🚀 go-pugleaf

(This is being posted at the request of Hugh Irvine):

Hello everyone -

In an attempt to stimulate some constructive debate and discussion relating
to the Internet in Australia, I have prepared the following introduction to
an organisation called the 'Internet Society of Australia'. The object of
this exercise is to create a body with wide appeal and support to serve as
a platform for informed and useful discussion of issues surrounding the
Internet today.

Thanks
Hugh


[...Introduction...]

It has become increasingly clear over the last several months that there is
a very real need in this country for a body that concerns itself with
Internet issues, for and on behalf of the people who actually use the
Internet on a regular basis.

In response to this need, I have taken some initial steps to create a
framework for an organisation that I feel will be representative of the
broader Internet community in Australia. This organisation is called the
'Internet Society of Australia' and I have prepared a draft of some of the
things that I feel should form part of the incorporation of such a body.
These documents are on a web site at http://www.isoc-au.org.au
(http://203.63.84.2/) and I invite comments and discussion on the contents.

The current proposal for the 'Internet Society of Australia' is as a
company limited by guarantee and operating as a not for profit organisation
and benefitting from an Australian Securities Commission Section 383
License governing same.

I will be attending the Internet Society meeting in Montreal (INET'96)
later this month and I will be discussing whether or not this organisation
should be a chapter of ISOC. In my personal view, ISOC-AU should not be a
chapter of ISOC, and I shall be putting forward the idea that there should
be a new form of relationship more along the lines of associated entities.
The reason that I feel this way is simply because we are not part of
America and we have our own national concerns to contend with first and
foremost and I don't think that chapter status of an overseas organisation
is approprate in this context. Other views on this subject are welcome.

My intention in taking these first steps in the creation of ISOC-AU are
simply to put in place a structure that everyone can participate in. You
will notice that there are no proposals as to who should be named as
directors or as founding members. It is my intention that ISOC-AU be
representative of the Internet community in Australia and as such,
proposals regarding the articles and memorandum of association, as well as
nominations for directors, etc. are eagerly sought. Notice that the
organisation as such does not yet exist, the name 'Internet Society of
Australia' has been reserved and some legalese boilerplate has been put
together, but the actual creation of the entity is very much in the hands
of the Internet community at large. If people feel that this is a good
thing, and that they want to be involved, then now is the time to make
something happen.

It will come as no surprise that I have already sought comments from people
whose opinions I value, and that the response thus far has been
overwhelmingly favourable. I trust that this initiative will be regarded in
the spirit that it is proposed, as a framework for an effective group
working in the interests of the wider Internet community.

Regards
Hugh Irvine