Update from the Domain Name Owners Associaion (DNOA)

[RJ]

In 2006 I helped found, along with 200 fellow members from the domaining community, a non-profit trade association called the Domain Name Owners Association (or simply known as the DNOA.)

If you are unfamiliar with the DNOA, our primary purpose is to present domain owners as legitimate businesspeople who are able to self-regulate as a group and create the necessary infrastructure for sound, reliable and trustworthy business transactions that differ in total regard from what has become a common stereotype of Domain Name Owners as cyber squatters, outlaws, and extortionists.

Our Code of Ethics is the cornerstone of our organization. All members who join agree to operate within these practices when doing business.

While it feels like our organization has been largely inactive over the last year, I have an update about DNOA that I wanted to share here, and give everyone a re-introduction and re-invitation to check us out again.

Our big news is that we are enjoying a renewed sense of drive and purpose as we welcome Sally Letzer, Barry Letzer, and Donna Mahony to the Board of Directors, joining myself, Brad Evers, Mark Beatty and M.W. Teaster.

Sally Letzer has also been elected as the Association's new Chairman, replacing me in that position. I will be staying on a Director. Sally is sure to provide the much needed leadership we need at the top. She has my full support in this, as well as the other Directors.

In our Board Meeting earlier this week, we have endorsed the Domain Registrant’s Code of Rights and Responsibilities and a plan of action to respond to Senate Bill s.2661 (a.k.a. the Snowe Bill.) We also approved the formation of an Advisory Board which we hope to fill with dynamic individuals from within our global industry.

Please have a look at us again. If you share our vision, we'd love to have you join the DNOA. Check it out at www.dnoa.org

Thanks!

- RJ

 

[JFS]

if i can help out in anything, i would be glad to help

 

[yilduz]

What kind of help does it actually need?

 

[Damion]

Question RJ, Cyberian and other DNOA members,...what's the deal now with DNOA? - Is the association legally being dissolved and buried or is it just dormant seeing the DNOA titles removed from NP members that previously showed DNOA status?

An email or private PM or public thread would be nice concerning DNOA dealings.

What specifically would it take to keep DNOA going?

Thanks!

 

[Ross]

What specifically would it take to keep DNOA going?

This is what i want to know. Maybe take the org in a different direction that what it is now....

 

[RJ]

To make this happen we would need to be better funded and organized. I believe to do DNOA properly and make it successful we would need to have an experienced non-profit organizer either on the board or working closely with it, and then coordinated fundraising efforts.

Bootstrapping a non-profit organization like this was overly ambitious. We're pretty much back at square one. Thoughts are welcome....

 

[Ross]

To make this happen we would need to be better funded and organized. I believe to do DNOA properly and make it successful we would need to have an experienced non-profit organizer either on the board or working closely with it, and then coordinated fundraising efforts.

Bootstrapping a non-profit organization like this was overly ambitious. We're pretty much back at square one. Thoughts are welcome....

If we all knew what exactly what it took to run the org and where the money was going maybe we can see where it needs to go rather than its current path. Not exactly sure what was being worked on but the benefits were pretty limited. Maybe tone the org down a bit and let it grow in to itself. Just like a good forum, start with a couple forums and create new ones as it expands itself.

The things that need to be intact are the underlying principles and concept. I think once that has been established and has a good base to bounce ideas off of it can grow. Just think there was to much on the plate all at once to see anything grow, trying to cover to many areas at once.

 

[sky]

If we all knew what exactly what it took to run the org and where the money was going maybe we can see where it needs to go rather than its current path. Not exactly sure what was being worked on but the benefits were pretty limited. Maybe tone the org down a bit and let it grow in to itself. Just like a good forum, start with a couple forums and create new ones as it expands itself.

The things that need to be intact are the underlying principles and concept. I think once that has been established and has a good base to bounce ideas off of it can grow. Just think there was to much on the plate all at once to see anything grow, trying to cover to many areas at once.

I joined awhile back but found it difficult to find much benefit in doing anything with it, so there I am, a member ... I paid my money, and I'm a member. I feel like I should be at the Cheers bar or something

 

[Damion]

To make this happen we would need to be better funded and organized. I believe to do DNOA properly and make it successful we would need to have an experienced non-profit organizer either on the board or working closely with it, and then coordinated fundraising efforts.

Bootstrapping a non-profit organization like this was overly ambitious. We're pretty much back at square one. Thoughts are welcome....

Could you define better funded, as in a minimum yearly budget?
And what exactly this budget will be spend on...an itemized list of expenses?

What exactly does it entail to be a non-profit organizer for DNOA?

 

[mstocker]

Is the DNOA still alive?

I visited the forums but it said they were offline

EDIT: Looking at all the posts, it seems not

 

[mwzd]

RJ i think the funding bit could be sorted by recurring membership fees, as envisaged earlier, just not implemented.

And I agree with Damion's post above, a complete charter and stated aims and expenses would assist people in contributing more.

After all a lot of OS projects generate 100s of 1000s of dollars, we could do the same with a combined effort and shared focus.

 

[JFS]

to help the funding dnoa could also have their own domains and buy/sell them. maybe make a group within like an investors domain group?

 

[the_poet]

I'm sorry to bump this nearly 2-year-old discussion, but I've just found out about DNOA and feel like now more than ever such an organization would be useful (I'd say necessary) for our industry. Is there any news about this project?

 

[RJ]

The DNOA is now dissolved.

 

[the_poet]

The DNOA is now dissolved.

Sorry to hear that. Sounded like a good project.

 

[Ben42]

Curious what the major problem with it was.
-Lack of interest?
-Legal issues?
-Cost to run?
-Work involved?
-Ability to hold members to the stated standard?

 

[Dave_Z]

Curious what the major problem with it was.
-Lack of interest?
-Legal issues?
-Cost to run?
-Work involved?
-Ability to hold members to the stated standard?

Pretty much AOTA, especially among members. It takes commitment to make this work...and money to get things going.

 

[briman1970]

A KickStarter campaign might work if RJ wants to get this (kick)started in the future.