Kurt,
Thanks for the wise words. Paying a few thousand EURs per year to have a very professional organisation lobbying for our interests worldwide. Maybe many fine lunches, dinners, but even more very professional work! Yes, RIPE is worth every cent.
I don't think anyone is against making sure that Europe is represented in the wide scale, but its not what we, and many others orignally signed up for. And its certainly not something that should be forced upon people. We signed up to the registration services.
If there had been no RIPE with crystal-clear policies as a very good example of self-gouvernance, many national government regulations would be in place instead -- and it would be a big mess.
Self governance?! There is no governance - there is apathy and the widening remit that the RIPE has been taking is not acceptable. There needs to be a way to limit / control these activities and also look at what really is value for money for the people who are paying for them. The first action should be that the RIPE meeting is self funding and the attendees/sponsors cover the cost of that meeting. The RIPE meeting should have no effect on day to day operations of the RIPE NCC also. Regards, Neil.