Re: [Wikimedia Cascadia] Financial statement?

[Raymond Leonard]

Of course, it was just a few minutes after I sent my email that I saw that
what we posted for 2014-2015

.

Peaceray

On Wed, Mar 14, 2018 at 6:17 PM, Raymond Leonard <
raymond.f.leonard...@gmail.com> wrote:

> Folks,
>
> First I apologize for the delay in the financial report. I have sent to
> the Cascadia Wikimedians board a spreadsheet detailing the activity on our
> three BECU accounts & a balance sheet. It requires some tweaking. There are
> some two deposits for $210 & a check for $20 for which I was unable to
> glean their source / destination. I am hoping our Treasurer can fill the
> board in on those items on that email thread. If anyone wants to see the
> spreadsheet, let me know & I can forward it to them as well.
>
> I am somewhat flummoxed that an internal matter to the board & the
> Cascadia Wikimedians membership has been discussed on this much broader
> list. I am all for transparency, but I think a delayed report got far more
> attention than was warranted. It is certainly absurd to contemplate the
> dissolution of the organization because of it.
>
> As far as the comment that I "lack the time and interest to continue with
> the Cascadia organization", I would point to my recent activities on behalf
> of Cascadia Wikimedians: my presence at the Art+Feminism edit-a-thon at the
> Jacob Lawrence Gallery & my attendance at a UW class that Amanda Menking
> teaches, both in late February, plus online attendance & support earlier
> this month at the Portland Art+Feminism edit-a-thon concentrating on Jewish
> women artists (although I ended up helping other edit-a-thons; it was
> International Women's Day, after all). I am also attending the Wikimedia
> Conference 2018 in Berlin as one of the two Cascadia Wikimedians
> representatives.
>
> I may have different view as to the criteria & priorities about how a user
> group functions than some, & am certainly flexible about adjusting those in
> concert with anyone who is part of the team actively supporting Cascadia
> Wikimedians.
>
> Now, I need some help in determining where to put the report when finally
> finished. I do not see where Wikimedia NYC puts their financial reports (I
> don't think it is on meta). I see that Wikimedia DC had put some on meta
> several years back. What repositories are other user groups using for
> spreadsheets? I am thinking that it would be appropriate to place a more
> general balance sheet on meta.
>
> Yours,
> Peaceray
>
> On Wed, Mar 14, 2018 at 2:25 PM,  wrote:
>
>> I'm familiar with user groups that operate on $0 funding levels. Here in
>> Portland there is the Portland Linux/UNIX Group (aka PLUG), which has
>> operated for years with no real source of money -- just volunteer labor &
>> donated server resources & using public spaces to meet in. For years it was
>> vital to more than the few of us interested in Linux & UNIX, because it was
>> one of the venues people interested in technology could meet & exchange
>> ideas. PLUG was one reason O'Reilly held their Open Source Conferences in
>> Portland for several years. (One restaurant in downtown Portland liked to
>> host our meetings because it brought in more customers than their Monday
>> Night Football specials.) Nevertheless, the man who led PLUG, David
>> Mandell, was well informed about how important being an incorporated
>> non-profit was, & had ownership of the incorporation papers for another,
>> now defunct, non-profit for the time it made sense that PLUG become a more
>> formal organization.
>>
>> My concern in my previous email was that all of the labor & money to
>> become a non-profit was about to be wasted because someone had decided to
>> drop out without completing the paperwork to keep the Cascadia UG in good
>> standing, both with the Foundation & the State of Washington. Maybe at the
>> moment the Cascadia UG doesn't need to be a formal group; that's fine.
>> However, there are certain benefits to being a formal organization. Saying
>> that one is a member of a formal group opens certain doors that saying,
>> "I'm a Wikimedian & I make edits to this Wiki" doesn't. Another benefit is
>> that if one needs money to do something, having a formal organization to
>> handle the grants or contributions makes life much less complex.
>>
>> Lane, so if missing a report this year isn't going to sabotage the
>> Cascadia UG, that relieves a lot of worry on everyone's part. Although I
>> believe it would be good for all in the long run if someone from the
>> Foundation were to explain to the person involved that while a volunteer
>> can walk away from any of the projects at any time with very little effort,
>> there are certain responsibilities in life that when assumed one cannot
>> just walk away from before they are done. And the financial reporting is
>> one of them. Especially when, in your words, it requires a couple of hours
>> a 

Re: [Wikimedia Cascadia] Financial statement?

