This is a message to the local-ir working group of RIPE. I am sorry but this coming meeting I have to definitely resign as the chairman of this group. There are two reasons: 1) I (still) do not think it is right that an NCCer chairs a this group. One of the missions of the group is to act as a pressure group towards the NCC. I have expressed this in the past but those present at that meeting forcefully :-) agreed that they were happy I agreed to stay on. Since the fact that I chair this group now has been used as one of the arguments to critisise the RIPE NCC management structure as a whole I have to resign. 2) The NCC is currently understaffed and any reduction in the load on all staff is welcome. So please be prepared that a new chairperson will have to be elected at the next meeting. Daniel