[ARIN-consult] Consultation on Expanding the Size of the ARIN Board of Trustees

[John Curran]

On 6 Apr 2018, at 4:35 PM, John Comfort <john at comfortconsulting.com<mailto:john at comfortconsulting.com>> wrote:

If the board at six members cannot approve a measure with a minimum quorum because only half of the six show up at a meeting, then perhaps nine-member boards would suffice when there requires a certain minimum vote whether or not all are present.

John -

We don’t have a quorum or engagement problem with the current Board; i.e. we generally have all (or all but one due to conflict) members present for our meetings and teleconferences.   Furthermore, routine business is taken care of promptly throughout the year by Board members who are generally attentive to their duties.

The concern raised in this community consultation on Board expansion is quite specific, and relates to the breadth of knowledge of the Board when it comes to setting ARIN’s strategic direction.  Often such discussions must start at the Board, in order to obtain sufficient approval to develop them further, since even the act of exploring them can have ramifications to ARIN mission.

For example, when the NANOG community was maturing and the concept of having a formal NANOG organization was raised, the ARIN Board had to discuss various options, such as supporting the initiative (which was the ultimate decision including initial organizational and financial support), but the options discussed also included possible directions that could have adversely impacted the initiative simply by being brought before the entire ARIN community.   While we had a Board which had sufficient breadth of knowledge to consider the options in confidence, that was not assure to be the case given its relatively modest size.

I hope this helps clarify the consultation question - thanks!
/John

John Curran
President and CEO
ARIN



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