." Something like that. This way, poorer people and groups can
>honorably join without expense, and those who can afford to pay more are
>expected to do so. Many organizations that depend on this sort of funding,
>like cultural support organizations, even publish each year a list of the
>members who have made contributions, with the amounts given. And there could
>be a yearly event for them, and other incentives. This is all perfectly in
>keeping with the nature of ICANN as a contributory, non-profit organization,
>and might provide a significant portion of the ICANN operating budget.
>


Esther Dyson			Always make new mistakes!
chairman, EDventure Holdings
interim chairman, Internet Corp. for Assigned Names & Numbers
edyson@edventure.com
1 (212) 924-8800
1 (212) 924-0240 fax
104 Fifth Avenue (between 15th and 16th Streets; 20th floor)
New York, NY 10011 USA
http://www.edventure.com

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