[Wikimedia-l] Recognition of the Wikimedians of Mali User Group

[Kirill Lokshin]

Hi everyone!

I'm very happy to announce that the Affiliations Committee has recognized
[1] the Wikimedians of Mali User Group [2] as a Wikimedia User Group. The
group aims to promote the Wikimedia Foundation and its projects in Mali,
and to support and encourage people to collect, develop and disseminate
knowledge and other educational, cultural and historic content under free
licenses or in the public domain.

Please join me in congratulating the members of this new user group!

Regards,
Kirill Lokshin
Chair, Affiliations Committee

[1]
https://meta.wikimedia.org/wiki/Affiliations_Committee/Resolutions/Recognition_of_Wikimedians_of_Mali_User_Group
[2] https://meta.wikimedia.org/wiki/Wikimedians_of_Mali_User_Group
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[Wikimedia-l] Recognition of the Wikipedians of North Caucasus User Group

[Kirill Lokshin]

Hi everyone!

I'm very happy to announce that the Affiliations Committee has recognized
[1] the Wikipedians of North Caucasus User Group [2] as a Wikimedia User
Group. The group aims to promote Wikipedia editions in the languages of the
North Caucasus; to develop content related to the North Caucasian
languages, culture and communities in Wikimedia projects in different
languages; and to recruit new participants into the Wikimedia movement,
especially in the regions of the North Caucasus.

Please join me in congratulating the members of this new user group!

Regards,
Kirill Lokshin
Chair, Affiliations Committee

[1]
https://meta.wikimedia.org/wiki/Affiliations_Committee/Resolutions/Recognition_of_Wikipedians_of_North_Caucasus_User_Group
[2] https://meta.wikimedia.org/wiki/Wikipedians_of_North_Caucasus_User_Group
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[Wikimedia-l] Recognition of Wikimedia Community User Group Haiti

[Kirill Lokshin]

Hi everyone!

I'm very happy to announce that the Affiliations Committee has recognized
[1] Wikimedia Community User Group Haiti [2] as a Wikimedia User Group. The
group aims to strengthen Haiti's presence across the Wikimedia projects by
developing Wikipedia in Haitian Creole, training contributors throughout
the country, and working to raise awareness among stakeholders and
institutions in Haiti.

Please join me in congratulating the members of this new user group!

Regards,
Kirill Lokshin
Chair, Affiliations Committee

[1]
https://meta.wikimedia.org/wiki/Affiliations_Committee/Resolutions/Recognition_of_Wikimedia_Community_User_Group_Haiti
[2] https://meta.wikimedia.org/wiki/Community_Wikimedia_User_Group_Haïti
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[Wikimedia-l] Recognition of the North-West Russia Wiki-Historians User Group

[Kirill Lokshin]

Hi everyone!

I'm very happy to announce that the Affiliations Committee has recognized
[1] the North-West Russia Wiki-Historians User Group [2] as a Wikimedia
User Group. The group aims to develop content related to the history and
cultural heritage of North-West Russia on Wikipedia and other Wikimedia
projects in multiple languages.

Please join me in congratulating the members of this new user group!

Regards,
Kirill Lokshin
Chair, Affiliations Committee

[1]
https://meta.wikimedia.org/wiki/Affiliations_Committee/Resolutions/Recognition_of_North-West_Russia_Wiki-Historians_User_Group
[2]
https://meta.wikimedia.org/wiki/North-West_Russia_Wiki-Historians_User_Group
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[Wikimedia-l] Recognition of the Wikimedia Stewards User Group

[Kirill Lokshin]

Hi everyone!

I'm very happy to announce that the Affiliations Committee has recognized
[1] the Wikimedia Stewards User Group [2] as a Wikimedia User Group. The
group aims to coordinate and enable the growth of the steward team and the
involvement of stewards in Wikimedia governance; to ensure steward
participation across the Wikimedia movement; to support the development of
tools relevant to stewards; and to provide a forum for retaining and
accessing institutional knowledge from past stewards.

Please join me in congratulating the members of this new user group!

Regards,
Kirill Lokshin
Chair, Affiliations Committee

[1]
https://meta.wikimedia.org/wiki/Affiliations_Committee/Resolutions/Recognition_of_Wikimedia_Stewards_User_Group
[2] https://meta.wikimedia.org/wiki/Wikimedia_Stewards_User_Group
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[Wikimedia-l] Recognition of the Wikimedians of Saint Petersburg User Group

[Kirill Lokshin]

Hi everyone!

I'm very happy to announce that the Affiliations Committee has recognized
[1] the Wikimedians of Saint Petersburg User Group [2] as a Wikimedia User
Group. The group aims to unite Wikimedians living in St. Petersburg, to
support the development of content on topics related to St. Petersburg
across different Wikimedia projects, to promote the Wikimedia projects and
movement in St. Petersburg, and to build partnerships between the Wikimedia
community and cultural, scientific, educational, and media institutions in
St. Petersburg.

Please join me in congratulating the members of this new user group!

Regards,
Kirill Lokshin
Chair, Affiliations Committee

[1]
https://meta.wikimedia.org/wiki/Affiliations_Committee/Resolutions/Recognition_of_Saint_Petersburg_User_Group
[2]
https://meta.wikimedia.org/wiki/Wikimedians_of_Saint_Petersburg_User_Group
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[Wikimedia-l] Recognition of the Wikimedians of Santali Language User Group

[Kirill Lokshin]

Hi everyone!

I'm very happy to announce that the Affiliations Committee has recognized
[1] the Wikimedians of Santali Language User Group [2] as a Wikimedia User
Group. The group aims to develop content on the Santali Wikipedia, as well
as content related to the Santali language, literature and culture on other
Wikimedia projects.

Please join me in congratulating the members of this new user group!

Regards,
Kirill Lokshin
Chair, Affiliations Committee

[1]
https://meta.wikimedia.org/wiki/Affiliations_Committee/Resolutions/Recognition_of_Wikimedians_of_Santali_Language_User_Group
[2]
https://meta.wikimedia.org/wiki/Wikimedians_of_Santali_Language_User_Group
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[Wikimedia-l] Affiliations Committee - Call for Advisors

[Kirill Lokshin]

Hi everyone!

The Affiliations Committee – the committee responsible for guiding
volunteers in establishing Wikimedia chapters, thematic organizations, and
user groups – is looking for advisors!

The main role of the Affiliations Committee is to guide groups of
volunteers that are interested in forming Wikimedia affiliates. We review
applications from new groups, answer questions and provide advice about the
different Wikimedia affiliation models and processes, review affiliate
bylaws for compliance with requirements and best practices, and advise the
Wikimedia Foundation Board of Trustees on issues connected to chapters,
thematic organizations and Wikimedia user groups.

We are looking for advisors who are excited by the challenge of empowering
volunteers to get organized and form communities that further our mission
around the world. In exchange, committee advisors selected will gain the
experience of supporting their world-wide colleagues to develop their
communities as well as personal development in guiding organizational
development, facilitating affiliate partnerships, and professional
communications.

*Key skills*

We look for a healthy mix of different skill sets in our advisors,
including the following key skills and experience:

   1. Strong understanding of the structure and work of Wikimedia
   affiliates and the Wikimedia Foundation.
   2. Readiness to participate in political discussions on the role and
   future of affiliates, models of affiliation, and similar topics.
   3. Availability of up to 2 hours per week, and the time to participate
   in a monthly two-hour voice/video meeting
   4. International orientation and ability to work and communicate with
   other languages and cultures.
   5. Knowledge of different legal systems and experience in community
   building and organizing are a plus.
   6. Fluency in English is required; skills in other languages are a major
   plus.
   7. Experience with or in an active Wikimedia affiliate is a major plus.
   8. Strong track record of effective collaboration (such as evidenced
   skills at facilitation, mediation, negotiation, and so forth) is a major
   plus.
   9. Willingness to use one's real name in committee activities (including
   contacts with current and potential affiliates) when appropriate.

*Selection process*

As a reflection of our commitment to openness, transparency, and bilateral
engagement with the Wikimedia community, the 2019 advisor selection process
will include a public review and comment period. All applications received
by the committee will be posted on Meta, and the community will be invited
to provide comments and feedback about each candidate. At the end of the
public comment period, the applications will be voted on by the members of
the committee, taking into account comments put forward by the committee's
members and advisors, Wikimedia Foundation staff and board liaisons, and
the community. A final decision will be made in October 2019, with new
advisors expected to begin later that month.

*How to apply*

If you are interested in advising the committee, please send an email
announcing your application to aff...@lists.wikimedia.org by 20 September
2019. Your application must include the following information:

   - Your full name and Wikimedia username
   - A statement describing your relevant experience, skills, and
   motivation for joining the committee as an advisor.
   - Answers to the following three questions:


   1. How do you think affiliates work best together to partner on
  effective projects and initiatives?
  2. What do you see as the role of affiliates in the Wikimedia
  movement in the next three years?
  3. What do you feel you will bring as an advisor to the committee
  that makes you a uniquely qualified candidate?

If you have any questions, please don't hesitate to contact us. We are
happy to chat or have a phone call with anyone about our work if this helps
them decide to apply. Please distribute this call among your networks, and
do apply if you are interested!

Regards,
Kirill Lokshin
Chair, Affiliations Committee
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[Wikimedia-l] Meet with the Affiliations Committee at Wikimania

[Kirill Lokshin]

Hi everyone!

The Affiliations Committee will be available for face-to-face meetings with
attendees at the upcoming Wikimania conference.  We are happy to meet with
representatives of Wikimedia affiliates, groups interested in becoming
affiliates, and anyone else with an interest in the Wikimedia affiliate
ecosystem.

To make it easier to schedule a meeting with us, we've created a sign-up
form (https://bit.ly/2Ym86u3).  If you are attending Wikimania and would
like to meet with us, please fill out the form, and we will do our best to
accommodate your request.

We look forward to seeing you in Stockholm!

Regards,
Kirill Lokshin
Chair, Affiliations Committee
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[Wikimedia-l] Recognition of the Hausa Wikimedians User Group

[Kirill Lokshin]

Hi everyone!

I'm very happy to announce that the Affiliations Committee has recognized
[1] the Hausa Wikimedians User Group [2] as a Wikimedia User Group. The
group aims to promote the editing of Wikipedia and other Wikimedia projects
in Hausa, and to engage and encourage more Hausa speakers to become
contributors to the Wikimedia projects.

Please join me in congratulating the members of this new user group!

Regards,
Kirill Lokshin
Chair, Affiliations Committee

[1]
https://meta.wikimedia.org/wiki/Affiliations_Committee/Resolutions/Recognition_of_Hausa_Wikimedians_User_Group
[2] https://meta.wikimedia.org/wiki/Hausa_Wikimedians_User_Group
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[Wikimedia-l] Recognition of the Yoruba Wikimedians User Group

[Kirill Lokshin]

Hi everyone!

I'm very happy to announce that the Affiliations Committee has recognized
[1] the Yoruba Wikimedians User Group [2] as a Wikimedia User Group. The
group aims to develop, improve, and promote the Yoruba-language Wikipedia,
and to support other Wikimedia projects and content related to the Yoruba
language, the Yoruba people, and the states of Western Nigeria.

Please join me in congratulating the members of this new user group!

Regards,
Kirill Lokshin
Chair, Affiliations Committee

[1]
https://meta.wikimedia.org/wiki/Affiliations_Committee/Resolutions/Recognition_of_Yoruba_Wikimedians_User_Group
[2] https://meta.wikimedia.org/wiki/Yoruba_Wikimedians_User_Group
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[Wikimedia-l] Introducing our newest chapter, Wikimedia Colombia

[Kirill Lokshin]

Hi everyone!

I'm very happy to announce that the Wikimedia Foundation Board of Trustees
has approved the recognition of Wikimedia Colombia [1] as a Wikimedia
chapter.

Over the past five years, Wikimedia Colombia has successfully planned and
executed a significant portfolio of innovative and effective programs,
attracting new contributors, forming partnerships with local institutions,
promoting the Wikimedia movement throughout the Republic of Colombia, and
demonstrating a substantial record of programmatic impact.

It is our hope that recognition as a Wikimedia chapter will empower the
Wikimedia Colombia community to continue fostering the Wikimedia movement
in Colombia and enable them to more effectively engage with government
entities and other partners.  We additionally hope that Wikimedia Colombia
will prove to be a source of inspiration and support for emerging Wikimedia
communities in the surrounding geographic areas, furthering affiliate
development across northern South America and Central America.

I want to thank everyone who has been involved with setting up the new
chapter, and recognize their commitment and patience over the past two
years as we've worked through the chapter recognition process.  Please join
me in congratulating the entire Wikimedia Colombia team for their
accomplishment!

Regards,
Kirill Lokshin
Chair, Affiliations Committee

[1] https://meta.wikimedia.org/wiki/Wikimedia_Colombia
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[Wikimedia-l] Recognition of the Wikimedians of the Caribbean User Group

[Kirill Lokshin]

Hi everyone!

I'm very happy to announce that the Affiliations Committee has recognized
[1] the Wikimedians of the Caribbean User Group [2] as a Wikimedia User
Group. The group aims to support Wikimedia projects and activities among
the peoples of the Caribbean and the Caribbean Diaspora.

Please join me in congratulating the members of this new user group!

Regards,
Kirill Lokshin
Chair, Affiliations Committee

[1]
https://meta.wikimedia.org/wiki/Affiliations_Committee/Resolutions/Recognition_of_Wikimedians_of_the_Caribbean_User_Group
[2] https://meta.wikimedia.org/wiki/Caribbean_Wikimedians_User_Group
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[Wikimedia-l] Recognition of the Wikipedians of Goa User Group

[Kirill Lokshin]

Hi everyone!

I'm very happy to announce that the Affiliations Committee has recognized
[1] the Wikipedians of Goa User Group [2] as a Wikimedia User Group. The
group aims to build content related to Goa in all possible languages, to
conduct Wikipedia-related training in Goa, and to help build and sustain
the Konkani Wikipedia.

Please join me in congratulating the members of this new user group!

Regards,
Kirill Lokshin
Chair, Affiliations Committee

[1]
https://meta.wikimedia.org/wiki/Affiliations_Committee/Resolutions/Recognition_of_Wikipedians_of_Goa_User_Group

[2] https://meta.wikimedia.org/wiki/Wikipedians_of_Goa_User_Group
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[Wikimedia-l] Introducing our newest thematic organisation, Wikimedia Medicine

[Kirill Lokshin]

Hi everyone!

I'm very happy to announce that the Wikimedia Foundation Board of Trustees
has approved the recognition of Wikimedia Medicine [1] as a Wikimedia
thematic organisation.

Over the past several years, Wikimedia Medicine has successfully planned
and executed a significant program portfolio, attracting new contributors
and forming partnerships with both movement affiliates and external
institutional partners around the world.  Wikimedia Medicine is an
ambitious, innovative, and highly effective organization that has
demonstrated a substantial record of independent programmatic impact and
continues to foster innovation and collaboration with numerous other
entities across the Wikimedia movement.

Wikimedia Medicine's efforts to deliver critical medical information to
underserved and underrepresented communities reflect the principles of
infrastructure and inclusiveness espoused in the Wikimedia movement
strategic direction, and represent a key potential area of growth for
emerging movement communities.  The recognition of Wikimedia Medicine as a
Wikimedia thematic organisation reinforces the our movement’s shared
commitment to this direction, and will support Wikimedia Medicine's future
partnerships with high-profile government institutions and NGOs.

Wikimedia Medicine is our first truly global thematic organisation, and we
hope that this recognition will be the first of many as our community of
globally-focused Wikimedia user groups continues to evolve.

I want to thank everyone who has been involved with setting up the new
thematic organisation, and recognize their commitment and patience over the
past year as we've worked through the thematic organisation recognition
process.  Please join me in congratulating the entire Wikimedia Medicine
team for their accomplishment!

Regards,
Kirill Lokshin
Chair, Affiliations Committee

[1] https://meta.wikimedia.org/wiki/Wiki_Project_Med
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[Wikimedia-l] Recognition of Wikimedia Community User Group Math

[Kirill Lokshin]

Hi everyone!

I'm very happy to announce that the Affiliations Committee has recognized
[1] Wikimedia Community User Group Math [2] as a Wikimedia User Group. The
group aims to coordinate global activities to improve the display and
retrieval of mathematical expressions, with the long-term objective of
making mathematical knowledge better accessible to every human being.

Please join me in congratulating the members of this new user group!

Regards,
Kirill Lokshin
Chair, Affiliations Committee

[1]
https://meta.wikimedia.org/wiki/Affiliations_Committee/Resolutions/Recognition_of_Wikimedia_Community_User_Group_Math
[2] https://meta.wikimedia.org/wiki/Wikimedia_Community_User_Group_Math
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[Wikimedia-l] Recognition of the Dehalvi Wikimedia Community User Group

[Kirill Lokshin]

Hi everyone!

I'm very happy to announce that the Affiliations Committee has recognized
[1] the Dehalvi Wikimedia Community User Group [2] as a Wikimedia User
Group. The group aims to promote Urdu-language Wikimedia projects in India.

Please join me in congratulating the members of this new user group!

Regards,
Kirill Lokshin
Chair, Affiliations Committee

[1]
https://meta.wikimedia.org/wiki/Affiliations_Committee/Resolutions/Recognition_of_Dehalvi_Wikimedia_Community_User_Group
[2] https://meta.wikimedia.org/wiki/Dehalvi_Wikimedia_User_Group
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Re: [Wikimedia-l] Open Letter to Affiliations Committee : Wikimedia India's Demand For A Fair And Transparent Hearing

[Kirill Lokshin]

hether and how we can
share the outcomes of these discussions on Meta once we have agreement
between the executive committee and the AffCom on the best way to do this.

Regards,

Kirill Lokshin

Chair, Affiliations Committee

[1]
https://lists.wikimedia.org/pipermail/wikimediaindia-l/2019-June/014128.html

On Sun, Jul 7, 2019 at 4:50 AM Abhinav srivastava 
wrote:

> Dear Friends From Affcom,
>
> I am posting an open public request for your notice of Suspension moved at
> Wikimedia India (WMIN) which we continue to contest and to our ignored
> demand of having a public hearing as shared with you all over mail and
> shared again here under Annexure [A]. You have taken an official position
> on suspension without even hearing us even once, unexplained accusations
> have been provided and we continue to believe Affcom has been
> insufficiently investigating facts before making judgements. We repeatedly
> over and over again provided justifications over Mail but you never took
> them to your notice and only over calls you heard us, provided your
> rationale for expectation gaps but never took our oral commentary which
> refutes your claims,in any action, anywhere. Now you say WMIN won’t remain
> a Chapter after 14th September and be transformed into a User Group.
>
> Republic of India happens to be one of the only few countries where besides
> volunteer driven Chapter and User Groups has a full-time staff based WMF’s
> Allied Organisation CIS-A2K [1]. Wikimedia India activities [2] may be less
> due to no source of funds [3] however, Community Members from India put
> their efforts, strive hard to take the movement ahead.  Whether it be the
> previous financial year or the present, no Wikimedia Foundation Grants like
> Rapid Grant, Project Grant etc have been applied by Wikimedia India members
> to support any Chapter activity. They remain self-financed. We received
> your notice last year when Wikimedia India was contesting a dispute with
> CIS-A2K over attribution grabbing for our self-financed projects and
> ignoring Chapter at important National level initiaves [4]. While working
> with virtually no source of funds and struggles with WMF’s Allied
> Organisation, your notice of suspension was the least bad we could have
> had.
>
> We continue to contest your suspension notice. It was Suo Moto (on its own)
> decision making and as found and re-stated above and below in detail, there
> were gaps and misunderstanding in your basis. We also continue to contest
> there has been a Rush-to-decision making. No written responses via Mail to
> Chapter’s clarification are being provided and invitation for calls are
> initiated where brief responses are shared on a Cloud Document. It has been
> subsequently found by both parties on there being gaps in communication.
> However, even after clarity during call, Affcom has not taken any action
> over them.
>
> The basis of your suspension notice has been shared here for the wider
> audience.
>
>
>1.
>
>Legal Structure : Affcom asked Wikimedia India to resolve and obtain its
>necessary license in order to obtain funds. At present, as per
> Government
>of India restrictions it is difficult to obtain foreign funding.
> Wikimedia
>India informed the Affcom on roughly 13,000 Non-Government Organisations
>(NGO)s [5] are struggling with a similar crisis to which Affcom
>responded, “reconsider applying for a User Group.” and “no evidence that
>the current organization’s leadership will be able to drive this problem
>toward resolution”. Chapter efforts and commitment in resolving the said
>crisis cannot be dusted in few words. A Government restrictive policy
> which
>has an impact on 13,000 NGOs and Affcom finding flaws in WMIN Board
> Members
>capability. WMIN would leave it for public interpretation.
>
>
> Why not a capability audit for hosting zero-budget activities? While most
> of the time are being spent on resolving the said crisis, WMIN continues to
> undertake activities as listed. Taking the Open Knowledge Movement forward
> remains a commitment for the Chapter irrespective of whatsoever political
> climate may remain. Affcom was asked two questions respectively in this
> regard however no response has been attained. The questions are
>
>
>
>1.
>
>Would zero-budget activities, those self-financed not meet sufficiency ?
>Please elaborate for us to stand better and to improve upon.
>2.
>
>Would resolving Legal Structure and being able to receive WMF Grants be
>a necessary criteria for WMIN to meet sufficiency or continued
> activities
>not meet the fulfilment criteria?
>
>
> (2) Open Governance : Affcom informed Chapter that a member needs to be in
> phys

Re: [Wikimedia-l] Fram en.wp office yearlock block

[Kirill Lokshin]

That's overstating the community's position a bit, I think.  Despite the
occasional attempt to get rid of the civility policy, the community has
continued to support it -- at least in the abstract -- and generally has no
problem whatsoever in sanctioning an ordinary, run-of-the-mill editor for
being uncivil, even when that editor is perfectly competent.

