<div>Hi Poncelet,<br></div><div><br></div><div>I have enquired several times as to the cost of hosting the Intersessional in Reykjavik earlier this year, but have not received a formal response. That said, I have reason to believe the cost of hosting the meeting in Iceland was significantly more than previous meetings in LA and DC.<br></div><div><br></div><div>I have just checked the visa requirements for Mexico, and I really do not think we could find a country easier for the vast majority of participants to enter. Anyone, no matter their nationality, who already holds a valid visa for Canada, Japan, the US, UK, or any Schengen Member State can enter Mexico for 180 days. Those who do not have such a visa (but have an onward plane ticket) can obtain a Mexican visa on arrival. <br></div><div><br></div><div>I also believe the cost of flights to Mexico City (for the vast majority of participants), as well as hotel and venue hire, would be considerably less than Iceland or the US. To test that theory, I just had a look on the ITA Flight Matrix for flights from Banjul to Mexico City and Banjul to Reykjavik in late January, and flights to Mexico are one-third of the price of heading to Iceland. <br></div><div><br></div><div>I think Mexico is worth considering for the Intersessional. LA continues to make sense to me for the GNSO Council Strategic Planning Session.<br></div><div><br></div><div>Best wishes, Ayden <br></div><div class="protonmail_signature_block "><div class="protonmail_signature_block-proton protonmail_signature_block-empty"><br></div></div><div><br></div><blockquote class="protonmail_quote" type="cite"><div>-------- Original Message --------<br></div><div>Subject: Re: [NCSG-PC] Fwd: YOUR FEEDBACK REQUESTED: Planning for 2018 NCPH Intersessional & GNSO Council strategic planning sessions<br></div><div>Local Time: July 28, 2017 12:22 PM<br></div><div>UTC Time: July 28, 2017 11:22 AM<br></div><div>From: pileleji@ymca.gm<br></div><div>To: Ayden Férdeline <icann@ferdeline.com><br></div><div>Stephanie Perrin <stephanie.perrin@mail.utoronto.ca>, ncsg-pc <ncsg-pc@lists.ncsg.is><br></div><div><br></div><div dir="ltr"><div><div><div><div>Thanks Ayden,<br></div></div><div>Much appreciated in response to Stephanie email, I totally concur with majority of your comments. However for the intersessional, Cost in terms of travel and easier access I suggest we stick to Iceland as the last one showed, it ticked all the boxes. So for me the way Iceland has made their destination very flexible and appealing as a transit hub to Europe, North America and others, makes it a good choice. Flight cost and easy transit from Europe makes it a perfect fit to me. My 0.000001% addition.<br></div><div><br></div></div><div>Kind Regards<br></div><div><br></div></div><div>Poncelet<br></div><div><div><div><br></div></div></div></div><div class="gmail_extra"><div><br></div><div class="gmail_quote"><div>On 28 July 2017 at 11:57, Ayden Férdeline <span dir="ltr"><<a href="mailto:icann@ferdeline.com" rel="noreferrer nofollow noopener">icann@ferdeline.com</a>></span> wrote:<br></div><blockquote style="margin:0 0 0 .8ex;border-left:1px #ccc solid;padding-left:1ex" class="gmail_quote"><div>Thanks for sharing this, Stephanie, and for inviting our feedback.<br></div><div><br></div><div>I think the two meetings should be held separately at different times of the year, as they serve different purposes and cater to different audiences [with some overlap].<br></div><div><br></div><div>I understand that ICANN staff try only to travel during business hours, but some of our participants might find it easier to be able to travel to a meeting over a weekend and to have the meeting commence on a Sunday. I am not sure what others think about this suggestion, particularly those on the GNSO Council who would be impacted here, but just putting that idea out there...