[NCUC-EC] Report from NCUC issue forum

Tue Dec 19 18:37:46 CET 2023

I also agree, remembering that we discussed in our last meeting
establishing a procedure (a simple one) for approving expenses, as a
learning outcome of what happened so we are all aligned all the time 🙂

Cordially,

*Pedro de Perdigão Lana*
Lawyer <https://www.sistemafiep.org.br/>, GEDAI/UFPR
<https://www.gedai.com.br/> Researcher
PhD Candidate (UFPR), LLM in Business Law (UCoimbra)
Board Member @ CC Brasil <https://br.creativecommons.net/>, ISOC BR
<https://isoc.org.br/> and IODA <https://ioda.org.br/>
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Em ter., 19 de dez. de 2023 às 14:17, Ken Herman <ken at kherman.com> escreveu:

> I agree that we should honor the commitment and pay the invoice.
>
>
>
> Ken
>
>
>
> *From:* NCUC-EC <ncuc-ec-bounces at lists.ncuc.org> *On Behalf Of *Benjamin
> Akinmoyeje
> *Sent:* Tuesday, December 19, 2023 12:00 PM
> *To:* Mili <milisemlani at gmail.com>
> *Cc:* Exec. Comm <ncuc-ec at lists.ncuc.org>
> *Subject:* Re: [NCUC-EC] Report from NCUC issue forum
>
>
>
> 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> 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> 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> 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> 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/> | LinkedIn
> <https://www.linkedin.com/in/milisemlani/>
>
>
>
>
>
>
>
> On Tue, 28 Nov 2023 at 20:34, Benjamin Akinmoyeje <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>
> 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>
> Cc: Kathy Kleiman <kathy at dnrc.tech>, Exec. Comm <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>
> 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/> | LinkedIn
> <https://www.linkedin.com/in/milisemlani/>
>
>
>
>
>
>
>
> On Wed, 15 Nov 2023 at 20:46, Benjamin Akinmoyeje <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> 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> 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 <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/> | LinkedIn
> <https://www.linkedin.com/in/milisemlani/>
>
>
>
>
>
>
>
> On Thu, 2 Nov 2023 at 01:59, Kathy Kleiman <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 <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 <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 <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/> | LinkedIn
> <https://www.linkedin.com/in/milisemlani/>
>
>
>
> --
>
> 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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>
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