ICANN Board Meeting Cartagena, Colombia 10 December 2010 >> PETER DENGATE THRUSH: Ladies and gentlemen, thank you for your indulgence. The board meeting will start in three minutes. If you could take your seats and allow us time to replug our laptops, we will be starting the board meeting. >> Ladies and gentlemen, please welcome chairman, ICANN board of directors, Peter Dengate Thrush. >> PETER DENGATE THRUSH: Thank you very much, and welcome to the board meeting here in Cartagena. What a fabulous place and what a fabulous host dot co has been. Those of you who have seen all the ceremonies and seen the place appreciate what a truly wonderful place this is. The dancers, the music, it's just all been fabulous and we'll come to a formal set of thanks to the hosts in a moment. It's also been an amazing meeting in terms of the work done. There's a real sense of momentum about many of the issues that are in front of us and hopefully there's going to be some further decisions by the board today as a result of all of your hard work and the contributions that you make in your small groups and in the larger groups and in the plenary sessions. We've heard. We've listened. We're very grateful for the input from all of the advisory committees, from the SOs, from all of the integers that go to make up ICANN. So, without further ado, we're going to move into the formal agenda, and what we have on the ICANN board is a practice of taking a great deal of work that gets done often by committees and putting that in what we call a consent agenda, where we've received the materials, the board has studied the papers, we've had an opportunity to ask questions, et cetera, and then when we think this is ready and doesn't require any further discussion by the board, we put them onto this agenda and pass them all as a matter of formality. What I always make clear to every board member is if at any time they want something taken off that agenda, they only have to ask, they don't have to give any reasons, so in other words, there's no compulsion about these particular items and anyone is free to have it further reviewed. So the items on the consent agenda are published. They include such things as the approval of minutes of previous minutes and so forth. With that in mind, I'm going to move Consent Agenda Item Number 1. Is there a seconder for the adoption of the consent agenda? I see Dennis. Thank you, Dennis. Is there any discussion about the motion? If not, I'll put that motion. All those in favor please raise your hands. Thank you. Any opposed? Any abstentions? Carried unanimously. Thank you. We come then to Item 2 on the agenda. This is an item that we have -- I see that's been changed. We're going to move past the strategic plan. We're not proposing to have any discussion about the strategic plan at this stage. Item 3 on the agenda, new gTLDs, in terms of resolving the remaining issues. And I'd like to ask Rita Rodin if she would take us through, first of all, moving this resolution. Rita, new gTLDs? >> RITA RODIN JOHNSTON: Thank you, Peter. Whereas, the GNSO Council approved and the board adopted GNSO policy recommendations for the introduction of new gTLDs. And there's a link. Whereas, staff has made implementation details publicly available in the form of draft applicable guidebooks that have undergone continued substantial revisions based on stakeholder input. The most recent version was posted for comment on the 12th of November. Whereas, public comment identified four overarching issues to be addressed as a threshold for moving forward with the introduction of new gTLDs. Whereas, the overarching issue of trademark protection has been addressed by measures, including the establishment of a trademark clearinghouse, a uniform rapid suspension system, and a post- delegation dispute resolution procedure. Whereas, the overarching issue of mitigating malicious conduct has been addressed by including refinement of proposals such as centralized zone file access to reduce potential for proliferation of malicious conduct in the new gTLD space. Whereas, the overarching issue of root zone scaling has been addressed through expert consultation and study on the impact of new gTLDs on the stability of the root, indicating that rate-limited addition of TLDs can be implemented without any expected impact on the stability of the root zone system and that communications and monitoring mechanisms will be implemented. Whereas, the overarching issue of the call for economic analysis has been addressed by comprehensive expert consultation and analyses, including reports by CRA International, Dennis Carlton, Michael Katz, and Greg Rosston. The latest of these reports, "New gTLD Economic Study Phase 2," was posted on the ICANN Web site on the 3rd of December. Whereas, ICANN considers that the solutions developed to address the overarching issues of trademark protection, mitigating malicious conduct, and root zone scaling substantially reflect the negotiated position of the ICANN community but ICANN will take into account public comment, including the advice of the GAC. Whereas, with respect to the call for economic analysis, ICANN is in the process of receiving and reviewing public comment and the board will take into account that public comment, including the advice of the GAC. Whereas, community discussions on the draft applicant guidebooks have successfully addressed numerous issues but some implementation issues remain. How long is it? [ Laughter ] [ Applause ] >> ROD BECKSTROM: Is that in the resolution? >> RITA RODIN JOHNSTON: Whereas, the issue of geographic names has been the subject of substantial consultation with the Governmental Advisory Committee resulting in substantial change and areas of agreement and compromise. While these changes have been incorporated into the guidebook, discussions are continuing on the subject. ICANN considers the proposed treatment of geographic names substantially reflects the view of the ICANN community, but ICANN will take into account public comment, including the advice of the GAC. Whereas, the working group formed to address implementation of the GNSO-recommended policy concerning morality and public order objections made recommendations (the Recommendation 6 Community Working Group) several of which were incorporated into the guidebook and the working group has clarified the remaining recommendations in a series of consultations with ICANN staff and board members. Discussions will continue on (1) the roles of the board, GAC, and ALAC in the objection process; (2) the incitement to discrimination criterion, and (3) fees for GAC and ALAC-instigated objections. ICANN will take into account public comment, including the advice of the GAC, and looks forward to receiving further input from the working group in an attempt to close this issue. Whereas, the public comment period on the English version of the proposed final applicant guidebook concluded just prior to this board meeting on the 10th of December, with the closure of other comments on translated versions to follow in the order posted and ICANN will carefully consider all of the comments received. Whereas, the board participated in discussions and listened to comment from stakeholders during the meeting in Cartagena. Whereas, the Governmental Advisory Committee communique from Cartagena indicates that the GAC will provide a list of issues that the GAC believes are still outstanding and require additional discussion between the board and the GAC. Finally... Resolved, that the board: 1. Appreciates the GAC's acceptance of the board's invitation for an intersessional meeting to address the GAC's outstanding concerns with the new gTLD process. The board anticipates this meeting occurring in February 2011 and looks forward to planning for this meeting in consultation and cooperation with the GAC and to hearing the GAC's specific views on each remaining issue. 2. Directs staff to make revisions to the guidebook as appropriate based on the comments received during the public comment period on the proposed final applicant guidebook and comments on the new gTLD Economic Study Phase 2 report. 3. Invites the Recommendation 6 Community Working Group to provide final written proposals on the issues identified above by the 7th of January 2011 and directs staff to provide briefing materials to enable the board to make a decision in relation to the working group's recommendations. 4. Notes the continuing work being done by the joint applicant support working group and reiterates the board's 28th of October resolution of thanks and encouragement. 