[WSIS CS-Plenary] Difference between Working Group and Caucus-semantics

[Elizabeth Carll, PhD]

Thanks for the information Amali,

You raise an interesting point as one would assume that either a WG or
Caucus would be involved in policy decision making with regard to a
particular problem or interest area.  Your point related directly to my
question as to differences between the two areas in relation to
organizational structure within the CS.  Certainly we would want to be
involved in policy with regard to health issues.  Something to consider if
there is such a distinction within CS.

Best regards,

Elizabeth

Dr. Elizabeth Carll
Focal Point
International Society for Traumatic Stress Studies;
Chair Media/ICT Working Group,
NGO Committee on Mental Health, New York
Tel: 1-631-754-2424
Fax: 1-631-754-5032
ecarll at optonline.net

  -----Original Message-----
  From: plenary-admin at wsis-cs.org [mailto:plenary-admin at wsis-cs.org]On
Behalf Of Amali De Silva
  Sent: Sunday, January 04, 2004 11:53 PM
  To: plenary at wsis-cs.org
  Subject: RE: [WSIS CS-Plenary] Difference between Working Group and
Caucus-semantics


  A quick note - if this is of help:

  Working group - a group of people appointed to study a particular problem
or advise on some question.

  Caucus - A meeting ( a group ) of members of  WSIS - Civil Society
convened to decide on policy.

  ( with the kind assistance of the Oxford dictionary ! )

  Amali De Silva - Mitchell ( Vancouver Community Network )
  Co-coordinator North American Caucus


  "Elizabeth Carll, PhD" <ecarll at optonline.net> wrote:
    Dear Rik,

    Thank you for the background information and your comments. It would
seem
    to make sense for us to call ourselves the Health and ICT working group
    rather than a caucus based on the general distinction you drew between
WGs
    as issue focused and caucuses as representing a sector or sub-group
within
    civil society. However, I can see that the difference is not always so
    clear as the Human Rights Caucus would seem issue focused and the Media
    Caucus could be both.

    Are there any differences as to organizational structure?

    Elizabeth

    Dr. Elizabeth Carll
    Focal Point
    International Society for Traumatic Stress Studies;
    Chair Media/ICT Working Group,
    NGO Committee on Mental Health, New York
    Tel: 1-631-754-2424
    Fax: 1-631-754-5032
    ecarll at optonline.net

    -----Original Message-----
    From: plenary-admin at wsis-cs.o rg [mailto:plenary-admin at wsis-cs.org]On
    Behalf Of rikp at bluewin.ch
    Sent: Sunday, January 04, 2004 4:46 PM
    To: plenary at wsis-cs.org
    Subject: RE: [WSIS CS-Plenary] Difference between Working Group and
    Caucus


    Elizabeth, et al,

    I think the distinction is somewhat semantic and not particularly
important.

    In my mind, a caucus is USUALLY composed of a certain sector or
sub-group
    within civil society, i.e. the women's caucus, Indigenous Peoples
Caucus,
    the youth caucus, the trade union caucus. Whereas a working group is a
set
    of organizations working together on a particular ISSUE. I.e. the
    scientific
    information working group; Patents, Copyright and Trademarks WG;
Environment
    and ICTs WG.

    In short, a caucus is a group of organizations united by common
identity,
    and a working group is a group or organizations united by common issue
or
    purpose. These are often interchangeable, i.e. an educators caucus
versus
    an educ ation working group. and there are of course lots of exceptions
to
    this.

    But that is my understanding of the distinction.

    In terms of a "Working Group on Health", I think that working group is
the
    best term rather than a caucus. Unless you would like to be "health care
    workers caucus."

    I hope that helps a little.

    -- Rik Panganiban



    By the way, I vote for not including the "(mental and physical)"
addition
    to the name of the working group. I think this should just be clarified
    in a mission statement of the group.


    >-- Original Message --
    >From: "Elizabeth Carll, PhD"
    >To: plenary at wsis-cs.org
    >Subject: [WSIS CS-Plenary] Difference between Working Group and Caucus
    >Reply-To: plenary at wsis-cs.org
    >Date: Sun, 04 Jan 2004 11:20:41 -0500
    >
    >
    >Dear All,
    >
    >As some of you may be aware, I have started a Working Group on Health
    >(Mental and Physical) and ICT and invite those with interest in the
area
    >of
    >health to join.
    >
    >There has been some discussion as to the difference between a Working
Group
    >and Caucus and there does not seem to be any clear information as to
the
    >differences. Perhaps those who have formed either or who would know the
    >differences, particularly with regard to procedures for forming and
    function
    >of the group, please share the information on the listserv. I would
think
    >others interested in forming new groups would also find the information
    >helpful.
    >
    >Best regards,
    >
    >Dr. Elizabeth Carll
    >Focal Point
    >International Society for Traumatic Stress Studies;
    >Chair Media/ICT Working Group,
    >NGO Committee on Mental Health, New York
    >Tel: 1-631-754-2424
    >Fax: 1-631-754-5032
    >ecarll at optonline.net
    >
    >
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  Amali De Silva-Mitchell MSc.

  Tel: 1-604-736-9012 & Email: amalidesilva at yahoo.com






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