Re: [Wikimedia-l] [Affiliates] Changes to current chapter and thematic organisation criteria

[John Mark Vandenberg]

I agree with Ben.

It is worthwhile understand why existing chapters may not meet these
criteria, especially if it is viable/active chapters that fail the
criteria, rather than the few dormant chapters who also fail simpler
criteria.

I suspect these criteria, which are a good baseline, can be refined in
consultation with existing chapters and the broader community.

My biggest concern is that "event" is undefined, and could include meetups
of only a few people, mostly regulars, with nn/little impact. That would
render this criteria useless, or worse encourage wasted effort to tick the
affcom criteria boxes.

And if the activity levels are only maintained in order to obtain chapter
status, they will quickly reduce activity levels after chapter status is
granted unless there is a funded plan to maintain and grow the chapter
after affcom has given the group the nod.

On 22 Aug 2016 03:22, "Ben Creasy"  wrote:

> Does the Affiliations Committee have a list of existing chapters which do
> not meet the proposed criteria? I think we should at least get a sense for
> that, and those chapters should be notified and be put on the path to
> meeting standards or losing their status.
>
> What's the harm in letting chapters which can't meet the proposed high
> standards drop into user group status? This will also force the committee
> and board to figure out reasonable requirements. I realize that chapters
> have special privileges and the process would be something like a probation
> period followed by a graceful revocation of privileges.
>
> I'm not super knowledgeable about this topic, but I've heard that chapters
> becoming inactive is a problem. The solution is to anticipate that and
> create a process for handling chapter inactivity non-disruptively. What's
> the current process?
>
> On Aug 20, 2016 9:50 PM, "Pine W"  wrote:
>
> > > What harm is avoided by eliminating the ambiguity you refer to, Pine?
> >
> > One of the harms is that aspiring chapters don't know what standards we
> > should be aiming to meet, because the standards are vague. Another
> > harm is that the Affiliations Committee doesn't have clear criteria to
> > apply,
> > which means that decisions are likely to be more subjective and
> > inconsistent than the decisions would be if there was a more specific
> > set of criteria.
> >
> > As I mentioned in my previous email, I feel that it's okay to have some
> > flexibility in the requirements, such as by saying "a chapter must meet
> > four of
> > the following six criteria" or "this particular requirement may be met in
> > one
> > or more of the following ways". But those flexible criteria should be
> > clearly
> > defined.
> >
> > > How is that damage ameliorated by, as you suggest, re-classifying
> > > a chapter as a user group?
> >
> > I feel that this is a separate issue. There should be no privilege
> attached
> > to
> > already being a chapter. It is unfair to apply one set of criteria to
> > existing
> > chapters, and a much tighter set of criteria to aspiring chapters.
> Chapter
> > status should be linked with a substantial level of current or recent
> > activity
> > in Wikimedia.
> >
> > Chapter activity levels may decrease for many reasons, some of which
> > are beyond their control, such as if a fire breaks out in their office,
> or
> > if an
> > especially strong community organizer leaves the country. If such things
> > happen and the activity level or membership level of the organization
> > decrease, it is reasonable (if not desirable) to have the organization,
> > which
> > now would resemble a user group rather than a chapter, actually be
> > categorized as a user group until the organization recovers. I would call
> > this
> > "truth in advertising". It's not comfortable, but it is the reality, and
> it
> > would give the group a strong incentive to re-energize itself and return
> > its
> > levels of membership and activity to the levels that it once had, rather
> > than
> > allowing it to keep the privileges of chapter status with few of the
> > responsibilities and expectations.
> >
> > Pine
> > ___
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> > wiki/Mailing_lists/Guidelines
> > New messages to: Wikimedia-l@lists.wikimedia.org
> > Unsubscribe: https://lists.wikimedia.org/mailman/listinfo/wikimedia-l,
> > 
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Re: [Wikimedia-l] [Affiliates] Changes to current chapter and thematic organisation criteria

[Ben Creasy]

Does the Affiliations Committee have a list of existing chapters which do
not meet the proposed criteria? I think we should at least get a sense for
that, and those chapters should be notified and be put on the path to
meeting standards or losing their status.

