[Wikimedia-l] Wikimedia Guinea User Group, Annual activity report 2020

[Aboubacar Keïta]

Hi all,

On behalf of the Wikimedia Guinea (Conakry) user group, I am pleased to
submit to you the report of the group's activities during the year 2020.


Salut à tous,

Au nom du groupe d'utilisateurs de Wikimedia Guinée (Conakry), j'ai le
plaisir de vous soumettre le rapport des activités du groupe au cours de
l'année 2020.


Link / Lien :

https://meta.wikimedia.org/wiki/Wikimedia_Community_User_Group_Guin%C3%A9e_Conakry/Report2020/fr

-- 

Cordialement
*Aboubacar Keita
*

* Président *
*Adresse: *Yattaya Marché *, Ratoma,
Conakry*

*Téléphone** : *+ 224 628 09 71 55 <+224628097155> - 654 30 70 40
*De:  *Wikimedia.GIN


[image: https://m.facebook.com/wikimediaGN/]

___
Wikimedia-l mailing list, guidelines at: 
https://meta.wikimedia.org/wiki/Mailing_lists/Guidelines and 
https://meta.wikimedia.org/wiki/Wikimedia-l
New messages to: Wikimedia-l@lists.wikimedia.org
Unsubscribe: https://lists.wikimedia.org/mailman/listinfo/wikimedia-l, 

Re: [Wikimedia-l] Idea of a new project: Wikifacts ?

[Pharos]

I wanted to share the availability of Wikispore for the purpose, under the
Fact Spore or perhaps a new concept:

https://wikispore.wmflabs.org/wiki/Fact_Spore

Here is some broader information on how the world of Wikispore works:

https://wikispore.wmflabs.org/wiki/FAQ

Thanks,
Richard
(User:Pharos)

On Thu, Feb 4, 2021 at 6:50 PM Douglas Clark  wrote:

> I proposed a project, WikiPragmatica
> , that can support fake
> news detection. The retained context of the paraphrase graph can identify
> fake news patterns similar to what MIT does with their detector.
>
> On Thu, Feb 4, 2021 at 12:42 PM Galder Gonzalez Larrañaga <
> galder...@hotmail.com> wrote:
>
>> Does Wikinews cover this aspect?
>> --
>> *From:* Wikimedia-l  on behalf
>> of Chris Gates via Wikimedia-l 
>> *Sent:* Thursday, February 4, 2021 8:20 PM
>> *To:* Wikimedia Mailing List 
>> *Cc:* Chris Gates 
>> *Subject:* Re: [Wikimedia-l] Idea of a new project: Wikifacts ?
>>
>> Hello,
>>
>> Independent of my opinions on the validity of such a new Wikimedia
>> project, there is currently an experiment of similar goals (and potentially
>> structure) over at Twitter:
>>
>>
>> https://blog.twitter.com/en_us/topics/product/2021/introducing-birdwatch-a-community-based-approach-to-misinformation.html
>>
>>
>>
>> Best,
>> Verm
>>
>>
>> On Thu, Feb 4, 2021 at 2:17 PM Leinonen Teemu 
>> wrote:
>>
>> Hi all,
>>
>> Has there been any discussion to start a new Wikimedia project focusing
>> on fact checking?
>>
>> Fact checking of course is in the core of editing Wikipedia, but I was
>> thinking about dedicated wiki-site that is dedicated for fact checking of
>> current events and news. Why this would be important?
>>
>> (1) There are many fact checking site in the English speaking world but
>> much less elsewhere. I am afraid that there is still greater need for fact
>> checking in the rest of the world. {{Citation needed}}
>>
>> (2) Our community is very well educated to do fact checking the wiki-way.
>> Again internationally, many of our community members are real fact
>> champions in their home countries and language groups. The practice of
>> Wikipedia could be applied to fact checking of fast moving current events
>> and news, too.
>>
>> (3) This could help us to get new young people to the movement, as
>> editing Wikipedias is not anymore so easy to start (because they are so
>> good already).
>>
>> (4) In many parts of the world, fact checking can also be dangerous. With
>> our anonymous and community driven practices and services we could protect
>> the fact checkers in many parts of the world.
>>
>> I am not sure what is the state of the Wikinews, but my impression is
>> that it is not really working. It was a good idea, but maybe wiki or
>> wiki-way is not the way to produce news. Also the beautiful idea of citizen
>> journalism has not really become reality. Maybe we could try if wiki and
>> the wki-way works better in fact checking.
>>
>> Peace,
>>
>>  - Teemu
>>
>>
>> ___
>> Wikimedia-l mailing list, guidelines at:
>> https://meta.wikimedia.org/wiki/Mailing_lists/Guidelines and
>> https://meta.wikimedia.org/wiki/Wikimedia-l
>> New messages to: Wikimedia-l@lists.wikimedia.org
>> Unsubscribe: https://lists.wikimedia.org/mailman/listinfo/wikimedia-l,
>> 
>>
>> ___
>> Wikimedia-l mailing list, guidelines at:
>> https://meta.wikimedia.org/wiki/Mailing_lists/Guidelines and
>> https://meta.wikimedia.org/wiki/Wikimedia-l
>> New messages to: Wikimedia-l@lists.wikimedia.org
>> Unsubscribe: https://lists.wikimedia.org/mailman/listinfo/wikimedia-l,
>> 
>>
> ___
> Wikimedia-l mailing list, guidelines at:
> https://meta.wikimedia.org/wiki/Mailing_lists/Guidelines and
> https://meta.wikimedia.org/wiki/Wikimedia-l
> New messages to: Wikimedia-l@lists.wikimedia.org
> Unsubscribe: https://lists.wikimedia.org/mailman/listinfo/wikimedia-l,
> 
>
___
Wikimedia-l mailing list, guidelines at: 
https://meta.wikimedia.org/wiki/Mailing_lists/Guidelines and 
https://meta.wikimedia.org/wiki/Wikimedia-l
New messages to: Wikimedia-l@lists.wikimedia.org
Unsubscribe: https://lists.wikimedia.org/mailman/listinfo/wikimedia-l, 