5. Directs staff to synthesize the results of these consultations and comments, and to prepare revisions to the guidebook to enable the board to make a decision on the launch of the new gTLD program as soon as possible. 6. Commits to provide a thorough and reasoned explanation of ICANN decisions, the rationale thereof, and the sources of data and information on which ICANN relied, including providing a rationale regarding the board's decisions in relation to economic analysis. And finally, 7. Thanks the ICANN community for the tremendous patience, dedication, and commitment to resolving these difficult and complex issues. >> PETER DENGATE THRUSH: Thank you, Rita. Is there a seconder for that resolution? I see Ray. Just before we go any further, I think it's appropriate to read a certain statement into the record, now that this resolution is in front of us, concerning conflicts of interest. In accordance with the board's conflict of interest policy, some board members and liaisons have identified conflicts or potential conflicts relating to new gTLDs. The board has considered these conflicts and, in accordance with its process set forth in that policy, the following individuals have removed themselves from all or part of the board discussions this week surrounding the new gTLD program: Ram Mohan, Jonne Soininen, Bruce Tonkin, and Suzanne Woolf. All right. I've just lost my screen. They will continue to abstain from the discussion on new gTLDs here today. Now, is there any other discussion about the resolution? Katim. >> KATIM TOURAY: Thanks, Peter. I want to take the opportunity to note my pleasure at the fact that the board is recognizing the work that's being done by the joint applicant support working group with a view toward finding ways and means and opportunities to provide support to needy new gTLD applicants, particularly those from developing countries. This is a point -- this is an issue that I keep coming back to because you'll recall that in the board Resolution 20 that was passed in Nairobi, Kenya last March, specific reference was made to the motivation of that resolution by the fact that the board is committed to ensuring that we have a very inclusive new gTLD program as we move forward, and for me, that is the starting point. We have to make sure -- we have to ensure that as we move forward, we don't do anything that would make us sound like we were hypocrites in passing the resolution that we passed in Nairobi. And so it is particularly important, it was particularly welcome, that the board passed a resolution in Palo Alto, at the meeting that we had in Palo Alto, California in September, encouraging the JAS working group to continue to work and looking forward to having them provide some specific proposals as to what we can do to move forward our efforts to provide support to needy applicants. I also want to further encourage, in turn, the board to keep an open mind as we move forward. Let's look at what proposals would be offered by the JAS working group and the community because we really have to listen to the community with their advice in good faith, especially in instances where we call for it, if we are going to have people consider us serious what we talk about ICANN being a multistakeholder organization. Thank you. >> PETER DENGATE THRUSH: Thanks, Katim. Any other comment on the resolution? If I could just make the comment that I assume it's difficult for the community to absorb it all, and as Rita commented it is rather lengthy. The intention has been, as much as possible, to indicate those areas where the board feels that the work that has been done is sufficient to move to closure and a decision as to whether or not that issue is finished. What we've also tried to do is indicate which areas are clearly still open for consideration, and one of those, for example, is finalizing the provisions of -- the suggestions that are coming forward from the rec 6 working group. And then we've referred to the fact that we have to keep the issues open in relation to the GAC discussion. So hopefully if you go through the resolution, you'll be able to see where we're going with this, and obviously the intention is to bring this to a decision about launch as quickly as possible. Any further discussion or is the board ready to move this resolution? I think we are. So I'll put this resolution as moved by Rita, seconded by Ray. All those in favor, please raise your hands. I think that's a vote in favor as well. Any opposed? No. Abstentions? Noting that -- well, other than the abstentions recorded in the conflict-of-interest statement, I declare the resolution carried. Thank you. Let's move to the next resolution, which is -- can we put that up on the screen, please. This next item is a discussion about the -- from the SSAC report. And I'll ask Steve Crocker to move this. >> STEVE CROCKER: So moved. >> PETER DENGATE THRUSH: Steve, I wonder if you might just read it into the record for us as well. >> STEVE CROCKER: This is a report from the SSAC on invalid top- level domain queries at the root level of the Domain Name System. Whereas, ICANN's primary mission is to coordinate, at the overall level, the global Internet systems of unique identifiers, and in particular, to ensure the stable and secure operation of the Internet's unique identifier systems. Whereas, in June 2008, the ICANN board adopted the GNSO policy recommendations in the introduction of new gTLDs, a URL I will not read out, and directed staff to develop detailed implementation plans in communication with the community. And whereas, one of the goals of the new gTLD program is to establish a clear and predictable process. And whereas, the ICANN Security and Stability Advisory Committee, that is SSAC, has identified certain technical considerations of strings that may be proposed for use by applicants and recommends specific actions with regard to applications for those strings, as referenced in SAC 045, "Invalid TLD queries at the root level of the Domain Name System." We need to move the -- thank you. And whereas, the Draft Final Applicant Guidebook has been posted for public comment, and ICANN will take into consideration all public comments before making final decisions on these remaining issues by approving the final version of the Applicant Guidebook. Whereas, the Draft Final Applicant Guidebook prohibits a number of strings identified as potentially problematic, including those in RFC 2606. Whereas, the DNS stability review in the Draft Final Applicant Guidebook considers the possibility of an extended review in cases where an applied for gTLD string raises security or stability issues. Resolved, the board directs the CEO to, 1, analyze and amend the DNS stability review described in the Applicant Guidebook to allow the option to prohibit the delegation of problematic strings, as appropriate, to address the potential technical and stability issues discussed in SAC 045. And, 2, develop a mechanism to alert potential applicants for new gTLDs about the issues raised in SAC 045. >> PETER DENGATE THRUSH: Thank you, Steve. Is there a seconder for that resolution? I see Harald. Thank you. Any further discussion? Okay. So I will put that resolution. All those in favor, please raise your hand. Any opposed? Any abstentions? Carried. We come then to another resolution which has occupied the board considerably over the last few months, and of course it's a matter going back a number of years and that's the ICM registry, application for a sponsored top-level domain. Is there someone who would like to move this resolution? Ramaraj. Thank you. >> RAMARAJ: ICM registry sponsored top-level domain, dot XXX. Whereas on 24 August 2010, ICANN posted for public comment a revised proposed registry agreement submitted by ICM registry following negotiations with ICANN staff, along with due diligence documentation submitted by ICM registry. Whereas on 28 October 2010, the board received the summary and analysis of the public comment and noted that entering into the proposed registry agreement with ICM may not be consistent with some of the broader-reaching communications from the GAC, and the GAC and the board could benefit from consultation. Whereas, the board passed the following resolution on 28 October 2010: Resolved, the board chair shall engage the GAC chair on developing a process for consultation with the GAC on its advice about the ICM application. This is from the 28th October. Whereas, during the ICANN meeting in Cartagena, the board chair and GAC chair met twice, and there was an additional meeting between members of the board and GAC to discuss potential process steps, creation of a process consistent with the ICANN bylaws, and other matters relate to go issues of