Having established a theoretical framework for ICANN's legitimacy and proposed a set of structures to make that legitimacy real, ICANN still needs to establish the At-Large Membership in a stable relationship with the Internet public. Reform must happen quickly; the terms of office for the five At-Large Directors currently on the Board will expire in November 2002. Their replacements must be chosen and ready to serve by then. Considering the complexity and length of the election implementation, the Board will need to take strong action at its Annual Meeting in November 2001.
Not every detail of the At-Large Membership can or should be determined by Board action. Few observers expect that, in five years, ICANN's agenda, its slate of activities, and even its internal structures will be the same as they are now, and to create a Membership incapable of adapting would be to do a disservice to ICANN's basic need for legitimacy. The ICANN Board should provide the Membership with initial structures and a sense of purpose, but beyond that the Membership should be as self-directed and flexible as possible. Eventually, it is to be hoped that the Membership will wean itself from dependence on the Board for the Membership's own internal structures.
Further, the Board must provide the Membership with room to evolve, and an empowering environment for such evolution to occur. While the specific structures of the Membership will change over time, the Membership's basic function-to provide ICANN with necessary input from the broad public affected by ICANN's activities-will not. By acknowledging the basic fact of the Membership's importance, ICANN can not only provide the Membership with ultimate direction, it can provide those who work within the Membership with assurance of their work's value.
| 3.6.3.4 Restructuring in the Near Term | 4.1 Bylaws Changes |
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