Re: [Wikimedia-l] Idea of a new project: Wikifacts ?

[Gerard Meijssen]

Hoi,
Jimmy has a project that does exactly that.

Having said that, what we could do is have a project investigating the
missing information in Wikidata. The bias in Wikidata is alive and well. I
doubt for instance that there is one city in Africa whose mayors are all
known in Wikidata.. For Northern America and European towns this is common.
We do not even know all the national ministers of African countries for the
twentieth and twenty first century.

Fact checking starts with having facts in dispute and we don't even have
many of the basic facts. That is a project that we could and should have.
Thanks,
  GerardM

On Thu, 4 Feb 2021 at 20:17, Leinonen Teemu  wrote:

> Hi all,
>
> Has there been any discussion to start a new Wikimedia project focusing on
> fact checking?
>
> Fact checking of course is in the core of editing Wikipedia, but I was
> thinking about dedicated wiki-site that is dedicated for fact checking of
> current events and news. Why this would be important?
>
> (1) There are many fact checking site in the English speaking world but
> much less elsewhere. I am afraid that there is still greater need for fact
> checking in the rest of the world. {{Citation needed}}
>
> (2) Our community is very well educated to do fact checking the wiki-way.
> Again internationally, many of our community members are real fact
> champions in their home countries and language groups. The practice of
> Wikipedia could be applied to fact checking of fast moving current events
> and news, too.
>
> (3) This could help us to get new young people to the movement, as editing
> Wikipedias is not anymore so easy to start (because they are so good
> already).
>
> (4) In many parts of the world, fact checking can also be dangerous. With
> our anonymous and community driven practices and services we could protect
> the fact checkers in many parts of the world.
>
> I am not sure what is the state of the Wikinews, but my impression is that
> it is not really working. It was a good idea, but maybe wiki or wiki-way is
> not the way to produce news. Also the beautiful idea of citizen journalism
> has not really become reality. Maybe we could try if wiki and the wki-way
> works better in fact checking.
>
> Peace,
>
>  - Teemu
>
>
> ___
> Wikimedia-l mailing list, guidelines at:
> https://meta.wikimedia.org/wiki/Mailing_lists/Guidelines and
> https://meta.wikimedia.org/wiki/Wikimedia-l
> New messages to: Wikimedia-l@lists.wikimedia.org
> Unsubscribe: https://lists.wikimedia.org/mailman/listinfo/wikimedia-l,
> 
>
___
Wikimedia-l mailing list, guidelines at: 
https://meta.wikimedia.org/wiki/Mailing_lists/Guidelines and 
https://meta.wikimedia.org/wiki/Wikimedia-l
New messages to: Wikimedia-l@lists.wikimedia.org
Unsubscribe: https://lists.wikimedia.org/mailman/listinfo/wikimedia-l, 

Re: [Wikimedia-l] Thanks for all the fish! / Stepping down April 15

[Ankan Ghosh Dastider]

Thank you very much, Katherine, for your tremendous contribution over the
years.

