Dear Colleagues:
As we celebrate our 25th year of advocacy for an open, secure Internet for all, our mission has never been more challenging. Today, there is much at stake – we must continue to connect the planet to bring the Internet to everyone, everywhere and build trust in the Internet by addressing the growing security concerns of users, businesses and governments.
We have reached an important milestone in our history as well as a unique opportunity to leverage our essential work in access and trust. The value of our experience over the last 25 years lies in its application for the future. That is why we are planning a year when we look back at our roots while also looking forward to the next 25 years in support of the Internet.
We have some key touchpoints and activities planned as part of this year of reflection, celebration and community building:
1) 25 under 25 – This new program is designed to recognize passionate, committed young people between the ages of 13-25 who are using the Internet to make a significant impact in their communities and beyond. More details will be shared at the Community Forum on 16 March, when we engage with young people on Internet issues that are important to them.
2) Community reflections on the Internet – There’s a new place for you to share stories and reflections on the Internet over the past 25 years from your own, personal perspective. What part did you play in making the Internet what it is today? What were your first memories of the early Internet in your region? We want to hear your story. Let's build and share a collegial, community walk down memory lane.
3) Roundtable series – A series of roundtables throughout the year will address timely topics we care deeply about. The first roundtable on 11 May will be hosted in conjunction with Chatham House and will explore the impact of the Internet on society.
4) Investing in our community – Starting in Q2, we will deliver a set of tools and resources to our Chapters to help promote their work for the Internet, build local and regional relationships, and encourage membership in the Internet Society. In addition, a global advertising campaign will enhance the visibility of the Internet Society for greater impact and reach around the world.
5) Internet Futures report – In 2016, we embarked on an initiative to explore the key trends and drivers that could change the Internet as we know it. Launching in early September, the Internet Futures report will share the findings from extensive research across our community and with industry experts. In addition to presenting the key forces that could impact the Internet in the next 5-10 years, the report will also share recommendations for the Internet we want in the future.
6) Internet Hall of Fame – We look forward to welcoming the next class of Internet Hall of Fame inductees in September as a cornerstone to our 25th anniversary celebration. This ceremony will honor the Pioneers, Innovators and Global Connectors who helped shape the Internet with their creativity, vision, dedication, and collaboration.
7) Special edition of InterCommunity, 19 September – Our global membership meeting, InterCommunity, builds on the positive momentum from last year with opportunities for local and regional engagement. The event will kick-off with the presentation of a new class of Internet Hall of Fame inductees. Following the ceremony, we pass the program to our nodes around the world for community dialogue on topics from the Internet Futures report, along with a time of celebration. InterCommunity 2017 concludes where we started with the Internet Hall of Fame inductees joined by our 25 under 25 awardees for a roundtable on key take-aways from the community discussions.
InterCommunity 2017 will serve as the culmination of our 25th celebration as we gather on the Internet and in person for a global conversation, sharing ideas and building the future of the Internet together. You can find more information on all these activities on our 25th anniversary webpage, which will be continually updated throughout the year.
This year we have a special opportunity to build our presence and visibility around the world in an unprecedented way. We are investing in our mission and our global community to build a better, stronger Internet Society across the globe for the future. Join us on this journey – #thenext25.
Best regards,
Kathy Brown |
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