I disagree with your analysis todd. The strength of the IETF is not in the number of unique e-mail address on its e-mail lists (define unique - I have subscribed from probably 10 e-mail addresses over the years - many people I know are subscribed with multiple "unique" addresses - many address in reality point to archiving services, other reflectors, peoples inboxes that don't look at the e-mail So I don't think you can even count the number of unique e-mail addresses - but if you could - Peoples technical content/quality very widely, some input is worthless (or close to it) and many just monitor what is going on... Other e-mail is critical - either in technical content, providing an alternative viewpoint etc. The strength of the IETF is that it is a gathering point for all of these people. Not a quantity of e-mail addresses that can be spammed or something else Bill -----Original Message----- From: owner-ietf@xxxxxxxx [mailto:owner-ietf@xxxxxxxx] On Behalf Of todd glassey Sent: Tuesday, October 28, 2003 5:09 PM To: Bruce Campbell Cc: Harald Tveit Alvestrand; Christian Huitema; ietf@xxxxxxxx; problem-statement@xxxxxxxxxxxxx Subject: Re: Proposed statement quotes wrong numbers Bruce - ----- Original Message ----- From: "Bruce Campbell" <bruce.campbell@xxxxxxxx> To: "todd glassey" <todd.glassey@xxxxxxxxxxxxxxxx> Cc: "Harald Tveit Alvestrand" <harald@xxxxxxxxxxxxx>; "Christian Huitema" <huitema@xxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxx>; <ietf@xxxxxxxx>; <problem-statement@xxxxxxxxxxxxx> Sent: Tuesday, October 28, 2003 1:59 AM Subject: Re: Proposed statement quotes wrong numbers > On Mon, 27 Oct 2003, todd glassey wrote: > > > What was the attendance of the last meeting then? and also what then > > is the > > sum total of unique EMail Addresses in the Lists then too? I.e. what > > is the > > total size of the Vetting Community Resource that the IETF brings to > > the Party as an enterprise/org??? > > Are you sure that you can count the (large) number of subscribers that > are on the main IETF lists, and the umpteen WG lists, as participants? participants as far as meetings are concerned? no - obviously not, but this pool of good email addresses constitute the core value of the IETF, that being its Vettig Pool. So yes indeed, and also remember that the IETF is a voluntary particpation standards process and platform, and that the reliable email addresses for this "Vetting Pool" is what the core of the IETF's ideas are vetted against. So put on your "organizational leader's" hat and then ask me the same question - > There > seem to be a lot of people who are subscribed to various IETF-related > lists who do not seem to participate in the IETF discussions. But the point is that they have the option. Its their choice as to whether to participate of not. > > ( But theres still a lot more than just 700 people who participate in the > IETF ) I agree - so lets ask the question again, how many unique names are there in the lists - what's the total 'verified email addresses' that make up the total of the vetting pool? - 5000 - 10000 - 50000? what is it? Harald? - this seems like a number that you as the Chair of the IETF would not only be proud of, but would also have on the top of your head on a monthly basis... Any ideas as to the number? Todd > > --==-- > Bruce.