Proposal to RIPE members actively participating in heated discussions on the mailing list. I think new ideas sort of dried up, so it's time to take a break and let the dust settle. Current discussion degraded mostly to same ideas as before, just with different wording and now with NEW(tm) feature - mutual insults. It's not productive anymore, and it's not fun anymore. Let's summarize the discussion so far. I might be bold on some statement, but better to say truth than to sugarcoat it. - People very angry not just about fees increase, but lack of proper communication and transparency about whole budgeting process. - Many also have perception that answers of RIPE NCC employees and RIPE EB are inappropriate and not addressing concerns of members. - Many members have concerns that fees structure are not fair, by several reasons: some members hold very large resources and do a lot of transactions, but pay same as small LIRs; some members have concerns that fees are not fair to their country's economy; some members don't want to fund projects they don't see as useful. - Last tiered proposal was not appreciated, but not because people don't want tiered fees, but because it was not well thought out and mixed with other changes. - We are not offered option "None of the above" in budget voting, which is again very angry point for many members. - For many years many members didn't care about what is happening in RIPE NCC, they put their trust in RIPE NCC and EB, and now they feel betrayed. - Certain RIPE members blindly defend all RIPE NCC and EB actions, and attack anyone who dares to criticize them. This is not productive and not helpful. They went to such extent that they started to insult other members, which is not acceptable. We either work for better future, or if you want to be enemies, be my guest, but this will be very bad for RIPE NCC and RIPE community. Also i want to underscore that RIPE NCC, EB, RIPE "supporters" are not our enemies. They are our partners in this community. We all want better future for RIPE community, and we all want RIPE NCC to be successful. But we have different opinions on how to achieve this. We need to find common ground and work together to achieve this. Let's say we swallow the bitter pill and accept that fees will increase. We can't avoid it now, but in return we demand from RIPE NCC and EB certain changes. My proposal is to set clear goals: - RIPE NCC and EB should clearly understand, if they are just trying to win time and wait until situation calms down, and do business as usual, consequences will be very bad for RIPE NCC. This time we will not forget, and will demand roadmap of changes with clear deadlines. And if they are not done and we will see it is just a trick, we will demand changes in RIPE NCC staff and leadership or go to extreme measures. - We demand to have more control over budgeting process, and not just to vote on limited budget options proposed by RIPE EB. We want to have more say in budgeting process, to participate in task forces, etc. - As RIPE members funding RIPE NCC activities, we have full right to demand accountability and match modern standards of transparency and governance not only for budgeting, but for all RIPE processes, from core activities, to projects, purchases, hiring, etc. - Many RIPE NCC projects are beneficial for world, but barely for members. This have to change and details discussed. If fees are increased, we want return on investment. - The fact that some of projects are flawed, and some has no proper report to members for 2 years, is not acceptable. If project does not bother to report to members, it means it is not important for members, and should be stopped. We demand to have more control over projects, and to have more say in projects funding. If project clearly show neglect to members and goals set together with members, it should be stopped. Now, i wonder, did anybody read this long email? :) Let's move to Telegram chat https://t.me/ripe_budget_talks and start collecting and writing down ideas.