On Wed, Aug 26, 2009 at 12:26 PM, Gregory Maxwell<[email protected]> wrote: > On Wed, Aug 26, 2009 at 3:17 PM, Robert Rohde<[email protected]> wrote: >> However, in this case, even if we >> assume the seat was outright "bought" for $2M, I don't think there are > > I'm not sure why people are behaving as though there is any ambiguity > on this point. > The Omidyar Network agreed to make a donation to the Wikimedia > Foundation with the understood condition that their representative > would receive a seat on the board. > > There is no need for speculation, it is what it is, like it or dislike it.
I hedged my language because I don't believe it is that simple. I do believe the money and the seat are linked, but I don't believe just anyone could buy a seat for $2M. For example, I doubt Mr. Kohs would be seated even if he had $2M to offer. Describing the seat as being "bought" ignores the fact that Mr. Halprin does bring valuable skills, associations, and what appears to be a compatible philosophy. Would he have been appointed without the financial backing? Probably not. But I don't believe it was the only factor under consideration. (Or at least I want to believe that the existing Board is capable of walking away from "piles of money" if it came with too many strings and conflicts attached.) -Robert Rohde _______________________________________________ foundation-l mailing list [email protected] Unsubscribe: https://lists.wikimedia.org/mailman/listinfo/foundation-l