Rather, the problem occurs when a *popular* competent editor violates the
civility policy (or, for particularly popular editors, virtually any other
policy); the traditional consensus-based approach to policy enforcement
makes it difficult, if not impossible, to effectively sanction an editor
with a substantial contingent of vocal supporters who will argue against
any such sanctions whenever the opportunity arises.

Kirill

On Fri, Jun 14, 2019 at 1:58 PM Todd Allen  wrote:

> "Before asking why WMF has banned an admin (and if Fram was not an admin,
> all these discussions would not have been done), we need to ask ourselves
> why we (other users) have allowed such an attitude without intervening to
> stop it."
>
> First, if Fram were a well-known editor but not an admin, yes, there
> absolutely would be such a discussion. But as to why, the answer, very
> simply, is that the English Wikipedia community values competence over
> politeness, and probably always will. That is part of the culture of the
> community, and the WMF has no right to override that.
>
> Todd
>
> On Fri, Jun 14, 2019 at 6:46 AM camelia boban 
> wrote:
>
> > I quote David and Isaac.
> > Harassment is a serious thing and hounding another user is out of any
> wiki
> > behavior.
> > Before asking why WMF has banned an admin (and if Fram was not an admin,
> > all these discussions would not have been done), we need to ask ourselves
> > why we (other users) have allowed such an attitude without intervening to
> > stop it.
> >
> >
> > Camelia
> >
> >
> > --
> > *Camelia Boban*
> >
> > *| Java EE Developer |*
> >
> > *Affiliations Committee - **Wikimedia *Foundation
> > Coordinator - Diversity Working Group for Wikimedia Strategy 2030
> > Chair & co-founder - WikiDonne User Group *| WikiDonne Project ideator*
> >
> > *Diversity Space @ Wikimania 2019 Co-Lead*
> > WMIT - WMSE - WMCH - WMAR Member
> >
> > M. +39 3383385545
> > camelia.bo...@gmail.com
> > *Aissa Technologies* * | *Twitter
> >  *|* *LinkedIn
> > *
> > *Wikipedia  **|
> > **WikiDonne
> > UG * | *WikiDonne Project
> >  *
> >
> >
> >
> >
> >
> >
> >
> >
> >
> >
> >
> > Il giorno ven 14 giu 2019 alle ore 14:32 Mister Thrapostibongles <
> > thrapostibong...@gmail.com> ha scritto:
> >
> > > Fæ
> > >
> > > [...] the pre-existing understanding that the WMF do not replace
> > > > existing and perfectly adequate community agreed procedures for
> > > > banning bad behaviour on our projects.
> > >
> > >
> > > Unfortunately, there is ample evidence that the existing English
> > Wikipedia
> > > community processes are not "perfectly adequate" for that purpose.
> > >
> > >
> > > > If the English
> > > > Wikipedia's policies are not fit for purpose, or implementation of
> > > > policy is incompetent, we need a much bigger discussion
> > >
> > >
> > > Indeed.  Unfortunately the tone of the discussion here and at
> > >
> > >
> >
> https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Wikipedia:Community_response_to_the_Wikimedia_Foundation%27s_ban_of_Fram
> > > suggests
> > > that the requisite discussion is now less, not more, likely to happen
> or
> > be
> > > productive.
> > >
> > > Thrapostibongles
> > > ___
> > > 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,
> > > 
> > ___
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[Wikimedia-l] Recognition of the Grupo de Usuários Wiki Movimento Brasil

[Kirill Lokshin]

Hi everyone!

I'm very happy to announce that the Affiliations Committee has recognized
[1] the Grupo de Usuários Wiki Movimento Brasil [2] as a Wikimedia User
Group. The group aims to bring together the active members of the Wikimedia
movement in Brazil, supporting the organization of the Brazilian Wikimedia
community as well as the promotion of and participation on the Wikimedia
projects.

Please join me in congratulating the members of this new user group!

Regards,
Kirill Lokshin
Chair, Affiliations Committee

[1]
https://meta.wikimedia.org/wiki/Affiliations_Committee/Resolutions/Recognition_of_Grupo_de_Usuários_Wiki_Movimento_Brasil
[2] https://meta.wikimedia.org/wiki/Wikimedia_Community_User_Group_Brasil
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[Wikimedia-l] Recognition of Wikimedia Community User Group Tchad

[Kirill Lokshin]

Hi everyone!

I'm very happy to announce that the Affiliations Committee has recognized
[1] Wikimedia Community User Group Tchad [2] as a Wikimedia User Group. The
group aims to promote use of the Wikimedia projects by people in Chad, to
act as a hub for Chadian Wikimedians and as a voice for the Chadian
Wikimedia community, and to organize conferences, meetings, in workshops in
Chad.

Please join me in congratulating the members of this new user group!

Regards,
Kirill Lokshin
Chair, Affiliations Committee

[1]
https://meta.wikimedia.org/wiki/Affiliations_Committee/Resolutions/Recognition_of_Wikimedia_Community_User_group_Tchad
[2] https://meta.wikimedia.org/wiki/Wikimedia_Community_User_Group_Tchad
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[Wikimedia-l] Recognition of the WikiClassics User Group

[Kirill Lokshin]

Hi everyone!

I'm very happy to announce that the Affiliations Committee has recognized
[1] the WikiClassics User Group [2] as a Wikimedia User Group. The group
aims to improve the quantity and quality of information about classical
antiquity on the Wikimedia projects.

Please join me in congratulating the members of this new user group!

Regards,
Kirill Lokshin
Chair, Affiliations Committee

[1]
https://meta.wikimedia.org/wiki/Affiliations_Committee/Resolutions/Recognition_of_WikiClassics_User_Group
[2] https://meta.wikimedia.org/wiki/WikiClassics_User_Group
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[Wikimedia-l] Recognition of the Wikimédiens du Bénin User Group

[Kirill Lokshin]

Hi everyone!

I'm very happy to announce that the Affiliations Committee has recognized
[1] the Wikimédiens du Bénin User Group [2] as a Wikimedia User Group. The
group aims to support the community of active contributors that develop
content about Bénin, its story, culture, and people; to promote Beninese
indigenous languages on Wikipedia and its sister projects; and to develop
partnerships with national and international institutions to promote use of
and contribution to Wikipedia.

Please join me in congratulating the members of this new user group!

Regards,
Kirill Lokshin
Chair, Affiliations Committee

[1]
https://meta.wikimedia.org/wiki/Affiliations_Committee/Resolutions/Recognition_of_Wikimédiens_du_Bénin_User_Group
[2] https://meta.wikimedia.org/wiki/Wikimédiens_du_Bénin_User_Group
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[Wikimedia-l] Recognition of the Wikimedians of India Technical User Group

[Kirill Lokshin]

Hi everyone!

I'm very happy to announce that the Affiliations Committee has recognized
[1] the Wikimedians of India Technical User Group [2] as a Wikimedia User
Group. The group aims to introduce new Wikipedia technologies to
volunteers, to recruit new technical contributors, and to work with Indic
communities to address their technology problems and requests.

Please join me in congratulating the members of this new user group!

Regards,
Kirill Lokshin
Chair, Affiliations Committee

[1]
https://meta.wikimedia.org/wiki/Affiliations_Committee/Resolutions/Recognition_of_Wikimedians_of_India_technical_user_group
[2]
https://meta.wikimedia.org/wiki/Wikimedians_of_India_technical_user_group
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[Wikimedia-l] Recognition of the Marathi Wikimedians User Group

[Kirill Lokshin]

Hi everyone!

I'm very happy to announce that the Affiliations Committee has recognized
[1] the Marathi Wikimedians User Group [2] as a Wikimedia User Group. The
group aims to increase awareness about Marathi Wikipedia and other
Wikipedia projects, and to develop programs which will improve editors'
work on the project and work towards addressing the gender gap on Marathi
Wikipedia.

Please join me in congratulating the members of this new user group!

Regards,
Kirill Lokshin
Chair, Affiliations Committee

[1]
https://meta.wikimedia.org/wiki/Affiliations_Committee/Resolutions/Recognition_of_Marathi_Wikimedians_User_Group
[2] https://meta.wikimedia.org/wiki/Marathi_Wikimedians
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[Wikimedia-l] Recognition of the Black Lunch Table Wikimedians

[Kirill Lokshin]

Hi everyone!

I'm very happy to announce that the Affiliations Committee has recognized
[1] the Black Lunch Table Wikimedians [2] as a Wikimedia User Group. The
group aims to increase the reach, connection with communities, and presence
of Wikimedia especially as it pertains to gaps in the coverage of Black
visual artists, and to increase the visibility of marginal populations on
Wikimedia through events, online meetups, and other creative approaches.

Please join me in congratulating the members of this new user group!

Regards,
Kirill Lokshin
Chair, Affiliations Committee

[1]
https://meta.wikimedia.org/wiki/Affiliations_Committee/Resolutions/Recognition_of_Black_Lunch_Table_Wikimedians
[2] https://meta.wikimedia.org/wiki/Black_Lunch_Table
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[Wikimedia-l] Recognition of the Wikimedians of Peru User Group

[Kirill Lokshin]

Hi everyone!

I'm very happy to announce that the Affiliations Committee has recognized
[1] the Wikimedians of Peru User Group [2] as a Wikimedia User Group. The
group aims to serve as a connection between the various Wikimedia projects
and the people of Peru, and to support the organization of local events as
the opportunity arises.

Please join me in congratulating the members of this new user group!

Regards,
Kirill Lokshin
Chair, Affiliations Committee

[1]
https://meta.wikimedia.org/wiki/Affiliations_Committee/Resolutions/Recognition_Wikimedians_of_Peru_User_Group
[2] https://meta.wikimedia.org/wiki/Wikimedistas_de_Perú
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[Wikimedia-l] Recognition of the Wikipedians of Slovenia User Group

[Kirill Lokshin]

Hi everyone!

I'm very happy to announce that the Affiliations Committee has recognized
[1] the Wikipedians of Slovenia User Group [2] as a Wikimedia User Group.
The group aims to aid and encourage people to collect, develop and
disseminate freely licensed educational content with a focus on
Slovene-speaking areas, to encourage public and private galleries,
libraries, archives and museums in Slovenia to make their holdings more
broadly and freely available, and to collaborate with these institutions in
an effort to preserve Slovenian heritage.

Please join me in congratulating the members of this new user group!

Regards,
Kirill Lokshin
Chair, Affiliations Committee

[1]
https://meta.wikimedia.org/wiki/Affiliations_Committee/Resolutions/Recognition_of_Wikipedians_of_Slovenia_User_Group
[2] https://meta.wikimedia.org/wiki/Wikipedians_of_Slovenia_User_Group
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[Wikimedia-l] Recognition of the Wikimedia Community of Tatar Language User Group

[Kirill Lokshin]

Hi everyone!

I'm very happy to announce that the Affiliations Committee has recognized
[1] the Wikimedia Community of Tatar Language User Group [2] as a Wikimedia
User Group. The group aims to develop Wikipedia in Tatar into most popular
content portal of the Tatar-language internet; to grow other Wikimedia
projects in the Tatar language; and to teach new generations of
Tatar-language Wikimedians, developing their skills through sharing
experiences.

Please join me in congratulating the members of this new user group!

Regards,
Kirill Lokshin
Chair, Affiliations Committee

[1]
https://meta.wikimedia.org/wiki/Affiliations_Committee/Resolutions/Recognition_of_Wikimedia_Community_of_Tatar_language_User_Group
[2]
https://meta.wikimedia.org/wiki/Wikimedia_Community_of_Tatar_language_User_Group
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[Wikimedia-l] Recognition of the Wikimedians of Democratic Republic of Congo User Group

[Kirill Lokshin]

Hi everyone!

I'm very happy to announce that the Affiliations Committee has recognized
[1] the Wikimedians of Democratic Republic of Congo User Group [2] as a
Wikimedia User Group. The group aims to promote Wikipedia and its sister
projects and expand the Wikipedia community in the DRC.

Please join me in congratulating the members of this new user group!

Regards,
Kirill Lokshin
Chair, Affiliations Committee

[1]
https://meta.wikimedia.org/wiki/Affiliations_Committee/Resolutions/Recognition_of_Wikimedians_of_Democratic_Republic_of_Congo_User_Group
[2]
https://meta.wikimedia.org/wiki/Wikimedia_Democratic_Republic_of_Congo_User_Group
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[Wikimedia-l] Recognition of Wikimedia Community User Group Guinea Conakry

[Kirill Lokshin]

Hi everyone!

I'm very happy to announce that the Affiliations Committee has recognized
[1] Wikimedia Community User Group Guinea Conakry [2] as a Wikimedia User
Group. The group aims to encourage the growth, development and
dissemination of educational content in multiple languages, with a
particular emphasis on activities taking place in Guinea.

Please join me in congratulating the members of this new user group!

Regards,
Kirill Lokshin
Chair, Affiliations Committee

[1]
https://meta.wikimedia.org/wiki/Affiliations_Committee/Resolutions/Recognition_of_Wikimedia_Community_User_Group_Guinea_Conakry
[2]
https://meta.wikimedia.org/wiki/Wikimedia_Community_User_Group_Guinea_Conakry
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[Wikimedia-l] Recognition of the AfroCROWD User Group

[Kirill Lokshin]

Hi everyone!

I'm very happy to announce that the Affiliations Committee has recognized
[1] the AfroCROWD User Group [2] as a Wikimedia User Group. The group aims
to promote participation of people of African descent in the Wikimedia
community, and to increase content about people and events in Africa and
the African Diaspora.

Please join me in congratulating the members of this new user group!

Regards,
Kirill Lokshin
Chair, Affiliations Committee

[1]
https://meta.wikimedia.org/wiki/Affiliations_Committee/Resolutions/Recognition_of_AfroCROWD_User_Group
[2] https://meta.wikimedia.org/wiki/AfroCROWD_User_Group
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[Wikimedia-l] Recognition of the Wikimedians in Residence Exchange Network User Group

[Kirill Lokshin]

Hi everyone!

I'm very happy to announce that the Affiliations Committee has recognized
[1] the Wikimedians in Residence Exchange Network User Group [2] as a
Wikimedia User Group. The group aims to protect the common elements of the
Wikimedian in Residence role, creating a peer support network which invites
new and experienced Wikimedians in Residence to find each other for
collaboration, and to encourage a global professional environment which
inspires institutions to offer appointments to persons to engage with
Wikimedia projects.

Please join me in congratulating the members of this new user group!

Regards,
Kirill Lokshin
Chair, Affiliations Committee

[1]
https://meta.wikimedia.org/wiki/Affiliations_Committee/Resolutions/Recognition_of_Wikimedians_in_Residence_Exchange_Network_User_Group
[2]
https://meta.wikimedia.org/wiki/Wikimedians_in_Residence_Exchange_Network
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[Wikimedia-l] Affiliations Committee Call for Candidates

[Kirill Lokshin]

Hi everyone,

The Affiliations Committee – the committee responsible for guiding
volunteers in establishing Wikimedia chapters, thematic organizations, and
user groups – is looking for new members!

The main role of the Affiliations Committee is to guide groups of
volunteers that are interested in forming Wikimedia affiliates. We review
applications from new groups, answer questions and provide advice about the
different Wikimedia affiliation models and processes, review affiliate
bylaws for compliance with requirements and best practices, and advise the
Wikimedia Foundation Board of Trustees on issues connected to chapters,
thematic organizations and Wikimedia user groups.

The committee can include up to fifteen members, roughly half of whom are
selected every twelve months for staggered two-year terms. Those joining
the committee during the current process will serve a two-year term ending
in December 2020.

*Key skills*

Being a part of the Affiliations Committee requires communication with
volunteers all over the world, negotiating skills, cultural sensitivity,
and the ability to understand legal texts. We look for a healthy mix of
different skill sets in our members, including the following key skills and
experience:

- Willingness to process applications through a set, perhaps bureaucratic
process.
- Readiness to participate in political discussions on the role and future
of affiliates, models of affiliation, and similar topics.
- Availability of up to 5 hours per week, and the time to participate in a
monthly two-hour voice/video meeting.
- International orientation.
- Fluency in English.
- Ability to work and communicate with other languages and cultures.
- Strong understanding of the structure and work of affiliates and the
Wikimedia Foundation.
- Knowledge of different legal systems and experience in community building
and organizing are a plus.
- Skills in other languages are a major plus.
- Experience with or in an active affiliate is a major plus.
- Strong track record of effective collaboration (such as evidenced skills
at facilitation, mediation, negotiation, and so forth) are a major plus.
- Willingness to use one's real name in committee activities (including
contacts with current and potential affiliates) when appropriate.

We are looking for people who are excited by the challenge of empowering
volunteers to get organized and form communities that further our mission
around the world. In exchange, committee members selected will gain the
experience of supporting their world-wide colleagues to develop their
communities as well as personal development in guiding organizational
development, facilitating affiliate partnerships, and professional
communications.

*Selection process*

As a reflection of our commitment to openness, transparency, and bilateral
engagement with the Wikimedia community, the 2018 member selection process
will include a public review and comment period. All applications received
by the committee will be posted on Meta at
https://meta.wikimedia.org/wiki/Affiliations_Committee/Candidates/December_2018,
and the community will be invited to provide comments and feedback about
each candidate.

At the end of the public comment period, the applications will be voted on
by the members of the committee who are not seeking re-election, taking
into account comments put forward by the committee's members, advisors,
Wikimedia Foundation staff and board liaisons, and the community. A final
decision will be made by mid-January 2019, with new members expected to
join later that month.

*How to apply*

If you are interested in joining the committee, please post your
application on the nomination page and send an email announcing your
application to aff...@lists.wikimedia.org by 31 December 2018. Your
application must include the following information:

- Your full name and Wikimedia username
- A statement describing your relevant experience, skills, and motivation
for joining the committee.
- Answers to the following three questions:

(1) How do you think affiliates work best together to partner on effective
projects and initiatives?
(2) What do you see as the role of affiliates in the Wikimedia movement in
the next three years?
(3) What do you feel you will bring to the committee that makes you a
uniquely qualified candidate?


