Things have changed for me since I wrote this just over a week ago:
“I have also decided to stand for election. I’ve always resisted in the past for personal and business reasons. However, after the recent shenanigans with auDA and the Grumpy campaign, I feel I have no option but to run – and run hard. I want all domain registrants and other stakeholders to have a strong voice to truly represent them.
Before I made this decision, I first checked with a number of other people who I thought would be equally good candidates. If any of them had wanted to stand this year, I would have gladly stood aside for them. Without exception, they all encouraged me to run. So given that my health is good, I’m raring to go!”
♦ Dr Michaella Richards has resigned, and there is now a casual vacancy to be filled for 3 months. I sincerely hope that auDA do the right thing by Demand Class members and elect Shane Moore.
♦ Given the upheaval within Board ranks over the past 3 months, it is time for healing. There are many on the auDA Board that would see me as a divisive candidate / representative. A trouble maker; an agitator; a protagonist. Obviously I would reject that, and say that all I have ever done is stand up for communication, transparency and proper procedures. I love .au. But by not standing, I take away all the heat.
♦ There is another really good candidate ready to stand for Demand Class, and this helped seal the deal for me. Nicole Murdoch was going to stand for Supply Class (because Shane and I were running), but after chatting with her, she is very keen to run. Demand Class is her natural fit – she belatedly stood for election last year (and still attracted some decent votes). This was her candidate statement back then. I’ve known Nicole since we served on the auDA 2015 Names Panel, and not only is she smart and competent, she is a straight shooter.
♦ The last 5 months of agitation against auDA have also taken their toll on me personally and business wise, so I’m genuinely looking forward to getting back to enjoying life – and doing some business!
For all those that urged and supported me to stand, I sincerely thank you. But I trust you understand my reasoning in standing aside.
My blog will continue, and hopefully I can now write more about the art of domaining, rather than continuously having a smack at auDA.
I’m sure there are probably other fine Demand Class candidates out there, but at this stage, I’m going to throw my support behind Shane and Nicole. They will hopefully do members proud. 🙂
Ned O’Meara – 17th August 2017
Disclaimer
It was a shame to hear the news this morning Ned, but of course it’s completely understandable and makes sense.
All Demand Class members owe you a debt of gratitude, and I hope that over the coming months and years we can see less posts about auDA and more great stories about domaining. I’m feeling positive. 🙂
Thanks Shane – I know that you will do all domain registrants proud (particularly SME’s).
You are a quiet achiever.
Thank you, Ned. I think we all owe you a debt of gratitude. Let’s get this working.
Nicole – I know you’re not afraid of asking the right questions – or making your opinion known in a no nonsense but respectful manner.
It will be great to have you and Shane on the auDA Board, and I’ll do everything I can to assist you both. As will many others.
Fantastic to have QLD represented on the auDA Board!
You are worse than a women Ned Ha ha.
No seriously you’ve done a great job keeping auda accountable and probably don’t need any more stress with your heart mate.
More time to have a chin wag on the phone.
Our other candidates are very worthy and I wish them well.
Don – I hope Sharon gives you a slap for that comment!
Ned, you have a lot of people who admire the stance you took with auda. Thank you.
Jeff
Thanks mate.
Funny cartoon 😀 You’ve done gr8 mate
Cheers mate.
Not sure if your cartoon is right.
The benefit for auDA accountability, information, media and transparency is you can stay less “muted” writing on your well known domainer.com.au media platform by not being on the auDA Board.
I think they may have preferred you on the auDA board and it would have had the auDA Director “gag/ mute” effect on your domainer.com.au posting content.
Keep up the good work on the auDA board or off it. Off it may be even better to continue being able to speak up when needed…
I wonder what they’d prefer, might be worth asking them. I suspect they’d rather have Ned not on the board.
@Sean – I will never be censored if I believe something is wrong.
Even though some of your posts along the way have been extreme, there is one thing for certain – you are sincerely passionate about the .au namespace, and I give you great respect for speaking your mind so often.
I think the saying is “better pissing out of the tent than pissing into it”