I could not disagree more. If we expect open and honest debate and discussion than to some extent there MUST be meetings that are held outside of public purview. Otherwise directors would be extremely constrained in what they could do or say.

Sometimes I think we all forget what things are like in the real world. What board meetings of what PUBLIC company are held in public? As a lawyer I would think you would appreciate the value of 'without prejudice' discussions, which is all we are talking about here.

It is always frustrating for me when ICANN is held to a higher standard than......well really just about everything. ICANN is accused of a lack of openness and transparency. Compared to what? To WSIS where there was a separate entrance for "guests of governments" and "civil society"? Compared to public companies? Compared to Congress? Parliament?

Rant over.

You can't make an analogy to a public company. Public companies (and private for-profit companies too, for that matter) owe an obligation to their shareholders and have an obvious need to protect competitive advantages and corporate strategy. ICANN's obligation is to the worldwide Internet community, and it has no need to have secrets. Service on the Board is entirely voluntarily, I might add. Uncomfortable making decisions in an open and transparent manner? ICANN Board service probably isn't for you. It's a big world though, and I'll bet ICANN would have no problem filling its Board with people able and willing to pay more than lip service to openness. As for the argument that there's no model for this, that's plainly wrong. The GNSO does it very well. Why can't the ICANN Board do the same?

Bret

I don't think you are suggesting that the GNSO has no discussions other than in meetings. Besides, I would like to hear an analog from outside the ICANN process.

To me there is a big difference between offline discussions, even in a formal way, and only paying lip service to openness. I want to be clear, my point is not that I wouldn't like all discussions to be held in public, but rather that relative to parallels that come to my mind it is an extremely open process at all levels.

Over time, as it continues to improve, complete openness is an appropriate goal.