Re: [Wikimedia-l] Resolution about the upcoming Board elections

2021-04-25 Thread Steven Walling 
On Sun, Apr 25, 2021 at 12:47 PM Erik Moeller  wrote:

> On Sun, Apr 25, 2021 at 10:35 AM Steven Walling
>  wrote:
> > So I don’t think your point is the highest priority item compared to
> deciding the
> > election / appointment for all the rest of the seats.
>
> I agree that's the more important question. Regarding the founder
> seat, I do think it would be good governance to eventually find a way
> to solve the problem it solves (preserving long term institutional
> memory & wisdom on the Board) in a manner that generalizes beyond
> Jimmy's involvement. Not only because Jimmy won't be around forever,
> but also to draw from a more diverse set of voices. That could be done
> through non-voting observers (for which there is precedent), advisors,
> the council, or some other mechanism.


Great point. This definitely makes me think about our underutilized
advisory board. There were a lot of smart people who’ve been on that board
who it seems like we never fully leveraged.

Warmly,
> Erik
>
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Re: [Wikimedia-l] Resolution about the upcoming Board elections

2021-04-25 Thread Erik Moeller 
On Sun, Apr 25, 2021 at 10:35 AM Steven Walling
 wrote:
> So I don’t think your point is the highest priority item compared to deciding 
> the
> election / appointment for all the rest of the seats.

I agree that's the more important question. Regarding the founder
seat, I do think it would be good governance to eventually find a way
to solve the problem it solves (preserving long term institutional
memory & wisdom on the Board) in a manner that generalizes beyond
Jimmy's involvement. Not only because Jimmy won't be around forever,
but also to draw from a more diverse set of voices. That could be done
through non-voting observers (for which there is precedent), advisors,
the council, or some other mechanism.

Warmly,
Erik

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Re: [Wikimedia-l] Resolution about the upcoming Board elections

2021-04-25 Thread Steven Walling 
On Fri, Apr 23, 2021 at 4:24 PM Luis Villa  wrote:

> This looks like a very thoughtful start on a very thorny problem, well
> done.
>
> Given that we’re trying to diversify the board, and that Jimmy has
> recently criticized FSF for having lifetime board appointments for
> founders,* I was surprised not to see any mention in this document of
> sunsetting Jimmy’s founder seat. Making him a peer of the rest of the
> board, subject to the same terms, selection process, and requalification
> standards, rather than a first-among-equals, would potentially free up an
> additional seat to improve global board diversity and definitely be
> consistent with general best practices for non-profit governance.
>
> Has the board discussed that?
>
> Thanks-
> Luis
>
> P.S. the links on the last page of
> https://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/foundation/8/83/BGC_Community_Trustee_Selection_Proposal_April_2021.pdf
> are broken.
>
> * well, he criticized them for _secretive_ board appointments, but from a
> governance perspective a lifetime founder seat is problematic regardless of
> whether it is secret/defacto (FSF) or public/de jure (WMF).
>

There’s one huge unspoken difference between the FSF and WMF that needs
acknowledgment. When you’re talking about a seat designated for a single
founder, their character, morals, and personality matters. Jimmy is not
Richard Stallman, whose bizarre behavior is more or less legendary.

I think a lot of editors look at the composition of the board (today and
historically) and are super uncomfortable with the number of expert board
members who have pretty much zero idea how the projects actually operate.
In theory the elected community seats are a check on this, but those people
are often very new to board governance.

Jimmy’s combination of deep trust with the community and his perpetual
tenure are a unique asset that far outweighs the risk he does crazy Richard
Stallman public gaffes like eat his foot cheese or defend rapists on
mailing lists. So I don’t think your point is the highest priority item
compared to deciding the election / appointment for all the rest of the
seats.