What's the harm in letting chapters which can't meet the proposed high
standards drop into user group status? This will also force the committee
and board to figure out reasonable requirements. I realize that chapters
have special privileges and the process would be something like a probation
period followed by a graceful revocation of privileges.

I'm not super knowledgeable about this topic, but I've heard that chapters
becoming inactive is a problem. The solution is to anticipate that and
create a process for handling chapter inactivity non-disruptively. What's
the current process?

On Aug 20, 2016 9:50 PM, "Pine W"  wrote:

> > What harm is avoided by eliminating the ambiguity you refer to, Pine?
>
> One of the harms is that aspiring chapters don't know what standards we
> should be aiming to meet, because the standards are vague. Another
> harm is that the Affiliations Committee doesn't have clear criteria to
> apply,
> which means that decisions are likely to be more subjective and
> inconsistent than the decisions would be if there was a more specific
> set of criteria.
>
> As I mentioned in my previous email, I feel that it's okay to have some
> flexibility in the requirements, such as by saying "a chapter must meet
> four of
> the following six criteria" or "this particular requirement may be met in
> one
> or more of the following ways". But those flexible criteria should be
> clearly
> defined.
>
> > How is that damage ameliorated by, as you suggest, re-classifying
> > a chapter as a user group?
>
> I feel that this is a separate issue. There should be no privilege attached
> to
> already being a chapter. It is unfair to apply one set of criteria to
> existing
> chapters, and a much tighter set of criteria to aspiring chapters. Chapter
> status should be linked with a substantial level of current or recent
> activity
> in Wikimedia.
>
> Chapter activity levels may decrease for many reasons, some of which
> are beyond their control, such as if a fire breaks out in their office, or
> if an
> especially strong community organizer leaves the country. If such things
> happen and the activity level or membership level of the organization
> decrease, it is reasonable (if not desirable) to have the organization,
> which
> now would resemble a user group rather than a chapter, actually be
> categorized as a user group until the organization recovers. I would call
> this
> "truth in advertising". It's not comfortable, but it is the reality, and it
> would give the group a strong incentive to re-energize itself and return
> its
> levels of membership and activity to the levels that it once had, rather
> than
> allowing it to keep the privileges of chapter status with few of the
> responsibilities and expectations.
>
> Pine
> ___
> Wikimedia-l mailing list, guidelines at: https://meta.wikimedia.org/
> wiki/Mailing_lists/Guidelines
> New messages to: Wikimedia-l@lists.wikimedia.org
> Unsubscribe: https://lists.wikimedia.org/mailman/listinfo/wikimedia-l,
> 
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Re: [Wikimedia-l] Recognition of Wikimedians of Iowa User Group

[Pine W]

Hi Kevin,

Welcome!

This is a high traffic list with a wide variety of topics. You might also
be interested in the Affiliates mailing list, and in WikimediaUS-l.

Also, please do attend the US Wikimedians meeting next week if possible.
Info at
https://lists.wikimedia.org/pipermail/wikimediaus-l/2016-August/000439.html

Pine

On Aug 20, 2016 23:00, "Kevin Li (L235)"  wrote:

> Hello! I can't believe I missed this email thread. Thanks all for the
> welcomes! I will definitely be reaching out to some of you directly, but if
> I might ask – can we ask advice *on* this list? I understand it's a fairly
> high-traffic list, so other than wasting this list's time with mundane
> questions, where should I look?
>
> Thanks!
> L235 // Kevin Li
> President, Wikimedians of Iowa User Group
> https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/User:L235 · UTC-5/6 CST/CDT · PGP key ID:
> 4D05ABA1
> 
>
> On Mon, Aug 8, 2016 at 12:26 PM, Ivan Martínez  wrote:
>
> > Awesome, welcome!
> >
> > 2016-08-08 10:42 GMT-05:00 Sydney Poore :
> >
> > > Welcome to the United States User Group family, and congratulations!
> > > Warm regards
> > > Sydney
> > >
> > > Sydney Poore
> > > User:FloNight
> > >
> > > WikiConference North America https://wikiconference.org/
> > > wiki/2016/Main_Page
> > >
> > > Facebook https://www.facebook.com/sydney.e.poore
> > >
> > >
> > > On Mon, Aug 8, 2016 at 7:06 AM, Carlos M. Colina <
> ma...@wikimedia.org.ve
> > >
> > > wrote:
> > >
> > > > Dear all,
> > > >
> > > > On behalf of the Affiliations Committee, I am pleased to announce the
> > > > recognition of the newest Wikimedia User Group: Wikimedians of Iowa
> > User
> > > > Group [1]
> > > >
> > > > The group is composed of  wikimedians from Iowa, who seek to organize
> > > > activities all over the state, like editathons and meetups, reaching
> > out
> > > to
> > > > local educational institutions, libraries, and holding competitions.
> > They
> > > > can trace the idea for the creation of the group during a Wikimedia
> DC
> > > > editathon this year ;-)
> > > >
> > > > Welcome, Iowan colleagues!
> > > >
> > > > 1: https://meta.wikimedia.org/wiki/Wikimedians_of_Iowa_User_Group
> > > > --
> > > > "*Jülüjain wane mmakat* ein kapülain tü alijunakalirua jee
> > wayuukanairua
> > > > junain ekerolaa alümüin supüshuwayale etijaanaka. Ayatashi waya
> > junain."
> > > > Carlos M. Colina
> > > > Socio, A.C. Wikimedia Venezuela | RIF J-40129321-2 |
> > > www.wikimedia.org.ve
> > > > 
> > > > Chair, Wikimedia Foundation Affiliations Committee
> > > > Phone: +972-52-4869915
> > > > Twitter: @maor_x
> > > >
> > > > El logotipo y el nombre de Wikimedia, Wikimedia Venezuela, Wikipedia,
> > > > Wikimedia Commons, Wikimedia Incubator, Wiktionary y otros proyectos
> > > > relacionados son marcas registradas usadas bajo permiso expreso de su
> > > > titular, la Fundación Wikimedia, Inc., una organización sin fines de
> > > lucro.
> > > > Otros nombres y marcas pertenecen a sus respectivos propietarios.
> > > >
> > > > Asociación Civil Wikimedia Venezuela (Wikimedia Venezuela) | RIF.:
> > > > J-40129321-2 | Los Teques, Estado Miranda. Venezuela
> > > > ___
> > > > Wikimedia-l mailing list, guidelines at:
> > https://meta.wikimedia.org/wik
> > > > i/Mailing_lists/Guidelines
> > > > New messages to: Wikimedia-l@lists.wikimedia.org
> > > > Unsubscribe: https://lists.wikimedia.org/
> mailman/listinfo/wikimedia-l,
> > > > 
> > > ___
> > > Wikimedia-l mailing list, guidelines at: https://meta.wikimedia.org/
> > > wiki/Mailing_lists/Guidelines
> > > New messages to: Wikimedia-l@lists.wikimedia.org
> > > Unsubscribe: https://lists.wikimedia.org/mailman/listinfo/wikimedia-l,
> > > 
> > >
> >
> >
> >
> > --
> > *Iván Martínez*
> >
> > *Presidente - Wikimedia México A.C.User:ProtoplasmaKid *
> >
> > // Mis comunicaciones respecto a Wikipedia/Wikimedia pueden tener una
> > moratoria en su atención debido a que es un voluntariado.
> > // Ayuda a proteger a Wikipedia, dona ahora:
> https://donate.wikimedia.org
> >
> >
> ___
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> wiki/Mailing_lists/Guidelines
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> 
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Re: [Wikimedia-l] Recognition of Wikimedians of Iowa User Group

[Kevin Li (L235)]

Hello! I can't believe I missed this email thread. Thanks all for the
welcomes! I will definitely be reaching out to some of you directly, but if
I might ask – can we ask advice *on* this list? I understand it's a fairly
high-traffic list, so other than wasting this list's time with mundane
questions, where should I look?