<br></div><div><br></div><div>For the GNSO Council Strategic Planning Meeting, it makes sense to me to have this in Los Angeles given it is the closest ICANN office for the majority of the likely participants.<br></div><div><br></div><div>For the Intersessional (which I think should continue, though I understand that is not a view held by all) I also think Los Angeles makes a lot of sense, though I understand the participant profiles vary, and it may be very difficult for many of the Intersessional participants to travel to the United States. Based on the participant profiles of everyone who attended the Intersessional this year, I believe Mexico City would be much easier for everyone to travel to [anyone with an existing US or Canadian visa does not need a visa to enter Mexico, and for many in Latin America, Mexico’s immigration policies are very fair]. It would also be a rather economical choice.<br></div><div><br></div><div class="m_-1931883315349502245protonmail_signature_block"><div class="m_-1931883315349502245protonmail_signature_block-user"><div>Best wishes, Ayden Férdeline <br></div></div><div class="m_-1931883315349502245protonmail_signature_block-proton m_-1931883315349502245protonmail_signature_block-empty"><br></div></div><div><br></div><blockquote type="cite" class="m_-1931883315349502245protonmail_quote"><div>-------- Original Message --------<br></div><div>Subject: [NCSG-PC] Fwd: YOUR FEEDBACK REQUESTED: Planning for 2018 NCPH Intersessional & GNSO Council strategic planning sessions<br></div><div>Local Time: July 27, 2017 9:37 PM<br></div><div>UTC Time: July 27, 2017 8:37 PM<br></div><div>From: <a href="mailto:stephanie.perrin@mail.utoronto.ca" rel="noreferrer nofollow noopener">stephanie.perrin@mail.<wbr>utoronto.ca</a><br></div><div>To: ncsg-pc <<a href="mailto:ncsg-pc@lists.ncsg.is" rel="noreferrer nofollow noopener">ncsg-pc@lists.ncsg.is</a>><br></div><div><br></div><div><br></div><p><span style="font-size:undefinedpx" class="m_-1931883315349502245size"><span class="font" style="font-family:"Lucida Grande"">Perhaps we ought to
discuss this on the broader list as well, just forwarding....</span></span><br></p><p><span style="font-size:undefinedpx" class="m_-1931883315349502245size"><span class="font" style="font-family:"Lucida Grande"">Stephanie</span></span><br></p><div class="m_-1931883315349502245moz-forward-container"><div><br></div><div><br></div><div>-------- Forwarded Message --------<br></div><table border="0" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="m_-1931883315349502245moz-email-headers-table"><tbody><tr><th align="RIGHT" nowrap="" valign="BASELINE">Subject:<br></th><td>YOUR FEEDBACK REQUESTED: Planning for 2018 NCPH
Intersessional & GNSO Council strategic planning
sessions<br></td></tr><tr><th align="RIGHT" nowrap="" valign="BASELINE">Date:<br></th><td>Mon, 24 Jul 2017 15:22:29 +0000<br></td></tr><tr><th align="RIGHT" nowrap="" valign="BASELINE">From:<br></th><td>Mary Wong <a rel="noreferrer nofollow noopener" class="m_-1931883315349502245moz-txt-link-rfc2396E" href="mailto:mary.wong@icann.org"><mary.wong@icann.org></a><br></td></tr><tr><th align="RIGHT" nowrap="" valign="BASELINE">To:<br></th><td>Phil Corwin <a rel="noreferrer nofollow noopener" class="m_-1931883315349502245moz-txt-link-rfc2396E" href="mailto:psc@vlaw-dc.com"><psc@vlaw-dc.com></a>, Susan Kawaguchi <a rel="noreferrer nofollow noopener" class="m_-1931883315349502245moz-txt-link-rfc2396E" href="mailto:susankpolicy@gmail.com"><susankpolicy@gmail.com></a>, Heather