Dear colleagues, more than a week ago we have published the RIPE NCC Activity Plan and Charging Scheme. We have also asked for nominations of persons to serve on the RIPE NCC Association's Executive Board. Up to now there has been very little feedback to us and no public discussion whatsoever. A total of 1 (one) person has been nominated for the Executive Board. Only 13 of currently 796 contributors have so far registered for the contributors committee meeting; that is less than 2% of the contributors. I tend to interpret this data optimistically and conclude that you all are basically happy with what the NCC is doing and how it is done. Thus you see no point to make the time it takes to take part in the governance of the RIPE NCC. If this interpretation is true the vote of confidence is flattering. However it would be very nice to hear it explicitly rather than implicitly. This would make the NCC stand stronger and make the concept of industry self-regulation all the more stronger. Given the low number of nominations, there is a real danger now that we will not be able to elect a strong and competent executive board. It has become very likely that the executive board will be elected in an ad-hoc fashion at a meeting of a very few contributors and that there is no public discussion prior to that election. This bears the danger of electing persons who do not really have the necessary time and/or expertise available to them. This will make the NCC weaker. NCC management needs the executive board as a strong partner in developing the NCC. I am personally quite concerned that the lack of interest in the governance of the NCC may lead to difficulties in the long run. Minorities and/or special interests might gain disproportionate influence. The NCC itself may take up momentum in directions the majority of the contributors do not want. Once this has happened it is can be very difficult to correct. The amount of effort needed to keep something on track is far less than to put it back on track after it has derailed. I urge all of you to take more of an active interest in these matters and to nominate proficient people to serve on the executive board. We would also appreciate feedback and discussion about the documents published, in particular the 1998 Activity Plan and Charging Scheme. More information can be found at http://www.ripe.net/meetings/contrib/ which contains meeting details and pointers to the relevant documents and at ftp://ftp.ripe.net/ripe/archives/ncc-co/current which contains an archive of the relevant e-mail messages in case you have missed them. Thank you very much for your consideration. Daniel Karrenberg RIPE Community Member RIPE NCC Manager