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<DIV>A quick note - if this is of help:</DIV>
<DIV><STRONG></STRONG> </DIV>
<DIV><STRONG>Working group</STRONG> - a group of people appointed to study a particular problem or advise on some question.</DIV>
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<DIV><STRONG>Caucus</STRONG> - A meeting ( a group ) of members of WSIS - Civil Society convened to decide on policy.</DIV>
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<DIV><EM>( with the kind assistance of the Oxford dictionary ! )</EM></DIV>
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<DIV>Amali De Silva - Mitchell ( Vancouver Community Network )</DIV>
<DIV>Co-coordinator North American Caucus<BR><BR><BR><B><I>"Elizabeth Carll, PhD" <ecarll@optonline.net></I></B> wrote:</DIV>
<BLOCKQUOTE class=replbq style="PADDING-LEFT: 5px; MARGIN-LEFT: 5px; BORDER-LEFT: #1010ff 2px solid">Dear Rik,<BR><BR>Thank you for the background information and your comments. It would seem<BR>to make sense for us to call ourselves the Health and ICT working group<BR>rather than a caucus based on the general distinction you drew between WGs<BR>as issue focused and caucuses as representing a sector or sub-group within<BR>civil society. However, I can see that the difference is not always so<BR>clear as the Human Rights Caucus would seem issue focused and the Media<BR>Caucus could be both.<BR><BR>Are there any differences as to organizational structure?<BR><BR>Elizabeth<BR><BR>Dr. Elizabeth Carll<BR>Focal Point<BR>International Society for Traumatic Stress Studies;<BR>Chair Media/ICT Working Group,<BR>NGO Committee on Mental Health, New York<BR>Tel: 1-631-754-2424<BR>Fax: 1-631-754-5032<BR>ecarll@optonline.net<BR><BR>-----Original Message-----<BR>From: plenary-admin@wsis-cs.o
rg
[mailto:plenary-admin@wsis-cs.org]On<BR>Behalf Of rikp@bluewin.ch<BR>Sent: Sunday, January 04, 2004 4:46 PM<BR>To: plenary@wsis-cs.org<BR>Subject: RE: [WSIS CS-Plenary] Difference between Working Group and<BR>Caucus<BR><BR><BR>Elizabeth, et al,<BR><BR>I think the distinction is somewhat semantic and not particularly important.<BR><BR>In my mind, a caucus is USUALLY composed of a certain sector or sub-group<BR>within civil society, i.e. the women's caucus, Indigenous Peoples Caucus,<BR>the youth caucus, the trade union caucus. Whereas a working group is a set<BR>of organizations working together on a particular ISSUE. I.e. the<BR>scientific<BR>information working group; Patents, Copyright and Trademarks WG; Environment<BR>and ICTs WG.<BR><BR>In short, a caucus is a group of organizations united by common identity,<BR>and a working group is a group or organizations united by common issue or<BR>purpose. These are often interchangeable, i.e. an educators caucus versus<BR>an educ
ation
working group. and there are of course lots of exceptions to<BR>this.<BR><BR>But that is my understanding of the distinction.<BR><BR>In terms of a "Working Group on Health", I think that working group is the<BR>best term rather than a caucus. Unless you would like to be "health care<BR>workers caucus."<BR><BR>I hope that helps a little.<BR><BR>-- Rik Panganiban<BR><BR><BR><BR>By the way, I vote for not including the "(mental and physical)" addition<BR>to the name of the working group. I think this should just be clarified<BR>in a mission statement of the group.<BR><BR><BR>>-- Original Message --<BR>>From: "Elizabeth Carll, PhD" <ECARLL@OPTONLINE.NET><BR>>To: plenary@wsis-cs.org<BR>>Subject: [WSIS CS-Plenary] Difference between Working Group and Caucus<BR>>Reply-To: plenary@wsis-cs.org<BR>>Date: Sun, 04 Jan 2004 11:20:41 -0500<BR>><BR>><BR>>Dear All,<BR>><BR>>As some of you may be aware, I have started a Working Group on Health<BR>>(Mental
and
Physical) and ICT and invite those with interest in the area<BR>>of<BR>>health to join.<BR>><BR>>There has been some discussion as to the difference between a Working Group<BR>>and Caucus and there does not seem to be any clear information as to the<BR>>differences. Perhaps those who have formed either or who would know the<BR>>differences, particularly with regard to procedures for forming and<BR>function<BR>>of the group, please share the information on the listserv. I would think<BR>>others interested in forming new groups would also find the information<BR>>helpful.<BR>><BR>>Best regards,<BR>><BR>>Dr. Elizabeth Carll<BR>>Focal Point<BR>>International Society for Traumatic Stress Studies;<BR>>Chair Media/ICT Working Group,<BR>>NGO Committee on Mental Health, New York<BR>>Tel: 1-631-754-2424<BR>>Fax:
1-631-754-5032<BR>>ecarll@optonline.net<BR>><BR>><BR>>_______________________________________________<BR>>Plenary mailing list<BR>>Plenary@wsis-cs.org<BR>>http://mailman.greennet.org.uk/mailman/listinfo/plenary<BR><BR>_______________________________________________<BR>Plenary mailing list<BR>Plenary@wsis-cs.org<BR>http://mailman.greennet.org.uk/mailman/listinfo/plenary<BR><BR><BR>_______________________________________________<BR>Plenary mailing list<BR>Plenary@wsis-cs.org<BR>http://mailman.greennet.org.uk/mailman/listinfo/plenary</BLOCKQUOTE></DIV><BR><BR><DIV>
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<P><STRONG>Amali De Silva-Mitchell MSc.</STRONG></P>
<P>Tel: 1-604-736-9012 & Email: <A href="mailto:amalidesilva@yahoo.com">amalidesilva@yahoo.com</A></P>
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