Changes

It was announced several months before [[ICANN 44]] in Prague that the Board planned to restructure the meetings so that they ended on Thursday instead of Friday. Friday morning meetings, which have traditionally been the [[AC]]/[[SO]] committee reports, Board committee reports, and the public Board meeting, had been removed. The committee reports are instead to be published on the ICANN website, and the Public Board Meeting has been replaced by a one hour session following the Public Forum, during which the Board will outline what they heard during the week from their meetings with AC/SOs, and identify what matters they expect to be dealing with before the next meeting. The Board will then begin the following meeting with another community session, where it outlines what has been done since the last meeting.<ref>[http://www.icann.org/en/news/announcements/announcement-30apr12-en.htm ICANN Wraps Up Prague Meeting on Thursday, icann.org]</ref> Following this announcement, the ICANN community expressed concerns over the loss of transparency that this change brings.<ref>[http://domainincite.com/icann-cancels-fridays-bad-for-transparency/ ICANN cancels Fridays. Bad for transparency, domainincite.com]</ref>

It was announced several months before [[ICANN 44]] in Prague that the Board planned to restructure the meetings so that they ended on Thursday instead of Friday. Friday morning meetings, which have traditionally been the [[AC]]/[[SO]] committee reports, Board committee reports, and the public Board meeting, had been removed. The committee reports are instead to be published on the ICANN website, and the Public Board Meeting has been replaced by a one hour session following the Public Forum, during which the Board will outline what they heard during the week from their meetings with AC/SOs, and identify what matters they expect to be dealing with before the next meeting. The Board will then begin the following meeting with another community session, where it outlines what has been done since the last meeting.<ref>[http://www.icann.org/en/news/announcements/announcement-30apr12-en.htm ICANN Wraps Up Prague Meeting on Thursday, icann.org]</ref> Following this announcement, the ICANN community expressed concerns over the loss of transparency that this change brings.<ref>[http://domainincite.com/icann-cancels-fridays-bad-for-transparency/ ICANN cancels Fridays. Bad for transparency, domainincite.com]</ref>

==The Annual Meeting==

===The Annual Meeting===

While ICANN holds 3 community meetings every year, the Annual Meeting is the venue designated for important voting procedures and other structural processes. According to the [[ICANN Bylaws]] it must be held within 14 months of the prior Annual Meeting. At this time, the meeting tends to be the last meeting of the year. The conclusion of the annual meeting is when new members of most bodies within ICANN take their seats, most notably the directors of the [[ICANN Board]]. The [[NomCom]] must present its nominees for the board 2 months prior to the meeting. It is also a meeting where many bodies within ICANN request full attendance from their members.<ref>[http://www.icann.org/en/general/bylaws.htm ICANN Bylaws]</ref>

The Annual Meeting is required by the [[ICANN Bylaws]] to happen at least every 14 months in order to conduct important voting procedures and other structural processes. The last ICANN Meeting of the year is generally designated as the Annual Meeting. The conclusion of the Annual Meeting is when new members of most bodies within ICANN take their seats, most notably the directors of the [[ICANN Board]]. It is also a meeting where many bodies within ICANN request full attendance from their members.<ref>[http://www.icann.org/en/general/bylaws.htm ICANN Bylaws]</ref>

==Meeting Location Criteria==

==Meeting Location Criteria==