[NCUC-EC] Fwd: Reminder: ICANN61 GNSO Weekend session invitation and briefing paper

[Renata Aquino Ribeiro]

Dear EC

Please note below an invite to GNSO Working Session on 11March
NCUC was asked to confirm who'll be there.
This crashes with NCUC Policy Course so I've sent the only designated
EC who won't be in Policy Course, NA.

Those who are in other activities, however, please be informed and
join GNSO sessions whenever you can.
Also be familiar w/ the briefing paper indicated.

Thanks



Subject: [gnso-secs] ICANN61 GNSO Weekend session invitation and briefing paper



Dear GNSO PDP leadership teams, SG/C leaders and the GNSO community,



ICANN61 is soon approaching, and the GNSO Council sees this meeting as
a perfect opportunity to start a broader GNSO community discussion
about the high volume of PDPs underway and how to optimise resources
and improve effectiveness in this environment. Let's talk openly and
critically about our PDPs and what changes can be made so that we're
all working smarter, not harder or longer.



At the first-ever GNSO Council Strategic Planning Session held 3 weeks
ago, we saw the germination of some bold strategies for how to tackle
the growing PDP workload and participant numbers. Marika and Emily
(ICANN staff) fueled our discussion with their thought-provoking
concept paper on "optimizing engagement" (attached). You'll find a
summary of our discussions - at this stage just high-level ideas - in
the report of our strategic planning session, a final version of which
will be circulated this week. (In the meantime, you'll find the first
draft posted on the Council list
https://mm.icann.org/pipermail/council/2018-February/020925.html)



One of the key action items to come out of the three-day strategic
planning session was a decision to devote time in the ICANN61 Council
schedule to broaden these strategic discussions to involve PDP
leadership and the entire GNSO community. Individually and
collectively, we have in a variety of ways and forums raised concerns
about the benefit of improving efficiency and effectiveness in PDPs.
There are certain PDP requirements that are set in stone, but at the
same time, the PDP provides other areas of of flexibility in terms of
the work can be carried out. Let's get together to discuss how we
could better leverage the in-built flexibilities.



We invite all PDP leadership team members, SG/C leaders and the wider
GNSO community to join the Council on Sunday in San Juan for
brainstorming possible ways and methods to make GNSO policy
development more successful. We will devote the full morning of the
GNSO weekend session (9am-12 noon local San Juan time) to this topic.
Please participate and contribute your thoughts to help shape the
future of PDPs. Attached to this message you'll find a briefing paper
setting out specific thought-provoking questions to fuel the
discussion.



SG/C leaders, please circulate this invitation within your communities.



Wishing everyone safe travels to San Juan,



Heather Forrest, GNSO Council Chair

Donna Austin, GNSO Council Vice Chair (CPH)

Rafik Dammak, GNSO Council Vice Chair (NCPH)