potential conflict. Resolved, ICANN board hereby determines that it intends to enter into a registry agreement with ICM registry for the dot XXX sponsored TLD subject to GAC consultation and advice, and hereby invokes the consultation as provided for in ICANN bylaws, Section Article XI, Section 2, paragraph 1(j). Resolved, staff is directed to prepare within five working days a draft process for consulting with the GAC when necessary pursuant to ICANN bylaws section Article XI, Section 2, paragraph 1(j). The process is to be provided to the board for comment and the board executive committee shall approve as soon as practicable. Once approved, the process will be forwarded to the GAC in order to have an agreed process for use in consultations with the GAC in February 2011. Resolved, in response to the reference in the GAC's Cartagena communiqué regarding the board's rationale for selecting the items that ICANN determined might be in conflict with potential GAC advice, the board indicates that it agrees with the staff's assessment of the conflicts with potential GAC advice relate to go the ICM application, and directs staff to communicate the board's determination to the GAC. Resolved, the board directs staff to communicate with the GAC on additional information that might be supplied to the GAC as indicated in the GAC's Cartagena communiqué. >> PETER DENGATE THRUSH: Thank you, Ramaraj. Is there a seconder for that resolution? Mike Silber seconds. Any further discussion? I think the intention is fairly clear. The board would like to trigger the bylaw process, but knows that it needs to have a consultation with the GAC. So this seems to be the appropriate mechanism for achieving all those things. Hopefully, we can have that -- develop a process, have the consultation, provide the information requested by the GAC, and then have a useful attempt to resolve the apparent conflict. Did anybody else wish to comment? No? All right. I'll put that resolution, then. All those in favor, please raise your hands. Thank you. Any opposed? Any abstentions? I note that George Sadowsky, Katim Touray, and Jean-Jacques Subrenat are abstaining. They will, in accordance with our usual practice, be able to put into the record a statement concerning their abstention. Would you like to make a short statement now concerning your abstentions? George. >> GEORGE SADOWSKY: Thank you, Peter. I feel ambivalent about this resolution because it conflates a number of things. I understand why the conflation occurs, but I am not in agreement with the decision to enter into a registry agreement, but I am in agreement that we need to discuss with the GAC, establish a process for that discussion, and, therefore, I support that part of the resolution. >> PETER DENGATE THRUSH: Thank you, George. Katim, do you wish to say something? No? Jean-Jacques? No? In which case I declare the resolution carried. We can move on to the next agenda item. [ Applause ] >> PETER DENGATE THRUSH: The next item is the board data and consumer protection working group recommendations, and I wonder if I can ask Dennis to take us through those resolutions. >> DENNIS JENNINGS: Thank you, Peter. Board Data and Consumer Protection Working Group Recommendations. Whereas, on 5th of August 2010 the board asked the Board Governance Committee to assist in the formation of a Board Data and Consumer Protection Working Group, DCP-WG, to identify issues relate to go the use of registry data and where registrant protection might be further explored or proposed policies might be introduced. Whereas, on 25 September 2010, the board formally established the DCP-WG to address data and consumer protection issues. Whereas, the DCP-WG has completed its work and has identified recommendations on the next steps on the items of work identified in the charter for the DCP-WG. Whereas, the BGC has reviewed the DCP-WG charter and recommends approval of the DCP-WG charter and approval of the DCP-WG's recommendation that the DCP-WG be dissolved as it has concluded its work. Whereas, the board previously accepted a recommendation from the GNSO in 2007 calling for a study and related community discussions on domain-name-related data collected by registries and the uses to which it is put, but ICANN and GNSO work referenced in those recommendations still needs to be completed; see "Policies for Contractual Conditions, hyphen, ICANN Staff Discussion Points" and "Council Report to the Board, Policies for Contractual Conditions, hyphen, Existing Registries (PDP February '06) of the 2nd of November 2007." Whereas the DCP-WG has identified additional related work and has recommended that ICANN conduct a study on domain-name-related data collected by registries and registrars and the uses to which it is put. Resolved, the ICANN board approves the charter of the working group and receives the working group's report, as shown in the link, on recommendations arising out of its work. Resolved, the board directs the President to conduct a study on domain-name-related data collected by registries and registrars and the uses to which it is put. Resolved, the board hereby dissolves the Data and Consumer Protection Working Group and thanks its members for their work: Harald Alvestrand; Dennis Jennings, chair; Mike Silber; Bruce Tonkin; and Ram Mohan, a nonvoting member. >> PETER DENGATE THRUSH: Thank you, Dennis. Is there a seconder for that resolution? I see Mike Silber seconds. Is there any further discussion about that resolution? If not I will put the resolution. All those in favor, please raise your hands. Any opposed? Any abstentions? It carried unanimously. Come then to a resolution entitled consumer choice, competition and innovation, and it relates to our process nor collecting data and measurements for assessing the new gTLD program, if launched. And as this has been something that Bruce Tonkin has been concerned with, Bruce, I will ask you to move this resolution. >> BRUCE TONKIN: Thank you, Peter. And I should probably dedicate this resolution to Jonathan Zuck who, at every public forum that I can remember, has always raised the issue of metrics. One of the things with establishing metrics is that can actually help guide use of resources in things like the communications plan and also applicant support. So the resolution reads, whereas the area of consumer choice, competition, and innovation is one of the strategic areas for ICANN in the strategic plan. Whereas, ICANN has committed to promoting competition, consumer trust and consumer choice in the Affirmation of Commitments. Whereas, if and when new gTLDs have been in operation for one year, ICANN has committed to organize a review that will examine the extent to which the introduction or expansion of gTLDs has promoted competition, consumer trust, and consumer choice. It's resolved the ICANN board requests advice from the ALAC, GAC, GNSO, and ccNSO on establishing the definition, measures, and the three year targets for those measures, for competition, consumer trust and consumer choice in the context of the Domain Name System. Such advice is to be provided for discussion at the ICANN meeting in San Francisco in March next year. It should read March 2011, by the way, in the text I have in my resolution. >> PETER DENGATE THRUSH: Thank you, Bruce. Is there a seconder for that resolution? I see Kuo-Wei. Jean-Jacques. >> JEAN-JACQUES SUBRENAT: Yes. I take the liberty of indicating to Bruce that he wanted to shorten this, but I think it's important in the third whereas that it be read, "Whereas, if and when new gTLDs," and on my copy I see in brackets "whether in ASCII or in other language character sets." So I would like to ascertain that that is in the text and it should be read into the report. >> PETER DENGATE THRUSH: All right. >> BRUCE TONKIN: Agreed. Thanks. >> PETER DENGATE THRUSH: Any other comments about what might well become known as the Zuck resolution? Seeing none, I will put the resolution. All those in favor, please raise their hands. Any opposed? Abstentions? Carried unanimously. Thank you very much. Coming to the another closure, and that's in relation to a Working Group on Equivalent Strings Support, and I will ask Harald Alvestrand to move the resolution and to read it into the record. >> HARALD ALVESTRAND: Conclusion of working group on equivalent strings support. Whereas, at its 12th March 2010 meeting, the board established an equivalent strings working group, ES-WG, to review the issues relate to go instances in the fast-track process where more than one official language or script exists within a country/territory, and where requests are for multiple corresponding strings that are