On Wed, Apr 21, 2021 at 1:45 PM Jackie Koerner 
> wrote:
>
>> Hi all,
>>
>> The Wikimedia Foundation Board of Trustees met last week to decide on a
>> plan for the 2021 Board elections. The Board Governance Committee created
>> this proposal, based on the Call for Feedback about Community Board
>> Seats.[1] Please check the related announcement for details.[2]
>>
>> The Board wants to thank the more than 800 volunteers that participated
>> in the Call for Feedback in one way or another.[3] There were almost a
>> hundred conversations in multiple languages and in multiple regions. There
>> was additional discussion on Meta, Telegram, and other channels used by
>> local communities. Three new ideas were presented by volunteers during the
>> Call. It has been very difficult to decide on every open question
>> considering the quantity and diversity of opinions received. We hope this
>> resolution feels sensible to everybody.
>>
>> In the upcoming days, the Board elections facilitation team will share
>> their ideas to support candidates and voters. Let's work together on
>> elections with high and very diverse participation!
>>
>> [1] Call for Feedback Community Board Seats
>>
>> https://meta.wikimedia.org/wiki/Wikimedia_Foundation_Board_of_Trustees/Call_for_feedback:_Community_Board_seats/Main_report
>>
>> [2] Announcement of Board Governance Committee proposal
>>
>> https://meta.wikimedia.org/wiki/Special:MyLanguage/Wikimedia_Foundation_Board_noticeboard/2021-04-15_Resolution_about_the_upcoming_Board_elections
>>
>> [3] Call for Feedback Community Board seats metrics
>>
>> https://meta.wikimedia.org/wiki/Wikimedia_Foundation_Board_of_Trustees/Call_for_feedback:_Community_Board_seats/Main_report#Metrics
>>
>>
>> --
>> *Jackie Koerner*
>>
>> *she/her*
>> Board Governance Facilitator
>> *English language and Meta-Wiki*
>> ___
>> 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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Re: [Wikimedia-l] Resolution about the upcoming Board elections

2021-04-25 Thread Philip Kopetzky 
Hi Luis,

this has been brought up on the talk page of the proposed bylaw changes,
including a statement by Jimmy:
https://meta.wikimedia.org/wiki/Talk:Wikimedia_Foundation_Board_noticeboard/October_2020_-_Proposed_Bylaws_changes#Founder_seat

Would be interesting to know if the status has changed from "being open for
discussion" in the last 7 months ;-)

Cheers,
Philip

On Sat, 24 Apr 2021 at 00:24, Luis Villa  wrote:

> This looks like a very thoughtful start on a very thorny problem, well
> done.
>
> Given that we’re trying to diversify the board, and that Jimmy has
> recently criticized FSF for having lifetime board appointments for
> founders,* I was surprised not to see any mention in this document of
> sunsetting Jimmy’s founder seat. Making him a peer of the rest of the
> board, subject to the same terms, selection process, and requalification
> standards, rather than a first-among-equals, would potentially free up an
> additional seat to improve global board diversity and definitely be
> consistent with general best practices for non-profit governance.
>
> Has the board discussed that?
>
> Thanks-
> Luis
>
> P.S. the links on the last page of
> https://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/foundation/8/83/BGC_Community_Trustee_Selection_Proposal_April_2021.pdf
> are broken.
>
> * well, he criticized them for _secretive_ board appointments, but from a
> governance perspective a lifetime founder seat is problematic regardless of
> whether it is secret/defacto (FSF) or public/de jure (WMF).
>
> On Wed, Apr 21, 2021 at 1:45 PM Jackie Koerner 
> wrote:
>
>> Hi all,
>>
>> The Wikimedia Foundation Board of Trustees met last week to decide on a
>> plan for the 2021 Board elections. The Board Governance Committee created
>> this proposal, based on the Call for Feedback about Community Board
>> Seats.[1] Please check the related announcement for details.[2]
>>
>> The Board wants to thank the more than 800 volunteers that participated
>> in the Call for Feedback in one way or another.[3] There were almost a
>> hundred conversations in multiple languages and in multiple regions. There
>> was additional discussion on Meta, Telegram, and other channels used by
>> local communities. Three new ideas were presented by volunteers during the
>> Call. It has been very difficult to decide on every open question
>> considering the quantity and diversity of opinions received. We hope this
>> resolution feels sensible to everybody.
>>
>> In the upcoming days, the Board elections facilitation team will share
>> their ideas to support candidates and voters. Let's work together on
>> elections with high and very diverse participation!
>>
>> [1] Call for Feedback Community Board Seats
>>
>> https://meta.wikimedia.org/wiki/Wikimedia_Foundation_Board_of_Trustees/Call_for_feedback:_Community_Board_seats/Main_report
>>
>> [2] Announcement of Board Governance Committee proposal
>>
>> https://meta.wikimedia.org/wiki/Special:MyLanguage/Wikimedia_Foundation_Board_noticeboard/2021-04-15_Resolution_about_the_upcoming_Board_elections
>>
>> [3] Call for Feedback Community Board seats metrics
>>
>> https://meta.wikimedia.org/wiki/Wikimedia_Foundation_Board_of_Trustees/Call_for_feedback:_Community_Board_seats/Main_report#Metrics
>>
>>
>> --
>> *Jackie Koerner*
>>
>> *she/her*
>> Board Governance Facilitator
>> *English language and Meta-Wiki*
>> ___
>> 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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Re: [Wikimedia-l] Resolution about the upcoming Board elections

2021-04-23 Thread Luis Villa 
This looks like a very thoughtful start on a very thorny problem, well done.

