[NCUC-EC] Hello

[William Drake]

Hey Ed

Great to hear from you.

On Mar 20, 2013, at 1:30 PM, Edward Morris <edward.morris at ALUMNI.USC.EDU> wrote:

> Hi everybody,
> 
> It’s been interesting to read the various theories about where I have been. No, I haven’t been off getting married. Nor have I thrown in the towel on this challenge completely or left planet Earth (although I am going to Pyongyang in April, which may qualify).
> 
> Unfortunately I’ve been busy experiencing the wonders of the British NHS. When I came back from my second trip to the United States last month I became quite ill. I was hospitalised for about a week, released, and three days later was found unconscious by Genvieve in our flat and re-hospitalised. I was twice given the Anointment of the Sick, the Catholic ritual commonly referred to as the Last Rites, and it was touch and go for about ten days as to whether I would survive.
> 
> Medical details are unimportant other than it appears that I contracted a horrible virus that eventually caused me to become septic. My diabetes didn’t help and the pancreas, heart and lungs were all compromised. I was released about a week ago and have been trying to sort life out over the holiday weekend,  whilst also trying to ensure that the NHS hadn’t released me too soon again.

Yikes, sounds like quite a scare!  Very happy to hear you're ok.  Wilson was also illin', hopefully there's no NCUC virus going around….
> 
> At the moment I seem to be O.K.  My current priority, besides paying bills, is reviewing some proofs of a book chapter I’ve written  that is supposed to be back to the publisher today. Once that is done I’ll prioritize my NCUC commitment and see what I can do to have some deliverables before Beijing.
> 
> In reviewing the various digests I’ve received I note the following:
> 
> 
> 1. In my absence, Tapani has graciously done my work. He has nothing but my gratitude for his tireless effort at these mundane tasks. I will be in contact with him in the next few days to compare notes and databases to ensure we have the same information and am on the same page.

He's been a big time hero.
> 
> 
> 2. When I took sick leave, Milton and I had just reached a moment of tranquility regarding appointment of a Secretary Treasurer. It appears nothing further has been done on this matter. 

Yes, tranquility prevails upon the land, let's keep things that way and go into Beijing on an up note.  Lots of challenges ahead, no time for fetishizing disagreements past…

> 
> I note Bill has listed this as an item for discussion at the NCUC meeting in Beijing. I would ask that discussion be broadened to encompass a review of our noncompliance with much of our current Charter. I think that is a discussion that needs to take place.

Well yes, I would like us to have a serious discussion of the charter (actually I guess they're bylaws) and get a start on sorting out what kind of org profile we want going forward so the folks who take up the redraft in the months ahead have something to go on in terms of community sense of things.  I don't think we need to frame it as "we're not complying" so much as "what kind of charter will match who we are and can reasonably expect people to sustainably do going forward."
> 
> 
> 3. Three of the people I initially brought into the NCUC have indicated to me their intention to resign from both the NCUC and NCSG at the earliest opportunity. I’ll try to encourage them to reverse course but don’t have much hope. The stated reasons are varied but you can assume what I told them they would find and what they have found in our little world are dissimilar. People are looking for more diplomatic ways out, but that’s the essence of it.

Well, I'm sorry to hear this.  
> 
> The individuals involved will have to make their intentions known themselves. I only want to alert you to the possibility we may no longer have anybody doing the redesign of our web pages. We’re also about to lose a CPA with an MBA who has had his offers of assistance ignored and a Nordic IG specialist who finds himself nonplused by the personal attacks on the list. 

It'd be a pity if Sarah backs out.  Hopefully the others who've been looking at the website revamp questions will find a way forward we can handle given it being all volunteer etc.
> 
> 
> 4. I’m ready to launch Outreach, as I have been since Los Angeles, with a substantial direct mailing (e-mail) to over seventy targeted individuals and organisations. Much of this possibility is due to Olga Korotkova who has assisted me not only with the Russian outreach but also with some i.p. targets. 

That'd be great.  Would make sense to use the Outreach Team list to foster discussion, build out the list, and draft a few para.
> 
> All I am waiting on is a FAQ sheet extolling the virtues of membership from our Communications team. This was promised to me in Los Angeles and has not been delivered. I’d suggest we also want this sheet for distribution in Beijing at whatever Outreach event we are having  and as a basic document, translated into multiple languages, on our web site.

I think for now we shouldn't bank on splitting up all the tasks in this manner.  The Comm team pretty much doesn't exist at the moment.  Maybe if we have a good spirited Constituency Day we can get some folks interested in such things, but for now I'd suggest that the Outreach folk work out some howdy think about joining language that's sufficient.
> 
> Once the mailing had been sent out the action plan was to activate the Committee with an idea towards greater Outreach for numbers, as opposed to need. 
> 
> There is still time before Beijing to proceed with this plan and gain some momentum. Covering e-mails, in both English and, where appropriate, Russian are ready to go. I’m dependent upon those better able than I to draft a quality FAQ to send with them. Once done the FAQ will be immediately translated into Russian for use in that segment of Outreach.
> 
> I should also note my intention to attend the Russian IGF in April at my own expense to do some Outreach and meet what I had hoped to be our new Members / Applicants. I note Wolfgang is scheduled to speak at the event. This is contingent on us having made substantial progress in starting outreach in the CIS region.

CIS folks would be great.  We might also focus in on some of the groups that are already active in global ICT policy issues.  I just wrote to Harold Feld to see if Public Knowledge might be willing.  We should do more like that.
> 
> I’m also tentatively scheduled to be at the INTA annual  meeting in Dallas in May. There is a substantial nonprofit / academic/ civil society component of the INTA that does not necessarily buy into some of the more radical positions of the IPC and I felt it appropriate to reach out to them, as well,  as potential members.
> 
> 
> 5. At the time of my illness I was completing the membership list. As Tapani can testify, that largely is a one person job (albeit with help from many sources) of a rather complex nature. I had a basic list composed in Los Angeles and was integrating it with  three other lists with it on a spreadsheet.
> 
> Tapani appears, thankfully,  to have overtaken me on that effort. Once I can confirm or assist him with completion we’’ll start up the wider Inreach effort. I have had conversations with every member of the Inreach  Committee and will endeavor to set up a group chat prior to Beijing.

Cool.  If we could at least have the outlines of a plan to discuss in Beijing that'd be great.
> 
> 
> Tapani once posed a question as to what would happen to the NCUC if Milton were to be hit by a bus. From my absence I think we have the answer: our Finnish colleague would simply take his place. :) Again, I’m grateful for the work Tapani has done in my absence.
> 
> I’ll be in contact with everyone over the next few days. I recognize the importance of Beijing and, as I said, I’m short one document from being able to crank things up with little effort. Hopefully we can figure a way to get that done.

And don't forget these…mine just came in the mail...http://www.amazon.com/3M-8511-Particulate-Sanding-Respirator/dp/B0002YKBV2/ref=sr_1_1?ie=UTF8&qid=1363786602&sr=8-1&keywords=n95+mask

Bill
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