The Nominating Committee FAQ touches on travel funding for NomComm-appointed GNSO Council members only briefly, by quoting the bylaws’ non-obligation to provide funding as a response. It appears that ICANN would prefer GNSO Council members to fund their own travel. That’s unfortunate: For being effective on the council, it’s crucial to be physically present at ICANN meetings. ICANN’s apparent expectation that GNSO Council members fund their own travel will lead to a dilemma for the Nominating Committee: Either, they send people to the Council who can’t (or don’t want to) commit meeting expenses, and won’t be effective. Or they send people who can easily cough up the necessary expenses (entry level at $6,000 – $9,000 a year, flying economy), but probably have a commercial interest in the GNSO Council’s decisions. Both alternatives would be contrary to the very reason why there will be nominating committee appointees on the council. Either way, the reformed ICANN won’t work unless ICANN comes up with appropriate funding for the bodies it creates and the volunteers it appoints.
Disclaimer: I haven’t submitted any statement of interest, and I won’t do so during the 12 minutes remaining until the deadline expires.
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