Given that we’re trying to diversify the board, and that Jimmy has recently
criticized FSF for having lifetime board appointments for founders,* I was
surprised not to see any mention in this document of sunsetting Jimmy’s
founder seat. Making him a peer of the rest of the board, subject to the
same terms, selection process, and requalification standards, rather than a
first-among-equals, would potentially free up an additional seat to improve
global board diversity and definitely be consistent with general best
practices for non-profit governance.

Has the board discussed that?

Thanks-
Luis

P.S. the links on the last page of
https://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/foundation/8/83/BGC_Community_Trustee_Selection_Proposal_April_2021.pdf
are broken.

* well, he criticized them for _secretive_ board appointments, but from a
governance perspective a lifetime founder seat is problematic regardless of
whether it is secret/defacto (FSF) or public/de jure (WMF).

On Wed, Apr 21, 2021 at 1:45 PM Jackie Koerner 
wrote:

> Hi all,
>
> The Wikimedia Foundation Board of Trustees met last week to decide on a
> plan for the 2021 Board elections. The Board Governance Committee created
> this proposal, based on the Call for Feedback about Community Board
> Seats.[1] Please check the related announcement for details.[2]
>
> The Board wants to thank the more than 800 volunteers that participated in
> the Call for Feedback in one way or another.[3] There were almost a hundred
> conversations in multiple languages and in multiple regions. There was
> additional discussion on Meta, Telegram, and other channels used by local
> communities. Three new ideas were presented by volunteers during the Call.
> It has been very difficult to decide on every open question considering the
> quantity and diversity of opinions received. We hope this resolution feels
> sensible to everybody.
>
> In the upcoming days, the Board elections facilitation team will share
> their ideas to support candidates and voters. Let's work together on
> elections with high and very diverse participation!
>
> [1] Call for Feedback Community Board Seats
>
> https://meta.wikimedia.org/wiki/Wikimedia_Foundation_Board_of_Trustees/Call_for_feedback:_Community_Board_seats/Main_report
>
> [2] Announcement of Board Governance Committee proposal
>
> https://meta.wikimedia.org/wiki/Special:MyLanguage/Wikimedia_Foundation_Board_noticeboard/2021-04-15_Resolution_about_the_upcoming_Board_elections
>
> [3] Call for Feedback Community Board seats metrics
>
> https://meta.wikimedia.org/wiki/Wikimedia_Foundation_Board_of_Trustees/Call_for_feedback:_Community_Board_seats/Main_report#Metrics
>
>
> --
> *Jackie Koerner*
>
> *she/her*
> Board Governance Facilitator
> *English language and Meta-Wiki*
> ___
> 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] Resolution about the upcoming Board elections

2021-04-21 Thread Jackie Koerner 
Hi all,

The Wikimedia Foundation Board of Trustees met last week to decide on a
plan for the 2021 Board elections. The Board Governance Committee created
this proposal, based on the Call for Feedback about Community Board
Seats.[1] Please check the related announcement for details.[2]

The Board wants to thank the more than 800 volunteers that participated in
the Call for Feedback in one way or another.[3] There were almost a hundred
conversations in multiple languages and in multiple regions. There was
additional discussion on Meta, Telegram, and other channels used by local
communities. Three new ideas were presented by volunteers during the Call.
It has been very difficult to decide on every open question considering the
quantity and diversity of opinions received. We hope this resolution feels
sensible to everybody.

In the upcoming days, the Board elections facilitation team will share
their ideas to support candidates and voters. Let's work together on
elections with high and very diverse participation!

[1] Call for Feedback Community Board Seats
https://meta.wikimedia.org/wiki/Wikimedia_Foundation_Board_of_Trustees/Call_for_feedback:_Community_Board_seats/Main_report

[2] Announcement of Board Governance Committee proposal
https://meta.wikimedia.org/wiki/Special:MyLanguage/Wikimedia_Foundation_Board_noticeboard/2021-04-15_Resolution_about_the_upcoming_Board_elections

[3] Call for Feedback Community Board seats metrics
https://meta.wikimedia.org/wiki/Wikimedia_Foundation_Board_of_Trustees/Call_for_feedback:_Community_Board_seats/Main_report#Metrics

-- 
*Jackie Koerner*

*she/her*
Board Governance Facilitator
*English language and Meta-Wiki*
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