[Jonathan Morgan]

Agree with Lane and Joe that we should keep this going since it's easy and
valuable. I know I'm not that active, but as long as we're talking about
doing what's necessary to keep the organization afloat, rather than active
program management and administration, I am happy to use my convenient dual
staff/volunteer role to attempt to expedite any necessary communication or
coordination stuff between Cascadia and WMF. Let me know.

- J

On Wed, Mar 14, 2018 at 8:24 AM, Lane Rasberry 
wrote:

> Hello,
>
> Pine, I think that you have much higher personal standards for Wiki
> Cascadia than the Washington Secretary of State has for organizations or
> than the Wiki Affiliations Committee has for official partner
> organizations. When you were on the board you set ambitious goals for Wiki
> Cascadia. Even now with its challenges it ranks favorably against other
> registered wiki groups, being easily among the top 50%, likely in the top
> 25%, and perhaps in the top 10%. Most wiki user groups are casual
> operations and I feel that Wiki Cascadia already accomplishes beyond the
> norm. I am happy with the ongoing activities of Wiki Cascadia.
>
> llywrch - typical Cascadia group events are organized by committees of 2-4
> people. The board does not centrally review programs, and instead provides
> a centralized project space for announcing and reporting any events which
> are aligned with typical wiki community interests. Wiki Cascadia teams have
> done some interesting and innovative projects but nothing that I would call
> radical and in need of thorough oversight. Almost anyone engaged in any
> wiki project in the region can affiliate with Wiki Cascadia if they like.
> This governance format is usual for wiki user groups at the ~$0 funding
> level.
>
> If there is any winding down ever, then probably winding down WMF
> affiliation would come before disbanding as a nonprofit because the WMF has
> higher standards for reporting than the state government. If Wiki Cascadia
> stays in good standing with the WMF then it can meet the lower expectations
> of the state government.
>
> The administrative burden for an organization with near 0 budget is about 2
> hours/year from the perspective of the Washington Secretary of state. If
> there are challenges with this then the answer is to pass the work on
> through the network of Wiki Cascadia supporters. While I personally have
> been hands-off for administration, I see a lot of value in the
> organization, and am here to help sustain the organization and identify
> other board members if there is a crisis and the organization needs some
> support. There are other people like me who care and would support if
> asked.
>
> I anticipate being in Seattle in mid-April and would meet with anyone to
> talk about next steps. My schedule is not yet firm, but to the extent that
> I am able I would show support. There are always ways that I and others
> would support remotely.
>
> Thanks,
>
>
> On Tue, Mar 13, 2018 at 3:46 PM, Pine W  wrote:
>
> > Hi Joe,
> >
> > I haven't heard anything from Peacray about this in awhile. However, he
> > appears to be active on English Wikipedia (see
> > https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Special:Contributions/Peaceray), so I
> > suggest
> > that you ask him on his talk page.
> >
> > The impression that I get is that he and Brian lack the time and interest
> > to continue with the Cascadia organization, and if that is the case and
> no
> > one else is interested and willing to keep the organization alive, then
> the
> > organization should be wound down and any remaining assets (like the
> camera
> > and camcorder) should be handled in the manner that's specified in the
> > bylaws:
> >
> > "ARTICLE XIV - DISSOLUTION
> > "Vote Required. The Corporation may be dissolved by a two-thirds vote of
> > the Board.
> > "Donation of Remaining Assets. Upon the termination, dissolution or final
> > liquidation of the Corporation in any manner or for any reason, its
> assets,
> > if any, remaining after payment (or provision for payment) of all
> > liabilities of the Corporation, shall be distributed to, and only to, one
> > or more organizations organized and operated exclusively for charitable
> or
> > educational purposes as shall at the time qualify as an exempt
> organization
> > or organizations under Section 501(c)(3) of the Code as the Board shall
> > determine by majority vote. Such distribution of assets shall be
> calculated
> > to carry out the objectives and purposes stated in the Articles of
> > Incorporation. In no event shall any of such assets or property be
> > distributed to any member, Director or Officer, or any private
> individual."
> >
> > I wish that I had better news. :(
> >
> > Pine
> > ( https://meta.wikimedia.org/wiki/User:Pine )
> >
> > On Sun, Mar 11, 2018 at 10:14 AM, Joe Mabel 
> wrote:
> >
> > > It's mid-March. Has something been filed without the Board having a
> > 

Re: [Wikimedia Cascadia] Financial statement?