considered equivalent, so that users of the community accessing domains under all versions of the string can expect that each of them will resolve to the same address. Whereas, the board directed the CEO to develop, in consultation with the board ES-WG, an issues report identifying what needs to be done with the evaluation, possible delegation, allocation and operation of gTLDs containing variant character IDNs as part of the new gTLD process, at, link. Whereas, staff have created a study proposal for review by the ES- WG for development of the requested issues report, including the establishment of an IDN Variant Issues Project. Whereas, the ES-WG recommends that the IDN Variant Issues Project be overseen and tracked by a new Board IDN Variant Working Group, BV- WG, and that this working group be established as soon as possible. Whereas, the ES-WG also recommends that the CEO appoint an appropriate subject matter expert with the authority to lead and champion the planned IDN Variant Issues Project. Whereas, the ES-WG concludes that it has completed its work on this topic and recommends that the ES-WG be dissolved. Resolved, the board directs the Board Governance Committee to establish the new Board IDN Variant Working Group, BV-WG, to oversee and track the IDN Variant Issues Project. Resolved, the board directs the CEO to publish the work plan for public comment and consider changes to the work plan based on public comment. Resolved, the board directs the CEO to continue proceeding with the implement of the IDN Variant Issues Project, including the identification of an appropriate subject matter expert to lead and champion the planned project, and the identification of funding requirements. Resolved, the board hereby dissolves the working group on equivalent strings and thanks its members for their work: Dennis Jennings, chair; Harald Alvestrand, Rod Beckstrom, Steve Crocker, Rita Rodin Johnston, Ram Mohan, Thomas Narten, Jean-Jacques Subrenat, and Suzanne Woolf. >> PETER DENGATE THRUSH: Thanks, Harald. Is there a seconder for that resolution? I see Dennis seconds it. Appropriate as the chair to support the dissolving of your own group. Well done, Dennis. Is there any discussion about that resolution? Dennis. >> DENNIS JENNINGS: I would just like to say how pleased I am that we got quickly to this issue, and that this Variant Issues Project is going to be undertaken by the staff. And highlight the fact that this is largely a community-driven project and that we will need the extensive support of the language subject matter experts and language usage experts throughout the various communities that are going to be studied as part of this project. Thank you. >> PETER DENGATE THRUSH: Thank you, Dennis. Any other comment? Harald. >> HARALD ALVESTRAND: One important point to note. This is -- while this is a note to dissolve a working group, it is also a milestone that says we are ramping up. And we're going forward. We got community support, in some cases in areas where we know there are issues, in some cases in areas where the issues are not known. And we expect to have that staff will produce results as soon as possible, to be deployed as soon as possible so that the Internet can serve these uses as well as possible. >> PETER DENGATE THRUSH: Thanks, Harald. Ram Mohan. >> RAM MOHAN: Thank you. In addition to what my colleagues have said, one more thing that I'd like to point out to the community is that while the earlier working group that is being dissolved was focused on some of the thought process behind how to deploy variants, this working group is different in the sense that it's chartered to actually help in making sure that implementation steps go forward. And the first thing to implement, this very important area for the community and certainly for ICANN is to ensure that the project plan and an issues report gets generated. So as Harald is saying, the prior working group being shut down is important, but what's perhaps equally important is that this working group's focus is to ensure that continued attention is paid to variants and understanding the different issues that need to be understood properly before we deploy and work towards deployment of IDN solutions that are appropriate for the people of the world. >> PETER DENGATE THRUSH: Thanks, Ram. Any other comment about this? Seeing none, we'll put the resolution. All those in favor please raise their hands. Any opposed? Any abstentions? Carried unanimously. The next resolution deals with a response by the Reconsideration Committee to Reconsideration Request 10-2. And I'll ask Ray to move the resolution and read it into the record. >> RAY PLZAK: Thank you, Peter. Response to Reconsideration Request 10-2. Whereas, the BGC has reviewed and considered Reconsideration Request 10-2 submitted by the .JOBS Charter Compliance Coalition on 20 August, 2010, supplemented as posted at -- I will not read the URL -- concerning the board's 5 August, 2010 resolution approving Employ Media's .JOBS phased allocation program. Whereas, the BGC recommended that the request be denied as unsupported because, one, the coalition's concerns regarding potential violations of the charter in the implementation of the phased allocation program is not a proper ground for reconsidering the board's 5 August, 2010 action; and, two, the board did not fail to consider material information available at the time of the action. Whereas, the BGC recommended that the board direct the President and CEO and general counsel and secretary to ensure that ICANN's contractual compliance department closely monitor Employ Media's compliance with its charter. Whereas, the BGC recommended that the board direct the CEO to create a briefing paper for the GNSO to consider on this matter and for the GNSO to determine whether a policy development process should be commenced. Whereas, the reconsideration request and the BGC's recommendation has been posted on the ICANN Web site, URL. Resolved, the board adopts the recommendation of the BGC on Reconsideration Request 10-2. >> PETER DENGATE THRUSH: Thank you, Ray. Is there a seconder for that resolution? Thank you, Dennis. Is there any discussion? Seeing none, I will put that resolution. All those in favor of adopting this resolution please say aye. Please raise your hands. Are there any opposed? Are there any abstentions? I see two. George Sadowsky and Mike Silber. And, again, they'll have an opportunity to put some reasoned comments and explaining their abstentions, if they'd wish. George, would you like to say anything into the record now? >> GEORGE SADOWSKY: Yes, thank you, Peter. When this issue originally came up at an earlier board meeting, I spent a lot of time trying to understand the substance behind it. And as a result, I feel I'm not -- I really don't want to vote for or against this until I have had time to study the results of the issue. And since this just was resolved yesterday, I haven't had time to do it. That's the basis for the abstention. >> PETER DENGATE THRUSH: Thanks very much. I just note in passing, this is yet another reconsideration request which fails to meet the very high standard that the board felt that failing to consider material information. I know that's going to be reconsidered as a ground. It seems almost impossible to meet, whenever there is any serious dispute or any material is put forward. And it makes it very difficult to actually solve, a very useful ground in terms of a reconsideration process. All right. Having moved the motion, declared it carried, let's move to the next one, which is about the meeting location for ICANN. As you know, we rotate our meetings according to an established program. The next meeting is scheduled -- sorry, the June 2011 meeting is scheduled to be held in the Asia-Pacific region. And Kuo- Wei comes from that region, nominated by the address community, so, Kuo, it seems appropriate to ask you to move that. >> KUO-WEI WU: It is my honor to read this resolution. Before I read the resolution, I would like to say we always appreciate every application to hold the ICANN meeting. It shows they're supporting the ICANN mechanism. At the same time, it is also important for ICANN to outreach to every possible community we can. So here is the resolution. Whereas, ICANN intends to hold its second meeting for 2011 in the Asia region as per its policy. Whereas, the National Information Technology Center of Jordan submitted a viable proposal to serve as host for the ICANN 2011 Asia meeting. Whereas, staff has completed a thorough review of the proposal and finds it acceptable. Whereas, the Board Finance Committee reviewed and approved the budget for the