<div dir="ltr"><h2 style="margin-bottom:0in;margin-bottom:.0001pt"><span style="font-family:
"Arial","sans-serif";mso-fareast-font-family:"Times New Roman"">Proposed Bylaws
Revision Open For Comment</span></h2>
<p style="margin-top:11.25pt;margin-right:0in;margin-bottom:0in;margin-left:
0in;margin-bottom:.0001pt"><span style="font-family:"Arial","sans-serif"">23
September 2008</span></p>
<p><span style="font-family:"Arial","sans-serif"">Today ICANN is opening a
public comment period on a <a href="http://www.icann.org/en/general/proposed-nomcom-bylaws-revision-23sep08.pdf">proposed
bylaw revision</a> [PDF, 21K] from the ICANN Nominating Committee. The proposed
revision would update the diversity requirements for selecting ICANN Board
members to include domicile with country of citizenship.</span></p>
<p><span style="font-family:"Arial","sans-serif"">Over the past several years,
the Nominating Committee has expressed concern that being required to count
more than one country of citizenship for diversity purposes often makes it
difficult to select the best candidates for the Board seats that the Nominating
Committee is mandated to fill. In carrying out its responsibilities to fill
Seats 1 through 8, the Nominating Committee shall seek to ensure that the ICANN
Board is composed of members who in the aggregate display diversity in
geography, culture, skills, experience, and perspective, by applying the
criteria set forth in Bylaws.</span></p>
<p><span style="font-family:"Arial","sans-serif"">The Nominating Committee also
noted that some of the candidates have often lived in a country for many years,
and thereby better represent the interests of that country than any country of
which the candidates may be citizens.</span></p>
<p><span style="font-family:"Arial","sans-serif"">In the proposal, domicile,
not just citizenship, is to be considered in the diversity calculation. The
Nominating Committee members unanimously agreed that the proposed Bylaws
revisions would alleviate the concerns.</span></p>
<p><span style="font-family:"Arial","sans-serif"">During the 28 August 2008
meeting of the ICANN Board of Directors, the Board passed the following
resolution:</span></p>
<p><span style="font-family:"Arial","sans-serif"">Whereas, the Nominating
Committee has expressed concern that, pursuant to the Bylaws mandated diversity
requirements that no more than five Board members be citizens of any one
geographic region, the Nominating Committee is required to count all countries
of citizenship for each candidate.</span></p>
<p><span style="font-family:"Arial","sans-serif"">Whereas, the Nominating
Committee has noted that the requirement to count all countries of citizenship
has caused some selection difficulties each year over the past several years.</span></p>
<p><span style="font-family:"Arial","sans-serif"">Whereas, the Nominating
Committee has also expressed concern that the calculation is presently limited
to citizenship given that many people have lived for long periods of time in,
and represent the interests of, countries in which they may not be citizens.</span></p>
<p><span style="font-family:"Arial","sans-serif"">Whereas, making a diversity
calculation pursuant to the ICANN Bylaws as it relates to Board member
selection for seats 1 through 14 should be consistent.</span></p>
<p><span style="font-family:"Arial","sans-serif"">It is hereby resolved
(2008.08.28.03) that the following proposed revisions to Article VI, Sections
2.2 and 2.3, shall be posted for public comment in accordance with ICANN's
normal process for proposed Bylaw revisions.</span></p>
<p><span style="font-family:"Arial","sans-serif"">Comments on the proposed
bylaw revision may be submitted to <a href="mailto:nomcom-bylaw-revision@icann.org">nomcom-bylaw-revision@icann.org</a>
will be considered until 23 October 2008 23:59 UTC. Comments may be viewed at <a href="http://forum.icann.org/lists/nomcom-bylaw-revision/">http://forum.icann.org/lists/nomcom-bylaw-revision/</a>.</span></p>
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