Forrest <a rel="noreferrer nofollow noopener" class="m_-1931883315349502245moz-txt-link-rfc2396E" href="mailto:haforrestesq@gmail.com"><haforrestesq@gmail.com></a>, icannlists <a rel="noreferrer nofollow noopener" class="m_-1931883315349502245moz-txt-link-rfc2396E" href="mailto:icannlists@winston.com"><icannlists@winston.com></a>, Wolf-Ulrich.Knoben <a rel="noreferrer nofollow noopener" class="m_-1931883315349502245moz-txt-link-rfc2396E" href="mailto:wolf-ulrich.knoben@t-online.de"><wolf-ulrich.knoben@t-online.<wbr>de></a>, Anthony Harris <a rel="noreferrer nofollow noopener" class="m_-1931883315349502245moz-txt-link-rfc2396E" href="mailto:anthonyrharris@gmail.com"><anthonyrharris@gmail.com></a>, Rafik Dammak <a rel="noreferrer nofollow noopener" class="m_-1931883315349502245moz-txt-link-rfc2396E" href="mailto:rafik.dammak@gmail.com"><rafik.dammak@gmail.com></a>, Milan, Stefania <a rel="noreferrer nofollow noopener" class="m_-1931883315349502245moz-txt-link-rfc2396E" href="mailto:Stefania.Milan@EUI.eu"><Stefania.Milan@EUI.eu></a>, Marilia Maciel <a rel="noreferrer nofollow noopener" class="m_-1931883315349502245moz-txt-link-rfc2396E" href="mailto:mariliamaciel@gmail.com"><mariliamaciel@gmail.com></a>, Stephanie Perrin <a rel="noreferrer nofollow noopener" class="m_-1931883315349502245moz-txt-link-rfc2396E" href="mailto:stephanie.perrin@mail.utoronto.ca"><stephanie.perrin@mail.<wbr>utoronto.ca></a>, Martin Pablo
Silva Valent <a rel="noreferrer nofollow noopener" class="m_-1931883315349502245moz-txt-link-rfc2396E" href="mailto:mpsilvavalent@gmail.com"><mpsilvavalent@gmail.com></a>, Johan
Helsingius <a rel="noreferrer nofollow noopener" class="m_-1931883315349502245moz-txt-link-rfc2396E" href="mailto:julf@julf.com"><julf@julf.com></a><br></td></tr><tr><th align="RIGHT" nowrap="" valign="BASELINE">CC:<br></th><td>Benedetta Rossi <a rel="noreferrer nofollow noopener" class="m_-1931883315349502245moz-txt-link-rfc2396E" href="mailto:benedetta.rossi@icann.org"><benedetta.rossi@icann.org></a><br></td></tr></tbody></table><div><br></div><div><br></div><div class="m_-1931883315349502245WordSection1"><p class="MsoNormal"><span class="size" style="font-size:11pt">Dear
Heather, Susan, Marilia, Stefania, Stephanie, Phil, Rafik,
Tony, Julf, Wolf-Ulrich, Paul and Martin,</span><br></p><p class="MsoNormal"><span class="size" style="font-size:11pt"> </span><br></p><p class="MsoNormal"><span class="size" style="font-size:11pt">I am writing
to seek your input as we (ICANN staff) begin working with
the GNSO Council leadership and the NCPH leadership to plan
two face-to-face meetings that have been approved for FY
2018. One is a 2-3 day strategic planning session for the
GNSO Council (approved as a pilot project for FY2018), and
the other is the periodic NCPH Intersessional meeting.</span><br></p><p class="MsoNormal"><span class="size" style="font-size:11pt"> </span><br></p><p class="MsoNormal"><span class="size" style="font-size:11pt">As the
application for the GNSO Council’s strategic planning
meeting had indicated that this might take place in January
2018, and as the NCPH Intersessional has traditionally taken
place in January or February, staff would like to know if
you believe it will be <u>preferable for these two meetings
to take place concurrently, such that both meetings can
occur within the space of a single week in the same
location, or if you think it will be better to plan them
as two separate meetings taking place at different times
in the year</u>.</span><br></p><p class="MsoNormal"><span class="size" style="font-size:11pt"> </span><br></p><p class="MsoNormal"><span class="size" style="font-size:11pt">You may be