Thanks!
L235 // Kevin Li
President, Wikimedians of Iowa User Group
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/User:L235 · UTC-5/6 CST/CDT · PGP key ID:
4D05ABA1


On Mon, Aug 8, 2016 at 12:26 PM, Ivan Martínez  wrote:

> Awesome, welcome!
>
> 2016-08-08 10:42 GMT-05:00 Sydney Poore :
>
> > Welcome to the United States User Group family, and congratulations!
> > Warm regards
> > Sydney
> >
> > Sydney Poore
> > User:FloNight
> >
> > WikiConference North America https://wikiconference.org/
> > wiki/2016/Main_Page
> >
> > Facebook https://www.facebook.com/sydney.e.poore
> >
> >
> > On Mon, Aug 8, 2016 at 7:06 AM, Carlos M. Colina  >
> > wrote:
> >
> > > Dear all,
> > >
> > > On behalf of the Affiliations Committee, I am pleased to announce the
> > > recognition of the newest Wikimedia User Group: Wikimedians of Iowa
> User
> > > Group [1]
> > >
> > > The group is composed of  wikimedians from Iowa, who seek to organize
> > > activities all over the state, like editathons and meetups, reaching
> out
> > to
> > > local educational institutions, libraries, and holding competitions.
> They
> > > can trace the idea for the creation of the group during a Wikimedia DC
> > > editathon this year ;-)
> > >
> > > Welcome, Iowan colleagues!
> > >
> > > 1: https://meta.wikimedia.org/wiki/Wikimedians_of_Iowa_User_Group
> > > --
> > > "*Jülüjain wane mmakat* ein kapülain tü alijunakalirua jee
> wayuukanairua
> > > junain ekerolaa alümüin supüshuwayale etijaanaka. Ayatashi waya
> junain."
> > > Carlos M. Colina
> > > Socio, A.C. Wikimedia Venezuela | RIF J-40129321-2 |
> > www.wikimedia.org.ve
> > > 
> > > Chair, Wikimedia Foundation Affiliations Committee
> > > Phone: +972-52-4869915
> > > Twitter: @maor_x
> > >
> > > El logotipo y el nombre de Wikimedia, Wikimedia Venezuela, Wikipedia,
> > > Wikimedia Commons, Wikimedia Incubator, Wiktionary y otros proyectos
> > > relacionados son marcas registradas usadas bajo permiso expreso de su
> > > titular, la Fundación Wikimedia, Inc., una organización sin fines de
> > lucro.
> > > Otros nombres y marcas pertenecen a sus respectivos propietarios.
> > >
> > > Asociación Civil Wikimedia Venezuela (Wikimedia Venezuela) | RIF.:
> > > J-40129321-2 | Los Teques, Estado Miranda. Venezuela
> > > ___
> > > Wikimedia-l mailing list, guidelines at:
> https://meta.wikimedia.org/wik
> > > i/Mailing_lists/Guidelines
> > > New messages to: Wikimedia-l@lists.wikimedia.org
> > > Unsubscribe: https://lists.wikimedia.org/mailman/listinfo/wikimedia-l,
> > > 
> > ___
> > Wikimedia-l mailing list, guidelines at: https://meta.wikimedia.org/
> > wiki/Mailing_lists/Guidelines
> > New messages to: Wikimedia-l@lists.wikimedia.org
> > Unsubscribe: https://lists.wikimedia.org/mailman/listinfo/wikimedia-l,
> > 
> >
>
>
>
> --
> *Iván Martínez*
>
> *Presidente - Wikimedia México A.C.User:ProtoplasmaKid *
>
> // Mis comunicaciones respecto a Wikipedia/Wikimedia pueden tener una
> moratoria en su atención debido a que es un voluntariado.
> // Ayuda a proteger a Wikipedia, dona ahora: https://donate.wikimedia.org
>
>
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