Re: [Wikimedia-l] [Wikimedia Announcements] (press release) Frank Schulenburg named executive director of new Wiki Education Foundation
Allow me first to congratulate Frank. I think he is a great choice and already proved how much he capable to do amazing things, so I have a great hopes in this new organizations. Saying that and moving to talk about the organization and the process, and not about the person, this grant and program itself had been discussed over the past months in a unofficial lists. This grant is a the biggest grant the WMF ever gave to a new group - 147,570$. The grant department gave in the past (for one year) more than that to a few big chapters (WMNL/AT/SE/DE) but all of them was a already existing chapters with a record of few years. The WEF hasn't been yet approved by the affcom, BTW. I can't see in the near future (especially after the last board decision) any other new group or chapter getting even quarter of budget in their first new year. It's worth to read the discussion the GAC had around this grant request: https://meta.wikimedia.org/wiki/Grants_talk:PEG/User:Pjthepiano_-_Wiki_Education_Foundation/US_and_Canada_Wikipedia_Education_Program I'm part of the communication committee for a many years, and indeed this press release was also very strange to me (and it been also published on Wikipedia's official Facebook page and others social media channels). It seem like it will be unclear if the WEF will get a special treatment from the WMF/staff, not like others groups or chapters. BTW, the WEF didn't budgeted office rent in their grant request, and as the grants are restricted, it seem like they will need to find a Pro bono office, or to ask for revising their grant. On Thu, Feb 13, 2014 at 8:30 AM, Jan-Bart de Vreede jdevre...@wikimedia.org wrote: Hi On 13 Feb 2014, at 04:46, Liam Wyatt liamwy...@gmail.com wrote: Good question Andy! Moreover, as this is an independent organisation, why does the fact of it getting a director deserve a WMF press-release? For comparison, has the hiring of senior staff for any of the Chapters received a WMF-written press release? Because the director happens to be an extremely valued long time member of the senior staff of the Wikimedia Foundation. SNIP I note that on the QA that the organisation is Based in San Francisco - I hope this means that it is not getting free accommodation in the WMF offices as I'm sure there's lots of other independent groups that would like free office space too. Assuming good faith would be a good start here. Funny thing is... Frank moved to San Francisco for his work at the Wikimedia Foundation (and built up a life there), so that could also be a logical reason for the office being based there (and in fact I think that is the reason, because the last I heard the Wiki Education Foundation will not be located in the Wikimedia Foundation office) Rather than just answer your concerns I want to take the opportunity to congratulate Frank on this move. While he will be sorely missed at the Wikimedia Foundation this step makes sense for him personally. The fact that he will remain part of our movement helps make this a little less painful. I am sure that in his new capacity he will continue to move mountains to further our goals. I wish him the best of luck and hope that the Wiki Education Foundation becomes a great succes. Jan-Bart de Vreede Chair Board of Trustees Wikimedia Foundation ___ Wikimedia-l mailing list Wikimedia-l@lists.wikimedia.org Unsubscribe: https://lists.wikimedia.org/mailman/listinfo/wikimedia-l, mailto:wikimedia-l-requ...@lists.wikimedia.org?subject=unsubscribe ___ Wikimedia-l mailing list Wikimedia-l@lists.wikimedia.org Unsubscribe: https://lists.wikimedia.org/mailman/listinfo/wikimedia-l, mailto:wikimedia-l-requ...@lists.wikimedia.org?subject=unsubscribe
Re: [Wikimedia-l] [Wikimedia Announcements] (press release) Frank Schulenburg named executive director of new Wiki Education Foundation
On 13 February 2014 06:30, Jan-Bart de Vreede jdevre...@wikimedia.org wrote: ... Because the director happens to be an extremely valued long time member of the senior staff of the Wikimedia Foundation. This makes for a useful tip for recruiting managers for new Wikimedia organizations or and large programmes. Always useful to have friends who can interpret policies in our favour. Fae -- fae...@gmail.com http://j.mp/faewm ___ Wikimedia-l mailing list Wikimedia-l@lists.wikimedia.org Unsubscribe: https://lists.wikimedia.org/mailman/listinfo/wikimedia-l, mailto:wikimedia-l-requ...@lists.wikimedia.org?subject=unsubscribe
Re: [Wikimedia-l] [Wikimedia Announcements] (press release) Frank Schulenburg named executive director of new Wiki Education Foundation
On 13 February 2014 06:30, Jan-Bart de Vreede jdevre...@wikimedia.org wrote: Rather than just answer your concerns But you haven't done. Will anyone? -- Andy Mabbett @pigsonthewing http://pigsonthewing.org.uk ___ Wikimedia-l mailing list Wikimedia-l@lists.wikimedia.org Unsubscribe: https://lists.wikimedia.org/mailman/listinfo/wikimedia-l, mailto:wikimedia-l-requ...@lists.wikimedia.org?subject=unsubscribe
Re: [Wikimedia-l] [Wikimedia Announcements] (press release) Frank Schulenburg named executive director of new Wiki Education Foundation
