[NCUC-EC] Report from NCUC issue forum
Ken Herman
ken at kherman.com
Wed Dec 20 09:41:02 CET 2023
Thanks Benjamin. Happy to see that there is consensus both on honoring the commitment and also regarding a process.
I could not quite see in the operating procedures what there was you are referring to, so I would be grateful if you can please indicate the specific section.
Ken
From: NCUC-EC <ncuc-ec-bounces at lists.ncuc.org> On Behalf Of Benjamin Akinmoyeje
Sent: Wednesday, December 20, 2023 1:31 AM
To: Hfaiedh Ines <hfaiedh.ines2 at gmail.com>
Cc: Exec. Comm <ncuc-ec at lists.ncuc.org>
Subject: Re: [NCUC-EC] Report from NCUC issue forum
Dear All,
Thank you all for the vote, just for clarity, there is clear guidance in the NCUC operating procedures https://www.ncuc.org/wp-content/uploads/2017/09/NCUC-Operating-Procedures-Sept-2017.pdf.
The situation here is an EC handled the transaction with the vendor and informed the team of the invoice commitment on NCUC's behalf.
The normal route is to put out an open call for such a service and allow vendors to quote for it.
Kind regards,
Benjamin
On Wed, Dec 20, 2023 at 4:43 AM Hfaiedh Ines <hfaiedh.ines2 at gmail.com <mailto:hfaiedh.ines2 at gmail.com> > wrote:
I agree as well. Clear procedure needed for next time.
On Wed, Dec 20, 2023, 00:50 Amin Hacha <aminhacha at gmail.com <mailto:aminhacha at gmail.com> > wrote:
Hi Benjamin, I support the commitment by honoring the invoice and establishing a clear procedure for future payment processes.
On Tue, Dec 19, 2023 at 5:44 PM Benjamin Akinmoyeje <benakin at gmail.com <mailto:benakin at gmail.com> > wrote:
Dear Mili,
Apologies for the late response. I have been traveling and with limited time to review this issue.
My take on this was to get the invoice at least reviewed downward a bit and I did not see any movement in that direction.
There is no transaction beyond negotiation, this is service, we did not sign any agreement, and since a member has raised concerns I expected some consideration of good faith from you.
However, we have missed two EC meetings to discuss and iron out this issue. This is a learning moment and I hope in the future we can handle issues like this better.
Moving forward, I would call for ECs to indicate their approval for the invoice and we can finalize the issue so that the treasury can honor the invoice.
Kind regards,
Benjamin
On Tue, Dec 19, 2023 at 3:41 PM Mili <milisemlani at gmail.com <mailto:milisemlani at gmail.com> > wrote:
Hello Milton,
I would like to bring to your notice the pending invoice payment for the report of the issue forum held at Hamburg.
The report has been received and the invoice was sent more than a month ago. The writer has been following up with me to know when it will be paid.
I have checked in with Benjamin a couple of times already but I have not received an answer. As per our last EC monthly meeting, all the EC members on the call agreed to honoring the invoice at the earliest.
May I know what is the mechanism to ensure it is paid before the end of the year? And if there is anything you need us to do to speed this up?
--
With gratitude
Mili Semlani
Journalist & Engagement Manager
Founder @ Youth4IG <http://youth4ig.asia/>
Instagram <https://www.instagram.com/theuntraveller/> | LinkedIn <https://www.linkedin.com/in/milisemlani/>
On Dec 18, 2023, at 11:45, Mili <milisemlani at gmail.com <mailto:milisemlani at gmail.com> > wrote:
Hi Benjamin
What is the update on the invoice status? It is getting very difficult for me to hold the writer any further.
I appreciate a quick response and hope we have already taken the necessary action.
--
With gratitude
Mili Semlani
Journalist & Engagement Manager
Founder @ Youth4IG <http://youth4ig.asia/>
Instagram <https://www.instagram.com/theuntraveller/> | LinkedIn <https://www.linkedin.com/in/milisemlani/>
On Dec 11, 2023, at 21:05, Mili <milisemlani at gmail.com <mailto:milisemlani at gmail.com> > wrote:
Hi
As need to settle this asap and unfortunately, we could not fully discuss it over the EC call today as Benjamin was unable to connect.