If you have any questions, please don't hesitate to contact me and/or the
committee as a whole. We are happy to chat or have a phone call with anyone
about our work if this helps them decide to apply. Please distribute this
call among your networks, and do apply if you are interested!

Regards,
Kirill Lokshin
Chair, Affiliations Committee
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[Wikimedia-l] Recognition of Muj(lh)eres latinoamericanas en Wikimedia

[Kirill Lokshin]

Hi everyone!

I'm very happy to announce that the Affiliations Committee has recognized
[1] Muj(lh)eres latinoamericanas en Wikimedia [2] as a Wikimedia User
Group. The group aims to engage Latin American women as contributors on all
Wikimedia projects, to narrow the gender gap, and to foster a meeting space
for Latin American women contributors to strengthen ties and a sense of
belonging and community identity.

Please join me in congratulating the members of this new user group!

Regards,
Kirill Lokshin
Chair, Affiliations Committee

[1]
https://meta.wikimedia.org/wiki/Affiliations_Committee/Resolutions/Recognition_of_Muj(lh)eres_latinoamericanas_en_Wikimedia
[2]
https://meta.wikimedia.org/wiki/Muj(lh)eres_latinoamericanas_en_Wikimedia
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[Wikimedia-l] Recognition of the Wikimedistas de Bolivia User Group

[Kirill Lokshin]

Hi everyone!

I'm very happy to announce that the Affiliations Committee has recognized
[1] the Wikimedistas de Bolivia User Group [2] as a Wikimedia User Group.
The group aims to collect, gather, develop and disseminate knowledge about
Bolivian culture and related topics in different languages, and especially
in the languages of the nations and native indigenous peoples of Bolivia.

Please join me in congratulating the members of this new user group!

Regards,
Kirill Lokshin
Chair, Affiliations Committee

[1]
https://meta.wikimedia.org/wiki/Affiliations_Committee/Resolutions/Recognition_of_Wikimedistas_de_Bolivia
[2] https://meta.wikimedia.org/wiki/Wikimedistas_de_Bolivia
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[Wikimedia-l] Recognition of the Wikimedians of Kerala User Group

[Kirill Lokshin]

Hi everyone!

I'm very happy to announce that the Affiliations Committee has recognized
[1] the Wikimedians of Kerala User Group [2] as a Wikimedia User Group. The
group will be working on various Wikimedia projects related to the
Malayalam language.

Please join me in congratulating the members of this new user group!

Regards,
Kirill Lokshin
Chair, Affiliations Committee

[1]
https://meta.wikimedia.org/wiki/Affiliations_Committee/Resolutions/Recognition_of_Kerala_User_Group
[2] https://meta.wikimedia.org/wiki/Wikimedians_of_Kerala_User_Group
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[Wikimedia-l] Recognition of the Gender Diversity Visibility Community User Group

[Kirill Lokshin]

Hi everyone!

I'm very happy to announce that the Affiliations Committee has recognized
[1] the Gender Diversity Visibility Community User Group [2] as a Wikimedia
User Group. The group aims to promote, expand, and facilitate the gender
diversity visibility work being done by all language Wikipedias, Commons
and Wikidata, directing the research and development for the project's
unique needs by managing delivery of materials and technology, planning,
and organizing systems to support their production of content.

Please join me in congratulating the members of this new user group!

Regards,
Kirill Lokshin
Chair, Affiliations Committee

[1]
https://meta.wikimedia.org/wiki/Affiliations_Committee/Resolutions/Recognition_of_Gender_Diversity_Visibility_Community_User_Group
[2]
https://meta.wikimedia.org/wiki/Gender_Diversity_Visibility_Community_User_Group
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[Wikimedia-l] Recognition of the Wikipedia Asian Month User Group

[Kirill Lokshin]

Hi everyone!

I'm very happy to announce that the Affiliations Committee has recognized
[1] the Wikipedia Asian Month User Group [2] as a Wikimedia User Group. The
group aims to support Asian-language Wikipedia communities around the
world, to increase cooperation among Wikimedia communities and affiliates
in Asia, and to enrich Asia-rrelated culture and content on Wikimedia
projects.

Please join me in congratulating the members of this new user group!

Regards,
Kirill Lokshin
Chair, Affiliations Committee

[1]
https://meta.wikimedia.org/wiki/Affiliations_Committee/Resolutions/Recognition_of_Wikipedia_Asian_Month_User_Group
[2] https://meta.wikimedia.org/wiki/Wikipedia_Asian_Month_User_Group
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[Wikimedia-l] Recognition of Wikimedia Community User Group Hong Kong

[Kirill Lokshin]

Hi everyone!

I'm very happy to announce that the Affiliations Committee has recognized
[1] Wikimedia Community User Group Hong Kong [2] as a Wikimedia User Group.
The group aims to raise awareness of free culture and the Wikimedia
movement among Hong Kong citizens, and to support Hong Kong Wikimedian
communities in English, Chinese, Cantonese and other Wikimedia projects.

Please join me in congratulating the members of this new user group!

Regards,
Kirill Lokshin
Chair, Affiliations Committee

[1]
https://meta.wikimedia.org/wiki/Affiliations_Committee/Resolutions/Recognition_of_Wikimedia_Community_User_Group_Hong_Kong
[2] https://meta.wikimedia.org/wiki/Wikimedia_Community_User_Group_Hong_Kong
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Re: [Wikimedia-l] Plea from Wikimedia Portugal

[Kirill Lokshin]

The Affiliations Committee has no intention whatsoever of changing the
process; rather, we are simply trying to determine whether the conditions
that we originally set out have in fact been met.

It would, perhaps, have been easier for everyone if we could have done this
without having to solicit specialized legal expertise, but  the
circumstances seem to have unfortunately precluded a procedure whose
validity is obvious from a simple reading of the applicable rules.

Regards,
Kirill

On Thu, Oct 11, 2018 at 8:17 PM Nathan  wrote:

> Thank you for acknowledging the existence of this thread and the fact that
> AffCom is still making some effort to bring the problem to a resolution. It
> doesn't seem like it should be all that challenging, if one disputant is a
> single individual and the other is a community of people led by those for
> whom they have repeatedly expressed support.
>
> If, as described, AffCom laid out a procedure by which one side could
> legitimize itself and then decided to revoke that procedure after much work
> by those trying to follow it... AffCom could acknowledge an error and
> apologize. That you have described your proposed next step is at least
> progress in the right direction.
>
> In any case, I'm sure we all look forward to AffCom sharing the results of
> its solicitation of advice with the Wikimedia public.
>
> On Thu, Oct 11, 2018 at 8:07 PM Kirill Lokshin 
> wrote:
>
> > As I believe we mentioned the last time this particular topic came up, we
> > are unlikely to resolve the intricacies of Portuguese nonprofit law by
> > debating them on a mailing list.
> >
> > Gonçalo and his colleagues have quite clearly expressed their position:
> > they believe that the process by which they came to control Wikimedia
> > Portugal complies with the applicable provisions of Portuguese law.  At
> the
> > same time, the other side in this conflict has expressed a contrary
> > position: that the process in question does *not* comply with those
> > provisions.
> >
> > The Affiliations Committee has obviously been unable to make any real
> > headway here, particularly as the dispute hinges in no small part on
> > interpretations of case law rather than a plain reading of the applicable
> > legal codes; consequently, we've solicited advice from actual Portuguese
> > legal experts, which we hope to receive in the near future.  Until that
> > happens, however, we are not going to be able to bring this to closure,
> one
> > way or the other.
> >
> > Regards,
> > Kirill
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Re: [Wikimedia-l] Plea from Wikimedia Portugal

[Kirill Lokshin]

As I believe we mentioned the last time this particular topic came up, we
are unlikely to resolve the intricacies of Portuguese nonprofit law by
debating them on a mailing list.

Gonçalo and his colleagues have quite clearly expressed their position:
they believe that the process by which they came to control Wikimedia
Portugal complies with the applicable provisions of Portuguese law.  At the
same time, the other side in this conflict has expressed a contrary
position: that the process in question does *not* comply with those
provisions.

The Affiliations Committee has obviously been unable to make any real
headway here, particularly as the dispute hinges in no small part on
interpretations of case law rather than a plain reading of the applicable
legal codes; consequently, we've solicited advice from actual Portuguese
legal experts, which we hope to receive in the near future.  Until that
happens, however, we are not going to be able to bring this to closure, one
way or the other.

Regards,
Kirill

On Thu, Oct 11, 2018 at 6:57 PM Nathan  wrote:

> I can't tell which part of this situation is the more sad; is it the events
> themselves, the total absence of any comment from AffCom, or the very
> limited interest evinced by the rest of the folks subscribed to this list?
>
> It seems if we follow the AffCom model described here, we should take WMPT
> at its word as the complainant and decide that AffCom should perhaps be
> disbanded - maybe to be reconstituted by others at a later date.
>
> Perhaps those others would feel themselves responsible to a constituency
> beyond themselves, at least to the minimal extent that they deign to offer
> a response of some sort in public.
>
> If that sounds like an extreme and unfair outcome, I might even agree...
> but it's clear that AffCom itself sees some logic in that approach.
>
> On Thu, Oct 11, 2018 at 1:02 PM Chris Keating 
> wrote:
>
> > I think there's a question to think about, about how the movement
> > handles this kind of situation where there are evidently serious
> > governance problems affecting an affiliate.
> >
> > There are some clear-cut situations (e.g. total inactivity) where the
> > current de-recognition process can simply be followed by Affcom. And
> > there are some situations where there is a large and prominent
> > affiliate that has plenty of activity, but serious governance issues,
> > where the WMF Grantmaking and/or Legal teams can get involved in some
> > depth (thinking about  Wikimedia UK in 2012 and Wikimedia France in
> > 2017).
> >
> > This is the only case that's "in the middle" that I am aware of - are
> > there more that have been made public? Of course, it's possible that
> > there may be other cases where a small/medium affiliate has been
> > helped to have their governance problems resolved by one process or
> > another (derecognition or something else) but it's happened silently
> > in the background.
> >
> > Chris
> > On Thu, Oct 11, 2018 at 5:29 PM Paulo Santos Perneta
> >  wrote:
> > >
> > > Just a quick message to clarify that the only conflict that ever
> existed
> > in
> > > Wikimedia Portugal, as far as I know, was with João Vasconcelos
> himself.
> > >
> > > Paulo
> > >
> > > Alessandro Marchetti via Wikimedia-l 
> > > escreveu no dia quinta, 11/10/2018 à(s) 15:38:
> > >
> > > >  The pro forma statement bout what a chapter is is valuable, but I
> > think
> > > > many of us kinda got the idea that the problem was not the starting
> > point
> > > > (otherwise why electing him?) but came later. It's possible that
> > someone
> > > > else with more community experience would have never behaved such
> way,
> > but
> > > > that's speculation.
> > > >
> > > > Statistically, in this scenario this lack of community view probably
> > did
> > > > not help. Whatever his skills in "management and conflict resolution"
> > were,
> > > > even assuming they were correctly stated based on previous expertise
> in
> > > > other fields, they were not the best ones to handle the conflicts
> that
> > > > later emerged. Also, considering the resolution we see now, which is
> > not a
> > > > great resolution.
> > > > The point is that in all these disputes (I think about Brazil few
> > months
> > > > ago) it looks like the AffCom position sounds like "you are both
> > wrong".
> > > > Now, this is never a healthy long-term strategy. If it occurs again,
> it
> > > > gives more and more the idea that whoever is in the less correct
> > position
> > > > can hold still because if the matter arrives to the AffCom everybody
> > pays
> > > > equally. I am sure the situation is more multifaceted, but let's try
> to
> > > > grasp the general vibe here.
> > > >
> > > >  This is not wise. King Solomon solved the issue bluffing and
> spotting
> > the
> > > > real mother, he never actually cut the baby in two halves ... But
> > wisdom
> > > > comes also with experience.
> > > >Il giovedì 11 ottobre 2018, 15:43:01 CEST, GoEthe.wiki <
> > > > 

Re: [Wikimedia-l] Suspensions of affiliates

[Kirill Lokshin]

Paulo,

You were provided ample details regarding these concerns, both in the
original suspension letter and in response to the specific questions raised
during the subsequent email discussion.

If Wikimedia Portugal wants to publish the full text of the suspension
letter and have a public discussion about it, that is entirely your
prerogative.  In the meantime, I am not going to debate organizational
governance practices with you based on an arbitrary and selective quoting
of the document.

Regards,
Kirill

On Tue, Sep 25, 2018 at 10:34 PM Paulo Santos Perneta <
paulospern...@gmail.com> wrote:

> Kirill,
>
> Correction: The message sent to you stating we were not going to head
> those specific requests due to its illegality was sent in 17 July, not 15.
>
> While we are at it, can you please explain why the AffCom has, in a
> message dated 15 July, falsely accused WMPT of:
>
>- "*Not advising the Foundation of change in the bylaws or status of
>the Chapter (Chapter Agreement, Section 7.2).*"  Note: no change was
>made to the bylaws, and the new board elected in 15 April was immediately
>reported to the AffCom and the WMF lists.
>- "*The Chapter engaging in activity that might negatively impact the
>work or image of the Wikimedia Foundation and the Wikimedia movement
>(Chapter Agreement, Section 6.2)*"  Note: the members of the chapter
>were being harassed by a single, rogue individual, I can't see how the
>chapter may be blamed for a rogue individual actions, even more when they
>were reported to the AffCom in a very timely and clear manner.
>- "*Members of the Board of Wikimedia Portugal have been sending each
>other legal threats, via e-mail and posted mail.*"  Note: Only the
>already mentioned and reported rogue element, who was not effectively part
>of any board since his mandate expired in 2017, and who, at the time, had
>even resigned as interim president, was sending legal threats to the
>members of WMPT. The members of the WMPT board were (and still are)
>*receiving* legal and personal threats from that rogue element, not sending
>them.
>
> All those accusations were false, but you never excused yourselves, never
> retracted them, or even acknowledged their falsity. Can you please explain
> it now?
>
> Paulo
>
>
>
> Paulo Santos Perneta  escreveu no dia quarta,
> 26/09/2018 à(s) 02:44:
>
>> Kirill,
>>
>> I requested a clarification regarding WMPT activities, and Gonçalo asked
>> a general clarification, also mentioning activities. In no way it implies
>> that we have understood your request as applying only to activities - In
>> fact, my understanding is everyone at WMPT understood it as a general
>> prohibition of the board presenting itself and acting as a board. The fact
>> that none of us has recalled to specifically mentioning the WMPT
>> obligations to the Portuguese state on the message in no way implies that
>> we have understood your initial message as relating only to activities.
>> What came to mind immediately after that message was the activities, so
>> that was what I asked about.
>>
>> I really fail to understand why you are accusing WMPT of acting
>> clandestinely, saying you "*expect, however, to at least be told that
>> you're planning to ignore our request*". You were clearly informed about
>> that illegality, and that we were not going to head those specific
>> requests, on a message we sent to you dated 15 July, which you acknowledged
>> and answered in 8 August, saying, among other things, that you had no time
>> to read the law. Don't you communicate between yourselves? Don't you read
>> the cases you have at hands before coming into a public mailing list
>> talking about them?
>>
>> Paulo
>>
>>
>>
>> Kirill Lokshin  escreveu no dia quarta,
>> 26/09/2018 à(s) 02:29:
>>
>>> Paulo,
>>>
>>> The request for clarification to which you refer was -- as I'm sure you
>>> recall -- in reference to carrying out planned activities, and had nothing
>>> to do with any legal matters, tax filings, or the like; the same was true
>>> of the committee's response:
>>>
>>> Olá Gonçalo,
>>>>
>>>
>>>
>>>> Yes, you can count on us to help solve the current situation!
>>>>
>>>
>>>
>>>> You understood correctly, we would like you not to introduce themselves
>>>> as WMPT board members, but as members of WMPT and carry on with your
>>>> activities, since all of you are full members of the chapter and can
>>>

Re: [Wikimedia-l] Suspensions of affiliates

[Kirill Lokshin]

Paulo,

The request for clarification to which you refer was -- as I'm sure you
recall -- in reference to carrying out planned activities, and had nothing
to do with any legal matters, tax filings, or the like; the same was true
of the committee's response:

Olá Gonçalo,
>


> Yes, you can count on us to help solve the current situation!
>


> You understood correctly, we would like you not to introduce themselves as
> WMPT board members, but as members of WMPT and carry on with your
> activities, since all of you are full members of the chapter and can
> participate in different activities and events. Just for the sake of
> avoiding further confusion.
>


> @Paulo, please carry on with all the activities planned -just introduce
> yourself as member of the chapter is needed.


To conclude, from this email, that the committee was somehow instructing
you to violate Portuguese law is what I might charitably call a "creative"
interpretation of our words.  But let's set that aside for the moment.

You are correct in that it's not your responsibility to "lecture and
educate" the committee.  What *is* your responsibility, however, is to be
honest with the committee regarding your compliance -- or lack thereof --
with our requests.  If you decide, for whatever reason, that you cannot or
will not do as we've asked -- whether because you believe your national law
prohibits you from doing so, or because you and your colleagues want to do
something different, or simply because you think we're stupid and don't
feel like listening to us -- then that's your decision.

We expect, however, to at least be told that you're planning to ignore our
request.  To simply thank us for clarifying it, as you did, while secretly
having no intention of complying with it in the first place is hardly
something one does when negotiating in good faith.

Regards,
Kirill

On Tue, Sep 25, 2018 at 8:24 PM Paulo Santos Perneta <
paulospern...@gmail.com> wrote:

> Hello Kirill,
>
> On the message the AffCom has sent on 20 May, addressed to the chair of
> the WMPT board, answering to a request for clarification, you stated: "*we
> would like you not to introduce themselves as WMPT board members, but as
> members of WMPT*".
>
> It seems quite obvious to me that, had the board headed the AffCom
> request, and not introduced themselves as such, the obligations of the
> association towards the Portuguese state could not have been fulfilled.
> Therefore I believe it is fair to say you were indeed requesting us to do
> something out of the law.
>
> You also failed to address the second point, about the AffCom requesting
> that a new General Assembly should be conveyed by some party of your
> choice, something which is clearly against this country law, as mentioned.
>
> As for the validity of the General Assembly you were contesting, it
> suffices to say it was and is recognized as perfectly valid by the
> Portuguese state - the tax authority, namely - and by the biggest bank of
> the country, Caixa Geral de Depósitos. Only the rogue guy that had been
> reported to you for severe harassment and for sending very serious legal
> and personal threats to a number of WMPT members, and the AFfCom itself,
> saw it as problematic.
>
> I would also like to ask you to not make unfounded and unfair accusations
> against me, nor indulge in personal attacks, as you have done ("*a
> remarkable and brazen display of bad faith*"). It is not my
> responsibility to lecture and educate the AffCom on what they should do ("*an
> interpretation that you somehow neglected to mention to anyone at the time*").
> As far as I know, it is the AffCom duty and responsibility to know the
> affiliate country law, at least to the degree of not commanding the
> affiliate do an illegal action, as you have done. It was my responsibility,
> as a member of WMPT, to denounce your requests as illegal, and I've done
> exactly that at the time. That's why your request for conveying a General
> Assembly through a "neutral party" was never headed.
>
> Paulo
>
> Kirill Lokshin  escreveu no dia quarta,
> 26/09/2018 à(s) 00:51:
>
>> Paulo,
>>
>> The email that the Affiliations Committee sent to you -- among various
>> others -- on May 18 read as follows:
>>
>> Dear members of Wikimedia Portugal,
>>>
>>
>>
>>> The recent developments in your chapter have been brought to our
>>> attention by a number of members of the chapter, as well as members of the
>>> community. We are monitoring the situation and in the meantime, would like
>>> to request all members of the chapter to cease from taking part in this
>>> conflict and to work to resolve differences. You may also officiall

Re: [Wikimedia-l] Suspensions of affiliates

[Kirill Lokshin]

Paulo,

The email that the Affiliations Committee sent to you -- among various
others -- on May 18 read as follows:

Dear members of Wikimedia Portugal,
>


> The recent developments in your chapter have been brought to our attention
> by a number of members of the chapter, as well as members of the community.
> We are monitoring the situation and in the meantime, would like to request
> all members of the chapter to cease from taking part in this conflict and
> to work to resolve differences. You may also officially request a
> conversation with this committee to discuss a potential mediation plan,
> which we are more than happy to help with. In the case of no interest in
> resolving your differences and moving forward, this committee may consider
> the de-recognition of WMPT, having taken into account also the low activity
> of the group, based on the the reports submitted.
>


> In addition to this, we request that all communications regarding he
> present situation be routed directly to the AffCom discussion list (
> aff...@lists.wikimedia.org) rather than various personal communications
> channels. Please also, refrain from presenting oneself as representative of
> Wikimedia Portugal until this situation is resolved.
>


> Do not hesitate contacting this committee if you have further questions.