I can remember meeting you for the first time at Wikimedia Conference 2018
and then interviewing you at Wikimania 2019 for WikiBarta
.
Apart from your contribution to the movement, I shall always remember your
amicable approach and encouraging words.

Hope to meet you again. Best wishes for your future life and advance
Welcome to the new ED and CEO. :)


Kind regards,
Ankan

On Thu, Feb 4, 2021 at 11:48 PM Katherine Maher 
wrote:

> Hi everyone,
>
> Earlier today, I announced to my colleagues at the Wikimedia Foundation my
> intention to step down as CEO later this spring. April 15th will be my last
> day, marking my seven-year anniversary with the Foundation and the
> movement. This was not an easy decision, but it is the right one. For now,
> I want to share with you why I’m moving on, and what comes next. I’ll save
> the customary email with deeper reflections, memories, and thanks for later
> this spring!
>
> In some ways, this was the easiest hard decision I’ve ever made. It’s
> never exactly a good time to step away -- transitions always have some
> rough edges -- but it’s always best to do so when the organization is
> strong, and before you’ve overstayed your welcome. The movement is in a
> good, strong place. Our communities are growing, our readership is too. Our
> 20th birthday, the launch of our Universal Code of Conduct, and the
> movement strategy recommendations are all milestone moments of solidity and
> strength. I have great hopes and confidence in the upcoming plans for
> strategy implementation, particularly the work on the movement charter and
> interim global council. We are healthy and thriving.
>
> While we will always have more work to do to become the Wikimedia that we
> want to be, our movement and our organization is in a phase of renewal and
> regeneration. We have deepened our practices of consultation,
> collaboration, and inclusion that will be the foundation of the next decade
> of our work. We have a deep and stable financial position that will help us
> grow and protect us from any storm, and the trust in our projects has never
> been higher. Our communities are poised to take on deeper responsibilities
> of governance, accountability, and leadership, populating a rich,
> representative, and leaderful movement for free knowledge.
>
> The Foundation is also strong, and filled with passionate, values-aligned
> leaders at every level of the organization, deeply committed to the work of
> our movement and mission. Although we don’t always all perfectly agree on
> absolutely everything, we are working more openly and cooperatively with
> our movement than ever before. Collaborative strategic planning,
> sustainable programs to support technical communities and tooling,
> co-development and consultation on transformative new experiences welcoming
> newcomers, cooperative partnerships on public health data, bibliographic
> data, and human rights data -- all of these are signals of much great work
> to come. Even difficult topics, such as brand and movement governance,
> continue to bring people together in nothing less than feisty commitment.
>
> Together, we have rich resources of brilliant people, deep passion, and
> compassion. We are making progress on some of our greatest challenges, from
> editor and readership growth, technical debt, representation and
> participation, safety and knowledge equity. I am proud of what we’ve done
> together and grateful for all the ways in which this movement has made my
> life immeasurably richer: friendships that will last a lifetime,
> intellectual curiosity and kinship, and so many memories of *so much
> dancing*, from Accra to Berlin to Chandigarh.
>
> As for me, I’m going to take a break, and a research fellowship, as a
> place to think about what’s next. It’s hard to think about your future when
> you’re fully in your present, and for the past seven years, I’ve been fully
> present for this movement. But as I look around, I see global challenges
> such as polarization, inequality, and climate change, as well as
> opportunities for generational renewal and optimism. As a Wikimedian, I
> lean toward optimism, and plan to apply myself in that direction!
>
> *What’s next*
>
>- We announced this planned transition publicly on our communications
>channels during a Foundation all-staff meeting today.
>- A Board Transition Committee composed of Dariusz Jemielniak, who is
>chair of HR Committee, Tanya Capuano, who is chair of the Audit Committee,
>Raju Narisetti, and María Sefidari as Board Chair, will launch the search
>for a new CEO. They’ll work closely with the executive Transition Team on
>organizational operations, and with the broader board on an open candidate
>call. The Board is working with the goal of onboarding a new CEO by Q2 of
>the 

Re: [Wikimedia-l] Thanks for all the fish! / Stepping down April 15

[Christophe Henner]

Tl;dr

This must be Thursday. I never could get the hang of Thursdays.

