Changes

Full sponsorship info can be found [http://meetings.icann.org/sponsorship here].

Full sponsorship info can be found [http://meetings.icann.org/sponsorship here].

==Reform Discussions==

==Reforms==

In November 2006, [[Susan Crawford]] led a discussion that resulted in a proposal of recommendations for implementing ICANN meetings in a more efficient, low-cost, and engaging way. Her paper was broken down into three parts: a description of the goals of ICANN meetings; a list of criticisms and concerns about the meetings; proposed solutions for the criticisms. Among other things, her recommendations included a public forum at the beginning of each of the three annual meetings, an online docket that tracks the status of all decisions made, and the establishment of a central hub for one of the three annual meetings. She also called for clearly stated agendas prior to the meetings and accountability in recording and publishing meeting minutes.<ref>[http://archive.icann.org/en/meetings/white-paper.htm Meeting White Paper], ICANN.org.</ref>

In November 2006, [[Susan Crawford]] led a discussion that resulted in a proposal of recommendations for implementing ICANN meetings in a more efficient, low-cost, and engaging way. Her paper was broken down into three parts: a description of the goals of ICANN meetings; a list of criticisms and concerns about the meetings; proposed solutions for the criticisms. Among other things, her recommendations included a public forum at the beginning of each of the three annual meetings, an online docket that tracks the status of all decisions made, and the establishment of a central hub for one of the three annual meetings. She also called for clearly stated agendas prior to the meetings and accountability in recording and publishing meeting minutes.<ref>[http://archive.icann.org/en/meetings/white-paper.htm Meeting White Paper], ICANN.org. Published 2006 November. Retrieved 2012 November 20.</ref>

Crawford's reform ideas also involved a Public Workshop that was held at the [[ICANN 27]] Sao Paulo meeting, and many of her recommendations had been implemented by May 2008<ref name="reforms">[http://archive.icann.org/en/meetings/meetings-reform-discussion-paper-16may08-en.pdf Reform Discussion Paper], ICANN.org. Published 2008 May 16.</ref>, when a similar call for reforms addressed the fact that ICANN's original meeting structure was outdated. It outlined plans to set into motion long-term reforms for ICANN meetings beginning in 2010. Its main proposal was for the annual meetings to be reduced from three to two, with one being located in a consistent central hub.<ref name="reforms"></ref>

Crawford's reform ideas also involved a Public Workshop that was held at the [[ICANN 27]] Sao Paulo meeting, and many of her recommendations had been implemented by May 2008<ref name="reforms">[http://archive.icann.org/en/meetings/meetings-reform-discussion-paper-16may08-en.pdf Reform Discussion Paper], ICANN.org. Published 2008 May 16. Retrieved 2012 November 30.</ref>. Amongst these was ICANN's implementation of a new policy in 2007, which changed the execution and planning of the meetings -- which were currently handled by each meetings geographic hot -- in to the hands of ICANN itself.<ref name="october2012meeting">[http://www.icann.org/en/news/public-comment/meetings-proposal-2012-02oct12-en.htm ICANN Consolidated Meetings Strategy Proposal], ICANN.org. Published 2012 October 2. Retrieved 2012 November 20.</ref>

 

In May 2008, a similar call for reforms addressed the fact that ICANN's original meeting structure was outdated. A paper outlined plans to set into motion long-term reforms for ICANN meetings, beginning in 2010. Its main proposal was for the annual meetings to be reduced from three to two, with one being located in a consistent central hub.<ref name="reforms"></ref>

 

A paper published in October 2012 attempted to provide rationale for the consolidation of ICANN meetings moving forward. The consistent growth of ICANN meetings, ICANN stated, makes "increasingly difficult to identify new hosts, as well as new host cities with the appropriate facilities." ICANN proposes that lessening the frequency of meetings and consolidating them across fewer locales will help increase the quality and predictability of meetings, as well as help establish favorable long-terms contracts with the facilities.<ref name="october2012meeting"></ref> The proposed new plan reduce the number of cities visited between 2014 and 2016 from nine to seven. Under ICANN's old plan, the meetings would be broken down to include two in Europe, two in North America, two in Asia-Pacific, two in Africa, and one in Latin America. The new plan would include three in Europe and three in Asia-Pacific, but in four countries rather than six. Africa, North America, and Latin America would all have one meeting.<ref>[http://domainincite.com/10671-no-more-club-med-america-and-africa-would-lose-out-under-icann-meetings-overhaul No more Club Med? America and Africa would lose out under ICANN meetings overhaul], DomainIncite.com. Published 2012 October 2.</ref>

==Past and Future ICANN Meetings==

==Past and Future ICANN Meetings==