Nominet call about voting

[pugyrob]

I dont follow all the Nominet stuff much but just been called and asked to vote and then told that they want me to vote for their recommended procedures and resolutions and could they take the time to talk me through them..... This year they want to tell members how to vote.

Am i missing something about the whole voting system? surely this cannot be right.....

 

[monaghan]

They've always told me how they think I should vote. The paperwork always has the way they suggest to vote.

I guess if they can get those who don't usually bother to vote to actually place a vote they can guide them then they can influence the outcome to show.

Any idea if the member lists are made available to all those standing? In my opinion, it is a little unfair on those who don't have the resource to call people. Shouldn't the Nominet staff be doing their jobs rather than vote rigging?

 

[martin-s]

Couldn't agree more. I had the same call yesterday and it stinks.

 

[pugyrob]

They've always told me how they think I should vote. The paperwork always has the way they suggest to vote.

I guess if they can get those who don't usually bother to vote to actually place a vote they can guide them then they can influence the outcome to show.

Any idea if the member lists are made available to all those standing? In my opinion, it is a little unfair on those who don't have the resource to call people. Shouldn't the Nominet staff be doing their jobs rather than vote rigging?

I honestly think it is disgusting and they are spending our money doing it

 

[PaulGregory]

The board recommending a particular vote is very much a standard procedure among organisations of this type, eg building societies.

The personal phone call is I think relatively unusual, as most organisations' memberships are too big for this to be achievable. However, the callers just repeat what the postal pack suggests anyway. I understand the call is to encourage turnout, and to help members understand what is being proposed - *especially* for people who "don't follow all the Nominet stuff".

At the end of the day, we're all perfectly capable of making our own minds up, or just ignoring it completely. If this call spurs some of us to vote at all, it has achieved something, and I for one don't think it's all that bad a use of their time/money.

 

[pugyrob]

• You've already admitted not following the "Nominet stuff much". You aren't in the minority.
• Nominet didn't call you but a third party paid to on their behalf did.
• It is apparently normal for boards to recommend how members could vote in respect of resolutions but obviously you can choose to vote as you wish.
• If the board didn't telephone, and make a recommendation in respect of the resolutions, would you have taken more or less interest in them (given you "dont follow Nominet stuff much") and would you have been more or less likely to vote for or against them, or not bother voting at all?
• Did the third party caller suggest which candiates you might wish to vote for in the non executive director election element and if they did was that because you asked about candidates first?

They didn't get as far as the recommendations as i old them i wasn't interested. They phoned AS Nominet so whether they employed a third party or not, they were representing them.

 

[pugyrob]

I'm not currently aware that the third party calling members on behalf of Nominet is making a recommendation about which candidates to vote for in the non executive director election element, unless perhaps the member specifically asks the caller who the board recommends. The recommendations relate to voting on resolutions and procedures, which is something entirely separate from the election.

It is unfortunate and now widely accepted that the vast majority of Nominet members become members purely for the discount and not because they wish to take an active interest in its corporate governance. How would you encourage those members to take more interest than they generally do?

by making them aware of all the facts rather than the ones they want you to know perhaps?

 

[monaghan]

I think it is good to wake up the voters and get them engaged. In my opinion, everyone who is eligible should vote or re-consider their membership, but the phone call should be for this purpose only, those who want to vote will read the paperwork, those who can't be bothered will just read the board recommendation and vote that way anyway.

 

[pugyrob]

They might have said "calling on behalf of Nominet" and you didn't catch that? I'll let you know my experience once I've been called.

listen i don't have time for your notorious banter but my wife passed me the phone and said "it was nominet." I am not sure how she would reach that conclusion....

 

[pugyrob]

Can you elaborate?

no, i think it is fairly self explanatory

 

[Hazel Pegg]

In answer to your previous question about non executive director candidates obtaining membership information, Nominet has previously provided membership details in a spreadsheet format for non executive director candidates. There was some discussion a few days ago on the Nominet members forum about what form this data should take and what is and isn't included.

If requested Nominet will abide by the statutory requirements and provide a list of members names and addresses but not phone numbers and email addresses. The last time I asked for this was prior to AGM1 and it was provided in hard copy. Hopefully it is now provided in e-copy if requested.

 

[jasman]

Since the voting system changed a few years ago, it matters little how we vote anyway. Nominet's management know all they need to do is craft their strategies in a way that is mutually beneficial to the cartel of big registrars that controls the members' vote, and they can ram whatever they like through. Until there is more pressure from members to have the old voting system reinstated or a new more representative one adopted, you can vote how you like but it will have little impact on Nominet's direction.

 

[Edwin]

I didn't actually receive any call.

I must have got yours instead - they failed to connect with me 5 times via SkypeIn over the last 3 weeks. Waste of everyone's time anyway as I've already voted.

 

[xdnet]

I've had a few missed calls which seem to be from whoever they hired to call us... Yet to catch one.

Edit, issue fixed.