ICANN 2011 Asia meeting as proposed in this paper on the 5th of December, 2010. Resolved, the board selects Amman as host for the 19-24 June, 2011 ICANN, with a budget not to exceed $2.383 million. >> PETER DENGATE THRUSH: Thanks, Kuo-Wei. Is there a seconder for that resolution? I see Jean-Jacques seconds. Thank you, Jean- Jacques. Any discussion about the resolution which will have us meeting in Jordan in June of next year? Rod Beckstrom. >> ROD BECKSTROM: We're really excited to be going to Jordan. The hosts have presented an excellent application and expressed very strong interest. It is a beautiful country, and we're looking forward to organizing an event there for all of you together with the local hosts. Thank you. >> PETER DENGATE THRUSH: Thanks, Rod. Any other comment? In which case, I will put the resolution. All those in favor please raise their hands. Any opposed? Any abstentions? Carried unanimously. Thank you. [ Applause ] We then have a relatively open item which is simply called, "Items arising from the Cartagena meeting." This is simply an opportunity that we can give the board now, if board members wish, to make any short comments arising from anything they've said or heard here at the Cartagena meeting that hasn't been covered by a resolution. Rita? >> RITA RODIN JOHNSTON: I just wanted to make a brief comment. We'll be able to read those very lengthy resolutions and get a better context of where the board is at. We have been dealing with a lot of process this week, comments on the new gTLD program and having a comment period close on the date the board is potentially going to make a decision, having process for consultation with the GAC. There is a lot of issues and hurdles that the board has had to go through. But the thing I want to convey to the community after this week is that we're hearing you. It was improper for us to have a consultation period end on the day of a board meeting, so we are working on that. We have instructed our CEO and staff to make sure that we give people adequate time and that we don't get into this type of situation again. [ Applause ] >> PETER DENGATE THRUSH: Thank you, Rita. Any other -- any other comments in relation to this meeting? >> ROD BECKSTROM: I'll just share, I participated and was able to witness a lot of very productive sessions and I just want to commend everyone in the community as well as the board and the staff for the exceptional efforts to make progress on very important issues for the unified root of the Internet, that ICANN and the community are the steward of. I just wanted to express my gratitude for the conduct and the contribution of all the parties. Thank you very much. >> PETER DENGATE THRUSH: Thanks, Rod. I would like to make a comment about the new gTLD program along the lines that this is an extraordinary amount of work that's been going on by everything. And I think we have reached a turning point in relation to that program and, hopefully, the resolution captures that. The reality is now when you look at the number of pages that are red-lined of the guidebook, how few of them actually are containing changes. There's some intense and difficult problems ahead of us, but the number of them have shrunk dramatically from when we started this. We're no longer talking about major areas such as the whole concept of objections under morality and public order. We have changed the name. We have dealt with the scope. And we are now down to some issues such as who should pay for the complaints process. That gives me great hope that we can get the issues down and resolve those. And the other point to make about that is that we are going to have a closer and intense cooperation between the board and the community to this finish this exercise. And, obviously, the most obvious element of that, first of all, is going to be the negotiation process, the consultation process with the GAC. We take the GAC's role in this very seriously. We appreciate the GAC's input on the responsibilities that the GAC is there to serve. So what we need to do now is work very closely with the GAC to make sure that the GAC and the community -- sorry, the GAC and everyone else in the community is happy and has reached some kind of acceptance, that their interests have been heard and that as best as possible in the spirit of compromise we are ready to move forward. So I think the resolution is intended to highlight those areas where there is still some work to be done. I'm convinced that we've got the goodwill on all sides to move forward with this. And I'm reasonably confident that at the meeting in February where the board will work very closely with the GAC, that we will see the same kind of advances that we saw when the board did that exercise in Trondheim. So with that, I think we can -- unless someone else wants to make a comment about matters arising from the Cartagena meeting, let's move to the next item and that is some thanks for departing board members. Now, just -- the issue here is that -- the point here is that we've attempted to shorten some of the farewells that we have at the annual meeting. You'll note that at every annual meeting we lose two or three board members -- or we have the risk of losing two or three board members by rotation. On this occasion, we are losing three. The board has managed to fit in a number of social occasions where we have toasted these departing directors. I have asked the board members not in public today to re-express the very many expressions of thanks and gratitude that have been made privately to these directors. I just make that point to indicate that the -- whereas on some occasions, we have had long and fulsome sessions discussing departing directors. We don't propose to include that in the record for this particular meeting. But dealing back with these in purely alphabetical order, we come to Harald Alvestrand. And although we passed this resolution by consent, I would just like to come back to take you through some of the text of this. "Whereas, Harald Alvestrand was appointed by the nominating committee to serve a three-year term. I won't read the resolution." Harald, we've just listed some of the achievements that you have made in your term: Chair of the board IANA Committee. First of all, a brand-new committee devoted to one of ICANN's most important functions. And you have been chairing that. You have been a member of the Audit, the Governance and the Conflicts of Interest and also the Structural Improvements Committee, all heavy-lifting, hard- working committees. You were also a member of the ALAC review working group. You chaired the RSSAC review working group. And anyone who has been on any of those review working groups knows that an incredible amount of work goes on. A great deal of careful compromise goes on as we look at improving each of these workings groups. You have also been a member of the board data consumer protection working group, a member of the board equivalent strings working group. And it must give you I'm sure some pleasure to see that very important work coming to the conclusions that we've come to today on both of them. You were previously to that a member of the President's IANA Committee, the precursor to the IANA Committee. And so I would just like to remind us of the text of the resolution that we passed. "Harald has earned the deep appreciation of the board for his term of service as a director. The board wishes Harald well in all future endeavors." Thank you, Harald. [ Applause ] >> HARALD ALVESTRAND: Thank you. It's been a very interesting three years. I have had occasional run-ins with the ICANN community over many years right from the start, listening to people tear their hairs about various aspects of how we're doing things. So when I joined the board, I got two reactions from my friends. One was condolences -- (laughter) -- the other one was, "I'm glad you're here. You will not let them break the Internet." Well, it is three years later and the Internet is not broken. >> PETER DENGATE THRUSH: Yay! >> HARALD ALVESTRAND: What's more, I think we have achieved over these years a little more faith in each other. I'm certain that all of these people understand that the Internet is a valuable resource they're here to protect and that we all are working together for a common goal. It has been a very learning process and intense process, exhilarating, exasperating and lot of it at the same time. There have been some parts that I really would rather have missed, staying up at 2:00 a.m. just guessing on matters that I would prefer to not have to deal with. Well, you can just imagine. But also learning experiences, on the board you do what