Thank you for everything!

Now the longer version...

That was quite a run! A lot of your accomplishments have been shared here
but one is missing. One that is capturing how brilliant you are, how
facetiously crazy you are and, well, how very wikimedian to the core you
are.

The Selfie Monkey communication campaign.

That was quite a run, I am proud I got to work closely with you when I was
chair and vice-chair. It was a blessing to be able to work with someone
bold, smart and had a great vision of what Wikimedia should be.

But the real feat is that you turned a vision into reality.

Under your leadership we scaled up. Not only in resources but in openness,
inclusiveness and ambition. Let's not forget you also took head on the
challenge of healing the Foundation after a crisis and rebuilding trust and
dialogue with the entire movement. This thread is proof you succeeded :)

Things are never perfect and there is still so much to fix and to do. But
also so much less than five years ago thanks to you.

We have had global, open and inclusive conversations about who we are. Our
footprint has globally improved. But more than our footprints, you have
made room for leaders outside of the US and Europe to emerge.

We have a Universal Code of Conduct! If it was only for that your track
record would be amazing.

Those are deep changes. And there are so many more, I let others contribute
and list them!

And there are those things that are discreet but instrumental (yay API
project, Abstract etc.) that you and the teams you lead turned from ideas
to actual projects. Not forgetting your strong commitment to Wikidata from
day one. All will be structural to the future of open knowledge.

Your legacy speaks louder for you than any word I could write.

But enough with praising the professional you. You are an amazing
professional but you also are a stellar human being.

You are a very approachable and relatable leader. You care and that changed
everything.

Plus, you were a great companion to play  "who leaves the party last", "how
close to boarding time can I arrive at the airport and not miss my flight",
"can you open a bottle of wine with a shoe in Buenos Aires without spilling
any" and "Wikimedian terrible singers 2014, 2015, 2016, 2017, 2018, 2019".

I hope our paths will cross again, and preferably before the restaurant at
the end of the universe.

Farewell and keep changing the world.



Le jeu. 4 févr. 2021 à 6:48 PM, Katherine Maher  a
écrit :

> Hi everyone,
>
> Earlier today, I announced to my colleagues at the Wikimedia Foundation my
> intention to step down as CEO later this spring. April 15th will be my last
> day, marking my seven-year anniversary with the Foundation and the
> movement. This was not an easy decision, but it is the right one. For now,
> I want to share with you why I’m moving on, and what comes next. I’ll save
> the customary email with deeper reflections, memories, and thanks for later
> this spring!
>
> In some ways, this was the easiest hard decision I’ve ever made. It’s
> never exactly a good time to step away -- transitions always have some
> rough edges -- but it’s always best to do so when the organization is
> strong, and before you’ve overstayed your welcome. The movement is in a
> good, strong place. Our communities are growing, our readership is too. Our
> 20th birthday, the launch of our Universal Code of Conduct, and the
> movement strategy recommendations are all milestone moments of solidity and
> strength. I have great hopes and confidence in the upcoming plans for
> strategy implementation, particularly the work on the movement charter and
> interim global council. We are healthy and thriving.
>
> While we will always have more work to do to become the Wikimedia that we
> want to be, our movement and our organization is in a phase of renewal and
> regeneration. We have deepened our practices of consultation,
> collaboration, and inclusion that will be the foundation of the next decade
> of our work. We have a deep and stable financial position that will help us
> grow and protect us from any storm, and the trust in our projects has never
> been higher. Our communities are poised to take on deeper responsibilities
> of governance, accountability, and leadership, populating a rich,
> representative, and leaderful movement for free knowledge.
>
> The Foundation is also strong, and filled with passionate, values-aligned
> leaders at every level of the organization, deeply committed to the work of
> our movement and mission. Although we don’t always all perfectly agree on
> absolutely everything, we are working more openly and cooperatively with
> our movement than ever before. Collaborative strategic planning,
> sustainable programs to support technical communities and tooling,
> co-development and consultation on transformative new experiences welcoming
> newcomers, cooperative partnerships on public health 

Re: [Wikimedia-l] Thanks for all the fish! / Stepping down April 15

[Strainu]

Thank you for all your work Katherine! You will be missed.

