Re: Independent space from ARIN

[Lee Howard <lee.howard () mci com>]

My email address changed, so this didn't make it to the list yesterday.

---------- Forwarded message ----------
Date: Wed, 16 Apr 2003 12:38:40 -0400 (EDT)
From: Lee Howard <lee.howard () mci com>
To: E.B. Dreger <eddy+public+spam () noc everquick net>
Cc: nanog () merit edu
Subject: Re: Independent space from ARIN

ObDisclosure:  I'm the Treasurer for ARIN.

We audit our financials every year.  Audits are done by a reputable firm
that specializes in not-for-profit organizations, and who provides no other
services to us.  Last year's audit report is available on ARIN's web page.
This year's audit is in the final stages; then it goes to the Finance
Committee, then the Board of Trustees, then it gets posted to the web
site.  I also present the audit report at the first Members' Meeting
following the acceptance of the report by the Board.

Fringe benefits include tuition assistance and a vacation/sick pool, plus
normal insurance, 401(k), etc.  They are reasonably generous, but not
unreasonably generous. 

ICANN Support is based on an agreement between the RIRs and ICANN.  I
note that in the process of ICANN Evolution and Reform, the Boards of
the RIRs have been working with ICANN, and it's conceivable that this
relationship may ultimately change.  Information available on the web
page of your friendly neighborhood RIR, the ASO, or ICANN.

"Other Internet support" includes support for the RADB and the RFC Editor.
We felt that supporting those activities was consistent with the mission 
of ARIN.  If the membership disagrees, you can say so to the Board of 
Trustees, whose names and email addresses are on ARIN's web site, or
you can elect new Trustees.

ARIN's governance, including expenditures, is set up to provide oversight
without disabling its effectiveness.  It is assumed that ten thousand ASN
holders (for instance) can't possibly all keep themselves well-informed
on ARIN's day-to-day operations, nor should they have to.  That's why we
have a Chief Executive Officer, in whom I have great confidence, and an
elected Board of Trustees.  If you are dissatisfied with your representation,
you can voice your dissatisfaction or you can vote (if you're a member).
Speaking only for myself, I note that you have expressed dissatisfaction
with ARIN's expenditures, and the Treasurer has personally responded.

ARIN Members who want more details on ARIN's finances can email me
personally or ask questions at the Members' Meeting.  The next one is
in the Fall in Chicago, being held jointly with NANOG.

Please let me know what else I can do to make sure ARIN is operated in an
open and responsible manner consistent with the public interest.

Lee Howard
Treasurer and Member of Board of Trustees 
ARIN


On Tue, 15 Apr 2003, E.B. Dreger wrote:

> Date: Tue, 15 Apr 2003 15:24:41 +0000 (GMT)
> From: E.B. Dreger <eddy+public+spam () noc everquick net>
> To: nanog () merit edu
> Subject: Re: Independent space from ARIN
>
>
> SJW> Date: Tue, 15 Apr 2003 13:43:39 +0100 (BST)
> SJW> From: Stephen J. Wilcox
>
>
> SJW> Thats not _that_ large a turnover, $6m, and $2.3m for
> SJW> salaries isnt that big.  Altho I wonder what the $1m of
> SJW> fringe benefits are!
>
> SJW> Not for profit simply means the company keeps hold of any
> SJW> profits it makes and reinvests/reduces fees as a result. It
> SJW> doesnt stop you paying senior staff large salaries tho as
> SJW> thats wages overhead not profit...
>
> How true... many not-for-profit and non-profit organizations have
> some very cherry financials, and are sitting much prettier than
> many for-profit entities.
>
> I have an idea:
>
> Perhaps ARIN needs to explain each dollar in/out with the same
> amount of detail and scrutiny involved with IP allocations.  All
> money spent needs to be extremely well documented; summaries are
> insufficient.  Show actual receipts, reports explaining the
> necessity of the expenditures, and proof that the expenditures
> were the most efficient choices.
>
> It seems many are curious about fringe benefits.  That makes as
> good of a starting point as any.  "ICANN support" and "other
> Internet support" also look interesting.
>
> Because ARIN is to serve the Internet community, perhaps it
> should be controlled by such, with Internet-community reps voting
> on each ARIN expenditure.  One representative per ASN?  Per
> netblock?  Per IP address would be the worst approach, with those
> holding unjustified /8 blocks getting unfair voting clout.
>
> Domain registration service improved when a few competitors came
> to town.  That also is a { uniqueness & authority delegation }
> service.  Parallels?  I think so...
>
>
> Eddy
> --
> Brotsman & Dreger, Inc. - EverQuick Internet Division
> Bandwidth, consulting, e-commerce, hosting, and network building
> Phone: +1 (785) 865-5885 Lawrence and [inter]national
> Phone: +1 (316) 794-8922 Wichita
>
> ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
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>
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