[NCUC-EC] About EC absences and application of NCUC Bylaws VII, D

Pedro de Perdigão Lana pedrodeperdigaolana at gmail.com
Wed Sep 24 19:42:56 CEST 2025


Hi all,

I don't know why, but Mili's answer is not appearing to me. I'm sad to hear
that her health issues remain, but I think it is important to set a good
precedent on this occasion, because this situation could have been avoided
with just a bit more care towards the rest of the EC (taking a few seconds
to write the apologies timely manner, for example). Considering the health
issues that remained after the procedure in early July to the point of
hampering participation in Zoom calls, I am also not sure if it is safe to
travel to a long ICANN meeting and participate in the relatively heavy
agenda EC members have during their onsite commitments.

I would also like to note a few important things regarding the answer:

   - The rescheduling was not done only through WhatsApp. It was
   immediately communicated in the e-mail thread of the agenda invite for the
   call.
   - The absences started before the date Mili pointed out as when the
   first signs of the health issues started (April, after the ICANN meeting in
   March). She participated in December, when we had our first meeting and
   decided on the EC travels to Seattle, but in January and February, meeting
   absences started. She apologized *after* the January meeting for not
   being there, and said she would be at the February meeting.
   - We should note that what was done in 2024 is not truly relevant to the
   matter, since it was another term. However, in that term, Mili's attendance
   was indeed diligent, but I think we should also look at participation in
   NCUC EC initiatives as a group and as a space of teamwork, especially those
   besides obligatory participation in activities when in ICANN meetings. This
   was one of the reasons why I started the NCUC EC tracking document, after
   approving this idea on a call, to check what EC members were implementing.
   This is also why I was always insisting that people update it with what
   things they were doing (by the way, just noticed we are a tad late on the
   trimestral update).
   - I was checking NCUC-EC threads in late 2024 and during the whole of
   2025, and email participation was almost entirely reserved for decisions
   regarding positions and CROP slots. All the other members were also
   actively commenting and contributing to different threads. I should note,
   however, that there was an exception with Mili's participation in the NCUC
   Media and Communication Working Team discussion.

I am sending this message after conversations with the other 3 EC members
who already voted, to take into consideration Mili's answer. With that
considered, and with the majority already formed, I ask for the final
confirmation from the chair.

Cordially,

*Pedro de Perdigão Lana*
Lawyer <https://www.nic.br/>, GEDAI/UFPR <https://www.gedai.com.br/>
Researcher
PhD Candidate (UFPR), LLM in Business Law (UCoimbra)
Coordination/Board/EC @ ISOC Brazil <https://www.isoc.org.br/>, NCUC
<https://www.ncuc.org/> & NCSG
<https://community.icann.org/display/gnsononcomstake/Home>(ICANN) and CC
Brazil <https://br.creativecommons.net/>.
This message is restricted to the sender and recipient(s). If received by
mistake, please reply informing it.


Em qua., 24 de set. de 2025 às 07:41, Amin Hacha <aminhacha at gmail.com>
escreveu:

>
> ---------- Forwarded message ---------
> From: Mili Semlani <milisemlani at gmail.com>
> Date: Wed, Sep 24, 2025, 10:07
> Subject: Re: [NCUC-EC] About EC absences and application of NCUC Bylaws
> VII, D
> To: Amin Hacha <aminhacha at gmail.com>
> Cc: Namra Naseer <fr.namra at gmail.com>, Exec. Comm <ncuc-ec at lists.ncuc.org>
>
>
> Dear EC Members,
>
> I am writing to formally address the concerns raised regarding my recent
> absence and to offer my sincere apologies for any inconvenience caused.
>
> Over the past few months, I have been dealing with a significant health
> issue that severely impacted my ability to fulfill my EC responsibilities.
> I acknowledge that I failed to properly communicate my situation or
> calibrate how much time I would need for recovery, which was unprofessional
> on my part. I take full responsibility for not informing the EC promptly
> about my circumstances.
>
> Following my conversation with Wisdom, where I openly discussed my health
> situation, I did attempt to participate in subsequent calls. However, due
> to timing issues and my ongoing health challenges, I missed connections on
> two occasions—once joining after the call had ended, and another when the
> meeting had been rescheduled. I regret not checking WhatsApp messages more
> regularly during this period.
>
> I want to emphasize that I have responded to emails requiring my input on
> matters where I was directly involved, and I have maintained my commitment
> to the work wherever possible. I understand this situation may appear as
> though I've disregarded EC protocols, but I want to stress that this is an
> exceptional circumstance and not reflective of my typical dedication. My
> attendance record over the past two years as an EC member demonstrates
> consistent participation and engagement.
>
> Given that my term concludes at the end of October and travel arrangements
> for ICANN Dublin have already been finalized, I humbly request your
> consideration in allowing me to complete my final month of service.
> Canceling these arrangements at this stage would not only result in wasted
> resources but would also prevent any other member from utilizing this
> opportunity.
>
> I am fully committed to fulfilling all remaining responsibilities and
> duties expected of me during this final month. I would be grateful for the
> opportunity to conclude my term properly and contribute meaningfully to our
> final meetings.
>
> Thank you for your understanding and consideration of my circumstances. I
> deeply value my time serving on the EC and hope to end my tenure on a
> positive note.
> --
> With gratitude
> *Mili Semlani*
> LinkedIn <https://www.linkedin.com/in/milisemlani/>: community building
> for new media
> Instagram <https://www.instagram.com/milisemlani/>: evocative travel
> stories and mind musings
> DoorDesi <https://doordesi.substack.com/>: join the community of Indians
> living abroad
>
>
>
> On Wed, 24 Sept 2025 at 07:06, Amin Hacha <aminhacha at gmail.com> wrote:
>
>> Hi Pedro, EC members, and Chair,
>> Thank you for sharing the detailed explanation and background on this
>> matter. I fully understand the situation, and I agree that as members of
>> the EC, we must respect and follow the Bylaws. While decisions in such
>> situations are not always easy, the rules exist to guide us and ensure
>> fairness and accountability.
>> *Taking note that the Executive Committee had previously provided the
>> member in question an opportunity to improve the situation, but
>> unfortunately, no progress was made. *
>> I therefore support the interpretation provided and give my vote in line
>> with the decision made.
>> regards,
>> Amin
>>
>> On Wed, Sep 24, 2025 at 12:32 AM Namra Naseer <fr.namra at gmail.com> wrote:
>>
>>> You have my vote/ confirmation, Pedro.
>>>
>>> On Tue, Sep 23, 2025 at 18:24 Pedro de Perdigão Lana <
>>> pedrodeperdigaolana at gmail.com> wrote:
>>>
>>>> Errata:
>>>>
>>>> We do have very flexible rules on the obligations of EC members, but
>>>> this is one that immediately results in an immediate resignation from the
>>>> EC representative. In other words, the "leaving office" does not even come
>>>> from an EC vote or decision *(such as the one on Section VII, E of the
>>>> Bylaws)*: the Bylaws determine that this leads to the person resigning
>>>> their office, and this resignation leads to cancellation of the obligations
>>>> and rights that come with the position, such as the representation in ICANN
>>>> meetings.
>>>>
>>>> Cordially,
>>>>
>>>> *Pedro de Perdigão Lana*
>>>> Lawyer <https://www.nic.br/>, GEDAI/UFPR <https://www.gedai.com.br/>
>>>> Researcher
>>>> PhD Candidate (UFPR), LLM in Business Law (UCoimbra)
>>>> Coordination/Board/EC @ ISOC Brazil <https://www.isoc.org.br/>, NCUC
>>>> <https://www.ncuc.org/> & NCSG
>>>> <https://community.icann.org/display/gnsononcomstake/Home>(ICANN) and CC
>>>> Brazil <https://br.creativecommons.net/>.