As discussed on the call, most EC members acknowledge that we need better guidelines to manage such tasks in the future but that is a separate matter and an internal one.
It does not require holding up the invoice. As we should honor what we need to. In keeping with that conversation, if any EC member has any objection to settling this invoice they need to respond to this email by tomorrow Tues Dec 11. If not, it will be considered as approved and the Chair should facilitate the payment at the earliest.
--
With gratitude
Mili Semlani
Journalist & Engagement Manager
Founder @ Youth4IG <http://youth4ig.asia/>
Instagram <https://www.instagram.com/theuntraveller/> | LinkedIn <https://www.linkedin.com/in/milisemlani/>
On Nov 28, 2023, at 22:19, Mili Semlani <milisemlani at gmail.com <mailto:milisemlani at gmail.com> > wrote:
Hi Benjamin
As mentioned in my earlier email, there is no way to negotiate the amount after we have commissioned the article. As far as I remember, the in-person meeting in Hamburg where we finalised the rapporteur task did not have any discussion about the costs involved. Ken and Oksana who were also in this respective meeting held on Day 0 of ICANN78 can confirm what they recall from this discussion.
At my workplace, on average, we pay US$100-150 for content marketing articles that are often based on rehashing online content and US$250-300 for well-researched articles, event coverage and reports. Now that the report has already been drafted, there is no way for us to negotiate or change the payment terms. We assigned the report a day before the actual event and we had very little time to advertise for a rapporteur; I had to reach out to the writers I have a working relationship with and given the short notice, the price quoted by them is something I had to agree with to get the job done.
I don't think we are in a position to decide whether we should process this invoice or not. It is too late for that. The one thing we should learn from this is that we need to plan such tasks and the budgets around them a lot better. I urge you to do the needful here as soon as possible, and kindly understand that my work ethic and relationship with the external vendor are at stake here.
As mentioned earlier, I would like to excuse myself from any tasks or responsibilities that include financial transactions on behalf of NCUC; in the future. Rest assured, as an active member and EC member; I will be happy to help with any other tasks that suit my skills and time commitments.
--
With gratitude
Mili Semlani
Community specialist
Instagram <https://www.instagram.com/theuntraveller/> | <https://www.linkedin.com/in/milisemlani/> LinkedIn
On Tue, 28 Nov 2023 at 20:34, Benjamin Akinmoyeje <benakin at gmail.com <mailto:benakin at gmail.com> > wrote:
Dear Mili,
Good day and I hope your week started well. Here is an email I sent to you previously on the invoice.
The verbal conversation we had estimated a lower cost than what is presented and that is what I am comfortable proceeding with.
Kind regards,
Benjamin
---------- Forwarded message ---------
From: Benjamin Akinmoyeje <benakin at gmail.com <mailto:benakin at gmail.com> >
Date: Thu, Nov 16, 2023 at 11:54 AM
Subject: Re: [NCUC-EC] Report from NCUC issue forum
To: Mili Semlani <milisemlani at gmail.com <mailto:milisemlani at gmail.com> >
Cc: Kathy Kleiman <kathy at dnrc.tech <mailto:kathy at dnrc.tech> >, Exec. Comm <ncuc-ec at lists.ncuc.org <mailto:ncuc-ec at lists.ncuc.org> >
Dear Mili,
Thank you very much for the invoice; however, I have a little challenge with the invoice. If my memory serves me correctly, our discussion about the service cost was supposed to be a token, probably within the range of 100 - 150 USD.
Paying up to 300 USD for a service that already raised some concerns would require more protocols or due process.
I recommend that the writer review the invoice to make it easier for us to approve.
Thank you for the facilitation and support on this work.