The request concerning "presenting oneself as representative of Wikimedia
Portugal" was in reference to people stating that they were the official
representatives of the chapter in meetings -- a fact of which you were
doubtless well aware, seeing as it was your own complaint on the subject
which prompted the committee's request in the first place.

At no time did you -- or any of your colleagues -- indicate that you were
interpreting the request as having anything to do with the execution of the
legal functions of the board, the filing of financial statements with tax
authorities, or anything of the sort.  Rather, you had responded with
questions as to how you might present yourselves to your current and
potential partners.

For you to now insist that the committee's request was a demand that you
violate Portuguese law -- an interpretation that you somehow neglected to
mention to anyone at the time -- is a remarkable and brazen display of bad
faith.

Regards,
Kirill

On Tue, Sep 25, 2018 at 6:42 PM Paulo Santos Perneta <
paulospern...@gmail.com> wrote:

> Two illegal requests, to be more precise.
>
> Last 18 May, the AffCom demanded (by mail)  that the recently elected (15
> April) WMPT board stopped acting as such. However, under the Portuguese
> law, that board, which had been elected in a validated General Assembly,
> was the only valid board of the association, and the one responsible to
> fulfill the Association obligations with the Portuguese state. If they
> doubted that, they should have requested legal advice, instead of taking
> decisions over a subject they clearly did not understood.
>
> Last 11 June, the AffCom demanded (by hangout meeting) that a new General
> Assembly must be conveyed by what they called "a neutral party", namely the
> former head of the table of the General Assembly elected in 2015. That too
> is against the law. Under the Portuguese law, when there is a legally
> elected board in functions, as was the case, it's the board (or the head of
> the table of the General Assembly, in the name of the board) that conveys a
> General Assembly (Article 173º of the Portuguese Civil Code). A General
> Assembly cannot be called by some random person designed at will by some
> external body. If the WMPT had headed the AffCom demands, the recent
> General Assembly of 1 September (realized by AffCom imposition) would have
> been illegal under the country law, being conveyed by a party that had not
> any right to do that.
>
> Concerning the alleged (by the AffCom) lack of validity of the 15 April
> General Assembly, it was completely unfounded, as any lawyer knowledgeable
> of the Portuguese law could explain to them. It was with that General
> Assembly (and not with the one of 1 September, which was a mere imposition
> of the AffCom, with almost no practical value) that WMPT submitted its tax
> form (Modelo 22) for the 2017 fiscal year, updated the names of the legal
> representatives of Wikimedia Portugal in the Revenue Services (Autoridade
> Tributária - Tax Authority), as well as regularized the access to the
> association bank account.
>
> Paulo
>
>
>
>
> Pine W  escreveu no dia terça, 25/09/2018 à(s) 22:01:
>
> >  I don't want affiliates to get a free pass to create problems or neglect
> > their responsibilities such as by failing to produce reports, misusing
> > trademarks, misappropriating funds, etc., and I am glad to see that
> AffCom
> > is taking action when it thinks that there are problems. However, I am
> > concerned that AffCom may currently have some internal issues that should
> > be addressed.
> >
> > As far as I know, AffCom hasn't shared its explanations for some of these

[Wikimedia-l] Recognition of the Vietnam Wikimedians User Group

[Kirill Lokshin]

Hi everyone!

I'm very happy to announce that the Affiliations Committee has recognized
[1] the Vietnam Wikimedians User Group [2] as a Wikimedia User Group. The
group aims to encourage and promote participation and contribution to the
Wikimedia projects by Vietnamese-speaking users.

Please join me in congratulating the members of this new user group!

Regards,
Kirill Lokshin
Chair, Affiliations Committee

[1]
https://meta.wikimedia.org/wiki/Affiliations_Committee/Resolutions/Recognition_Wikimedians_of_Vietnam_Wikimedians_User_Group
[2] https://meta.wikimedia.org/wiki/Vietnam_Wikimedians_User_Group
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Re: [Wikimedia-l] Wikimedia Portugal General Assembly

[Kirill Lokshin]

Hi everyone,

The Affiliations Committee would like to provide some clarification around
the privacy of affiliate suspension notices, particularly in the context of
ongoing conflict mediation within and between affiliates.

When we conduct investigations into the behavior of individual editors, we
strive to maintain privacy for the individual as to the specific concerns
under investigation.  In the case of affiliate compliance investigations,
we similarly treat the specific concerns and the details of any
intermediate measures (including possible suspensions) with an appropriate
degree of privacy.  This is to avoid undue public embarrassment or ridicule
for the individuals involved in the conflict mediation process, and to
ensure that people are able to work with us in good faith to resolve issues
without feeling that they will be subjected to public shaming during the
process.

Basic reporting compliance is documented in the reporting table on the
[[m:Reports]] page, where you can see those groups which have fallen behind
on compliance [1].  The suspension-remediation-derecognition process is
also publicly documented on Meta [2].

It is 100% at the discretion of the suspended organization whether and how
to communicate publicly about their suspension or the details of their
non-compliance.  Only upon revocation of recognition does the committee
communicate publicly about the issue; even then, private details are not
shared except as required to correct misinformation.

As for ways this could be more transparent without causing undue
embarrassment, perhaps suspension status could be indicated on the reports
page on Meta; however, even this seems appropriate only if done at the
discretion of those who have been suspended.  We would be interested in
hearing more thoughts about this from those who have been through the
process.  For anyone who wants to share their views without public
disclosure, please feel free to message the private AffCom mailing list
with your perspective on this topic at aff...@lists.wikimedia.org.

Regards,
Kirill Lokshin
Chair, Affiliations Committee

[1] https://meta.wikimedia.org/wiki/Reports
[2]
https://meta.wikimedia.org/wiki/Wikimedia_movement_affiliates/Protocol_for_noncompliant_Wikimedia_movement_affiliates/Derecognition_Process_Mapping

On Mon, Sep 3, 2018 at 3:40 PM Paulo Santos Perneta 
wrote:

> I second, and strongly support Pine's suggestion.
>
> Being the Affiliations Committee a community-run Wikimedia committee
> emanating from the Wikimedia Movement itself, transparency is to be
> expected whenever it is possible. As far as I know, there is nothing
> confidential in that resolution.
>
> Obscurity is the mother of all rumors, and we're dearly suffering from
> that.
>
> All the best,
>
> Paulo
>
> Pine W  escreveu no dia segunda, 3/09/2018 à(s)
> 19:18:
>
> > Hello Gonçalo,
> >
> > Thank you for this report.
> >
> > I would like to ask the Affiliations Committee to post the July 2018
> > resolution regarding Wikimedia Portugal to this mailing list and to
> publish
> > that resolution on Meta.
> >
> > I am an advocate for transparency about financial and governance matters,
> > which includes the activities of the Affiliations Committee. I request
> that
> > going forward, all similar resolutions from the Affiliations Committee
> > should be sent to Wikimedia-l and published on Meta within one week of
> > their approval by AffCom.
> >
> > Thank you,
> >
> > Pine
> > ( https://meta.wikimedia.org/wiki/User:Pine )
> >
> >
> > On Mon, Sep 3, 2018 at 10:56 AM GoEthe.wiki 
> wrote:
> >
> > > Dear all,
> > >
> > > As part of the roadmap AffCom agreed with us after they decided to
> > suspend
> > > some of our benefits within the Wikimedia Foundation programs
> > > (
> > >
> >
> https://lists.wikimedia.org/mailman/private/wikimediapt/2018-July/002625.html
> > > <
> > >
> >
> https://lists.wikimedia.org/mailman/private/wikimediapt/2018-July/002625.html
> > > >),
> > > Wikimedia Portugal held an Extraordinary General Assembly on the 1st of
> > > September, and a board was elected. This board is identical, with one
> > > exception, to the board elected in April of this year and that I
> > announced
> > > in a similar message (
> > >
> https://lists.wikimedia.org/pipermail/wikimedia-l/2018-April/090073.html
> > ).
> > >
> > > The board is now composed of:
> > >
> > >-
> > >
> > >Gonçalo Themudo, president
> > >-
> > >
> > >André Barbosa, treasurer
> > >-
> > >
> > >Ana Cravo, secr

[Wikimedia-l] Recognition of the Wikimedians of Tamazight User Group

[Kirill Lokshin]

Hi everyone!

I'm very happy to announce that the Affiliations Committee has recognized
[1] the Wikimedians of Tamazight User Group [2] as a Wikimedia User Group.
The group aims to promote the use of Wikimedia projects by Tamazight
speakers, to help Tamazight speakers learn how to edit Wikimedia projects,
and to organize gatherings of Tamazight-speaking Wikimedians.

Please join me in congratulating the members of this new user group!

Regards,
Kirill Lokshin
Chair, Affiliations Committee

[1]
https://meta.wikimedia.org/wiki/Affiliations_Committee/Resolutions/Recognition_Wikimedians_of_Tamazight_User_Group
[2] https://meta.wikimedia.org/wiki/Wikimedians_of_Tamazight_User_Group
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[Wikimedia-l] Recognition of the Wikimedians for Offline Wikis User Group

[Kirill Lokshin]

Hi everyone!

I'm very happy to announce that the Affiliations Committee has recognized
[1] the Wikimedians for Offline Wikis User Group [2] as a Wikimedia User
Group. The group aims to consolidate and support the development and
deployment of offline snapshots of wiki knowledge in schools, clinics, and
rural communities.

Please join me in congratulating the members of this new user group!

Regards,
Kirill Lokshin
Chair, Affiliations Committee

[1]
https://meta.wikimedia.org/wiki/Affiliations_Committee/Resolutions/Recognition_of_Wikimedians_for_Offline_Wikis_User_Group
[2] https://meta.wikimedia.org/wiki/Wikimedians_for_offline_wikis
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[Wikimedia-l] Recognition of the Wikipedia & Education User Group

[Kirill Lokshin]

Hi everyone!

I'm very happy to announce that the Affiliations Committee has recognized
[1] the Wikipedia & Education User Group [2] as a Wikimedia User Group. The
group aims to enhance and scale local and global educational efforts,
advocate for education within the Wikimedia movement, and elevate the
narrative of education outside our movement.

Please join me in congratulating the members of this new user group!

Regards,
Kirill Lokshin
Chair, Affiliations Committee

[1]
https://meta.wikimedia.org/wiki/Affiliations_Committee/Resolutions/Recognition_Wikipedia_%26_Education_User_Group
[2] https://meta.wikimedia.org/wiki/Wikipedia_%26_Education_User_Group
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[Wikimedia-l] Recognition of the Wikimedians of Los Angeles User Group

[Kirill Lokshin]

Hi everyone!

I'm very happy to announce that the Affiliations Committee has recognized
[1] the Wikimedians of Los Angeles User Group [2] as a Wikimedia User
Group. The group aims to promote the use of Wikipedia and other Wikimedia
projects by people in and around Los Angeles.

Please join me in congratulating the members of this new user group!

Regards,
Kirill Lokshin
Chair, Affiliations Committee

[1]
https://meta.wikimedia.org/wiki/Affiliations_Committee/Resolutions/Recognition_Wikimedians_of_Los_Angeles
[2] https://meta.wikimedia.org/wiki/Wikimedians_of_Los_Angeles
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[Wikimedia-l] Recognition of the Wikimedians of Slovakia User Group

[Kirill Lokshin]

Hi everyone!

I'm very happy to announce that the Affiliations Committee has recognized
[1] the Wikimedians of Slovakia User Group [2] as a Wikimedia User Group.
The group aims to support the Wikimedia movement in Slovakia.

Please join me in congratulating the members of this new user group!

Regards,
Kirill Lokshin
Chair, Affiliations Committee

[1]
https://meta.wikimedia.org/wiki/Affiliations_Committee/Resolutions/Recognition_Wikimedians_of_Slovakia_User_Group
[2] https://meta.wikimedia.org/wiki/Wikimedians_of_Slovakia
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[Wikimedia-l] Recognition of Wikimedia Community User Group Uganda

[Kirill Lokshin]

Hi everyone!

I'm very happy to announce that the Affiliations Committee has recognized
[1] Wikimedia Community User Group Uganda [2] as a Wikimedia User Group.
The group aims to promote the Wikimedia projects, and free content in
general, in Uganda, and to encourage the use of Wikimedia resources in
education there.

Please join me in congratulating the members of this new user group!

Regards,
Kirill Lokshin
Chair, Affiliations Committee

[1]
https://meta.wikimedia.org/wiki/Affiliations_Committee/Resolutions/Recognition_Wikimedia_Community_User_Group_Uganda
[2] https://meta.wikimedia.org/wiki/Planning_Wikimedia_User_Group_Uganda
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[Wikimedia-l] Recognition of the Wikimedians of Minnesota User Group

[Kirill Lokshin]

Hi everyone!

I'm very happy to announce that the Affiliations Committee has recognized
[1] the Wikimedians of Minnesota User Group [2] as a Wikimedia User Group.
The group aims to promote use of Wikimedia projects by people in Minnesota,
to help people in Minnesota learn how to edit Wikimedia projects, and to
organize in-person gatherings of Wikimedians in Minnesota.

Please join me in congratulating the members of this new user group!

Regards,
Kirill Lokshin
Chair, Affiliations Committee

[1]
https://meta.wikimedia.org/wiki/Affiliations_Committee/Resolutions/Recognition_Wikimedians_of_Minnesota_User_Group
[2] https://meta.wikimedia.org/wiki/Wikimedia_Minnesota_User_Group
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[Wikimedia-l] Recognition of Jenga Wikipedia ya Kiswahili User Group

[Kirill Lokshin]

Hi everyone!

I'm very happy to announce that the Affiliations Committee has recognized
[1] Jenga Wikipedia ya Kiswahili User Group [2] as a Wikimedia User Group.
The group aims to create and improve content for the Swahili Wikipedia, and
to support the recruitment and development of Wikimedia contributors from
East Africa.

Please join me in congratulating the members of this new user group!

Regards,
Kirill Lokshin
Chair, Affiliations Committee

[1]
https://meta.wikimedia.org/wiki/Affiliations_Committee/Resolutions/Recognition_Jenga_Wikipedia_ya_Kiswahili
[2] https://meta.wikimedia.org/wiki/Jenga_Wikipedia_ya_Kiswahili
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[Wikimedia-l] Recognition of Wikimedia Community User Group Albania

[Kirill Lokshin]

Hi everyone!

I'm very happy to announce that the Affiliations Committee has recognized
[1] Wikimedia Community User Group Albania [2] as a Wikimedia User Group.
The group aims to improve content about Albania across the Wikimedia
projects, including Commons and Wikidata, and to collaborate with other
Wikimedia user groups, chapters, and other free culture groups in Albania
and across the region.

Please join me in congratulating the members of this new user group!

Regards,
Kirill Lokshin
Chair, Affiliations Committee

[1]
https://meta.wikimedia.org/wiki/Affiliations_Committee/Resolutions/Recognition_Wikimedia_Community_User_Group_Albania
[2] https://meta.wikimedia.org/wiki/Wikimedia_Community_User_Group_Albania
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[Wikimedia-l] Recognition of Wikimedia Community User Group Tanzania

[Kirill Lokshin]

Hi everyone!

I'm very happy to announce that the Affiliations Committee has recognized
[1] Wikimedia Community User Group Tanzania [2] as a Wikimedia User Group.
The group aims to promote the Wikimedia movement in Tanzania, creating
awareness of Wikimedia projects among Tanzanians and developing
Tanzania-related content on Wikimedia projects in Swahili and English.

Please join me in congratulating the members of this new user group!

Regards,
Kirill Lokshin
Chair, Affiliations Committee

[1]
https://meta.wikimedia.org/wiki/Affiliations_Committee/Resolutions/Recognition_Wikimedia_Community_User_Group_Tanzania
[2] https://meta.wikimedia.org/wiki/Wikimedia_Community_User_Group_Tanzania
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[Wikimedia-l] Recognition of the Wikiesfera Grupo de Usuarixs

[Kirill Lokshin]

Hi everyone!

I'm very happy to announce that the Affiliations Committee has recognized
[1] the Wikiesfera Grupo de Usuarixs [2] as a Wikimedia User Group. The
group aims to identify and correct gaps in knowledge representation, and to
increase the number of editors who belong to minorities, underrepresented
groups, and other social groups who have not had access to information
technologies in Spain.

Please join me in congratulating the members of this new user group!

Regards,
Kirill Lokshin
Chair, Affiliations Committee

[1]
https://meta.wikimedia.org/wiki/Affiliations_Committee/Resolutions/Recognition_Wikiesfera_Grupo_de_Usuarixs
[2] https://meta.wikimedia.org/wiki/Wikiesfera
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Re: [Wikimedia-l] De-recognition of Wikimedia user groups in Brazil

[Kirill Lokshin]

Hi Rodrigo,

Eligibility for grants is determined by the Wikimedia Foundation's
community resources department, rather than by the Affiliations Committee.
I imagine that the Wikimedia Foundation may choose to take our decision
into account when evaluating future grant proposals, but it's not something
that we have any authority to impose.

Regards,
Kirill

On Mon, Apr 9, 2018 at 8:07 AM, Rodrigo Tetsuo Argenton <
rodrigo.argen...@gmail.com> wrote:

> "Further, the specific individuals who served as the primary contacts for
> these user groups will be prohibited from serving as primary contacts for
> any user group application or existing user group for a period of one
> year."
>
> And grant requests? I am not privy to the conflict details, but it seems to
> be generated by the claim of lack of legitimacy and misuse of money, is
> that correct? So should not also individual grant requests for this primary
> contacts be blocked?
>
> Agreeing with Ilario, but would be nice to see the "whys" they came to
> this. Without this deep look, the "Brazil, restart again" will act over and
> over again - this is not the first time, and will not be the last, until
> some stakeholders stop relieving themselves of responsibility, admit the
> mistakes and take a stand to fix the problem, some of it, could be created
> not by locals... Finished this analyses and actions made Mardetanha
> proposal will be a consequence, writing now as it is now, I do not see how
> could be beneficial.
>
>
> x0x0
>
> On 9 April 2018 at 03:54, Ilario Valdelli <valde...@gmail.com> wrote:
>
> > Hi Kirill
> > It makes sense to explain a little bit about the conflict management and
> > the position of both sides to define why both groups have been
> > derecognized.
> >
> > At the opposite this decision will give the feeling that, to attack a
> local
> > Group, it will be sufficient to create another local Group and to be
> > recognized and to open a conflict and to drive all parties to unresolute
> it
> > to reach the primary and original goal.
> >
> > Kind regards
> >
> > On Sun, 8 Apr 2018, 20:20 Kirill Lokshin, <kirill.loks...@gmail.com>
> > wrote:
> >
> > > Hello everyone,
> > >
> > > Recognition as a Wikimedia movement affiliate — a chapter, thematic
> > > organization, or user group — is a privilege that allows an independent
> > > group to officially use the Wikimedia trademarks to further the
> Wikimedia
> > > mission. To receive and maintain their status as recognized Wikimedia
> > > affiliates, groups are required to comply with certain requirements,
> > which
> > > are identified in each group's individual chapter, thematic
> organization,
> > > or user group agreement.  In particular, the terms of the Wikimedia
> User
> > > Group Agreement and Code of Conduct prohibit user groups from engaging
> in
> > > activity that poses significant risk to other Wikimedia organizations
> or
> > > Wikimedia projects.
> > >
> > > As many of you doubtlessly know, the two Wikimedia user groups based in
> > > Brazil — Wikimedia Community User Group Brasil and Wiki Education
> Brazil
> > —
> > > have been engaged in a severe and protracted conflict, which has
> resulted
> > > in significant harm to past, ongoing, and planned Wikimedia movement
> > > activities in Brazil.  As all reasonable attempts to resolve the
> conflict
> > > have failed, the Affiliations Committee is left with no choice but to
> > > withdraw the groups' recognition as Wikimedia affiliates.
> > >
> > > Consequently, the recognition of Wikimedia Community User Group Brasil
> > and
> > > Wiki Education Brazil as Wikimedia user groups has been revoked, and
> the
> > > Wikimedia Foundation's legal department has been requested to formally
> > > terminate their respective user group agreements as soon as
> practicable.
> > > Further, the specific individuals who served as the primary contacts
> for
> > > these user groups will be prohibited from serving as primary contacts
> for
> > > any user group application or existing user group for a period of one
> > year.
> > >
> > > The Affiliations Committee recognizes that this is an unprecedented and
> > > unfortunate development. However, we hope that this step will allow the
> > > Wikimedia community in Brazil to work towards a new organizational
> > > structure and model that will better serve the needs of movement
> > > participants and stakeholders in the

Re: [Wikimedia-l] [Affiliates] De-recognition of Wikimedia user groups in Brazil

[Kirill Lokshin]

Hi Lodewijk,

You're entirely correct in that we don't want to see the situation in
Brazil remain as it is, and I think there are many potential ways forward
here.  Certainly, creating a new user group could be one of them; so could
a collaborative network of smaller, more localized groups, or perhaps an
entirely different structure that doesn't fit exactly into the current
affiliate model.

