__________________________________________________________________ ICANN - AT LARGE MEMBERSHIP INFORMATION TASK FORCE __________________________________________________________________ Hello I'm writing about the 'ICANN At Large membership' concept and to encourage you to participate. As you know, ICANN has been set up to take on the regulation of the addresses, names and numbers that underlie the operation of the Internet. These functions, previously administered by US agencies, are now taken up by the new body, which will have global representation, in keeping with its world-wide remit. You can find out more about ICANN, its history and its structure, at http://www.icann.org/general/abouticann.htm and at http://www.icann.org/general/fact-sheet.htm . In addition to its functional components to deal with addresses, names and protocols, ICANN has an At Large structure. This is open to **all** users of the Internet and will represent our views through the directors we elect to ICANN's board. See http://members.icann.org/about_at_large.htm for more about the At Large membership. The At Large membership is seen as key to the successful governance of the Internet as far as ICANN is concerned. It embodies the founding principles of openness and transparency in the truest possible sense, and empowers each and every one of us to play an active part in the development of the Internet. ICANN has set up a Membership Information Task Force (MITF), with volunteers in regional chapters working to build a strong and diverse membership. The first At Large elections are due to take place quite soon, concluding no later than 1st November 2000. The west Europe MITF task group has started to work in raising awareness of the importance of At Large membership and is making contact with groups like yours throughout the region. We ask all members of this list to help us in this exciting task by - registering as an At Large member of ICANN (if you have not done so already) and by - spreading the word to your friends, colleagues and clients. To register as an At Large member of ICANN, go to http://members.icann.org/join_now.htm Please note that neither ICANN nor the Task Force has any financial or private interest in this process; our sole purpose here is to promote democratic concepts for the Internet. Regards. Mike Norris (on behalf of the west Europe MITF group)