Kind regards,
Benjamin
On Thu, Nov 16, 2023 at 9:41 AM Mili Semlani <milisemlani at gmail.com <mailto:milisemlani at gmail.com> > wrote:
Hi all
Attached is the invoice for the issue report. As per the usual terms (given my experience working with them for my day job), we need to pay them within 30 days of commissioning the assignment. After which we have full right to use the report and publish it anywhere. We are not required to give them any byline or credit.
--
With gratitude
Mili Semlani
Community specialist
Instagram <https://www.instagram.com/theuntraveller/> | <https://www.linkedin.com/in/milisemlani/> LinkedIn
On Wed, 15 Nov 2023 at 20:46, Benjamin Akinmoyeje <benakin at gmail.com <mailto:benakin at gmail.com> > wrote:
Dear Kathy,
Thank you for your response. In requesting support from PIR, this was the list.
PIR Support Request:
● Provide financial support to get a photographer, refreshments, and rapporteurs for the event.
● PIR’s financial support will help support logistical issues for after-event gatherings.
You can see the extract from the attached document. I did not say Mili would know how much was promised, the invoice that would be submitted will indicate. It should be a token because that was what was agreed upon by the EC. The process of searching for a rapporteur appeared to be time-limited; hence we got the option of outsourcing to an online service. And Mili committed to helping out with that.
The last NCUC issue forum did not have a report; we were fortunate to use Prof Milton's blog as evidence of the event. This time, my solution to that was to ensure there was provision.
No one has been paid, and I do not have any invoice to know how much that would be paid.
The bylaws do not permit me to handle NCUC finance individually or any funding approval, or disbursement, and the NCUC EC would have discussed this at our monthly meeting. Still, Mili could not make it because of the official religious holiday of Diwali. The NCUC EC would have to discuss and approve the invoice and the payment whenever the invoice is submitted.
I will wait for Mili to facilitate the process of getting the report writer to submit the invoice and the ECs accept and approve the cost as directed by NCUC operating procedures.
Also, find attached the full proposal submitted to PIR.
Kind regards,
Benjamin
On Fri, Nov 3, 2023 at 4:30 AM Mili <milisemlani at gmail.com <mailto:milisemlani at gmail.com> > wrote:
Dear Kathy
Thanks for your questions.
I would direct these questions to @benjamin and @ Milton who will be better suited to answer anything related to the finances.
As of now the payment has not been made. Once the final draft is shared, we will receive the invoice.
Once the invoice is honored, NCUC/SG will own all rights to the report. As a standard in the publishing world. We (by we I mean NCUC/SG here) are free to share, publish and circulate it as we please.
I am merely carrying this facilitation as an NCUC volunteer in my capacity as the EC member.
--
With gratitude
Mili Semlani
Journalist & Engagement Manager
Founder @ Youth4IG <http://youth4ig.asia/>
Instagram <https://www.instagram.com/theuntraveller/> | LinkedIn <https://www.linkedin.com/in/milisemlani/>
On Nov 3, 2023, at 01:49, Kathy Kleiman <kathy at dnrc.tech <mailto:kathy at dnrc.tech> > wrote:
Tx Mili, thanks for your response and agreed that it takes a lot of work to make a forum happen.
Let me follow-up with two quick questions. Could you share the source of the funds (was this PIR money?) and how much you paid? Also who owns the report this group produced? These seem like fair questions, but if there is a concern about transparency, please let me know.
Best regards, Kathy
On 11/2/2023 10:40 AM, Mili wrote:
Hi Kathy
As mentioned in my earlier emails too, we hired a rapporteur (a writing agency that has writers) to prepare this report for us.
For everyone’s clarity, I did not write the report. I am merely facilitating it as we divided the various tasks for the issue forum and I took over the task of looking for a rapporteur and co ordinating this.
And yes everyone put in a lot of work to make the issue forum happen and it’s great to see the collective result of all our efforts.
