Maureen Cubberley CIRA Board Chair

Bernard Turcotte CIRA President

Election DayInside CIRA Governance

Bernard TurcotteCIRA President

Welcome

Maureen CubberleyChair, CIRA Board

Presentation Overview

• About CIRA and dot-ca– Background and history– Governance approach– Opportunities

• Elections Process– History and experience– Candidate involvement– Outreach to members and public– Special interests

About CIRA and Dot-CA

• 1987 - November 2000– Dot-ca domain managed by John Demco and

University of British Columbia volunteers– 60,000 active domain names– Restrictions on dot-ca registrations

• December 2000– CIRA assumes management control of dot-ca– 60,000 domain names transferred– New more flexible registration rules take effect– Canadian Presence Requirements

About CIRA and Dot-CA

• June 2002– Close to 300,000 domain names– 500% growth in 18 months– 84 certified registrars– Thick registry– Budget: $3.3M (US)– Staff: 15

About CIRA and Dot-CAOpen and Accountable Governance

CIRA members voting at the Annual General Meeting

Dot-caOpportunity: Canada Takes Notice

Canadians increasingly choosing dot-ca

Board of Directors13 Persons

- 9 elected- 3 appointed- 1 non-voting (government)

Elections• June 2001

– First Board of Directors election– 90,000 eligible members (voters)– 3,000 members vote/participate– 9 Directors elected

• May 2002– Second Board of Directors election– 140,000 eligible members (voters)– 1000 members vote/participate– 3 Directors elected (3 Board seats to fill)

VOTER

APATHY?

Elections Process

• Nomination Committee– Selected by CIRA Board– Nominates at least 3 candidates to final

ballot

• Members’ Nominees– Can nominate candidates– Require support from 50 other members

Elections Process

• Online Question and Answer Forum– Open to general public– Hard questions and issues raised by

Canadians– Candidates can state views and positions

Elections ProcessCandidates’ Campaigns

Highly motivated candidates seek support from members (voters)

Elections ProcessMedia and Public Relations Outreach

- Mass advertising raises awareness

- No direct impact on voter turnout

Elections ProcessSpecial Interest Groups

- Alliances and coalitions can take shape

- Online Board elections have much in common with real world politics and elections

Elections Process

- Online voting

- ID/PW required

- 7 day voting period

- 1 vote per member (for each open seat)

Closing Remarks

• Openness and transparency– Foundation of dot-ca governance– Needed for fair and credible elections– Essential to involve interested parties

• Key challenge– Participation by members and candidates

• Reward– Accountable governance practices

Thank You!

• Questions?– m.cubberley@sympatico.ca– bernard.turcotte@cira.ca– www.cira.ca

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