you have to, in order to let the work be done. So I learned about accounting. What does an engineer do about accounting? Well, it turns out it is very interesting. So acquiring friends, I just checked my Facebook profile where I have more than 100 people tagged with ICANN next to their name as friends. And I'll miss a lot of you, not all of you. [ Laughter ] But it is a connected Internet. We'll stay together. I was very encouraged by meeting Larry Strickling this week because he told us that despite the many faults of ICANN, it was still the best multistakeholder organization in the world in his opinion. I don't know what that says about the other ones. [ Laughter ] Actually, when we're inside, we often forget to be proud. We forget that we are achieving something that used to be impossible. We are running the Internet, and we are running it in an open and transparent manner, at least we're trying. And we're doing better than all the others. So that's no excuse for not improving ourselves, but that's an encouragement that we're doing the right thing and we just have to do more of it. So it's been three years. I'm leaving now with a great appreciation for everyone who continues. We'll get this thing done on new gTLDs. We'll get the matter of .XXX settled somehow and we're not breaking the Internet. And I think we are doing good work for the community, and it's been a pleasure to be part of that. Thank you. [ Applause ] >> PETER DENGATE THRUSH: We come to the next departing director which alphabetically is Dennis Jennings. Dennis, you managed in your time to be vice chairman of the ICANN board. And I can confirm what a help you have been to me as chair in that capacity. You have also been chair of the Board Governance Committee, one of the hardest working committees with many initiatives that you have brought to the concepts and practices of board governance. You have been a member of the Audit Committee, the Executive Committee, the Finance Committee, the IANA Committee, the Public Participation and the Reconsideration Committee. I don't think that leaves any committees, Dennis. And have stood out for the hard work and dedication in all of those. You have been, as we've just seen, chair of the board data and consumer protection working group. You were chair of the board equivalent strings working group that was set up urgently to solve major problems requiring a really hard effort on difficult, technical subjects. And you have also been chair of the SSAC review working group. It is hard to imagine anyone making a more diligent and broad consideration. So the resolution we passed by consent is that Dennis has earned the deep appreciation of the board for his term of service as a director and the board wishes Dennis well in all future endeavors. Thanks, Dennis. [ Applause ] >> DENNIS JENNINGS: I spent quite a bit of my life serving the Internet community. It is over 25 years ago on September the 17th, 1985, when I persuaded the National Science Foundation and more particularly the directors of the National Supercomputer Centers to build the NSFNET backbone. And that had an effect on the world. So I'm very pleased and proud to have had another opportunity to serve the Internet community as a board member of the ICANN board and member of the ICANN board for the last three years. It has been an honor and privilege to serve you, the community, to work with my colleagues on the board and especially to work with the staff. Thank you. Adios. [ Applause ] >> BRUCE TONKIN: I didn't know you could speak Spanish, Dennis. >> PETER DENGATE THRUSH: And the sun hat is entirely appropriate, Dennis, and is relatively new bride are going on what might be a honeymoon after this meeting. So, Dennis, all the best with that as well. Finally, in this slate of departing directors, we come to Jean- Jacques Subrenat, another appointee by the Nominating Committee in 2007 and the detail that we had in the resolution, Jean-Jacques, indicate that you have been chair, again, of another brand-new committee which is a huge responsibility to take the ideas and turn it into an actual concrete structure and outputs in the Public Participation Committee. I think it has been warmly received and the work you have been leading on it. Public participation in ICANN, of course, is an absolute cornerstone of the bottom-up multistakeholder process. It is hard to imagine a more important committee for ICANN. As well as that, you were a member of the board Global Relations Committee dealing with the Internet strategic relationships which taps into your own wide networks and your experience as a diplomat. You have been on the Board Governance Committee, the reconsideration and the structural improvements committees. You chaired the ccNSO review working group. You were on the ALAC review working group. And I made the comment earlier in relation to Dennis and Harald how much work goes on usually behind the scenes on those review working groups as we struggle with how to reform and improve the structure of ICANN component by component. So I thank you for the work on those -- the review groups. You have also been a member of the board-GAC joint working group, again a very important exercise as the GAC and the board reach out to each other and try and improve methods of communication and working together. Earlier than that, you were a member of the President's Strategy Committee where I had the pleasure of serving with you as we worked principally on the Improving Institutional Confidence project, much of which was captured when we ended the Joint Project Agreement with the United States government and signed the Affirmation of Commitments. You have also been a member of the board equivalent strings working group and we heard, again, how important that work was and how much urgent work got done. And you have been a member of the board review working group, again a wide range of activities tapping into all of your very considerable skills. I have particularly enjoyed working with you and seeing how you have managed to compromise -- deal with the art of compromise and bridging difficult positions. So the resolution in relation to Jean-Jacques reads that Jean- Jacques has earned the deep appreciation of the board for his term of service as a director and the board wishes Jean-Jacques well in all your future endeavors. Thank you, Jean-Jacques. [ Applause ] >> JEAN-JACQUES SUBRENAT: Thank you, Dennis. I think you gave me an idea. I should have come with a beret, perhaps a bottle of red wine and baguette under my arm to characterize the place where I come from. But in any case, let me just say. First, "pioneer." Second, "infrastructure," "global." Third, "purpose." What do I mean? The first is "pioneer." When I came on this board three years ago, I was struck by the vitality, the sense of initiative, the inventivity of this community, of this board, of this staff. And then in the course of these three years, I discovered that it was a huge benefit, of course, for the development of the Internet but perhaps occasionally it was also a difficulty. And I would encourage now my colleagues who are joining the board to continue with the colleagues who are still there to take ICANN to the next step, which is to go behind the pioneer stage while retaining the vitality and the enthusiasm but even more method, reliability and process and memory -- collective memory. My second point -- my second word actually is "global." I think that the real challenge for us now is to become ever more global. I won't say more about that because I have been harping on that theme for such a long time that I'm sure I would test your patience if I went any further today. My third point is "purpose." I'm struck by the fact that what you have created, what the inventors of the Internet have created has allowed for one extraordinary thing. It is that for the first time in the history of humanity, there is such a large single infrastructure that alone is an achievement. But what I would like to see or underline is that it is the existence of this infrastructure which allows for a certain liberation of the human mind and of the human Internet to do things which are more worthwhile. So for the opportunity of being with you all, of seeing to what degree of the community is engaged in this, along with the staff and the board, I want to show my appreciation by saying thank you very simply here and to say that when I was contacted two days ago to join perhaps ALAC, I hesitated for a few moments. And then I said yes because I think that this is a way of showing my appreciation also for the huge work or selfless work that is done by members of the