>>>> This message is restricted to the sender and recipient(s). If received
>>>> by mistake, please reply informing it.
>>>>
>>>>
>>>> Em ter., 23 de set. de 2025 às 19:18, Pedro de Perdigão Lana <
>>>> pedrodeperdigaolana at gmail.com> escreveu:
>>>>
>>>>> Hi EC,
>>>>>
>>>>> As raised in our last meeting, but without enough time to discuss it,
>>>>> we need a common understanding about the application of a part of the NCUC
>>>>> Bylaws regarding absence from not only NCUC EC activities, but also our
>>>>> meetings, especially to set a precedent in future situations when this may
>>>>> happen early in the term. I asked for the attendance record of our current
>>>>> term (excluding absences that started already in the previous mandate), and
>>>>> this is what I got:
>>>>>
>>>>>    1. December 2024 - Amin Hacha, Mili Semlani, Namra Naseer, Pedro
>>>>>    de Perdigão Lana, Sara Mohamed, Wisdom Donkor
>>>>>    2. January 2025 - Amin Hacha, Namra Naseer, Pedro de Perdigão
>>>>>    Lana, Sara Mohamed, Wisdom Donkor
>>>>>    3. February 2025- Amin Hacha, Namra Naseer, Pedro de Perdigão
>>>>>    Lana, Sara Mohamed, Wisdom Donkor
>>>>>    4. April 2025 - Amin Hacha, Namra Naseer, Pedro de Perdigão Lana,
>>>>>    Sara Mohamed, Wisdom Donkor (Mili sent apology)
>>>>>    5. May 2025 - Amin Hacha, Milton Mueller, Pedro de Perdigão Lana,
>>>>>    Sara Mohamed, Wisdom Donkor (Namra sent apology)
>>>>>    6. July 2025 - Amin Hacha, Pedro de Perdigão Lana, Namra Naseer,
>>>>>    Wisdom Donkor (Sara sent apology)
>>>>>    7. August 2025 - Amin Hacha, Pedro de Perdigão Lana, Namra Naseer,
>>>>>    Wisdom Donkor, Sara Mohomed
>>>>>    8. September 2025 - Amin Hacha, Pedro de Perdigão Lana, Namra
>>>>>    Naseer, Wisdom Donkor (Sara sent apology)
>>>>>
>>>>> *This means one of the EC members was present at just one of the EC's
>>>>> meetings during the whole term, *and sent an apology for another. The
>>>>> issue is that we have the following rule in our bylaws:
>>>>>
>>>>> VII. Leaving Office: (...) D. Regional representatives who fail to
>>>>> attend more than three (3) meetings in a row are considered to have
>>>>> resigned their office. If they send apologies for their absence, after
>>>>> three (3) times, they will be treated as per section IV.E.6 below.
>>>>>
>>>>> This absence was already noted in previous meetings, which prompted a
>>>>> formal communication requiring an explanation of what was happening. Our EC
>>>>> representative from Asia mentioned she had personal issues with
>>>>> signs starting in April. Most importantly, in the answer on July 25th,
>>>>> there was a declaration that the person would be able to resume her duties
>>>>> during the rest of the tenure, promising to fulfill all and any obligations
>>>>> necessary until the end of it. This answer was not contested, even though
>>>>> the absences started earlier. However, she was absent once again in
>>>>> September and August (she tried to join half an hour late, and I remember
>>>>> one occasion in a meeting of a previous term, when an EC member was late to
>>>>> a call, that she invoked an EC agreement that a large delay in joining
>>>>> could not count as a presence).
>>>>>
>>>>> We do have very flexible rules on the obligations of EC members, but
>>>>> this is one that immediately results in an immediate resignation from the
>>>>> EC representative. In other words, the "leaving office" does not even come
>>>>> from an EC vote or decision: the Bylaws determine that this leads to the
>>>>> person resigning their office (such as the one on Section VII, E of the
>>>>> Bylaws), and this resignation leads to cancellation of the obligations and
>>>>> rights that come with the position, such as the representation in ICANN
>>>>> meetings.
>>>>>
>>>>> I would like to confirm this interpretation with the rest of the EC,
>>>>> followed by a confirmation from the chair.
>>>>>
>>>>> Cordially,
>>>>>
>>>>> *Pedro de Perdigão Lana*
>>>>> Lawyer <https://www.nic.br/>, GEDAI/UFPR <https://www.gedai.com.br/>
>>>>> Researcher
>>>>> PhD Candidate (UFPR), LLM in Business Law (UCoimbra)
>>>>> Coordination/Board/EC @ ISOC Brazil <https://www.isoc.org.br/>, NCUC
>>>>> <https://www.ncuc.org/> & NCSG
>>>>> <https://community.icann.org/display/gnsononcomstake/Home>(ICANN) and CC
>>>>> Brazil <https://br.creativecommons.net/>.
>>>>> This message is restricted to the sender and recipient(s). If received
>>>>> by mistake, please reply informing it.
>>>>>
>>>> _______________________________________________
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>>>>
>>> _______________________________________________
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>>> NCUC-EC at lists.ncuc.org
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>>>
>> _______________________________________________
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>>
>
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