Minutes of the Inaugural General Meeting
Internet Society of Australia
ACN 076 406 801
(the "Society")
Minutes of Inaugural General Meeting
Held at 12.55 pm on 27 November 1996
University of Technology, Sydney, Haymarket Campus
Sydney, New South Wales
Hugh Irvine, Robert Kummerfeld, Kate Lance, George Michaelson,
Adrian Hill and Peter Elford, Geoff Huston arrived at 1 pm.
Hugh Irvine was elected Chairperson.
The Chairperson noted that, all current members of the
Society being present, there was a quorum present for the
meeting.
The Chairperson noted that all members had consented in
writing to the holding of the meeting at short notice.
It was RESOLVED unanimously that the requirement in
article 48.4 of the Articles of Association of the Society (the
"Articles") that the number of votes cast must be equal to
the number of vacancies be waived for the purposes of this
meeting only.
It was RESOLVED unanimously that, for the purposes of this
meeting only:
(1) the requirements of Articles 7 and 8 be waived to the
extent necessary to allow all applications for
membership of the Society received before 1.30 pm
today to be proposed by Kate Lance, seconded by
George Michaelson and accepted immediately during
the course of this meeting; and
(2) the requirements of Article 47 be waived to the extent
necessary to allow each candidate for election as a
director [set out in the proxy forms distributed prior to
this meeting] to stand for election at this meeting.
It was RESOLVED unanimously that the Society have 12 directors.
At 1.15 pm, the Chairperson adjourned the meeting to re-convene at
1.30 pm in Room C131.
The meeting re-convened at 1.30 pm in Room C131.
The Chairperson welcomed all those in attendance and
advised that the Society had been incorporated on 15
November 1996.
The Chairperson introduced the directors and the
secretary, explained how the directors had been
appointed, and advised that the directors had held their
first meeting. He also explained how the current members
of the Society had commenced the meeting earlier and
outlined the nature of the business transacted.
The Chairperson thanked those people who helped to
establish the Society and arrange the meeting today,
including UTS for the venue, the contributors to the INET
Issues mailing list and the ISOC-AU steering committee.
It was RESOLVED unanimously that all applications for
membership of the Society received before 1.30 pm today
be accepted and that those persons be admitted
immediately to membership of the Society.
(resolution proposed by Kate Lance and seconded by
George Michaelson)
It was RESOLVED that, on condition that he immediately
apply for membership of the Society, Michael Butler be
accepted as a candidate for election as director at this
meeting.
The Chairperson invited the Returning Officer, Mr Frank
Crawford, to address the meeting.
Mr Crawford explained the procedure for casting votes on
the election of directors.
Voting took place by way of ballot. Voting closed at
2.15pm.
After the completion of counting of votes, Mr Crawford
declared the following candidates to be duly elected:-
Donna Ashelford
Karl Auer
Tony Barry
Peter Elford
Simon Hackett
Kate Lance
George Michaelson
David Purdue
Pauline Van Winsen
It was RESOLVED that the numbers of votes cast in favour
of each candidate for election as a director be published
on the Internet.
While votes were being counted on the election of
directors, the Chairperson invited members to speak from
the floor about what issues the Society should address.
The Chairperson lead the discussion by suggesting that
individual directors would assume responsibility for
particular issues and follow them through. He then invited
each of Robert Kummerfeld and Geoff Huston to introduce
himself and talk about his vision for the Society.
Robert Kummerfeld: Suggested that the Society should participate in
international forums such as INET.
Suggested that the Society use the skills of members
with technical expertise to pursue technical issues.
Geoff Huston: Said that we, the members of the Society, built the
Internet in Australia and we own it. People are
responsible for content on the Internet. We must fight
to ensure that people retain control of the Net, not
governments, not bureaucrats and not corporations.
The Society has a unique role to play in the future of
the Internet in Australia. There are many issues
which the Society might pursue, but the limited
resources of the Society and the limited amount of
time which people, particularly directors, will be able
to commit to the Society will mean that issues must
be prioritised.
Geoff warned candidates for election as directors
that there would be a lot of hard work ahead for
directors of the Society.
Chris Maltby: Phil McCrae sends his apologies.
George Michaelson: Three issues which the Society should address are:
- The DNS process - there is a role for the Society in
providing policy oversight
- Content regulation of the Net by the ABA - there is a
role for the Society to represent users of the Net
- Public key infrastructure - again there is a role for
the Society to represent users of the Net.
Peter Elford: The Society should represent organisations, not just
individuals. There is a role for the Society as a forum
for organisations such as the universities. The
Society should identify benefits which it can deliver to
organisations.
Luke Carruthers: Seconded the views of George that there is a role for
the Society in the DNS process and public key
cryptography.
Michael Paddon: Seconded the view of Geoff that there is a role for the
Society in fighting to ensure that control of the net is
retained by people.
Suggested that the Society liaise with similar
organisations internationally, such as the Japan
Internet Society.
