Re: Of governments and representation (was: Montevideo Statement)

[[e-mail] (Noel Chiappa)]

    > From: Brian E Carpenter <[e-mail]>

    > Reality is different - the outside world expects to hear from us.

I would guess that nobody (almost nobody?)in the IETF objects to I*
leadership representing our views at such things; in fact, I suspect most of
us would find it positively very desirable for the I* to be represented
there. (I certainly do.)

The thing is that I (and I suspect much of the IETF) feel that such I*
leadership attendees need to make it _very_ clear at such events that they are
there to present (as best they can) the views of the IETF as a whole, but they
cannot _commit_ the IETF to anything: only the IETF acting as a whole can do
that.

So, for instance, in signing a statement, they need to say "John Smith,
current Ixx chair, signing as an individual", or something like that - to make
it clear to readers that their signature does not bind the organization as a
whole.

	Noel