Strainu

În joi, 4 feb. 2021 la 19:48, Katherine Maher  a
scris:

> Hi everyone,
>
> Earlier today, I announced to my colleagues at the Wikimedia Foundation my
> intention to step down as CEO later this spring. April 15th will be my last
> day, marking my seven-year anniversary with the Foundation and the
> movement. This was not an easy decision, but it is the right one. For now,
> I want to share with you why I’m moving on, and what comes next. I’ll save
> the customary email with deeper reflections, memories, and thanks for later
> this spring!
>
> In some ways, this was the easiest hard decision I’ve ever made. It’s
> never exactly a good time to step away -- transitions always have some
> rough edges -- but it’s always best to do so when the organization is
> strong, and before you’ve overstayed your welcome. The movement is in a
> good, strong place. Our communities are growing, our readership is too. Our
> 20th birthday, the launch of our Universal Code of Conduct, and the
> movement strategy recommendations are all milestone moments of solidity and
> strength. I have great hopes and confidence in the upcoming plans for
> strategy implementation, particularly the work on the movement charter and
> interim global council. We are healthy and thriving.
>
> While we will always have more work to do to become the Wikimedia that we
> want to be, our movement and our organization is in a phase of renewal and
> regeneration. We have deepened our practices of consultation,
> collaboration, and inclusion that will be the foundation of the next decade
> of our work. We have a deep and stable financial position that will help us
> grow and protect us from any storm, and the trust in our projects has never
> been higher. Our communities are poised to take on deeper responsibilities
> of governance, accountability, and leadership, populating a rich,
> representative, and leaderful movement for free knowledge.
>
> The Foundation is also strong, and filled with passionate, values-aligned
> leaders at every level of the organization, deeply committed to the work of
> our movement and mission. Although we don’t always all perfectly agree on
> absolutely everything, we are working more openly and cooperatively with
> our movement than ever before. Collaborative strategic planning,
> sustainable programs to support technical communities and tooling,
> co-development and consultation on transformative new experiences welcoming
> newcomers, cooperative partnerships on public health data, bibliographic
> data, and human rights data -- all of these are signals of much great work
> to come. Even difficult topics, such as brand and movement governance,
> continue to bring people together in nothing less than feisty commitment.
>
> Together, we have rich resources of brilliant people, deep passion, and
> compassion. We are making progress on some of our greatest challenges, from
> editor and readership growth, technical debt, representation and
> participation, safety and knowledge equity. I am proud of what we’ve done
> together and grateful for all the ways in which this movement has made my
> life immeasurably richer: friendships that will last a lifetime,
> intellectual curiosity and kinship, and so many memories of *so much
> dancing*, from Accra to Berlin to Chandigarh.
>
> As for me, I’m going to take a break, and a research fellowship, as a
> place to think about what’s next. It’s hard to think about your future when
> you’re fully in your present, and for the past seven years, I’ve been fully
> present for this movement. But as I look around, I see global challenges
> such as polarization, inequality, and climate change, as well as
> opportunities for generational renewal and optimism. As a Wikimedian, I
> lean toward optimism, and plan to apply myself in that direction!
>
> *What’s next*
>
>- We announced this planned transition publicly on our communications
>channels during a Foundation all-staff meeting today.
>- A Board Transition Committee composed of Dariusz Jemielniak, who is
>chair of HR Committee, Tanya Capuano, who is chair of the Audit Committee,
>Raju Narisetti, and María Sefidari as Board Chair, will launch the search
>for a new CEO. They’ll work closely with the executive Transition Team on
>organizational operations, and with the broader board on an open candidate
>call. The Board is working with the goal of onboarding a new CEO by Q2 of
>the 2021-2022 fiscal year.
>- We’ve been working on succession planning for the CEO role since
>2019 as a matter of best practice, and the organization is well-prepared
>for a thoughtful search for the next phase of our mission. The Board has
>decided to work with Kathleen Yazbak of Viewcrest Advisors[1] for the
>executive search: I’ve worked closely with Kathleen on a number of
>occasions, and she is a true Wikimedian at heart.
>- I’ll be 

Re: [Wikimedia-l] Thanks for all the fish! / Stepping down April 15

[Natacha Rault via Wikimedia-l]

Dear Katherine,

Thank you for your engagement and support to our movement, to which you have 
brought so much. We will miss you but we hope you will stay connected in some 
way or another. 