Kevin Karp: Suggested that the Society must have a political
voice if it wants to have any real say in the issues
facing the Internet.
Danny Yee: Noted the bias towards technical background among
members. Suggested that the Society must
encourage non-technical and less sophisticated
users of the Net to become members. There is a role
for the Society to educate non-technical and less
sophisticated users of the Net.
Suggested liaison with ATUG.
Suggested that the Society should address the issue
of access to the Net by users living in country areas.
Kaaren Koomen: Identified herself as being from the On-line
Department of the ABA. Said that the ABA would
welcome contribution from the Society.
Ian Wilson: The Society should form an alliance with groups
representing consumers and telecommunications
users.
The Society should look at access to the Net for low
income users and those users with disabilities.
He seconded the view of Danny that the Society
should address the issue of access to the Net by
users living in country areas and he cited the
proposal by Telstra to introduce timed data calls.
Simon Rumball: Referred to the number of inaccurate reports in the
media about the Net. Suggested that there is a role
for the Society to provide a reasonable, informed and
considered response to issues surfacing in the press.
Suggested a dedicated media liaison officer.
Geoff Huston responded by warning against the
pitfalls of adopting a reactive position and suggested
that the Society needed to be pro-active and drive
the debate on issues that it believes are important.
Andrew McCrae: Referred to the fact that AUUG has a regular column
in the Australian newspaper and suggested that the
Society should have a similar public profile.
Paul Brooks: Queried how often the Society would meet and
where. Asked if people could attend meetings
electronically.
Bob Kummerfeld responded by saying that e-mail
would continue to be a forum for discussion amongst
members of the Society, that such discussions would
occur continuously throughout the year and that there
would be little need for physical meetings.
Geoff Huston added that there was a legal
requirement to hold an annual general meeting and
that that would probably be the only physical meeting
of members in each year. The AGM can take place
at different venues around Australia on a rotational
basis.
The Chairperson stressed the importance of having
golfing facilities near the venue of the AGM and
suggested that the first AGM be held near Cairns.
Enid Roberts: Indicated that she was involved in organising the
[On-Line Expo] in January 1997 and that it would be
a good opportunity for the Society to attract new
members. Enid offered the Society [a free stand at
the expo?].
Tom Worthington: Suggested that the Society liaise with ICS and AUUG.
Geoff responded by suggesting that the liaison take
the form of a public policy working group.
George Michaelson: Suggested that the Society should not alienate other
organisations by being selective in the alliances it
formed. Referred to an early proposal that the
Society act as an "umbrella" organisation for other
organisations.
The Chairperson responded by thanking AUUG
Secretariat for assisting the Society during its
formation.
Brenda Aynsley: Referred to the contribution of Electronic Frontiers
Australia.
The Chairperson responded by saying that people
should not discount the work done by previous
organisations.
Paul Hardy: Noted that there were approximately 10 members of
the ACS present at the meeting and suggested that
the Society should use the cross-membership to its
advantage.
Kate Lance: Encouraged members to join the INET Issues mailing
list.
Narelle Clark: Suggested that the Society needed to create a
separate class of membership to accommodate low
income earners.
The Chairperson indicated that this was an issue for
ISOC too.
Robert Kummerfeld suggested a separate class of
membership for students.
Catherine Allen: Stated that there were issues affecting users of the
Net under the age of 18. Queried whether the
Society would represent minors and allow minors to
join as members.
Geoff Huston responded by suggesting that there
may be legal impediments to minors becoming
members.
The Secretary responded by saying that membership
involved a contract between the member and the
Society and that only contracts for reasonable
necessities minors can be enforced against minors.
He expressed doubts that membership was a
necessity.
Tommy Thomas: Suggested that members should include a statement
in their e-mail signatures encouraging people to join
the Society.
Kaaren Koomen: Suggested that the Society could play a role in
community education and debate on legislation.
The Chairperson responded by saying that these
issues were a high priority for the Society.
Geoff Huston said that it was important for the Society
to give unbiased comment on technical issues.
Danny Yee: Reiterated that a political stance was more
important than a technical one.
Geoff Huston cited a number of important
technical contributions.
Danny referred to the failure of similar
organisations overseas because they had no
political voice.
Geoff Huston indicated that regardless of
whether issues were technical or political, it
would be a matter for the Society to determine
priorities between issues.
Catherine Allen: Suggested that it was important for the Society
to develop the necessary technology to allow
national meetings.
Andrew McCrae: Asked what would be the relationship between
the Society and industry bodies such as INTIAA.
Luke Carruthers responded by saying that
INTIAA was more than just an ISP organisation.
He said that INTIAA wanted to work together
with the Society on issues of common
importance, such as the DNS process.
There being no further business the Chairperson declared
the meeting closed.
The meeting closed at 2.55 pm.
Signed as a correct and complete record of the above meeting.
Chairperson