--
With gratitude
Mili Semlani
Journalist & Engagement Manager
Founder @ Youth4IG <http://youth4ig.asia/>
Instagram <https://www.instagram.com/theuntraveller/> | LinkedIn <https://www.linkedin.com/in/milisemlani/>
On Nov 2, 2023, at 19:56, Kathy Kleiman <mailto:kathy at dnrc.tech> <kathy at dnrc.tech> wrote:
Hi Mili,
A lot of people spent a lot of time preparing for this issues forum (as well as the first). Can I ask how much you got paid to write this report (and how long it took)?
Best and thanks,
Kathy
On 11/2/2023 2:13 AM, Mili Semlani wrote:
Hi
As a part of the 20th anniversary celebration, we organised an issue forum at ICANN78. It was decided that we hire a rapporteur to prepare a brief report of the discussion.
I have attached the first draft of the report they have sent me. Kindly take a look and let me know if it's okay (check for factual errors, if its readable well and detailed enough for us).
Can we add a link to the comparison between At large and NCSG applicant support proposals (the printed version that you prepared and circulated at the session) to this report? If yes, please share the link or send the document as an attachment.
Also let me know if there is any other feedback on the attached report, changes, amendments etc. We ideally should share and publish it for our members before the readout scheduled for Nov 6.
--
With gratitude
Mili Semlani
Community specialist
Instagram <https://www.instagram.com/theuntraveller/> | <https://www.linkedin.com/in/milisemlani/> LinkedIn
On Thu, 2 Nov 2023 at 01:59, Kathy Kleiman <mailto:kathy at dnrc.tech> <kathy at dnrc.tech> wrote:
Hi Mili,
Good to see you and Hamburg, and nice to have a chance to talk. Still in catch-up mode here; I'll have things over to you tomorrow (11/2).
Also, what is a soft copy for and who is the writer? Not sure I understand the request...
Best, Kathy
On 11/1/2023 11:14 AM, Mili wrote:
Noted. @milton do you have any additional resources, links that point to this?
@kathy maybe we can also attach the comparison between At large and NCSG applicant support proposals (the printed version that you prepared and circulated at the session). Can you also send me a soft copy for the same so I can share it with the writer to incorporate.
@all of no further comments, I will send this with the below feedback for final drafting. Kindly let me know by EOD (Nov 1).
--
With gratitude
Mili Semlani
Journalist & Engagement Manager
Founder @ Youth4IG <http://youth4ig.asia/>
Instagram <https://www.instagram.com/theuntraveller/> | LinkedIn <https://www.linkedin.com/in/milisemlani/>
On Nov 1, 2023, at 00:37, Mueller, Milton L <mailto:milton at gatech.edu> <milton at gatech.edu> wrote:
Hello, Mili
I think the report on RVCs would be improved if we could attach the framework Kathy and I developed for allowable RVCs. It could also discuss some of the “stress test” studies we discussed.
From: NCUC-EC <mailto:ncuc-ec-bounces at lists.ncuc.org> <ncuc-ec-bounces at lists.ncuc.org> On Behalf Of Mili Semlani
Sent: Tuesday, October 31, 2023 6:31 AM
To: Exec. Comm <mailto:ncuc-ec at lists.ncuc.org> <ncuc-ec at lists.ncuc.org>
Subject: [NCUC-EC] Report from NCUC issue forum
Hello all
As a part of the 20th anniversary celebration, we organised an issue forum at ICANN78. It was decided that we hire a rapporteur to prepare a brief report of the discussion.
I have attached the first draft of the report they have sent me. Kindly take a look and let me know if it's okay (check for factual errors, if its readable well and detailed enough for us). If it's good to go and doesn't require any changes, we can furnish their invoice and they will pass the rights for us to publish this report.
--
With gratitude
Mili Semlani
Community specialist
Instagram <https://www.instagram.com/theuntraveller/> | <https://www.linkedin.com/in/milisemlani/> LinkedIn
--
Kathy Kleiman
President, Domain Name Rights Coalition
--
Kathy Kleiman
President, Domain Name Rights Coalition
--
Kathy Kleiman
President, Domain Name Rights Coalition
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