Particularly, I want to thank you for your commitment to diversity and 
inclusion, and for being one of those leaders that one can easily reach out to. 

I join the others in wishing you all the best for the future in your personal 
and professional endeavours.

Warm regards,

Natacha Rault
Envoyé de mon iPhone

> Le 5 févr. 2021 à 11:47, Olushola Olaniyan  a 
> écrit :
> 
> 
> Dear Katherine, 
> 
> I never saw this coming! 
> 
> You have done so well as the CEO of Foundation and I believe you will 
> continue to be an ambassador of the movement, wherever you go. 
> 
> You are such a special person and we all shall miss you!!! 
> 
> Stay blessed. 
> 
> 
> 
>> On Thu, Feb 4, 2021, 6:48 PM Katherine Maher  wrote:
>> Hi everyone,
>> 
>> Earlier today, I announced to my colleagues at the Wikimedia Foundation my 
>> intention to step down as CEO later this spring. April 15th will be my last 
>> day, marking my seven-year anniversary with the Foundation and the movement. 
>> This was not an easy decision, but it is the right one. For now, I want to 
>> share with you why I’m moving on, and what comes next. I’ll save the 
>> customary email with deeper reflections, memories, and thanks for later this 
>> spring!
>>   
>> In some ways, this was the easiest hard decision I’ve ever made. It’s never 
>> exactly a good time to step away -- transitions always have some rough edges 
>> -- but it’s always best to do so when the organization is strong, and before 
>> you’ve overstayed your welcome. The movement is in a good, strong place. Our 
>> communities are growing, our readership is too. Our 20th birthday, the 
>> launch of our Universal Code of Conduct, and the movement strategy 
>> recommendations are all milestone moments of solidity and strength. I have 
>> great hopes and confidence in the upcoming plans for strategy 
>> implementation, particularly the work on the movement charter and interim 
>> global council. We are healthy and thriving.
>> 
>> While we will always have more work to do to become the Wikimedia that we 
>> want to be, our movement and our organization is in a phase of renewal and 
>> regeneration. We have deepened our practices of consultation, collaboration, 
>> and inclusion that will be the foundation of the next decade of our work. We 
>> have a deep and stable financial position that will help us grow and protect 
>> us from any storm, and the trust in our projects has never been higher. Our 
>> communities are poised to take on deeper responsibilities of governance, 
>> accountability, and leadership, populating a rich, representative, and 
>> leaderful movement for free knowledge. 
>> 
>> The Foundation is also strong, and filled with passionate, values-aligned 
>> leaders at every level of the organization, deeply committed to the work of 
>> our movement and mission. Although we don’t always all perfectly agree on 
>> absolutely everything, we are working more openly and cooperatively with our 
>> movement than ever before. Collaborative strategic planning, sustainable 
>> programs to support technical communities and tooling, co-development and 
>> consultation on transformative new experiences welcoming newcomers, 
>> cooperative partnerships on public health data, bibliographic data, and 
>> human rights data -- all of these are signals of much great work to come. 
>> Even difficult topics, such as brand and movement governance, continue to 
>> bring people together in nothing less than feisty commitment.
>> 
>> Together, we have rich resources of brilliant people, deep passion, and 
>> compassion. We are making progress on some of our greatest challenges, from 
>> editor and readership growth, technical debt, representation and 
>> participation, safety and knowledge equity. I am proud of what we’ve done 
>> together and grateful for all the ways in which this movement has made my 
>> life immeasurably richer: friendships that will last a lifetime, 
>> intellectual curiosity and kinship, and so many memories of so much dancing, 
>> from Accra to Berlin to Chandigarh. 
>> 
>> As for me, I’m going to take a break, and a research fellowship, as a place 
>> to think about what’s next. It’s hard to think about your future when you’re 
>> fully in your present, and for the past seven years, I’ve been fully present 
>> for this movement. But as I look around, I see global challenges such as 
>> polarization, inequality, and climate change, as well as opportunities for 
>> generational renewal and optimism. As a Wikimedian, I lean toward optimism, 
>> and plan to apply myself in that direction!
>> 
>> What’s next
>> We announced this planned transition publicly on our communications channels 
>> during a Foundation all-staff meeting today.
>> A Board Transition Committee composed of Dariusz 

Re: [Wikimedia-l] Thanks for all the fish! / Stepping down April 15

[Olushola Olaniyan]

Dear Katherine,

I never saw this coming!