community, whether they are on the board or in the various ACs and SOs. So thank you all. [ Applause ] >> PETER DENGATE THRUSH: Thanks. I will just throw the floor open briefly if there are directors who wish to add anything to what's been said. Bruce? >> BRUCE TONKIN: I will just add something very briefly which I think can apply to all the departing directors, but I might just single out Harald in particular because there was a term that was used a few weeks ago which was "Harald, the wise." And I think there are many people in this community that have great skills and really the whole room, not people up on the stage but everyone in this room. We are really talking about the pinnacle of people involved in the Internet and their individual skills. But obtaining wisdom is much harder. And I think we have been blessed on the board by people who truly do have wisdom, and I hope that continues. Thank you. >> PETER DENGATE THRUSH: Thank you, Bruce. Anyone else? No? Rod, thank you. >> ROD BECKSTROM: Yes. I'd like to say ICANN, as has been shared, is a very precious and important organization which many have referred to as perhaps the finest multistakeholder organization in the world. It has become this through the contributions of everyone in the room. But one of the parties that gives so much to this organization is this board of directors. And as I've stated many times, I've been on many boards. I have never seen a harder working board in my life. I also want to thank each of these departing directors individually for their support and dedication to help me as a new CEO at ICANN. Now a year and half in, but when I first came in, they helped me to take the helm of this fascinating and challenging organization and gave me excellent advice, counsel and assistance all the way through. Individually, I have a few remarks I'd like to share. With Harald I need to be terse, his own tradition, exceptional intellect, even greater wisdom, always good intention. Thus I have dubbed him "Harald, the wise." Dennis, key driver of the productivity of this board since I've been here. Incredible service as vice chair, exceptional service as chair of the BGC. And he has helped to reshape the board processes and also drive through very significant major initiatives, one example, exceptional example being the ES-WG which helped handle the important issue relating to Chinese character strings and variants and other issues. Very well done. And he has just helped me in ways that are just remarkable and exceptional. Jean-Jacques, I fear I can never can as eloquent as you but I will try to be clear as well. Incredible political acumen, astonishing eloquence, diplomatic grace. I thank all three of you. [ Applause ] >> PETER DENGATE THRUSH: Thanks, Rod. Thank you all. We need to move on. We come then to the thanks to the sponsors of the meeting, and I'd like to call on Ram Mohan to move that resolution. Ram? >> RAM MOHAN: The board wishes to thank the following sponsors: VeriSign, Inc., Afilias Limited, NeuStar, .ORG, The Public Interest Registry, China Internet Network Information Center (CNNIC), InterNetX, GMO Registry, Inc., CORE Internet Council of Registrars, ICM Registry LLC, Internet Systems Consortium, Iron Mountain, Community.Asia, NRO - Number Resource Organization, UNE EPM Telecommunicaciones S.A., RegistryPro, Knipp Medien und Kommunikation GmbH, .music, Directi Internet Solutions Pvt. Ltd., nic.at - The Austrian Registry, and StableTone Ltd. >> PETER DENGATE THRUSH: Thanks, Ram. Is there a seconder for that resolution? Thank you, Bruce. I think in the usual way, we'll carry that by acclamation. [ Applause ] >> PETER DENGATE THRUSH: And then another very important set of thanks, please. I'd ask Suzanne if you could take us through the resolution thanking the scribes, the interpreters, the staff, the event and the hotel team. It should be on the screen in front of you. >> SUZANNE WOOLF: I thought I had it. Okay. Sure. The board expresses its appreciation to the scribes, the interpreters, technical teams, and to the entire ICANN staff for their efforts in facilitating the smooth operation of the meeting. The board would also like to thank the management and staff of the Cartagena de Indias Julio Cesar Turbay Ayala Convention & Exposition Center for the wonderful facility to hold this event. Special thanks are given to Aviatur, Eventos y Sistemas, Intermontajes, and the Hilton Hotel for their support. >> PETER DENGATE THRUSH: Thanks, Suzanne. Is there a seconder for that resolution? I see George Sadowsky. Let's carry that also by acclamation. [ Applause ] >> PETER DENGATE THRUSH: Thomas, can I ask you to move the thanks, please, to our local hosts, dot CO? >> THOMAS NARTEN: Thank you, chair. The board wishes to extend its thanks to the local organizer, .CO Internet S.A.S., for their support. Special thanks are given to Juan Diego Calle, the CEO, Eduardo Santoyo, the VP ccTLD manager, Gonzalo Romero, I.T. consultant, and the entire dot CO staff. >> PETER DENGATE THRUSH: Thanks. Rod has asked to second that because of the relationship that we've had and the tremendous support we've received from dot CO. So, again, let's carry that resolution by acclamation. [ Applause ] >> PETER DENGATE THRUSH: Vanda I think, as a member of the region, it falls to you to move the last resolution, thanking all the participants at this meeting here in Cartagena. >> VANDA SCARTEZINI: Okay. Thank you. It is my pleasure to thank the meeting participants. Whereas, the success of ICANN depends on the contributions of participants in the meetings. Whereas, the participants engaged in fruitful and productive dialogue at this meg. Resolved, the board thanks the participants for their contributions. >> PETER DENGATE THRUSH: Thanks, Vanda. Is there a seconder for that? Perhaps Gonzalo would be appropriate to second that, also being from the region. Thank you, Gonzalo. Ladies and gentlemen, let's stand and carry this with acclamation. Thank you very much. This is for you. [ Applause ] >> PETER DENGATE THRUSH: Thank you. We come then to any other business. Is there any remaining business in this meeting? Vanda? >> VANDA SCARTEZINI: Just if I'm allowed, just to use the opportunity because yesterday I didn't, to express my special thanks from the e-staff that supports this board. Diane, John Jeffrey, Amy, Dan, all of them. Everyone dedicates a lot of effort to support us and I really appreciate it. I would like to make this for the entire community because they are always behind the scenes, but they are very relevant and indispensable for the success of any meeting and especially for our work. Thank you, staff, very much. >> PETER DENGATE THRUSH: Thank you, Vanda. [ Applause ] >> PETER DENGATE THRUSH: If there's no other items of general business, or matters arising, I will adjourn this meeting and invite the departing directors to depart. [ Applause ] >> PETER DENGATE THRUSH: I would ask the remaining directors to remain because we go now into the second portion of the meeting, and we have the great excitement of being joined by some new directors and I would ask the newly appointed directors to come and take their place on the ICANN board for the first time. [ Applause ] >> PETER DENGATE THRUSH: So for the record, we've been joined and welcome, Sébastien Bachollet, Bertrand de la Chapelle, and Cherine Chalaby. We also have on screen, I hope, Erika Mann and Reinhard Scholl. >> REINHARD SCHOLL: Yes. Hello, Peter. >> PETER DENGATE THRUSH: I can see that Reinhard is here. Welcome, Reinhard. Welcome back. We've had Reinhard as the liaison from the ITU before. >> ERIKA MANN: I'm with you but unfortunately you have to live with a black picture. It's not a black spirit which is with you, but a black image. Sorry for this. >> PETER DENGATE THRUSH: No problem, Erika. It's very nice to have you with us. >> ERIKA MANN: Nice to be with you. Thank you so much. >> PETER DENGATE THRUSH: So welcome aboard. Let me just turn to the... The first item of business for this administrative meeting is the election of a chairman of the board. I'm going to hand the chair at this stage over to Steve Crocker and ask, Steve, if you can handle that matter. Thank you. >> STEVE CROCKER: Thank you, Peter. I paused for a minute because I was about to refer to you as "Mr. Chairman," but for this brief moment, you're not. Nonetheless I'd like to rectify that. I hereby nominate you to be chairman of the board for the continuing period. Do I hear a second? Second -- I'm flooded. Mike Silber. Thank you. I think are there any other nominations? So hearing none, let me ask for a vote and I think a simple affirmation will do. Or I guess we have to be formal about