It is with some regret that I must announce I will be standing down as both a member and chairman of the RIPE NCC Executive Board, effective from the AGM on the 19th October. Although I was appointed for a three-year term, I have decided to step down on the second anniversary of my appointment, so that NCC members have the opportunity to elect a replacement to my position at the forthcoming AGM. This is entirely due to pressure of other commitments, which have now reached the level where I cannot give the NCC the high standards of attention and activity that I believe are necessary in this role. Although we have made significant progress recently towards resolving two issues key to the NCC's future - formation of the ICANN Address Supporting Organisation (ASO), and appointment of new Managing Director, I am aware this remains a crucial time for the NCC with more critical work to be done, and do not take my departure lightly. A reminder that the deadline for nominations for the NCC Executive Board Elections is the end of this Monday, 20th September. As there will now be my position to fill as well as that of Kees Neggers, if you have not already put forward your nominations please do so by the deadline. See: http://www.ripe.net/meetings/contrib/agm99/agm-announce.html for more information. Further, candidates for the 3 RIPE region seats on the ICANN ASO Address Council, are being nominated for selection during RIPE34 next week, and I again encourage the highest level of community participation in this process. See: http://www.ripe.net/info/ncc/asonomin.html for more information. Finally, I would like to thank the community for having the confidence in me to elect me to this position. Being able to serve you by working for as highly a professional organisation as the RIPE NCC with both my fellow board members and NCC staff has been a very rewarding privilege, and I'd like to thank you and them for their considerable support and assistance over the past two years. Keith Mitchell Chairman, RIPE NCC Executive Board