You have done so well as the CEO of Foundation and I believe you will
continue to be an ambassador of the movement, wherever you go.

You are such a special person and we all shall miss you!!!

Stay blessed.



On Thu, Feb 4, 2021, 6:48 PM Katherine Maher  wrote:

> Hi everyone,
>
> Earlier today, I announced to my colleagues at the Wikimedia Foundation my
> intention to step down as CEO later this spring. April 15th will be my last
> day, marking my seven-year anniversary with the Foundation and the
> movement. This was not an easy decision, but it is the right one. For now,
> I want to share with you why I’m moving on, and what comes next. I’ll save
> the customary email with deeper reflections, memories, and thanks for later
> this spring!
>
> In some ways, this was the easiest hard decision I’ve ever made. It’s
> never exactly a good time to step away -- transitions always have some
> rough edges -- but it’s always best to do so when the organization is
> strong, and before you’ve overstayed your welcome. The movement is in a
> good, strong place. Our communities are growing, our readership is too. Our
> 20th birthday, the launch of our Universal Code of Conduct, and the
> movement strategy recommendations are all milestone moments of solidity and
> strength. I have great hopes and confidence in the upcoming plans for
> strategy implementation, particularly the work on the movement charter and
> interim global council. We are healthy and thriving.
>
> While we will always have more work to do to become the Wikimedia that we
> want to be, our movement and our organization is in a phase of renewal and
> regeneration. We have deepened our practices of consultation,
> collaboration, and inclusion that will be the foundation of the next decade
> of our work. We have a deep and stable financial position that will help us
> grow and protect us from any storm, and the trust in our projects has never
> been higher. Our communities are poised to take on deeper responsibilities
> of governance, accountability, and leadership, populating a rich,
> representative, and leaderful movement for free knowledge.
>
> The Foundation is also strong, and filled with passionate, values-aligned
> leaders at every level of the organization, deeply committed to the work of
> our movement and mission. Although we don’t always all perfectly agree on
> absolutely everything, we are working more openly and cooperatively with
> our movement than ever before. Collaborative strategic planning,
> sustainable programs to support technical communities and tooling,
> co-development and consultation on transformative new experiences welcoming
> newcomers, cooperative partnerships on public health data, bibliographic
> data, and human rights data -- all of these are signals of much great work
> to come. Even difficult topics, such as brand and movement governance,
> continue to bring people together in nothing less than feisty commitment.
>
> Together, we have rich resources of brilliant people, deep passion, and
> compassion. We are making progress on some of our greatest challenges, from
> editor and readership growth, technical debt, representation and
> participation, safety and knowledge equity. I am proud of what we’ve done
> together and grateful for all the ways in which this movement has made my
> life immeasurably richer: friendships that will last a lifetime,
> intellectual curiosity and kinship, and so many memories of *so much
> dancing*, from Accra to Berlin to Chandigarh.
>
> As for me, I’m going to take a break, and a research fellowship, as a
> place to think about what’s next. It’s hard to think about your future when
> you’re fully in your present, and for the past seven years, I’ve been fully
> present for this movement. But as I look around, I see global challenges
> such as polarization, inequality, and climate change, as well as
> opportunities for generational renewal and optimism. As a Wikimedian, I
> lean toward optimism, and plan to apply myself in that direction!
>
> *What’s next*
>
>- We announced this planned transition publicly on our communications
>channels during a Foundation all-staff meeting today.
>- A Board Transition Committee composed of Dariusz Jemielniak, who is
>chair of HR Committee, Tanya Capuano, who is chair of the Audit Committee,
>Raju Narisetti, and María Sefidari as Board Chair, will launch the search
>for a new CEO. They’ll work closely with the executive Transition Team on
>organizational operations, and with the broader board on an open candidate
>call. The Board is working with the goal of onboarding a new CEO by Q2 of
>the 2021-2022 fiscal year.
>- We’ve been working on succession planning for the CEO role since
>2019 as a matter of best practice, and the organization is well-prepared
>for a thoughtful search for the next phase of our mission. The Board has
>decided to work with Kathleen 

Re: [Wikimedia-l] Thanks for all the fish! / Stepping down April 15

[Bobby Shabangu]

Dear Katherine,

It's actually sad to see people that we've grown to love who have also
contributed so much in the movement go. It was great working with you,
having those interactions and conversations with you in different parts of
the world, seeing your growth and maturity as well was interesting.