Having said that, I don't believe it's really our place, as a committee, to
tell the Brazilian community how to proceed; that decision is one that the
community will need to make after considering the specific needs that this
affiliate structure must serve and the degree to which different
stakeholders are willing (or not) to set aside their differences in order
to build it.  The Affiliations Committee can advise the community on how to
apply the existing affiliate model -- or even on how to transform it into
something new -- but it's ultimately the local community that will need to
decide what they can live with.

Regards,
Kirill

On Mon, Apr 9, 2018 at 2:23 AM, Lodewijk <lodew...@effeietsanders.org>
wrote:

> Hi Kirill,
>
> Could you clarify what would be a path forward from this situation? For
> example, would you encourage someone to set up a new application for a user
> group in Brazil, if they have a good proposal (and/or proven commitment)
> for how to manage the collaboration with the whole Brazilian community?
>
> I doubt the intention of AffCom is to leave the situation in Brazil to
> remain broken indefinitely.
>
> Best,
> Lodewijk
>
> On Sun, Apr 8, 2018 at 11:19 AM, Kirill Lokshin <kirill.loks...@gmail.com>
> wrote:
>
>> Hello everyone,
>>
>> Recognition as a Wikimedia movement affiliate — a chapter, thematic
>> organization, or user group — is a privilege that allows an independent
>> group to officially use the Wikimedia trademarks to further the Wikimedia
>> mission. To receive and maintain their status as recognized Wikimedia
>> affiliates, groups are required to comply with certain requirements, which
>> are identified in each group's individual chapter, thematic organization,
>> or user group agreement.  In particular, the terms of the Wikimedia User
>> Group Agreement and Code of Conduct prohibit user groups from engaging in
>> activity that poses significant risk to other Wikimedia organizations or
>> Wikimedia projects.
>>
>> As many of you doubtlessly know, the two Wikimedia user groups based in
>> Brazil — Wikimedia Community User Group Brasil and Wiki Education Brazil —
>> have been engaged in a severe and protracted conflict, which has resulted
>> in significant harm to past, ongoing, and planned Wikimedia movement
>> activities in Brazil.  As all reasonable attempts to resolve the conflict
>> have failed, the Affiliations Committee is left with no choice but to
>> withdraw the groups' recognition as Wikimedia affiliates.
>>
>> Consequently, the recognition of Wikimedia Community User Group Brasil and
>> Wiki Education Brazil as Wikimedia user groups has been revoked, and the
>> Wikimedia Foundation's legal department has been requested to formally
>> terminate their respective user group agreements as soon as practicable.
>> Further, the specific individuals who served as the primary contacts for
>> these user groups will be prohibited from serving as primary contacts for
>> any user group application or existing user group for a period of one
>> year.
>>
>> The Affiliations Committee recognizes that this is an unprecedented and
>> unfortunate development. However, we hope that this step will allow the
>> Wikimedia community in Brazil to work towards a new organizational
>> structure and model that will better serve the needs of movement
>> participants and stakeholders in the country.
>>
>> Any questions regarding this matter should be addressed directly to the
>> Affiliations Committee.
>>
>> Regards,
>> Kirill Lokshin
>> Chair, Affiliations Committee
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Re: [Wikimedia-l] [Affiliates] De-recognition of Wikimedia user groups in Brazil

[Kirill Lokshin]

Hi Ilario,

We're certainly very aware of the broader context of conflict between
overlapping local groups, and the potential for individuals to misuse the
user group model as a vehicle for attacking existing affiliates or
furthering personal disputes among affiliate leaders or members; there have
been several similar incidents in the past -- if, perhaps, none as severe
as what we saw in this case -- and it's something we've taken into account
when reviewing user group applications in recent months.

One of the main items on the agenda for our annual meeting in Berlin is a
discussion about overlapping affiliates -- both in the obvious geographic
sense, and in the broader sense of programmatic overlap between traditional
geographically-oriented groups and groups that focus on particular topics,
themes, or types of partners.  Our eventual goal, within the context of the
movement strategy discussions, is to evolve our current affiliate model to
better serve the needs of the (often overlapping) communities that form the
basis of movement affiliates, while preventing the sorts of inter-affiliate
conflicts that we've seen develop over the past few years.  I don't know,
at this point, what this evolved model might look like, but we anticipate
involving the community more closely in our discussions as the process
moves forward.

Regards,
Kirill

On Mon, Apr 9, 2018 at 2:54 AM, Ilario Valdelli <valde...@gmail.com> wrote:

> Hi Kirill
> It makes sense to explain a little bit about the conflict management and
> the position of both sides to define why both groups have been
> derecognized.
>
> At the opposite this decision will give the feeling that, to attack a
> local Group, it will be sufficient to create another local Group and to be
> recognized and to open a conflict and to drive all parties to unresolute it
> to reach the primary and original goal.
>
> Kind regards
>
> On Sun, 8 Apr 2018, 20:20 Kirill Lokshin, <kirill.loks...@gmail.com>
> wrote:
>
>> Hello everyone,
>>
>> Recognition as a Wikimedia movement affiliate — a chapter, thematic
>> organization, or user group — is a privilege that allows an independent
>> group to officially use the Wikimedia trademarks to further the Wikimedia
>> mission. To receive and maintain their status as recognized Wikimedia
>> affiliates, groups are required to comply with certain requirements, which
>> are identified in each group's individual chapter, thematic organization,
>> or user group agreement.  In particular, the terms of the Wikimedia User
>> Group Agreement and Code of Conduct prohibit user groups from engaging in
>> activity that poses significant risk to other Wikimedia organizations or
>> Wikimedia projects.
>>
>> As many of you doubtlessly know, the two Wikimedia user groups based in
>> Brazil — Wikimedia Community User Group Brasil and Wiki Education Brazil —
>> have been engaged in a severe and protracted conflict, which has resulted
>> in significant harm to past, ongoing, and planned Wikimedia movement
>> activities in Brazil.  As all reasonable attempts to resolve the conflict
>> have failed, the Affiliations Committee is left with no choice but to
>> withdraw the groups' recognition as Wikimedia affiliates.
>>
>> Consequently, the recognition of Wikimedia Community User Group Brasil and
>> Wiki Education Brazil as Wikimedia user groups has been revoked, and the
>> Wikimedia Foundation's legal department has been requested to formally
>> terminate their respective user group agreements as soon as practicable.
>> Further, the specific individuals who served as the primary contacts for
>> these user groups will be prohibited from serving as primary contacts for
>> any user group application or existing user group for a period of one
>> year.
>>
>> The Affiliations Committee recognizes that this is an unprecedented and
>> unfortunate development. However, we hope that this step will allow the
>> Wikimedia community in Brazil to work towards a new organizational
>> structure and model that will better serve the needs of movement
>> participants and stakeholders in the country.
>>
>> Any questions regarding this matter should be addressed directly to the
>> Affiliations Committee.
>>
>> Regards,
>> Kirill Lokshin
>> Chair, Affiliations Committee
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[Wikimedia-l] De-recognition of Wikimedia user groups in Brazil

[Kirill Lokshin]

Hello everyone,

Recognition as a Wikimedia movement affiliate — a chapter, thematic
organization, or user group — is a privilege that allows an independent
group to officially use the Wikimedia trademarks to further the Wikimedia
mission. To receive and maintain their status as recognized Wikimedia
affiliates, groups are required to comply with certain requirements, which
are identified in each group's individual chapter, thematic organization,
or user group agreement.  In particular, the terms of the Wikimedia User
Group Agreement and Code of Conduct prohibit user groups from engaging in
activity that poses significant risk to other Wikimedia organizations or
Wikimedia projects.

As many of you doubtlessly know, the two Wikimedia user groups based in
Brazil — Wikimedia Community User Group Brasil and Wiki Education Brazil —
have been engaged in a severe and protracted conflict, which has resulted
in significant harm to past, ongoing, and planned Wikimedia movement
activities in Brazil.  As all reasonable attempts to resolve the conflict
have failed, the Affiliations Committee is left with no choice but to
withdraw the groups' recognition as Wikimedia affiliates.

Consequently, the recognition of Wikimedia Community User Group Brasil and
Wiki Education Brazil as Wikimedia user groups has been revoked, and the
Wikimedia Foundation's legal department has been requested to formally
terminate their respective user group agreements as soon as practicable.
Further, the specific individuals who served as the primary contacts for
these user groups will be prohibited from serving as primary contacts for
any user group application or existing user group for a period of one year.

The Affiliations Committee recognizes that this is an unprecedented and
unfortunate development. However, we hope that this step will allow the
Wikimedia community in Brazil to work towards a new organizational
structure and model that will better serve the needs of movement
participants and stakeholders in the country.

Any questions regarding this matter should be addressed directly to the
Affiliations Committee.

Regards,
Kirill Lokshin
Chair, Affiliations Committee
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Re: [Wikimedia-l] Recognition of Grŵp Defnyddwyr Cymuned Wicimedia Cymru

[Kirill Lokshin]

On Tue, Mar 20, 2018 at 9:29 AM, Fæ <fae...@gmail.com> wrote:

> On 20 March 2018 at 15:03, Kirill Lokshin <kirill.loks...@gmail.com>
> wrote:
> > Descriptions of user group activities on Meta shouldn't be interpreted as
> > legal documents under UK law (or any other legal code, for that matter).
>
> Hi Kirill,
>
> In the spirit of an open and transparent process, could you please
> provide a link to the scope of the new approved User Group is
> published, as the one on Meta is not the one that AffCom reviewed with
> the UG application?
>

The Affiliations Committee publishes all of our application review and
approval resolutions on Meta; the one for the group in question can be
found at
https://meta.wikimedia.org/wiki/Affiliations_Committee/Resolutions/Recognition_Grŵp_Defnyddwyr_Cymuned_Wicimedia_Cymru
.


> > Any questions regarding potential legal implications for Wikimedia UK
> > should, of course, be directed to the chapter itself.
>
> This brush-off is surprising, with the clear implication that AffCom
> has not approached WMUK with any question. I was mistaken in believing
> that AffCom had a responsibility to consider obvious legal
> implications, before approving a User Group that is granted the right
> to use official logos and the name "Wikipedia" and its language
> variants when advertising their events. It is disappointing to see
> that AffCom does not see their official process as needing to address
> these areas, which may well be a barrier to direct funding, legal
> recognition or represent a risk to other named pre-existing Affiliates
> within the scope of the proposed new UG.
>

Your implication is entirely incorrect; AffCom consulted with -- and
received an endorsement from -- Wikimedia UK prior to approving the user
group.  However, we are neither experts in UK charity law nor empowered to
speak on behalf of Wikimedia UK; consequently, any questions regarding the
chapter's legal position should be posed to the chapter, not to us.

Regards,
Kirill Lokshin
Chair, Affiliations Committee
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Re: [Wikimedia-l] Recognition of Grŵp Defnyddwyr Cymuned Wicimedia Cymru

[Kirill Lokshin]

Descriptions of user group activities on Meta shouldn't be interpreted as
legal documents under UK law (or any other legal code, for that matter).

Any questions regarding potential legal implications for Wikimedia UK
should, of course, be directed to the chapter itself.

Regards,
Kirill Lokshin
Chair, Affiliations Committee

On Tue, Mar 20, 2018 at 7:11 AM, Fæ <fae...@gmail.com> wrote:

> Support the request that AffCom share their understanding of the scope
> and authority of the announced User Group.
>
> From the wording of "represent Wikimedia UK in Wales"[1], the UG is
> not independent of WMUK and consequently acts as a Chapter subsidiary.
> As far as I am aware, there is no other regional based UG which does
> this.
>
> As a corollary, the representation has legal implications for UK
> Charity. WMUK must have both responsibility and the authority to
> monitor and control how they are represented by the UG. It is not
> clear from the meta web page or the community vote how this will work,
> apart from the implicit assumption that funding paid to UG projects is
> effectively managed as a WMUK continuing programme. Presumably the UG
> will not be requesting funds from the WMF or via the FDC process
> separate from WMUK's FDC procedure.
>
> The original vote at the Welsh Wikipedia compared the aims to that of
> the Basque UG.[2] However based on their scope, the Basque UG does not
> officially represent any other affiliate or Chapter.
>
> Links
> 1. https://meta.wikimedia.org/wiki/Wikimedia_Community_User_Group_Wales
> 2. https://cy.wikipedia.org/wiki/Wicipedia:Sefydlu_Gr%C5%B5p_
> Defnyddwyr_Wicimedia
>
> On 19 March 2018 at 00:10, Philip Kopetzky <philip.kopet...@gmail.com>
> wrote:
> > Hi Kirill!
> >
> > It would be really helpful to outline these kind of decisions with
> > arguments/deliberations that AffCom decided to follow, considering that
> > this sets a precedence in the worldwide community. For example, UG Wales
> > states that they "cooperate with and represent Wikimedia UK in Wales" -
> > does this mean that we are now accepting UGs within chapters? Is this UG
> > supposed to be able to apply for grants, despite its overlap with WMUK?
> >
> > Best,
> > Philip
> >
> >
> >
> > On 11 March 2018 at 15:44, Shlomi Fish <shlo...@shlomifish.org> wrote:
> >
> >> On Sun, 11 Mar 2018 10:32:34 -0400
> >> Kirill Lokshin <kirill.loks...@gmail.com> wrote:
> >>
> >> > Hi everyone!
> >> >
> >> > I'm very happy to announce that the Affiliations Committee has
> recognized
> >> > Grŵp Defnyddwyr Cymuned Wicimedia Cymru (Wikimedia Community User
> Group
> >> > Wales) [1] as a Wikimedia User Group. The group aims to promote the
> >> > Wikimedia movement in Wales and support the development of Wikimedia
> >> > projects and content in the Welsh language.
> >> >
> >> > Please join me in congratulating the members of this new user group!
> >> >
> >>
> >> congratulations!
> >>
> >> > Regards,
> >> > Kirill Lokshin
> >> > Chair, Affiliations Committee
> >> >
> >> > [1] https://meta.wikimedia.org/wiki/Wikimedia_Community_User_
> Group_Wales
> >> > ___
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> >> > Wikimedia-l@lists.wikimedia.org Unsubscribe:
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> >>
> >>
> >> --
> >> -
> >> Shlomi Fish   http://www.shlomifish.org/
> >> My Favourite FOSS - http://www.shlomifish.org/open-source/favourite/
> >>
>
> --
> fae...@gmail.com https://commons.wikimedia.org/wiki/User:Fae
>
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Re: [Wikimedia-l] Recognition of Grŵp Defnyddwyr Cymuned Wicimedia Cymru

[Kirill Lokshin]

Hi Philip,

The idea of local or regional user groups coexisting with a national
chapter isn't a new one; in fact, it was one of the principal scenarios
that was considered when the concept of user groups was first developed.
There are many such user groups already in existence, including local
groups that collaborate with Wikimedia India, Wikimedia Russia, and other
chapters, and we are not aware of any significant problems in this regard.

Having said that: as part of our ongoing movement strategy-related
activities, the Affiliations Committee is taking a deeper look at what
overlapping and intersecting affiliate scopes and structures might look
like in the future, and whether our current understanding of such scenarios
is effective and sustainable.  I would anticipate that we'll be releasing
additional information on our initial thoughts in this area, and our plans
for community consultations around those thoughts, in the coming months.

Regards,
Kirill Lokshin
Chair, Affiliations Committee

On Sun, Mar 18, 2018 at 6:10 PM, Philip Kopetzky <philip.kopet...@gmail.com>
wrote:

> Hi Kirill!
>
> It would be really helpful to outline these kind of decisions with
> arguments/deliberations that AffCom decided to follow, considering that
> this sets a precedence in the worldwide community. For example, UG Wales
> states that they "cooperate with and represent Wikimedia UK in Wales" -
> does this mean that we are now accepting UGs within chapters? Is this UG
> supposed to be able to apply for grants, despite its overlap with WMUK?
>
> Best,
> Philip
>
>
>
> On 11 March 2018 at 15:44, Shlomi Fish <shlo...@shlomifish.org> wrote:
>
> > On Sun, 11 Mar 2018 10:32:34 -0400
> > Kirill Lokshin <kirill.loks...@gmail.com> wrote:
> >
> > > Hi everyone!
> > >
> > > I'm very happy to announce that the Affiliations Committee has
> recognized
> > > Grŵp Defnyddwyr Cymuned Wicimedia Cymru (Wikimedia Community User Group
> > > Wales) [1] as a Wikimedia User Group. The group aims to promote the
> > > Wikimedia movement in Wales and support the development of Wikimedia
> > > projects and content in the Welsh language.
> > >
> > > Please join me in congratulating the members of this new user group!
> > >
> >
> > congratulations!
> >
> > > Regards,
> > > Kirill Lokshin
> > > Chair, Affiliations Committee
> > >
> > > [1] https://meta.wikimedia.org/wiki/Wikimedia_Community_User_
> Group_Wales
> > > ___
> > > Wikimedia-l mailing list, guidelines at:
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> > > <mailto:wikimedia-l-requ...@lists.wikimedia.org?subject=unsubscribe>
> >
> >
> > --
> > -
> > Shlomi Fish   http://www.shlomifish.org/
> > My Favourite FOSS - http://www.shlomifish.org/open-source/favourite/
> >
> > Windows Update doesn’t.
> > — http://www.shlomifish.org/humour/bits/facts/Windows-Update/
> >
> > Please reply to list if it's a mailing list post - http://shlom.in/reply
> .
> >
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[Wikimedia-l] Recognition of Grŵp Defnyddwyr Cymuned Wicimedia Cymru

[Kirill Lokshin]

Hi everyone!

I'm very happy to announce that the Affiliations Committee has recognized
Grŵp Defnyddwyr Cymuned Wicimedia Cymru (Wikimedia Community User Group
Wales) [1] as a Wikimedia User Group. The group aims to promote the
Wikimedia movement in Wales and support the development of Wikimedia
projects and content in the Welsh language.

Please join me in congratulating the members of this new user group!

Regards,
Kirill Lokshin
Chair, Affiliations Committee

[1] https://meta.wikimedia.org/wiki/Wikimedia_Community_User_Group_Wales
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[Wikimedia-l] Recognition of the Wikibase Community User Group

[Kirill Lokshin]

Hi everyone!

