The Domain Name Association: (Almost) New & Improved!

The Domain Name Association (DNA) has changed some of its board of directors in the past year or so and this change already shows the first positive signs.

Although it is not an all new board there have been some changes especially in the few months that are in the right direction. The latest 3 new members are Roelof Meijer (SIDN), Jeff Neuman, (Valideus) and Jeff Sass (.CLUB Domains). (Jeff Neuman was part of the DNA before but was representing Neustar.)

This is the complete and current board of directors of the Domain Name Association:

Adrian Kinderis, ARI Registry Services (Chair)
Rich Merdinger, GoDaddy (Vice Chair)
Statton Hammock, Rightside (Secretary/Treasurer) (Nonvoting director)
Jeff Eckhaus, Rightside
Philipp Grabensee, Afilias Limited
Stacey King, Amazon
Roelof Meijer, SIDN
Thomas Moerz, InterNetX
Jeff Neuman, Valideus
Jon Nevett, Donuts
Jeff Sass, .CLUB Domains
Judy Song-Marshall, Neustar
Bob Wiegand, Web.com Group, Inc.
Kurt Pritz, Executive Director

One the most important departures is Erik Ludwick from “What Box?”. I criticized the DNA heavily for having him on the board. But now he’s gone so the DNA’s public image can be restored.

The latest and most important work of the DNA is the launch of the “Domains in the Wild” website that is using the domain name inthewild.domains. The Donuts domain name was registered last October and the website was launched just a couple of days ago.

This is a great move by the DNA that will promote domain name usage. This has the potential to help the entire domain name industry.

The InTheWild.Domains intents to capture domain names that are spotted out “in the wild”, collect them and display them. The website is using a Tumblr page where people can share their findings. Here is the website description:

“Welcome to InTheWild.Domains, a place to highlight and celebrate creative uses of Domain Names.

Domain Names (web addresses) are the glue that keeps the Internet connected.  They are how you remember and find things, and, more importantly, they are how you brand and market yourself or your business online.

Domain Names are the ultimate “call to action” and at InTheWild.Domains we’re collecting great examples of attention getting domain names “in the wild.”

So, if you spot a cool billboard, ad, side of a bus, video, sign etc. that includes a domain name, please share it here. Go wild!”