<html><head><meta http-equiv="Content-Type" content="text/html charset=us-ascii"></head><body style="word-wrap: break-word; -webkit-nbsp-mode: space; -webkit-line-break: after-white-space;" class=""><p class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: Calibri; font-size: 16px; margin: 0cm 0cm 10pt; line-height: 13pt;"><font style="font-size: 11pt;" class="">Forwarded below from the Civil Society Coordination Group (CSCG):</font></p><div class="">###</div><div class=""><br class=""></div><p class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: Calibri; font-size: 16px; margin: 0cm 0cm 10pt; line-height: 13pt;"><font style="font-size: 11pt;" class="">The IGF has opened a call for nominations to attend a Planning Retreat from July 14-16 at Glen Cove, New York. Details can be found at:</font></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: Calibri; font-size: 16px; margin: 0cm 0cm 10pt; line-height: 13pt;"><a title="http://www.intgovforum.org/cms/igf-retreat" class=""><font color="#0000ff" style="font-size: 11pt;" class=""></font></a><font color="#0000ff" style="font-size: 11pt;" class=""><a href="http://www.intgovforum.org/cms/igf-retreat" class="">http://www.intgovforum.org/cms/igf-retreat</a></font></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: Calibri; font-size: 16px; margin: 0cm 0cm 10pt; line-height: 13pt;"><font style="font-size: 11pt;" class="">The IGF nomination procedures can be found from the link above and interested civil society people should apply. </font><font style="size: 0px;" class=""><font style="font-size: 11pt;" class="">Travel assistance *may* be available for participants from developing countries and transitional economies but cannot be guaranteed at this stage.</font></font></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: Calibri; font-size: 16px; margin: 0cm 0cm 10pt; line-height: 13pt;"><font style="font-size: 11pt;" class="">CSCG is still discussing whether it wishes to become involved in a parallel process of recommending civil society candidates. Our involvement is welcomed by the IGF Secretariat, but we are concerned about the lack of transparency and rushed nature of any involvement (which would also need to be completed by May 31 on current indications, in parallel with nominations still being received). We will advise further (within 48 hours) on procedures that should be followed for those seeking CSCG endorsement if a decision is made to be involved.</font></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: Calibri; font-size: 16px; margin: 0cm 0cm 10pt; line-height: 13pt;"><font style="size: 0px;" class=""><font style="font-size: 11pt;" class="">Apologies for incredibly short notice: this was only announced on Thursday May 19 and we have been seeking clarification on how this will be conducted.</font></font></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: Calibri; font-size: 16px; margin: 0cm 0cm 10pt; line-height: 13pt;">Ian Peter (Independent Chair, CSCG)</p><div class=""><br class=""></div><div class="">###</div></body></html>