I'm very happy to announce that the Affiliations Committee has recognized
the Wikibase Community User Group [1] as a Wikimedia User Group. The group
aims to promote and encourage the development of Wikibase, as well as
encouraging like-minded developers and data analysts to create and improve
tools for Wikibase.

Please join me in congratulating the members of this new user group!

Regards,
Kirill Lokshin
Chair, Affiliations Committee

[1] https://meta.wikimedia.org/wiki/Wikibase_Community_User_Group
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[Wikimedia-l] Recognition of the Wikimedians of North American Indigenous Languages User Group

[Kirill Lokshin]

Hi everyone!

I'm very happy to announce that the Affiliations Committee has recognized
the Wikimedians of North American Indigenous Languages User Group [1] as a
Wikimedia User Group. The group aims to support the creation and
development of Wikimedia projects and other language-related free knowledge
initiatives in the indigenous languages of North America.

Please join me in congratulating the members of this new user group!

Regards,
Kirill Lokshin
Chair, Affiliations Committee

[1]
https://meta.wikimedia.org/wiki/Wikimedians_of_North_American_Indigenous_Languages_User_Group
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[Wikimedia-l] Recognition of the Don Wikimedians User Group

[Kirill Lokshin]

Hi everyone!

I'm very happy to announce that the Affiliations Committee has recognized
the Don Wikimedians User Group [1] as a Wikimedia User Group. The group's
goals are the development and dissemination of free knowledge about the Don
region and Cossack culture, and the promotion of Wikimedia projects in the
Don region.

Please join me in congratulating the members of this new user group!

Regards,
Kirill Lokshin
Chair, Affiliations Committee

[1] https://meta.wikimedia.org/wiki/Don_Wikimedians_User_Group
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[Wikimedia-l] Recognition of the Wikimedians of Romania and Moldova User Group

[Kirill Lokshin]

Hi everyone!

I'm very happy to announce that the Affiliations Committee has recognized
the Wikimedians of Romania and Moldova User Group [1] as a Wikimedia User
Group. The group aims to promote the use of Romanian Wikipedia and its
sister projects by the residents of Romania and Moldova, with the goal of
improving the relevance and perception of Wikimedia projects among readers
and users, as well as within the cultural and scientific communities.

Please join me in congratulating the members of this new user group!

Regards,
Kirill Lokshin
Chair, Affiliations Committee

[1]
https://meta.wikimedia.org/wiki/Wikimedians_of_Romania_and_Moldova_User_Group
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[Wikimedia-l] New Affiliations Committee appointments

[Kirill Lokshin]

Hi everyone,

I'm pleased to announce that Derick Ndimnain Alangi, Biplab Anand, and Sami
Mlouhi have appointed to the Affiliations Committee as new members.  In
addition, two incumbent members -- Maor Malul and Emna Mizouni -- have been
re-appointed for an additional term.  Please join me in welcoming our new
and returning members.

The committee extends its profound gratitude to Galileo Vidoni, who is
stepping down after having served six years on the committee, and to
everyone who participated in the recent selection process, whether by
standing as a candidate or by providing feedback on the applications.

Regards,
Kirill Lokshin
Chair, Affiliations Committee
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[Wikimedia-l] Recognition of Wikimedia Community User Group Botswana

[Kirill Lokshin]

Hi everyone!

I'm very happy to announce that the Affiliations Committee has recognized
Wikimedia Community User Group Botswana [1] as a Wikimedia User Group. The
group aims to promote the use of Wikipedia and its sister projects by the
residents of Botswana, effectively engaging people to help contribute
online content and promoting the use of the free online resources of the
Wikimedia Foundation to enhance the life of every individual.

Please join me in congratulating the members of this new user group!

Regards,
Kirill Lokshin
Chair, Affiliations Committee

[1] https://meta.wikimedia.org/wiki/Wikimedia_Community_User_Group_Botswana
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Re: [Wikimedia-l] [Affiliates] Affiliations Committee: Call for Candidates

[Kirill Lokshin]

Hi Isaac,

Any past candidates who are still interested in the position are certainly
very welcome to apply again.  However, we want to make sure that we open
this process to new participants as well, rather than only looking at
previous applicants.

Regards,
Kirill Lokshin
Chair, Affiliations Committee

On Thu, Dec 7, 2017 at 2:53 PM, Isaac Olatunde <reachout2is...@gmail.com>
wrote:

> Hi Kirill and other AffCom members,
>
> I believe about ten people or more applied for the position recently and
> almost all of them are good candidate. Is there a reason why you can't
> appoint some of the candidates? Are they still eligible to apply?
>
> Regards,
>
> Isaac.
>
>
>  Why can't you appoint one or more of those people tha
>
> On Dec 7, 2017 8:44 PM, "Kirill Lokshin" <kirill.loks...@gmail.com> wrote:
>
>> Hi everyone,
>>
>> The Affiliations Committee – the committee responsible for guiding
>> volunteers in establishing Wikimedia chapters, thematic organizations, and
>> user groups – is looking for new members!
>>
>> The main role of the Affiliations Committee is to guide groups of
>> volunteers that are interested in forming Wikimedia affiliates. We review
>> applications from new groups, answer questions and provide advice about the
>> different Wikimedia affiliation models and processes, review affiliate
>> bylaws for compliance with requirements and best practices, and advise the
>> Wikimedia Foundation Board of Trustees on issues connected to chapters,
>> thematic organizations and Wikimedia user groups.
>>
>> The committee consists of twelve members, six of whom are selected every
>> twelve months for staggered two-year terms. Those joining the committee
>> during the current process will serve a two-year term ending in December
>> 2019.
>>
>> *Key skills*
>>
>> Being a part of the Affiliations Committee requires communication with
>> volunteers all over the world, negotiating skills, cultural sensitivity,
>> and the ability to understand legal texts. We look for a healthy mix of
>> different skill sets in our members, including the following key skills and
>> experience:
>>
>> - Willingness to process applications through a set, perhaps bureaucratic
>> process.
>> - Readiness to participate in political discussions on the role and
>> future of affiliates, models of affiliation, and similar topics.
>> - Availability of up to 5 hours per week, and the time to participate in
>> a monthly two-hour voice/video meeting.
>> - International orientation.
>> - Fluency in English.
>> - Ability to work and communicate with other languages and cultures.
>> - Strong understanding of the structure and work of affiliates and the
>> Wikimedia Foundation.
>> - Knowledge of different legal systems and experience in community
>> building and organizing are a plus.
>> - Skills in other languages are a major plus.
>> - Experience with or in an active affiliate is a major plus.
>> - Strong track record of effective collaboration (such as evidenced
>> skills at facilitation, mediation, negotiation, and so forth) are a major
>> plus.
>> - Willingness to use one's real name in committee activities (including
>> contacts with current and potential affiliates) when appropriate.
>>
>> We are looking for people who are excited by the challenge of empowering
>> volunteers to get organized and form communities that further our mission
>> around the world. In exchange, committee members selected will gain the
>> experience of supporting their world-wide colleagues to develop their
>> communities as well as personal development in guiding organizational
>> development, facilitating affiliate partnerships, and professional
>> communications.
>>
>> *Selection process*
>>
>> As a reflection of our commitment to openness, transparency, and
>> bilateral engagement with the Wikimedia community, the 2017 member
>> selection process will include a public review and comment period. All
>> applications received by the committee will be posted on Meta at
>> https://meta.wikimedia.org/wiki/Affiliations_Committee/Candi
>> dates/December_2017, and the community will be invited to provide
>> comments and feedback about each candidate.
>>
>> At the end of the public comment period, the applications will be voted
>> on by the members of the committee who are not seeking re-election,
>> taking into account comments put forward by the committee's members,
>> advisors, Wikimedia Foundation staff and board liaisons, and the community.
>> A final decision will be 

[Wikimedia-l] Affiliations Committee: Call for Candidates

[Kirill Lokshin]

Hi everyone,

The Affiliations Committee – the committee responsible for guiding
volunteers in establishing Wikimedia chapters, thematic organizations, and
user groups – is looking for new members!

The main role of the Affiliations Committee is to guide groups of
volunteers that are interested in forming Wikimedia affiliates. We review
applications from new groups, answer questions and provide advice about the
different Wikimedia affiliation models and processes, review affiliate
bylaws for compliance with requirements and best practices, and advise the
Wikimedia Foundation Board of Trustees on issues connected to chapters,
thematic organizations and Wikimedia user groups.

The committee consists of twelve members, six of whom are selected every
twelve months for staggered two-year terms. Those joining the committee
during the current process will serve a two-year term ending in December
2019.

*Key skills*

Being a part of the Affiliations Committee requires communication with
volunteers all over the world, negotiating skills, cultural sensitivity,
and the ability to understand legal texts. We look for a healthy mix of
different skill sets in our members, including the following key skills and
experience:

- Willingness to process applications through a set, perhaps bureaucratic
process.
- Readiness to participate in political discussions on the role and future
of affiliates, models of affiliation, and similar topics.
- Availability of up to 5 hours per week, and the time to participate in a
monthly two-hour voice/video meeting.
- International orientation.
- Fluency in English.
- Ability to work and communicate with other languages and cultures.
- Strong understanding of the structure and work of affiliates and the
Wikimedia Foundation.
- Knowledge of different legal systems and experience in community building
and organizing are a plus.
- Skills in other languages are a major plus.
- Experience with or in an active affiliate is a major plus.
- Strong track record of effective collaboration (such as evidenced skills
at facilitation, mediation, negotiation, and so forth) are a major plus.
- Willingness to use one's real name in committee activities (including
contacts with current and potential affiliates) when appropriate.

We are looking for people who are excited by the challenge of empowering
volunteers to get organized and form communities that further our mission
around the world. In exchange, committee members selected will gain the
experience of supporting their world-wide colleagues to develop their
communities as well as personal development in guiding organizational
development, facilitating affiliate partnerships, and professional
communications.

*Selection process*

As a reflection of our commitment to openness, transparency, and bilateral
engagement with the Wikimedia community, the 2017 member selection process
will include a public review and comment period. All applications received
by the committee will be posted on Meta at
https://meta.wikimedia.org/wiki/Affiliations_Committee/Candidates/December_2017,
and the community will be invited to provide comments and feedback about
each candidate.

At the end of the public comment period, the applications will be voted on
by the members of the committee who are not seeking re-election, taking
into account comments put forward by the committee's members, advisors,
Wikimedia Foundation staff and board liaisons, and the community. A final
decision will be made by mid-January 2018, with new members expected to
join later that month.

*How to apply*

If you are interested in joining the committee, please post your
application on the nomination page and send an email announcing your
application to aff...@lists.wikimedia.org by 31 December 2017. Your
application must include the following information:

- Your full name and Wikimedia username
- A statement describing your relevant experience, skills, and motivation
for joining the committee.
- Answers to the following three questions:
(1) How do you think affiliates work best together to partner on
effective projects and initiatives?
(2) What do you see as the role of affiliates in the Wikimedia
movement in the next three years?
(3) What do you feel you will bring to the committee that makes you
a uniquely qualified candidate?

If you have any questions, please don't hesitate to contact me and/or the
committee as a whole. We are happy to chat or have a phone call with anyone
about our work if this helps them decide to apply. Please distribute this
call among your networks, and do apply if you are interested!

Regards,
Kirill Lokshin
Chair, Affiliations Committee
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Re: [Wikimedia-l] [Affiliates] New Affiliations Committee appointments

[Kirill Lokshin]

Chris, we've made a number of changes to our internal processes in the
intervening months, which will hopefully allow us to complete the next
round much more expediently.

Regards,
Kirill

On Wed, Nov 8, 2017 at 4:18 PM, Chris Keating <chriskeatingw...@gmail.com>
wrote:

> Congrats to Jack and Olushola! I am sure you will do a great job.
>
>
>
> Kirill – I know this last round of recruitment started some time ago (in
> June?) – do you expect the next round to run any more quickly?
>
>
>
> Regards,
>
>
>
> Chris
>
>
>
> Sent from Mail <https://go.microsoft.com/fwlink/?LinkId=550986> for
> Windows 10
>
>
>
> *From: *Kirill Lokshin <kirill.loks...@gmail.com>
> *Sent: *08 November 2017 17:03
> *To: *Wikimedia Mailing List <wikimedia-l@lists.wikimedia.org>; Wikimedia
> Movement Affiliates discussion list <affilia...@lists.wikimedia.org>
> *Subject: *[Affiliates] New Affiliations Committee appointments
>
>
>
> Hi everyone,
>
>
>
> A bit delayed, but we are happy to share that Olaniyan Olushola and Jack
> Farah Mustaklem have appointed to the Affiliations Committee as new
> members.  In addition, three incumbent members (Rosie
> Stephenson-Goodknight, Tanweer Morshed and Salvador Alcantar) have been
> re-appointed for an additional term.
>
>
>
> Here are Olushola and Farah, or Jack, in their own words:
>
>
>
> *Jack Farah Mustaklem*:
>
>
>
> I'm a Palestinian volunteer editor on Wikipedia from Jerusalem, and
> Founding member and  treasurer of Wikimedians of the Levant User Group, and
> the representative in Palestine. I have been a Wikimedian since 2005,
> editing both the English and Arabic Wikipedias. I have a passion for the
> free dissemination of knowledge. Most recently, I have been coordinating
> activities of the Wikipedia Education Program in Palestine, at both the
> high school and university levels. Outside of the movement, Jack is an
> advocate of free knowledge, a software engineer, and a father of three.
>
>
>
> *Olaniyan Olushola*:
>
>
>
> My name is Olaniyan Olushola, an accountant by profession, founding member
> and president of Wikimedia User Group Nigeria.[1] I am an active Wikimedian
> and member of the community with various contributions to Wikimedia
> projects. I have organized several Wikimedia project in the last few years.
> I organized Wiki Loves Africa 2015 and 2016 in Nigeria. I participated in
> Wiki Indaba 2014 and WikiAfrica/OpenAfrica15,[2] a conference for
> Wikipedians In Residence, organized by WikiAfrica in Johannesburg, South
> Africa. I coordinated Wikipedia 15 in Nigeria[3] and Wiki loves Nigeria
> Writing Contest, organized as part of Wikipedia @15 celebration in
> Nigeria.[4] I coordinated Wiki Loves Women in Nigeria and my work was
> extensively covered by multiple newspapers in Nigeria.[5] I coordinated
> Wiki Photo Tour in Nigeria through a Wikimedia Foundation grant support in
> 2016.[6] I conceptualized a media partnership between Wikimedia UG Nigeria
> and Blackface Media,[7] a radio program that runs every Wednesday called
> Time-Out with Wikipedia. I am the lead presenter on Wikimedia Radio and TV
> program. I established Wikimedia Fan Club at Lagos State University,
> University of Ibadan and Wikimedia Hub, Nigerian Institute of Journalism
> (NIJ). I am also the project coordinator for "She Can with ICT", a project
> that focus on training Nigerian female students on how to contribute to
> Wikimedia project. We are currently mentoring over twenty five potential
> editors, through Wikimedia Outreach dashboard this project. [8]
>
>
>
> I led Wikimedia UG Nigeria to sign a partnership agreement with Goge
> Africa,[9] with the aim of improving African based articles on Wikipedia
> with volume of free images.  Presently, we have finalized a new partnership
> agreement with a WFM 91.7  [10] to broadcast Wiki Loves Women on radio  and
> also to create awareness about Wikimedia projects.
>
>
>
> If I am not on Wikipedia, I work as consultant in the area of Software
> Deployment and Asset Management. I am married with two lovely kids.
>
>
>
> We anticipate starting the next round of committee appointments in
> December, and hope that everyone interested in working with Wikimedia
> affiliates will consider applying!
>
>
>
> Regards,
>
>
>
> Kirill Lokshin
> Chair, Affiliations Committee
>
>
>
> Edward Galvez
> Staff Liaison, Wikimedia Foundation
>
>
>
> [1] https://meta.wikimedia.org/wiki/Wikimedia_User_Group_Nigeria
> [2] https://meta.wikimedia.org/wiki/WikiAfrica/OpenAfrica15
> [3] https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Wikipedia:Wiki_Loves

[Wikimedia-l] New Affiliations Committee appointments

[Kirill Lokshin]

Hi everyone,

A bit delayed, but we are happy to share that Olaniyan Olushola and Jack
Farah Mustaklem have appointed to the Affiliations Committee as new
members.  In addition, three incumbent members (Rosie
Stephenson-Goodknight, Tanweer Morshed and Salvador Alcantar) have been
re-appointed for an additional term.

Here are Olushola and Farah, or Jack, in their own words:

*Jack Farah Mustaklem*:

I'm a Palestinian volunteer editor on Wikipedia from Jerusalem, and
Founding member and  treasurer of Wikimedians of the Levant User Group, and
the representative in Palestine. I have been a Wikimedian since 2005,
editing both the English and Arabic Wikipedias. I have a passion for the
free dissemination of knowledge. Most recently, I have been coordinating
activities of the Wikipedia Education Program in Palestine, at both the
high school and university levels. Outside of the movement, Jack is an
advocate of free knowledge, a software engineer, and a father of three.


*Olaniyan Olushola*:

My name is Olaniyan Olushola, an accountant by profession, founding member
and president of Wikimedia User Group Nigeria.[1] I am an active Wikimedian
and member of the community with various contributions to Wikimedia
projects. I have organized several Wikimedia project in the last few years.
I organized Wiki Loves Africa 2015 and 2016 in Nigeria. I participated in
Wiki Indaba 2014 and WikiAfrica/OpenAfrica15,[2] a conference for
Wikipedians In Residence, organized by WikiAfrica in Johannesburg, South
Africa. I coordinated Wikipedia 15 in Nigeria[3] and Wiki loves Nigeria
Writing Contest, organized as part of Wikipedia @15 celebration in
Nigeria.[4] I coordinated Wiki Loves Women in Nigeria and my work was
extensively covered by multiple newspapers in Nigeria.[5] I coordinated
Wiki Photo Tour in Nigeria through a Wikimedia Foundation grant support in
2016.[6] I conceptualized a media partnership between Wikimedia UG Nigeria
and Blackface Media,[7] a radio program that runs every Wednesday called
Time-Out with Wikipedia. I am the lead presenter on Wikimedia Radio and TV
program. I established Wikimedia Fan Club at Lagos State University,
University of Ibadan and Wikimedia Hub, Nigerian Institute of Journalism
(NIJ). I am also the project coordinator for "She Can with ICT", a project
that focus on training Nigerian female students on how to contribute to
Wikimedia project. We are currently mentoring over twenty five potential
editors, through Wikimedia Outreach dashboard this project. [8]

I led Wikimedia UG Nigeria to sign a partnership agreement with Goge
Africa,[9] with the aim of improving African based articles on Wikipedia
with volume of free images.  Presently, we have finalized a new partnership
agreement with a WFM 91.7  [10] to broadcast Wiki Loves Women on radio  and
also to create awareness about Wikimedia projects.

If I am not on Wikipedia, I work as consultant in the area of Software
Deployment and Asset Management. I am married with two lovely kids.


We anticipate starting the next round of committee appointments in
December, and hope that everyone interested in working with Wikimedia
affiliates will consider applying!

Regards,

Kirill Lokshin
Chair, Affiliations Committee

Edward Galvez
Staff Liaison, Wikimedia Foundation

[1] https://meta.wikimedia.org/wiki/Wikimedia_User_Group_Nigeria
[2] https://meta.wikimedia.org/wiki/WikiAfrica/OpenAfrica15
[3]
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Wikipedia:Wiki_Loves_Nigeria/Writing_Contest
[4]
https://meta.wikimedia.org/wiki/Grants:PEG/Wikimedia_Nigeria_User_Group/Wikipedia_at_15_Celebration_in_Nigeria/Report
[5]
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Wikipedia:WikiProject_Wiki_Loves_Women/Nigeria
[6]
https://meta.wikimedia.org/wiki/Grants:PEG/WIkimedia_User_Group_Nigeria/Wiki_Photo_Tours/Report
[7]
https://meta.wikimedia.org/wiki/Wikimedia_User_Group_Nigeria/Wikimedia_Radio_and_TV_Program
[8]
https://outreachdashboard.wmflabs.org/campaigns/she_can_with_ict__nigeria/programs%7C
[9] https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Goge_Africa
[10] https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/WFM_91.7
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[Wikimedia-l] Recognition of Wikimedia Community User Group Malaysia

[Kirill Lokshin]

Hi everyone!