Congratulations on your achievements and wish you success in your future
endeavours.

Kind regards,
Bobby Shabangu

On Thu, 4 Feb 2021 at 19:48, Katherine Maher  wrote:

> Hi everyone,
>
> Earlier today, I announced to my colleagues at the Wikimedia Foundation my
> intention to step down as CEO later this spring. April 15th will be my last
> day, marking my seven-year anniversary with the Foundation and the
> movement. This was not an easy decision, but it is the right one. For now,
> I want to share with you why I’m moving on, and what comes next. I’ll save
> the customary email with deeper reflections, memories, and thanks for later
> this spring!
>
> In some ways, this was the easiest hard decision I’ve ever made. It’s
> never exactly a good time to step away -- transitions always have some
> rough edges -- but it’s always best to do so when the organization is
> strong, and before you’ve overstayed your welcome. The movement is in a
> good, strong place. Our communities are growing, our readership is too. Our
> 20th birthday, the launch of our Universal Code of Conduct, and the
> movement strategy recommendations are all milestone moments of solidity and
> strength. I have great hopes and confidence in the upcoming plans for
> strategy implementation, particularly the work on the movement charter and
> interim global council. We are healthy and thriving.
>
> While we will always have more work to do to become the Wikimedia that we
> want to be, our movement and our organization is in a phase of renewal and
> regeneration. We have deepened our practices of consultation,
> collaboration, and inclusion that will be the foundation of the next decade
> of our work. We have a deep and stable financial position that will help us
> grow and protect us from any storm, and the trust in our projects has never
> been higher. Our communities are poised to take on deeper responsibilities
> of governance, accountability, and leadership, populating a rich,
> representative, and leaderful movement for free knowledge.
>
> The Foundation is also strong, and filled with passionate, values-aligned
> leaders at every level of the organization, deeply committed to the work of
> our movement and mission. Although we don’t always all perfectly agree on
> absolutely everything, we are working more openly and cooperatively with
> our movement than ever before. Collaborative strategic planning,
> sustainable programs to support technical communities and tooling,
> co-development and consultation on transformative new experiences welcoming
> newcomers, cooperative partnerships on public health data, bibliographic
> data, and human rights data -- all of these are signals of much great work
> to come. Even difficult topics, such as brand and movement governance,
> continue to bring people together in nothing less than feisty commitment.
>
> Together, we have rich resources of brilliant people, deep passion, and
> compassion. We are making progress on some of our greatest challenges, from
> editor and readership growth, technical debt, representation and
> participation, safety and knowledge equity. I am proud of what we’ve done
> together and grateful for all the ways in which this movement has made my
> life immeasurably richer: friendships that will last a lifetime,
> intellectual curiosity and kinship, and so many memories of *so much
> dancing*, from Accra to Berlin to Chandigarh.
>
> As for me, I’m going to take a break, and a research fellowship, as a
> place to think about what’s next. It’s hard to think about your future when
> you’re fully in your present, and for the past seven years, I’ve been fully
> present for this movement. But as I look around, I see global challenges
> such as polarization, inequality, and climate change, as well as
> opportunities for generational renewal and optimism. As a Wikimedian, I
> lean toward optimism, and plan to apply myself in that direction!
>
> *What’s next*
>
>- We announced this planned transition publicly on our communications
>channels during a Foundation all-staff meeting today.
>- A Board Transition Committee composed of Dariusz Jemielniak, who is
>chair of HR Committee, Tanya Capuano, who is chair of the Audit Committee,
>Raju Narisetti, and María Sefidari as Board Chair, will launch the search
>for a new CEO. They’ll work closely with the executive Transition Team on
>organizational operations, and with the broader board on an open candidate
>call. The Board is working with the goal of onboarding a new CEO by Q2 of
>the 2021-2022 fiscal year.
>- We’ve been working on succession planning for the CEO role since
>2019 as a matter of best