The discussion of the constituencies is important, but we shouldn't
forget about the General Assembly. It was the feature of the DNSO that
many of us thought most important, and the draft bylaws still give that
body the real "power" in the DNSO.
It is clear that organizational interests are rallying around the
creation of the constituencies (they're entitled to do that, just as
individuals are), but equal focus, especially from those active on this
list, should go to developing, and most importantly, *populating* the
General Assembly.
Bringing interested stakeholders into this new body and developing
methods of effective online participation and voting are what will make
an effective General Assembly. And only an effective General Assembly
will minimize the effects of the constituencies or any organized
lobbyists that participate in this process.
The downside of the "bottom-up" management style that we wanted is that
we now have to build the General Assembly from the bottom up. Anyone who
could help devise a system of online participation, verification, and
voting that could facilitate the work of the General Assembly would be
doing God's work.
The first General Assembly meeting is scheduled for the afternoon of May
25th in Berlin.
-- Bret