I'm very happy to announce that the Affiliations Committee has recognized
Wikimedia Community User Group Malaysia [1] as a Wikimedia User Group. The
group aims to act as a hub for Wikimedians in Malaysia, organizing public
outreach activities around the county, promoting Wikipedia and the various
Malaysian Wikimedia projects, and collaborating with the wider regional and
international Wikimedia community.

Please join me in congratulating the members of this new user group!

Regards,
Kirill Lokshin
Chair, Affiliations Committee

[1] https://meta.wikimedia.org/wiki/Wikimedia_Community_User_Group_Malaysia
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[Wikimedia-l] Recognition of Open Foundation West Africa

[Kirill Lokshin]

Hi everyone!

I'm very happy to announce that the Affiliations Committee has recognized
Open Foundation West Africa [1] as a Wikimedia User Group. The group aims
to extend the reach of Wikimedia movement activities in West Africa through
open education programs, digitizing open resources, preserving cultural and
heritage items for educational purposes, and promoting content about the
West African region.

Please join me in congratulating the members of this new user group!

Regards,
Kirill Lokshin
Chair, Affiliations Committee

[1] https://meta.wikimedia.org/wiki/Open_Foundation_West_Africa
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Re: [Wikimedia-l] [Affiliates] Chapter De-Recognition: Wikimedia Macedonia

[Kirill Lokshin]

Hi Mārtiņš,

That's correct; this is in reference to the original Wikimedia Macedonia.

Regards,
Kirill Lokshin
Chair, Affiliations Committee

On Sun, Sep 10, 2017 at 5:37 PM, Mārtiņš Bruņenieks <marti...@gmail.com>
wrote:

> Hi!
> I assume this is the original Wikimedia Macedonia Chapter and not the
> Shared Knowledge User group which has been organizing all current
> activities in Macedonia.
>
>  Mārtiņš
>
> On Sun, Sep 10, 2017 at 6:35 PM, Samat <sama...@gmail.com> wrote:
>
>> Dear Kirill,
>>
>> That's a really sad news. :(
>> Thank you for letting us know about it.
>>
>> Best regards,
>> Samat
>>
>>
>>
>> On Sun, Sep 10, 2017 at 5:03 PM, Kirill Lokshin <kirill.loks...@gmail.com
>> > wrote:
>>
>>> Hi everyone,
>>>
>>> Recognition as a Wikimedia movement affiliate — a chapter, thematic
>>> organization, or user group — is a privilege that allows an independent
>>> group to officially use the Wikimedia trademarks to further the Wikimedia
>>> mission. While most affiliates adhere to the basic compliance standards set
>>> forth in their agreements with the Wikimedia Foundation, a protocol has
>>> been developed to address the exceptional cases when a Wikimedia movement
>>> affiliate does not meet basic compliance standards and their continued
>>> recognition as a Wikimedia movement affiliate presents a risk to the
>>> Wikimedia movement.
>>>
>>> On February 13, 2017, Wikimedia Macedonia was notified that their access
>>> to the Wikimedia chapter benefits was being suspended as a result of
>>> long-standing non-compliance with reporting requirements, and informed of
>>> the deadlines for returning to compliance in order to avoid
>>> de-recognition.  As Wikimedia Macedonia did not submit the required reports
>>> by these deadlines, they were subsequently notified that they would no
>>> longer be recognized as a Wikimedia chapter after the termination of their
>>> Chapter Agreement on September 10, 2017.
>>>
>>> As always, if you have questions about what this means for the community
>>> members in Wikimedia Macedonia’s geographic area or language scope, please
>>> refer to the affiliate de-recognition FAQ (https://meta.wikimedia.org/wi
>>> ki/Wikimedia_movement_affiliate_de-recognition_FAQ) or contact the
>>> Affiliations Committee directly.
>>>
>>> Regards,
>>> Kirill Lokshin
>>> Chair, Affiliations Committee
>>>
>>> ___
>>> Affiliates mailing list
>>> affilia...@lists.wikimedia.org
>>> https://lists.wikimedia.org/mailman/listinfo/affiliates
>>>
>>>
>>
>> ___
>> Affiliates mailing list
>> affilia...@lists.wikimedia.org
>> https://lists.wikimedia.org/mailman/listinfo/affiliates
>>
>>
>
> ___
> Affiliates mailing list
> affilia...@lists.wikimedia.org
> https://lists.wikimedia.org/mailman/listinfo/affiliates
>
>
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[Wikimedia-l] Chapter De-Recognition: Wikimedia Macedonia

[Kirill Lokshin]

Hi everyone,

Recognition as a Wikimedia movement affiliate — a chapter, thematic
organization, or user group — is a privilege that allows an independent
group to officially use the Wikimedia trademarks to further the Wikimedia
mission. While most affiliates adhere to the basic compliance standards set
forth in their agreements with the Wikimedia Foundation, a protocol has
been developed to address the exceptional cases when a Wikimedia movement
affiliate does not meet basic compliance standards and their continued
recognition as a Wikimedia movement affiliate presents a risk to the
Wikimedia movement.

On February 13, 2017, Wikimedia Macedonia was notified that their access to
the Wikimedia chapter benefits was being suspended as a result of
long-standing non-compliance with reporting requirements, and informed of
the deadlines for returning to compliance in order to avoid
de-recognition.  As Wikimedia Macedonia did not submit the required reports
by these deadlines, they were subsequently notified that they would no
longer be recognized as a Wikimedia chapter after the termination of their
Chapter Agreement on September 10, 2017.

As always, if you have questions about what this means for the community
members in Wikimedia Macedonia’s geographic area or language scope, please
refer to the affiliate de-recognition FAQ (https://meta.wikimedia.org/
wiki/Wikimedia_movement_affiliate_de-recognition_FAQ) or contact the
Affiliations Committee directly.

Regards,
Kirill Lokshin
Chair, Affiliations Committee
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[Wikimedia-l] Chapter De-Recognition: Wikimedia Macau

[Kirill Lokshin]

Hi everyone,

Recognition as a Wikimedia movement affiliate — a chapter, thematic
organization, or user group — is a privilege that allows an independent
group to officially use the Wikimedia trademarks to further the Wikimedia
mission. While most affiliates adhere to the basic compliance standards set
forth in their agreements with the Wikimedia Foundation, a protocol has
been developed to address the exceptional cases when a Wikimedia movement
affiliate does not meet basic compliance standards and their continued
recognition as a Wikimedia movement affiliate presents a risk to the
Wikimedia movement.

On February 13, 2017, Wikimedia Macau was notified that they would no
longer be recognized as a Wikimedia chapter after the termination of their
Chapter Agreement on August 1, 2017.  This de-recognition is a result of
long-standing non-compliance with reporting requirements, dating back to
the initial recognition of the chapter in 2011.

If you have questions about what this means for the community members in
Wikimedia Macau’s geographic area or language scope, we have put together a
very basic FAQ, which may be found at
https://meta.wikimedia.org/wiki/Wikimedia_movement_affiliate_de-recognition_FAQ
.

Regards,
Kirill Lokshin
Chair, Affiliations Committee
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[Wikimedia-l] Recognition of the Hindi Wikimedians User Group

[Kirill Lokshin]

Hi everyone!

I'm very happy to announce that the Affiliations Committee has recognized
the Hindi Wikimedians User Group [1] as a Wikimedia User Group. The group
aims to advance the work of the Wikimedia movement in the Hindi language.

Please join me in congratulating the members of this new user group!

Regards,
Kirill Lokshin
Chair, Affiliations Committee

[1] https://meta.wikimedia.org/wiki/Hindi_Wikimedians_User_Group
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[Wikimedia-l] Affiliations Committee: Call for Candidates

[Kirill Lokshin]

Hi everyone,

The Affiliations Committee – the committee responsible for guiding
volunteers in establishing Wikimedia chapters, thematic organizations, and
user groups – is looking for new members!

The main role of the Affiliations Committee is to guide groups of
volunteers that are interested in forming Wikimedia affiliates. We review
applications from new groups, answer questions and provide advice about the
different Wikimedia affiliation models and processes, review affiliate
bylaws for compliance with requirements and best practices, and advise the
Wikimedia Foundation Board of Trustees on issues connected to chapters,
thematic organizations and Wikimedia user groups.

The committee consists of twelve members, six of whom are selected every
twelve months for staggered two-year terms. Those joining during the
mid-year process will serve an extended term ending in December 2019.

*Key skills*

Being a part of the Affiliations Committee requires communication with
volunteers all over the world, negotiating skills, cultural sensitivity,
and the ability to understand legal texts. We look for a healthy mix of
different skill sets in our members, including the following key skills and
experience:

- Willingness to process applications through a set, perhaps bureaucratic
process.
- Readiness to participate in political discussions on the role and future
of affiliates, models of affiliation, and similar topics.
- Availability of up to 5 hours per week, and the time to participate in a
monthly two-hour voice/video meeting.
- International orientation.
- Fluency in English.
- Ability to work and communicate with other languages and cultures.
- Strong understanding of the structure and work of affiliates and the
Wikimedia Foundation.
- Knowledge of different legal systems and experience in community building
and organising are a plus.
- Skills in other languages are a major plus.
- Experience with or in an active affiliate is a major plus.
- Strong track record of effective collaboration (such as evidenced skills
at facilitation, mediation, negotiation, and so forth) are a major plus.
- Willingness to use one's real name in committee activities (including
contacts with current and potential affiliates) when appropriate.

We are looking for people who are excited by the challenge of empowering
volunteers to get organized and form communities that further our mission
around the world. In exchange, committee members selected will gain the
experience of supporting their world-wide colleagues to develop their
communities as well as personal development in guiding organizational
development, facilitating affiliate partnerships, and professional
communications.

*Selection process*

As a reflection of our commitment to openness, transparency, and bilateral
engagement with the Wikimedia community, the 2017 member selection process
will include a public review and comment period. All applications received
by the committee will be posted on Meta at
https://meta.wikimedia.org/wiki/Affiliations_Committee/Candidates/June_2017,
and the community will be invited to provide comments and feedback about
each candidate.

At the end of the public comment period, the applications will be voted on
by the members of the committee who are not seeking re-election, taking
into account comments put forward by the committee's members, advisors,
Wikimedia Foundation staff and board liaisons, and the community. A final
decision will be made by mid-July 2017, with new members expected to join
later that month.

*How to apply*

If you are interested in joining the committee, please post your
application on the nomination page and send an email announcing your
application to aff...@lists.wikimedia.org by 30 June 2017. Your application
must include the following information:

- Your full name and Wikimedia username
- A statement describing your relevant experience, skills, and motivation
for joining the committee.
- Answers to the following three questions:
(1) How do you think affiliates work best together to partner on
effective projects and initiatives?
(2) What do you see as the role of affiliates in the Wikimedia
movement in the next three years?
(3) What do you feel you will bring to the committee that makes you
a uniquely qualified candidate?

If you have any questions, please don't hesitate to contact me and/or the
committee as a whole. We are happy to chat or have a phone call with anyone
about our work if this helps them decide to apply. Please distribute this
call among your networks, and do apply if you are interested!

Regards,
Kirill Lokshin
Chair, Affiliations Committee
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[Wikimedia-l] Recognition of the Wikimedia Tool Developers Group

[Kirill Lokshin]

Hi everyone!

I'm very happy to announce that the Affiliations Committee has recognized
 the Wikimedia Tool Developers Group [1] as a Wikimedia User Group.  The
group is international cooperative of developers who create freely-licensed
tools for improving the Wikimedia projects.

Please join me in congratulating the members of this new user group!

Regards,
Kirill Lokshin
Chair, Affiliations Committee

[1] https://meta.wikimedia.org/wiki/Wikimedia_Tool_Developers_Group
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[Wikimedia-l] Recognition of the Wikivoyage Association

[Kirill Lokshin]

Hi everyone!

I'm very happy to announce that the Affiliations Committee has recognized
the Wikivoyage Association [1] as a Wikimedia User Group.  The group plans
to support Wikivoyage in various ways, including fundraising, promotion,
and technical development.

Please join me in congratulating the members of this new user group!

Regards,
Kirill Lokshin
Chair, Affiliations Committee

[1] https://meta.wikimedia.org/wiki/Wikivoyage_Association
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[Wikimedia-l] Recognition of the Commons Photographers User Group

[Kirill Lokshin]

Hi everyone!

I'm very happy to announce that the Affiliations Committee has recognized the
Commons Photographers User Group [1] as a Wikimedia User Group.  The group
is an international cooperative of photography enthusiasts who publish
their images under free licenses, with the goal of transcribing the world
visually and having others benefit from their work through Wikipedia and
other projects.

Please join me in congratulating the members of this new user group!

Regards,
Kirill Lokshin
Chair, Affiliations Committee

[1] https://meta.wikimedia.org/wiki/Commons_Photographers_User_Group
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[Wikimedia-l] Recognition of the Wikimedians of Peru User Group

[Kirill Lokshin]

Hi everyone!

I'm very happy to announce that the Affiliations Committee has recognized
 the Wikimedians of Peru User Group [1] as a Wikimedia User Group.  The
group will work to promote the Wikimedia projects in Peru, and plans to
support events, such as edit-a-thons, in the region.

Please join me in congratulating the members of this new user group!

Regards,
Kirill Lokshin
Chair, Affiliations Committee

[1] https://meta.wikimedia.org/wiki/Wikimedistas_de_Perú
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Re: [Wikimedia-l] [Affiliates] Chapter De-Recognition: Wikimedia Philippines

[Kirill Lokshin]

Hi Craig,

To clarify, when we talk about resolving a compliance issue, what we mean
-- in most cases -- is producing the reports, records, or similar artifacts
that were required by a particular legal agreement, rather than effecting a
change in the status of the affected group.  For example, suppose that a
user group receives a grant from the Wikimedia Foundation, but does not
provide a report showing how the funds were spent; the user group would
then be out of compliance, and its official representatives -- who would
have signed the grant agreement -- would become personally ineligible to
create a new user group. However, they could clear their personal records,
so to speak, at some future date by delivering the missing report -- even
if the recognition of the user group in question had been withdrawn in the
meantime.  Obviously, reconstructing missing documentation after the fact
may be easier in some cases than in others.

There could, of course, be cases where the nature of the non-compliance was
such that no resolution would be possible, and the affected individuals
would simply be ineligible to create new user groups until the Affiliations
Committee or the Wikimedia Foundation determined otherwise; but I imagine
that the circumstances of any such case would be quite unusual, and that it
would necessarily be handled on a case-by-case basis.

Regards,
Kirill Lokshin
Chair, Affiliations Committee

On Tue, Apr 25, 2017 at 11:04 PM, Craig Franklin <cfrank...@halonetwork.net>
wrote:

> Hi Kirill,
>
> On 26 April 2017 at 02:31, Kirill Lokshin <kirill.loks...@gmail.com>
> wrote:
>
> >
> > Having said that, there are certain issues that can prevent a smooth
> > transition from a chapter to a user group.  In particular, any
> individuals
> > considered to have personal responsibility for an outstanding compliance
> > issue -- which means, generally speaking, the actual signatories of a
> > chapter or grant agreement, but could potentially include every member of
> > the governing board in the case of an incorporated affiliate -- are not
> > eligible to serve as signatories of a new user group agreement until the
> > original compliance issue has been resolved.
> >
>
> On this point, how would this apply in situations such as WMPH's where the
> group has been disendorsed and can no longer move back towards compliance?
> I don't see at this point how for instance folks involved with that chapter
> might "resolve" any issues in order to participate in a user group down the
> road.  Possibly this is a hypothetical situation.
>
> Generally speaking, I do feel that it's probably not helpful for those of
> us who are not familiar with the specific situation at hand to be making
> public statements laying blame or sharing opinions.  Most of us (myself
> included) probably do not know the full story here.
>
> Cheers,
> Craig
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Re: [Wikimedia-l] [Affiliates] Chapter De-Recognition: Wikimedia Philippines

[Kirill Lokshin]

User groups are, indeed, a more "light-weight" model of affiliation, with
significantly fewer compliance requirements -- at least for groups which
are unincorporated and do not receive significant grants -- and the
Affiliations Committee has, in the past, encouraged chapters struggling
with reporting and similar requirements to consider becoming a user group.

Having said that, there are certain issues that can prevent a smooth
transition from a chapter to a user group.  In particular, any individuals
considered to have personal responsibility for an outstanding compliance
issue -- which means, generally speaking, the actual signatories of a
chapter or grant agreement, but could potentially include every member of
the governing board in the case of an incorporated affiliate -- are not
eligible to serve as signatories of a new user group agreement until the
original compliance issue has been resolved.  This proves to be a challenge
when a group is small, or when the existing leadership of a group is
unwilling to step aside during a transition.

Regards,
Kirill Lokshin
Chair, Affiliations Committee

On Tue, Apr 25, 2017 at 12:10 PM, James Heilman <jmh...@gmail.com> wrote:

> Running a "user group" is much less bureaucratic overhead. Can WMPH not
> just rejoin the movement as that? When the capacity to return to chapter
> status develops the group can than apply for chapter status.
>
> James
>
> On Tue, Apr 25, 2017 at 5:17 AM, Josh Lim <jamesjoshua...@yahoo.com>
> wrote:
>
> > First of all, I'm not blaming anyone. I'm merely stating what is our
> > position: that is, that we've been dealing with our issues to the best of
> > our ability.  That said, I'm sorry, but I will not tolerate being told
> that
> > I am "misleading" the movement by telling people what we've done to get
> > ourselves out of this mess.  I wouldn't dare stake my own reputation on
> > misleading the movement, and for people to presume otherwise is appalling
> > for a movement that claims to work on a fundamental assumption of good
> > faith.
> > It's perfectly fine that we've come to opposing conclusions as to how
> > compliant we are, but the facts stand that we've worked our butts off to
> > return to compliance.  And we intend to do so.  If the Wikimedia
> > Foundation's ideal conclusion is that non-compliant affiliates ought to
> > disband entirely, then what good is the process in the first place if the
> > idea is to help organizations return to compliance?
> > I'll affirm that we've received a deadline notice.  I confirmed that in
> my
> > last e-mail to this list.  The Wikimedia Foundation did give a list of
> > things that we had to fix to return to compliance.  We ticked off a
> number
> > of items from that list, and have conceded in our internal communications
> > that other items can't be ticked off immediately owing to our capacity
> and
> > asked for more time to that effect.  The decision that was ultimately
> made
> > was for us to lose our status because not everything was met by the
> > deadline, and that was DESPITE everything that we've done at WMPH to meet
> > the deadline to begin with.
> > So no, I will NOT tolerate being told that we did nothing to return to
> > compliance, and by no less than the chair of the Affiliations Committee
> --
> > who otherwise I have a deep respect for -- in fact.  At the very least,
> > there has to be a concession that we tried.  I have not heard that from
> the
> > other side thus far, and I'm here to make sure that people know that we
> in
> > fact DID try to return to compliance.
> > Thanks,
> > Josh
> > (P.S.: For those asking, PhilWiki is not affiliated with WMPH.  PhilWiki
> > is a splinter group that was founded by a former member of Wikimedia
> > Philippines, and is largely based in the Bicol Region in southern Luzon.
> > WMPH, meanwhile, was based in Manila and had members nationwide.)
> > JAMES JOSHUA G. LIM
> > Block I1, AB Political Science
> > Major in Global Politics, Minor in Chinese Studies
> > Class of 2013, Ateneo de Manila University
> > Quezon City, Metro Manila, Philippines
> >
> > jamesjoshua...@yahoo.com | +63 (977) 831-7582
> > Facebook/Twitter: akiestar | Wikimedia: Sky Harborhttps://joshlim.me
> > On Tuesday, April 25, 2017, 3:58:48 AM PDT, Ting Chen <
> wing.phil...@gmx.de>
> > wrote:Hello Gnangarra,
> >
> > I joined AffCom in 2015, at that time the issue with Wikimedia
> > Philippines was already on the table. The AffCom and the WMF had tried
> > two years to get a settlement without a de-recognition with them.
> > Meanwhile it is 2017, I don't believe Josh co

Re: [Wikimedia-l] [Affiliates] Chapter De-Recognition: Wikimedia Philippines

[Kirill Lokshin]

Josh,

We are, as a movement, remarkably forgiving of things like missed
deadlines, incomplete reports, and other compliance issues that, in a
different environment, might be regarded with rather more severity.  This
is, I think, as it should be; we are, for the most part, volunteers --
often volunteers with little experience in managing formal reporting and
other elements of organizational compliance -- and we need to be flexible
and accommodate that if we are to successfully build a diverse and
inclusive movement.

