[NCUC-EC] Report from NCUC issue forum

Mili Semlani milisemlani at gmail.com
Tue Nov 28 17:49:38 CET 2023 

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
>>>>
>>>> _______________________________________________
>>>> NCUC-EC mailing list
>>>> NCUC-EC at lists.ncuc.org
>>>> https://lists.ncuc.org/cgi-bin/mailman/listinfo/ncuc-ec
>>>>
>>>
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