[ncc-services-wg] Re: [local-ir at ripe.net]RIPE 47 Meeting Report

Folks, (distribution list trimmed - but not certain if this is a local-ir 
or ncc-services issue)

--On 23 February 2004 11:55 +0100 Nick Hyrka <ncc at ripe.net> wrote:

> ...
> HIGHLIGHTS
> ==========
> ...
> - As announced by Rob Blokzijl, RIPE Chair, two RIPE Meetings will be
> held in 2005. Based on the feedback from the community, this schedule
> will continue in 2006. The RIPE NCC will offer additional support to RIPE
> Working Groups to facilitate discussion and progress between RIPE
> Meetings.

I remember being at the RIPE47 meeting where this was announced as a fait 
accompli.  What I don't remember was the RIPE47 meeting where there was any 
real debate or discussion about it.

If we leave aside the number of meetings per year for a moment, what I find 
most concerning about this is that a reasonably substantive change to the 
way that we operate as a policy-making community has been slipped in 
without any chance to express reservations or concerns, or hear reasoning 
one way or another.  This is a dangerous path to tread as I am sure all 
will agree.

On the subject of meetings, it is accepted that mailing list discussions 
are moved forwards rapidly at the meetings, as we have a chance to discuss 
things face to face in working groups which in general leads to more rapid 
conclusion of policy decisions.
If we have a new operating method where there are two 'major' RIPE meetings 
a year, and some 'lesser' committee meetings for the working groups, do we 
end up with people who have an interest now having to travel to all of the 
meetings rather than just the current RIPE meetings to ensure that 
something they care about is not being discussed without them present?

I'm not certain that having interim meetings works well anyway - from past 
experience I have seen much momentum at industry meetings where different 
groups then go off with the best intentions of having several sub-committee 
meetings before the next major meeting.  For a variety of reasons, this 
does not then happen - and my experience was with the meetings held in 
London - for people working in and around London.  In the RIPE case, there 
would be the added necessity to potentially travel around Europe or from 
further away to participate.  The current meetings are worthwhile for those 
flying in from the USA or far east as there is much taking place - would 
the attraction still be there for any interim cut-down meeting?

So in short, I'm not at all convinced that two meetings a year is a Good 
Thing, nor am I particularly happy about the way it has been introduced.

Regards,

Paul.

--
Paul Thornton, PRT Systems Ltd
Tel: +44 1825 740756   Fax: +44 1825 740136  GSM: +44 7885 373379