At the same time, it's important to keep in mind that this forgiveness is
not -- and cannot be -- infinite.  Wikimedia Philippines had been directly
aware of its non-compliance -- both with regard to its obligations under
the Wikimedia chapter agreement and in other areas -- for more than two
years; indeed, as Ting has mentioned, addressing that non-compliance was on
the Affiliation Committee's agenda when you yourself were a member.  It is
disingenuous for you to imply that the formal suspension notice sent to you
in September was somehow unexpected or unfair; it was the unfortunate but
necessary culmination of a lengthy sequence of attempts to address the
situation, and not the unwarranted and arbitrary demand you've made it out
to be.

Nobody -- not the Affiliations Committee, not the Wikimedia Foundation, not
anyone else -- is disputing the fact that you made efforts to return to
compliance.  We acknowledge, and appreciate, these efforts; but, at the end
of the day, they were merely *efforts* -- as you yourself have admitted,
you ultimately failed to complete the actions that were required of you by
the deadline.  Unfortunately, since that deadline was mandated by the legal
notice requirements in your chapter agreement, rather than something
determined by the Affiliations Committee or the Wikimedia Foundation, there
was no further relief that we could give you.

Regards,
Kirill Lokshin
Chair, Affiliations Committee

On Tue, Apr 25, 2017 at 7:17 AM, Josh Lim <jamesjoshua...@yahoo.com> wrote:

> First of all, I'm not blaming anyone. I'm merely stating what is our
> position: that is, that we've been dealing with our issues to the best of
> our ability.  That said, I'm sorry, but I will not tolerate being told that
> I am "misleading" the movement by telling people what we've done to get
> ourselves out of this mess.  I wouldn't dare stake my own reputation on
> misleading the movement, and for people to presume otherwise is appalling
> for a movement that claims to work on a fundamental assumption of good
> faith.
> It's perfectly fine that we've come to opposing conclusions as to how
> compliant we are, but the facts stand that we've worked our butts off to
> return to compliance.  And we intend to do so.  If the Wikimedia
> Foundation's ideal conclusion is that non-compliant affiliates ought to
> disband entirely, then what good is the process in the first place if the
> idea is to help organizations return to compliance?
> I'll affirm that we've received a deadline notice.  I confirmed that in my
> last e-mail to this list.  The Wikimedia Foundation did give a list of
> things that we had to fix to return to compliance.  We ticked off a number
> of items from that list, and have conceded in our internal communications
> that other items can't be ticked off immediately owing to our capacity and
> asked for more time to that effect.  The decision that was ultimately made
> was for us to lose our status because not everything was met by the
> deadline, and that was DESPITE everything that we've done at WMPH to meet
> the deadline to begin with.
> So no, I will NOT tolerate being told that we did nothing to return to
> compliance, and by no less than the chair of the Affiliations Committee --
> who otherwise I have a deep respect for -- in fact.  At the very least,
> there has to be a concession that we tried.  I have not heard that from the
> other side thus far, and I'm here to make sure that people know that we in
> fact DID try to return to compliance.
> Thanks,
> Josh
> (P.S.: For those asking, PhilWiki is not affiliated with WMPH.  PhilWiki
> is a splinter group that was founded by a former member of Wikimedia
> Philippines, and is largely based in the Bicol Region in southern Luzon.
> WMPH, meanwhile, was based in Manila and had members nationwide.)
> JAMES JOSHUA G. LIM
> Block I1, AB Political Science
> Major in Global Politics, Minor in Chinese Studies
> Class of 2013, Ateneo de Manila University
> Quezon City, Metro Manila, Philippines
>
> jamesjoshua...@yahoo.com | +63 (977) 831-7582
> Facebook/Twitter: akiestar | Wikimedia: Sky Harborhttps://joshlim.me
> On Tuesday, April 25, 2017, 3:58:48 AM PDT, Ting Chen <wing.phil...@gmx.de>
> wrote:Hello Gnangarra,
>
> I joined AffCom in 2015, at that time the issue with

[Wikimedia-l] Appointment of new Affiliations Committee advisors

[Kirill Lokshin]

Hi everyone,

I'm very pleased to announce that the Affiliations Committee has appointed
three new advisors for the coming year: Anasuya Sengupta, Patricio Lorente,
and Ting Chen.  As non-voting advisors, Anasuya, Patricio, and Ting will
lend their unique experience and insight to the committee as we support the
ongoing movement strategy process and the continuing evolution of the
Wikimedia affiliate ecosystem.

Please join me in welcoming Anasuya, Patricio, and Ting to their new roles!

Kirill Lokshin
Chair, Affiliations Committee
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[Wikimedia-l] Recognition of the West Bengal Wikimedians User Group

[Kirill Lokshin]

Hi everyone!

I'm very happy to announce that the Affiliations Committee has recognized
the West Bengal Wikimedians User Group [1] as a Wikimedia User Group.

The group aims to build a strong and diverse volunteer community base
throughout West Bengal by increasing interaction among community members,
encouraging them to develop content in different Wikimedia projects and
organizing various online and offline activities.

Please join me in congratulating the members of this new user group!

Regards,
Kirill Lokshin
Affiliations Committee

[1] https://meta.wikimedia.org/wiki/West_Bengal_Wikimedians
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[Wikimedia-l] Recognition of the Wikimedians of Erzyan Language User Group

[Kirill Lokshin]

Hi everyone!

I'm very happy to announce that the Affiliations Committee has recognized
the Wikimedians of Erzyan Language User Group [1] as a Wikimedia User
Group.

The group aims to promote the development of Wikipedia in the Erzya
language, and to document topics related to the Erzya language, culture and
community.

Please join me in congratulating the members of this new user group!

Regards,
Kirill Lokshin
Affiliations Committee

[1] https://meta.wikimedia.org/wiki/Wikimedians_of_Erzya_language_User_Group
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[Wikimedia-l] Recognition of the Wikimedians of Lëtzebuerg User Group

[Kirill Lokshin]

Hi everyone!

I'm very happy to announce that the Affiliations Committee has recognized
the Wikimedians of Lëtzebuerg User Group [1] as a Wikimedia User Group.

The group aims to encourage Wikimedia movement activities amongst
Luxembourgish communities through the implementation of various projects
and training & outreach events.

Please join me in congratulating the members of this new user group!

Regards,
Kirill Lokshin
Affiliations Committee

[1] https://meta.wikimedia.org/wiki/Wikimedia_L%C3%ABtzebuerg_User_Group
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[Wikimedia-l] Recognition of the Karavali Wikimedians User Group

[Kirill Lokshin]

Hi everyone!

I'm very happy to announce that the Affiliations Committee has recognized
the Karavali Wikimedians User Group [1] as a Wikimedia User Group.

The group is dedicated to working on the Wikimedia projects in the Indian
languages used in coastal Karnataka and the northern part of Kerala State
in India, including the Tulu, Kannada, and Konkani language Wikipedias.

Please join me in congratulating the members of this new user group!

Regards,
Kirill Lokshin
Affiliations Committee

[1] https://meta.wikimedia.org/wiki/Karavali_Wikimedians
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[Wikimedia-l] Recognition of the Wikimaps User Group

[Kirill Lokshin]

Hi everyone!

I'm very happy to announce that the Affiliations Committee has recognized
the Wikimaps User Group [1] as a Wikimedia User Group.

The group aims to gather Wikimedia users engaged in a variety of activities
related to geographic information from across the movement, so that people
with different ideas for using geographic components in their projects are
able to come together, share their expertise, and help each other.

Please join me in congratulating the members of this new user group!

Regards,
Kirill Lokshin
Affiliations Committee

[1] https://meta.wikimedia.org/wiki/Wikimaps_User_Group
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Re: [Wikimedia-l] Chapter De-Recognition: Wikimedia Hong Kong

[Kirill Lokshin]

Hi Gnangarra,

Unlike user groups, which can meet reporting requirements simply by
providing an annual report of activities, chapters are additionally
required to publish a complete set of financial statements annually.
Further, chapters that receive funds from any Wikimedia Foundation grant
program are required to meet specific financial reporting requirements
related to those grants in addition to the annual financial statements.

A chapter that fails to meet either of these financial reporting
requirements would be considered non-compliant with their chapter
agreement, regardless of whether they satisfied the minimum activity
reporting requirement.

Regards,
Kirill Lokshin
Vice-Chair, Affiliations Committee

On Wed, Feb 8, 2017 at 3:22 AM, Gnangarra <gnanga...@gmail.com> wrote:

> trying to understand the process as well as the why here,
>
> what I see at https://meta.wikimedia.org/wiki/Reports is that they havent
> supplied the 2015-16 report they report on the period 1 Jul to 30 Jun (same
> as WMAU). On September 9 2016 they were asked to furnish this report and
> given until 1 November to do it.
>
> If this had been Australia our reporting occurs with the our annual general
> meeting normally in October at which the members endorse or reject the
> reports(never happened) at the same time the committee is dissolved and
> elections take place(legal requirement in Australia) This new committee has
> a number of functions to carry out of the change over including reporting
> to a number of Government agencies, as well as to the WMF which happened
> on 7
> Nov
> <https://meta.wikimedia.org/w/index.php?title=Wikimedia_
> chapters/Reports/Wikimedia_Australia/2016/Annual_Report=history>,
>
>
> Looking at the WMHK reporting the previous period 2014-15 report wasnt
> posted until 1st December, to place an expectation of compliance by 1
> November in September 2016 when the normal reporting time frame is
> historically longer appears unfair and designed to cause conflict.
>
> Recognising some faults in that the 2014-15 report wasnt adequate and needs
> to be improved, and that its now February 2017 the report still hasnt been
> furnished. The process of de-registering that has taken place based on the
> information provided appears flawed.  I dont discount that other
> information not made available makes this a necessary step but perhaps
> there is room for a period suspension  12-18 months which is what it would
> take to get another affiliate started anyway would.
>
> Observation: When we place trust within the projects and the community it
> appears that we like to grab the biggest stick possible to whack people
> with it with at the first opportunity.
>
> On 8 February 2017 at 15:29, Gilbert Conus <gilbert.co...@wikimedia.ch>
> wrote:
>
> > Hi,
> >
> > where is it possible to read this specific list of tasks in order to
> > understand this email ?
> >
> > Regards,
> > Gilbert
> >
> >
> > Le 08.02.2017 à 03:19, Kirill Lokshin a écrit :
> >
> >> Hi everyone,
> >>
> >> Recognition as a Wikimedia movement affiliate — a chapter, thematic
> >> organization, or user group — is a privilege that allows an independent
> >> group to officially use the Wikimedia trademarks to further the
> Wikimedia
> >> mission. While most affiliates adhere to the basic compliance standards
> >> set
> >> forth in their agreements with the Wikimedia Foundation, a protocol has
> >> been developed to address the exceptional cases when a Wikimedia
> movement
> >> affiliate does not meet basic compliance standards and their continued
> >> recognition as a Wikimedia movement affiliate presents a risk to the
> >> Wikimedia movement.
> >>
> >> On September 9, 2016, Wikimedia Hong Kong was notified of their
> suspension
> >> as a Wikimedia affiliate due to long standing non-compliance with
> >> reporting
> >> requirements, and was provided with an explicit list of tasks and
> >> deadlines
> >> in order to return to compliance with their chapter agreement. The
> chapter
> >> failed to complete these tasks by the deadline of November 1, 2016, and
> >> was
> >> consequently notified that they would no longer be recognized as a
> >> Wikimedia chapter after the termination of their Chapter Agreement on
> >> February 1, 2017.
> >>
> >> If you have questions about what this means for the community members in
> >> Wikimedia Hong Kong’s geographic area or language scope, we have put
> >> together a very basic FAQ, which may be found at
> >> https://meta.wikimedia.org/wiki/Wikimedia_

[Wikimedia-l] Chapter De-Recognition: Wikimedia Hong Kong

[Kirill Lokshin]

Hi everyone,

Recognition as a Wikimedia movement affiliate — a chapter, thematic
organization, or user group — is a privilege that allows an independent
group to officially use the Wikimedia trademarks to further the Wikimedia
mission. While most affiliates adhere to the basic compliance standards set
forth in their agreements with the Wikimedia Foundation, a protocol has
been developed to address the exceptional cases when a Wikimedia movement
affiliate does not meet basic compliance standards and their continued
recognition as a Wikimedia movement affiliate presents a risk to the
Wikimedia movement.

On September 9, 2016, Wikimedia Hong Kong was notified of their suspension
as a Wikimedia affiliate due to long standing non-compliance with reporting
requirements, and was provided with an explicit list of tasks and deadlines
in order to return to compliance with their chapter agreement. The chapter
failed to complete these tasks by the deadline of November 1, 2016, and was
consequently notified that they would no longer be recognized as a
Wikimedia chapter after the termination of their Chapter Agreement on
February 1, 2017.

If you have questions about what this means for the community members in
Wikimedia Hong Kong’s geographic area or language scope, we have put
together a very basic FAQ, which may be found at
https://meta.wikimedia.org/wiki/Wikimedia_movement_affiliate_de-recognition_FAQ
.

Regards,
Kirill Lokshin
Vice-Chair, Affiliations Committee
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Re: [Wikimedia-l] De-Recognition of Affiliates with Long-standing Non-Compliance

[Kirill Lokshin]

Hi Mike,

It's certainly not all -- or even most -- of them; as we've mentioned, this
affects affiliates that are both non-compliant *and* unwilling or unable to
return to compliance.  We are, I think, quite forgiving of occasional
compliance issues, such as late reports, so long as an affiliate is willing
to resolve the issue in some reasonable manner.

It's also worth noting, incidentally, that the table on the reports page
only tracks compliance with annual activity and financial reporting
requirements, and not any other requirements that affiliates may be subject
to under their agreements with the WMF.

We will be providing more details on the specific affiliates affected by
this over the next several months, as the deadlines for them to resolve
compliance issues pass.  Please note that any affiliates potentially facing
non-renewal that do successfully resolve their compliance issues will in
fact be renewed, so we can't provide a definitive list at this time.

Regards,
Kirill Lokshin
Vice-Chair, Affiliations Committee

On Sun, Feb 5, 2017 at 7:32 AM Michael Peel <em...@mikepeel.net> wrote:

> Hi Maor/Kirill/AffCom,
>
> Which organisations are we talking about here? From the crosses on the
> reports page on Meta, it looks like it is:
> - Wikimedia Chile
> - Wikimedia Hong Kong
> - Wikimedia India
> - Wikimedia Macedonia
> - Wikimedia Macau
> - Wikimedia Mexico
> - Wikimedia Philippines
> - Wikimedia Uruguay
> - New England Wikimedians
> - PhilWiki Community
> - Wikimedia Community User Group Pakistan
> - Wikimedia Digitization User Group
> - Wikimedians of Iceland User Group
> - Wikimedians of Nepal
> - Wikimedians of Uzbekistan Community
>
> Is it all of those or a subset of them? Some of these seem to be active
> and/or have representatives going to the Wikimedia Conference.
>
> Thanks,
> Mike
>
> > On 5 Feb 2017, at 10:13, Kirill Lokshin <kirill.loks...@gmail.com>
> wrote:
> >
> > Hi Nathan,
> >
> > To expand a bit on Maor's reply: the Affiliations Committee and the
> > Wikimedia Foundation continue to view affiliate de-recognition as a last
> > resort for cases where an affiliate is not only in violation of affiliate
> > requirements or agreements with the WMF, but is also unwilling or unable
> to
> > fix the problem when asked to do so.
> >
> > The underlying issue that causes an affiliate to be "non-compliant" will
> > usually be publicly visible (such as a lack of required reporting, for
> > example). The affiliate's inability or unwillingness to address it will
> > usually not be, as it's reflected in the affiliate's communications with
> > AffCom and the WMF (or lack thereof).
> >
> > Regards,
> > Kirill Lokshin
> > Vice-Chair, Affiliations Committee
> >
> > On Sun, Feb 5, 2017 at 6:33 AM Nathan <nawr...@gmail.com> wrote:
> >
> >> On Sun, Feb 5, 2017 at 4:22 AM, Gerard Meijssen <
> gerard.meijs...@gmail.com
> >>>
> >> wrote:
> >>
> >>> Hoi,
> >>> I fail to see who you are targeting and on what basis. My impression is
> >>> that it only has to do with money.. I understand this. For other parts
> >> like
> >>> the language committee there are no reports except for the activity on
> >> its
> >>> mailing list. I fail to see why it has to report to anyone. It is not
> the
> >>> task the committee seeks and it does its activity on behalf of the
> >>> Wikimedia board.
> >>> Thanks,
> >>>  GerardM
> >>
> >>
> >> You misread - evidently both the original message and my reply. I answer
> >> your question in my prior post, and hopefully subsequent posts by others
> >> have cleared up any other confusion.
> >>
> >> Maor - thank you for your explanation. Would it be fair to say that the
> >> criteria for considering denying renewal are informal, and that some
> >> factors (including communication with AffCom) may not be publicly
> available
> >> for review?
> >> ___
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> >> https://meta.wikimedia.org/wiki/Mailing_lists/Guidelines and
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> >> New messages to: Wikimedia-l@lists.wikimedia.org
> >> Unsubscribe: https://lists.wikimedia.org/mailman/listinfo/wikimedia-l,
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Re: [Wikimedia-l] De-Recognition of Affiliates with Long-standing Non-Compliance

[Kirill Lokshin]

Hi Nathan,

To expand a bit on Maor's reply: the Affiliations Committee and the
Wikimedia Foundation continue to view affiliate de-recognition as a last
resort for cases where an affiliate is not only in violation of affiliate
requirements or agreements with the WMF, but is also unwilling or unable to
fix the problem when asked to do so.

The underlying issue that causes an affiliate to be "non-compliant" will
usually be publicly visible (such as a lack of required reporting, for
example). The affiliate's inability or unwillingness to address it will
usually not be, as it's reflected in the affiliate's communications with
AffCom and the WMF (or lack thereof).

Regards,
Kirill Lokshin
Vice-Chair, Affiliations Committee

On Sun, Feb 5, 2017 at 6:33 AM Nathan <nawr...@gmail.com> wrote:

> On Sun, Feb 5, 2017 at 4:22 AM, Gerard Meijssen <gerard.meijs...@gmail.com
> >
> wrote:
>
> > Hoi,
> > I fail to see who you are targeting and on what basis. My impression is
> > that it only has to do with money.. I understand this. For other parts
> like
> > the language committee there are no reports except for the activity on
> its
> > mailing list. I fail to see why it has to report to anyone. It is not the
> > task the committee seeks and it does its activity on behalf of the
> > Wikimedia board.
> > Thanks,
> >   GerardM
>
>
> You misread - evidently both the original message and my reply. I answer
> your question in my prior post, and hopefully subsequent posts by others
> have cleared up any other confusion.
>
> Maor - thank you for your explanation. Would it be fair to say that the
> criteria for considering denying renewal are informal, and that some
> factors (including communication with AffCom) may not be publicly available
> for review?
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