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<div class="moz-cite-prefix">Shane, <br>
<br>
Your "stupid question" comes only a couple of days after I could
claim ownership of the same "stupid question".<br>
On 7/4/2016 7:32 AM, Shane Kerr wrote:<br>
</div>
<blockquote
cite="mid:20160704133218.26fcca01@pallas.home.time-travellers.org"
type="cite">
<pre wrap="">Shane writes: Probably a stupid question, but that rarely stopped me from asking
before... Question: <i>Why do we need an independent account? </i><i>
</i><i>W</i><i>hy can't ICANN set up an account for the NCSG and/or NCUC?</i></pre>
</blockquote>
Here is a very short version of the answer as I understand it.
Constituency groups are Chartered within ICANN, but they are
organizationally independent and not formally accountable to ICANN
in terms of how they run themselves. Independent of the ICANN
expenses of administering such small accounts, maintaining the
accounts apparently may expose ICANN to legal requirements,
especially if the constituency groups also receive money from third
parties. There is some evidence for this in why GAC is asking ICANN
to fund its secretariat. Many GAC members, of course, have deep
pockets, but if they contribute to the funding of the GAC
secretariat within ICANN, ICANN is apparently required to register
with the U.S. government as an "agent of a foreign power". <span
class="moz-smiley-s7"><span>:-\</span></span><br>
<br>
As a result NCUC and NPOC have had to use private individual
accounts, since without some formal existence they have been unable
to open organizational accounts. That in turn apparently has exposed
individuals to personal taxes on income received by the private
account. I am trying to solve this problem for NPOC at the moment. <br>
<br>
Sam L. , <i>NCSG Finance Committee</i><br>
<br>
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