interested to know that the ICANN process for face-to-face
meeting planning has been updated (as of June 2017), such
that meeting requests for location, dates and travel now
have to be sent in several months ahead of time. For the
GNSO Council strategic planning meeting, the budget approval
requires an ICANN office location, with preference for Los
Angeles – hence, if you think running both meetings
concurrently in the same week is better, this will most
probably mean that the NCPH Intersessional will take place
in Los Angeles as well.</span><br></p><p class="MsoNormal"><span class="size" style="font-size:11pt"> </span><br></p><p class="MsoNormal"><span class="size" style="font-size:11pt">We
understand that, as these events are going to take place in
calendar year 2018, several of you may no longer be on the
Council by that time. In addition, decisions and programming
concerning the NCPH Intersessional is the responsibility of
the NCPH leadership and not the GNSO Council. However, for
planning purposes we thought it appropriate to seek as much
input as possible from those community members who may be
most affected by the dates and timing, and so we hope you
are able to provide us with your opinion as to which option
is preferred.</span><br></p><p class="MsoNormal"><span class="size" style="font-size:11pt"> </span><br></p><p class="MsoNormal"><span class="size" style="font-size:11pt">Thanks and
cheers</span><br></p><p class="MsoNormal"><span class="size" style="font-size:11pt">Mary</span><br></p><p class="MsoNormal"><span class="size" style="font-size:11pt"> </span><br></p><p class="MsoNormal"><span class="size" style="font-size:11pt"> </span><br></p></div></div></blockquote><div><br></div><div><br></div><div>______________________________<wbr>_________________<br></div><div> NCSG-PC mailing list<br></div><div> <a href="mailto:NCSG-PC@lists.ncsg.is" rel="noreferrer nofollow noopener">NCSG-PC@lists.ncsg.is</a><br></div><div> <a rel="noreferrer nofollow noopener" href="https://lists.ncsg.is/mailman/listinfo/ncsg-pc">https://lists.ncsg.is/mailman/<wbr>listinfo/ncsg-pc</a><br></div><div> <br></div></blockquote></div><div><br></div><div><br></div><div><br></div><div>-- <br></div><div data-smartmail="gmail_signature" class="gmail_signature"><div dir="ltr"><div><div dir="ltr"><div><div>Poncelet O. Ileleji MBCS<br></div><div>Coordinator<br></div><div>The Gambia YMCAs Computer Training Centre & Digital Studio<br></div><div>MDI Road Kanifing South<br></div><div>P. O. Box 421 Banjul<br></div><div>The Gambia, West Africa<br></div><div>Tel: (220) 4370240<br></div><div>Fax:(220) 4390793<br></div><div>Cell:(220) 9912508<br></div><div>Skype: pons_utd<br></div><div><i><span class="colour" style="color:rgb(0, 0, 153)"><a href="http://www.ymca.gm" rel="noreferrer nofollow noopener">www.ymca.gm</a><br><a href="http://jokkolabs.net/en/" rel="noreferrer nofollow noopener">http://jokkolabs.net/en/</a><br><a href="http://www.waigf.org" rel="noreferrer nofollow noopener">www.waigf.org</a><br><a href="http://www.itag.gm" rel="noreferrer nofollow noopener">www,insistglobal.com</a><br><a href="http://www.npoc.org" rel="noreferrer nofollow noopener">www.npoc.org</a><br><a href="http://www.wsa-mobile.org/node/753" rel="noreferrer nofollow noopener">http://www.wsa-mobile.org/node/753</a><br></span></i><cite><span class="colour" style="color:rgb(0, 0, 153)"><a href="http://www.diplointernetgovernance.org" rel="noreferrer nofollow noopener">www.diplointernetgovernance.org</a><br><br></span><b><span class="colour" style="color:rgb(0, 0, 153)"><br></span></b><br></cite></div></div></div></div></div></div></div></blockquote><div><br></div>