Is there an independent board ...Re: [lir-wg] Re: 50% increase in RIPE fees ? Since when ?

From: "Peter Galbavy" <peter.galbavy at knowtion.net>
Is there an independent board that is charged with overseeing that money is not wasted in lean years ? 
===

RIPE is clearly "under" ARIN...partly because of IN-ADDR.ARPA (ARIN|Nominum) being under .ARPA (ICANN).

http://www.google.com/search?q=nominum+arin
http://www.nominum.com/news/press-releases/arin-pr.html
http://siliconvalley.internet.com/news/article.php/3531_752211
http://www.ultradns.com/about/advisors.html
http://www.arin.net/about_us/ab_org_bot.html
http://www.iana.org/assignments/ipv4-address-space
http://www.markletaskforce.org/
http://aspeninstitute.org/c&s/ipp.html

http://www.arin.net/library/minutes/bot/bot04082002.html
ARIN Board of Trustees Meeting, Las Vegas, Nevada
April 8, 2002 

called the meeting to order at 5:05 p.m. MDT
...adjourn the meeting at 5:09 p.m. MDT

----- Original Message ----- 
From: "Peter Galbavy" <peter.galbavy at knowtion.net>
To: "Axel Pawlik" <axel.pawlik at ripe.net>
Cc: "Local IR Working Group" <lir-wg at ripe.net>
Sent: Monday, November 25, 2002 10:44 AM
Subject: Re: [lir-wg] Re: 50% increase in RIPE fees ? Since when ?


> > Activities of the RIPE NCC, including its operation and
> > yearly fee structure, are approved by the membership as
> > proposed in the annual RIPE NCC Activity Plan. The RIPE NCC
> > Activity Plan is formed on input from the RIPE community
> > and users of RIPE NCC services.
> 
> you forgot to add "... and can be read in a locked filing cabinet in the
> basement, stored in a disused lavoratory marked beware of the leopard." Or
> whatever the full quote is.
> 
> > Due to the economic situation, we saw substantially less
> > influx of new members over the course of the last twelve
> > months than forecast, also we have lost member due to
> > closures and mergers. As a result of that, the RIPE NCC
> > will have a sizeable deficit this year.
> 
> But the costs are increasing ? No, that's not right. Less 'customers', less
> 'costs'. A drop in membership results in a 50% increase in costs ? I charge
> that there must be some gross inefficiencies, bad management practicies and
> even potentially some nest-feathering going on.
> 
> I *know* I am out of touch, I do not have the time or money to attend ever
> broom-cupboard meeting held by RIPE. Is there an independent board that is
> charged with overseeing that money is not wasted in lean years ? As a
> not-for-profit company, this is the least I would expect. If there is, how
> on earth did they approve a 50% increase in fees (resulting in a 4% increase
> in expenditure ?)
> 
> > The RIPE NCC appreciates membership feedback and encourages
> > active participation by our members.
> 
> I thank you for the stock reply, but now how about some genuine discussion ?
> 
> For example, how do we seperate the entitities that are RIPE and RIPE-NCC ?
> 
> Peter
>