this. A show of hands, please. I think that's unanimous. And I can now turn the chair back over to you and I hope that you didn't suffer in that very short span. [ Laughter ] [ Applause ] >> ROD BECKSTROM: Withdrawal symptoms, huh? >> PETER DENGATE THRUSH: Well, thank you very much and thank you very much to the community for that appreciation. It's a real honor to chair this board and I look forward to doing that in the remaining portion of my term. The next item of business is the election of a board vice chairman and I would like to nominate Steve Crocker for the position of vice chairman. Is there a seconder for that? I see Cherine seconds that. Is there any discussion about the election of Steve Crocker as our vice chairman? If not, I'll ask for a show of hands. All those in favor of voting for Steve, please raise your hands. Any opposed? Any abstentions? Carried unanimously. Congratulations, Steve. [ Applause ] >> STEVE CROCKER: Thank you. >> PETER DENGATE THRUSH: Erika, I've just been reminded to ask to make sure we've got your vote on the record because we can't see you so we have to ask you to do something audible. >> ERIKA MANN: Support. >> PETER DENGATE THRUSH: Support. Thank you. We note it. Steve? >> STEVE CROCKER: Peter, if I might, I feel compelled to say just a word. I have been chair of SSAC since its inception in 2002. With this election to this position on the board, and in recognition that it will involve turning my attention considerably to a broader set of board issues, I intend to step down and -- from the chair of SSAC rapidly, working closely with Ray Plzak who has been a very strong vice chair. We will institute a succession process, and I expect it will be fairly rapid. I'm estimating six to eight weeks. Ray and I will work to make this as smooth as possible, and seamless, and to continue the productivity of the board -- I mean, of the committee, and we'll go into details at some other time as we have this process laid out and report fully to the community. Thank you. >> PETER DENGATE THRUSH: Thanks, Steve, and congratulations on the election. The next item is the appointment of the membership of board committees, and what the Board Governance Committee has done as it's charged under it's charter is to prepare a slate setting out each of the committees and appointing chairs and members and there's been considerable discussion about this over the last weeks or so. A large amount of the work done by the -- substantially led by the previous chairman of the Board Governance Committee. I'll turn now I think to Bruce Tonkin and ask Bruce, as the incoming -- as the prospective incoming chair of the Board Governance Committee to move the resolution in relation to the slate. Bruce. >> BRUCE TONKIN: Thank you, Peter. So just moving the resolution that the member of the following board committees be established: Firstly, the Audit Committee: Rita Rodin Johnston as chair, members Steve Crocker and Erika Mann. The compensation committee: Peter Dengate Thrush as chair, with members Rita Rodin Johnston, Rajasekhar Ramaraj, and myself, Bruce Tonkin. The executive committee consists of the chairman of the board, the vice chairman of the board, the president, and the CEO, and Rajasekhar Ramaraj. The Finance Committee has Rajasekhar Ramaraj as chair, Sébastien Bachollet, Cherine Chalaby, George Sadowsky as members and Bruce Tonkin as an observer. The governance committee has Bruce Tonkin as chair, Cherine Chalaby, Steve Crocker, Rita Rodin Johnston, and Ray Plzak as members, and Ram Mohan as a liaison. The global relations committee has Peter Dengate Thrush as chair and the members are Cherine Chalaby, Erika Mann, Gonzalo Navarro, George do you ski, Katim Touray, Kuo-Wei Wu. The IANA has Kuo-Wei Wu as chair and members Bertrand de la Chapelle, Ray Plzak, Katim Touray, and has liaisons Thomas Narten and Suzanne Woolf. The public participation committee has chair Mike Silber and council members Sébastien Bachollet, Gonzalo Navarro, Katim, Kuo-Wei Wu and Thomas Narten as liaison. The risk committee has Steve Crocker as chair, members Mike Silber, Bruce Tonkin, Rajasekhar Ramaraj, and Suzanne Woolf as liaison. And structural improvements has Ray Plzak as chair and members Bertrand de la Chapelle, George Sadowsky, and Mike Silber, with Reinhard Scholl as liaison. >> PETER DENGATE THRUSH: Thank you, Bruce. Is there a seconder for the resolution that that be the slate of our committees? I see Ray Plzak, another member of the Board Governance Committee. Is there any discussion about the slate? Seeing none, I'll put that resolution. All those in favor please raise your hands. Any opposed? Any abstentions? And Erika, how do you vote? >> ERIKA MANN: Aye. >> PETER DENGATE THRUSH: Thank you. Declare that carried unanimously. Thank you. We come then to the last resolution that we are required at this organizational meeting and that's in relation to the reappointment of the officers of ICANN, so I will move this resolution. Resolved, Rod A. Beckstrom is elected as president and Chief Executive Officer, Akram Atallah is elected as chief operating officer, Akram Atallah is elected as interim chief financial officer, John Jeffrey is elected as general counsel and secretary, and Kurt Pritz is elected as senior vice president, stakeholder relations. Is there a seconder for that resolution? I see Mike Silber seconds. Is there any further -- any discussion about the election of the officers? Seeing none, I'll put that resolution. All those in favor of appointing those as the officers of the corporation for the coming here, please raise your hands. Any opposed? Any abstentions? Noted that Rod Beckstrom, being the subject of those resolutions -- or one of those resolutions -- has abstained. Erika, how do you vote? >> ERIKA MANN: Aye. >> PETER DENGATE THRUSH: Thank you. Okay. The resolution carried. Congratulations on the appointment of those officers. [ Applause ] >> ROD BECKSTROM: Thank you all very, very much for your continued support for me and the executive management team of ICANN. It's truly an honor to serve here. Together with the board and the community, we continue to sail this vessel successfully through strong currents, brisk winds, frequent gusts, and other obstacles and challenges in the seas. And together we're making very solid progress in moving ahead. Thank you very much. >> PETER DENGATE THRUSH: Thanks, Rod. Are there any other items of general business? Seeing none, I'm about to close the meeting. Please, Sébastien. >> SÉBASTIEN BACHOLLET: Okay. Hello. I'm very happy and proud to be here today in my capacity as the first at-large elected board member. I would like to thank the members and leaders of the 129 ALSs in almost 100 countries and the leaders of the five RALOs and the members of the different groups that have made this appointment possible. I will now shift languages. -- ALAC the last three years and has done very -- everything possible to safely conduct this election. My thought also, I also was a 22 (inaudible) contestant and especially to the two other candidates who were on the ballot, Pierre Dandjinou and Alan Greenberg. Thanks to all those in the ICANN community who congratulate me. Your help will be welcome. I started my involvement in ICANN world in early 2001 at the Melbourne meeting by participating into the business constituency. When I was elected president of the ISOC France, we became an ALS and we signed the MoU creating EURALO. Two milestones for me: The organization of the ICANN meeting in Paris in June 2008 with over 1,700 participants; and my contribution in organizing the first ALS at-large summit held in Mexico in 2009. Once upon a time, I used to play rugby. I was Number 4, which is second row in the scrum. In the A team, one of the best fullback players in the world was Serge Blanco and he played Number 15. I found this an amazing week. That's why I am wearing a jersey with my initial "S.B." and with the Number 15 as the seat that I will -- I am occupying at the ICANN board. [ Applause ] >> SÉBASTIEN BACHOLLET: I hope that the board will play as a team with the skill needed to win together for the good of the Internet and its billions of users around the world. I will switch to French. I will now speak in French. I want to thank my children for their support during all these long working hours and teleconferences. Thank you very much. I love you. >> PETER DENGATE THRUSH: -- other incoming directors to make some statements when they take their seats at the next meeting. Are there any other items of business? If not, I declare the Cartagena board meeting closed. Thank you all very much and thank you again. [ Applause ]