[Lane Rasberry]

Hello,

Pine, I think that you have much higher personal standards for Wiki
Cascadia than the Washington Secretary of State has for organizations or
than the Wiki Affiliations Committee has for official partner
organizations. When you were on the board you set ambitious goals for Wiki
Cascadia. Even now with its challenges it ranks favorably against other
registered wiki groups, being easily among the top 50%, likely in the top
25%, and perhaps in the top 10%. Most wiki user groups are casual
operations and I feel that Wiki Cascadia already accomplishes beyond the
norm. I am happy with the ongoing activities of Wiki Cascadia.

llywrch - typical Cascadia group events are organized by committees of 2-4
people. The board does not centrally review programs, and instead provides
a centralized project space for announcing and reporting any events which
are aligned with typical wiki community interests. Wiki Cascadia teams have
done some interesting and innovative projects but nothing that I would call
radical and in need of thorough oversight. Almost anyone engaged in any
wiki project in the region can affiliate with Wiki Cascadia if they like.
This governance format is usual for wiki user groups at the ~$0 funding
level.

If there is any winding down ever, then probably winding down WMF
affiliation would come before disbanding as a nonprofit because the WMF has
higher standards for reporting than the state government. If Wiki Cascadia
stays in good standing with the WMF then it can meet the lower expectations
of the state government.

The administrative burden for an organization with near 0 budget is about 2
hours/year from the perspective of the Washington Secretary of state. If
there are challenges with this then the answer is to pass the work on
through the network of Wiki Cascadia supporters. While I personally have
been hands-off for administration, I see a lot of value in the
organization, and am here to help sustain the organization and identify
other board members if there is a crisis and the organization needs some
support. There are other people like me who care and would support if asked.

I anticipate being in Seattle in mid-April and would meet with anyone to
talk about next steps. My schedule is not yet firm, but to the extent that
I am able I would show support. There are always ways that I and others
would support remotely.

Thanks,


On Tue, Mar 13, 2018 at 3:46 PM, Pine W  wrote:

> Hi Joe,
>
> I haven't heard anything from Peacray about this in awhile. However, he
> appears to be active on English Wikipedia (see
> https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Special:Contributions/Peaceray), so I
> suggest
> that you ask him on his talk page.
>
> The impression that I get is that he and Brian lack the time and interest
> to continue with the Cascadia organization, and if that is the case and no
> one else is interested and willing to keep the organization alive, then the
> organization should be wound down and any remaining assets (like the camera
> and camcorder) should be handled in the manner that's specified in the
> bylaws:
>
> "ARTICLE XIV - DISSOLUTION
> "Vote Required. The Corporation may be dissolved by a two-thirds vote of
> the Board.
> "Donation of Remaining Assets. Upon the termination, dissolution or final
> liquidation of the Corporation in any manner or for any reason, its assets,
> if any, remaining after payment (or provision for payment) of all
> liabilities of the Corporation, shall be distributed to, and only to, one
> or more organizations organized and operated exclusively for charitable or
> educational purposes as shall at the time qualify as an exempt organization
> or organizations under Section 501(c)(3) of the Code as the Board shall
> determine by majority vote. Such distribution of assets shall be calculated
> to carry out the objectives and purposes stated in the Articles of
> Incorporation. In no event shall any of such assets or property be
> distributed to any member, Director or Officer, or any private individual."
>
> I wish that I had better news. :(
>
> Pine
> ( https://meta.wikimedia.org/wiki/User:Pine )
>
> On Sun, Mar 11, 2018 at 10:14 AM, Joe Mabel  wrote:
>
> > It's mid-March. Has something been filed without the Board having a
> chance
> > to review? Or has nothing been filed?
> >
> > JM
> >
> >
> >
> > On 1/30/2018 8:16 AM, Joe Mabel wrote:
> >
> >> Is anything happening on this?
> >>
> >> JM
> >>
> >>
> >> On 12/29/2017 9:40 AM, Raymond Leonard wrote:
> >>
> >>> Joe & all,
> >>>
> >>> I am still working on this. Right now I have a $16.49 discrepancy that
> I
> >>> need to figure out before it will balance.
> >>>
> >>> Yours,
> >>> Peaceray
> >>> —
> >>> raymond.f.leonard...@gmail.com
> >>>
> >>> On Wed, Dec 27, 2017 at 11:34 AM, Raymond Leonard <
> >>> raymond.f.leonard...@gmail.com> wrote:
> >>>
> >>> Joe & all,
> 
>    I’ve been preoccupied with holiday activities w/family & friends
> since
>  the annual