Chipping in my 2p very quickly - Given it's a senior WMF staff member leaving to join another movement organisation, it makes perfect sense that both bodies have put out a joint statement. It's also a good thing for the movement that it's possible to spin off projects like this, which the Foundation has decided are no longer core activity, to other entities. So well done Frank for getting the role, and good luck to the Wikimedia Education Foundation for the future. Chris On Thu, Feb 13, 2014 at 10:05 AM, Andy Mabbett a...@pigsonthewing.org.ukwrote: On 13 February 2014 06:30, Jan-Bart de Vreede jdevre...@wikimedia.org wrote: Rather than just answer your concerns But you haven't done. Will anyone? -- Andy Mabbett @pigsonthewing http://pigsonthewing.org.uk ___ Wikimedia-l mailing list Wikimedia-l@lists.wikimedia.org Unsubscribe: https://lists.wikimedia.org/mailman/listinfo/wikimedia-l, mailto:wikimedia-l-requ...@lists.wikimedia.org?subject=unsubscribe ___ Wikimedia-l mailing list Wikimedia-l@lists.wikimedia.org Unsubscribe: https://lists.wikimedia.org/mailman/listinfo/wikimedia-l, mailto:wikimedia-l-requ...@lists.wikimedia.org?subject=unsubscribe
Re: [Wikimedia-l] [Wikimedia Announcements] (press release) Frank Schulenburg named executive director of new Wiki Education Foundation
On 13 February 2014 13:31, Chris Keating chriskeatingw...@gmail.com wrote: ... It's also a good thing for the movement that it's possible to spin off projects like this, which the Foundation has decided are no longer core activity, to other entities. I agree with the sentiment, especially as it is a firm requirement on charities in the UK to review this option. I attempted to say something similar about QRpedia - a Wikimedia UK service for the rest of the world that may well not be seen as core to the chapter's mission some day. A pity that the discussion was rapidly shot down as an apparent threat: https://wikimedia.org.uk/wiki/Engine_room#Cultural_Outreach_Limited Fae ___ Wikimedia-l mailing list Wikimedia-l@lists.wikimedia.org Unsubscribe: https://lists.wikimedia.org/mailman/listinfo/wikimedia-l, mailto:wikimedia-l-requ...@lists.wikimedia.org?subject=unsubscribe
Re: [Wikimedia-l] [Wikimedia Announcements] (press release) Frank Schulenburg named executive director of new Wiki Education Foundation
Jay Walsh wrote: Passing along for your information. This release is posted on the WMF wiki at https://www.wikimedia.org/wiki/Special:Permalink/95859 An accompanying QA can also be found here: https://www.wikimedia.org/wiki/Special:Permalink/95860 For wikimedia-l in particular, it probably would have been better to include the FAQ rather than the press release. The FAQ has far more relevant info for this list. :-) Ah well. Federico Leva (Nemo) wrote: WEF is a spin-off from WMF, with direct management continuity. Good or not, it's standard for spin-offs to have a special treat from their parent organisation. A number of things can be said and done about this of course but it's hardly surprising. A $147,000 grant and the full support and cooperation of the Wikimedia Foundation. A platinum parachute, perhaps. At least there's a good bit of transparency here, which I (app)laud. (I was going to add a member of the Wikimedia Foundation staff to the list as well, but it turns out Jami Mathewson was a consultant and hasn't been listed on the staff and contractors page since December 2013.) In any case, not a bad way to go out. And a mutually agreeable separation is always preferable to the alternative. There seems to be an undercurrent on the list (a rumbling below the surface) about the Wikimedia Foundation's role in supporting GLAMs and other educational institutions that I'd like to directly address. I think it makes sense to once again look at this document from October 2012 in which Sue lays out that the Wikimedia Foundation's core priorities should be grant-making and engineering: https://meta.wikimedia.org/wiki/User:Sue_Gardner/Narrowing_focus. I see a dismantling of the Programs group (cf. https://www.wikimedia.org/wiki/Special:Permalink/95865) as a means of continuing this narrowing of focus. The Board and current head of the Wikimedia Foundation seem to agree that doing cultural outreach, at an institutional level (i.e., Wikimedia Foundation -- GLAMs and other educational institutions), is not currently a top priority. If anyone believes that this is wrong path to be taking, you'll need to convince or replace Board members, particularly in conjunction with the upcoming strategic planning process which will cover 2016 and beyond. While 2016 seems somewhat distant, at nearly 200 staff members, the Wikimedia Foundation has become a big machine that can't move as swiftly any longer (and that's partially a good thing). It takes time and patience to add or remove large, high-level focuses (and Board members). In this particular case, Frank gets a good bye and the people in his department get relocated, with grant-making (a core priority) taking in some staff and engineering (a core priority) taking in some staff. I can somewhat understand others being disappointed or disagreeing with these changes, but they're hardly surprising and I, personally, think that the Wikimedia Foundation is largely headed in the right direction. I think it can still be leaner and more focused, but, again, time and patience. :-) MZMcBride P.S. I'm still recovering from whiplash as I initially thought this press release was announcing a new Wikimedia Foundation Executive Director. Frank Schulenburg named executive director of new WEF is quite close! ___ Wikimedia-l mailing list Wikimedia-l@lists.wikimedia.org Unsubscribe: https://lists.wikimedia.org/mailman/listinfo/wikimedia-l, mailto:wikimedia-l-requ...@lists.wikimedia.org?subject=unsubscribe
Re: [Wikimedia-l] [Wikimedia Announcements] (press release) Frank Schulenburg named executive director of new Wiki Education Foundation
Hi all, First of all, thanks a lot for the many good wishes that I received on- and offline. Let me answer some of the questions that came up in this thread. (1) WMF grant money The Wiki Education Foundation received a grant to get things off the ground last year as part of the Projects and Events Grants process. The Wiki Education Foundation has already reached out to a major donor in the United States and is confident to get third-party funding in place by the second quarter of this year. (2) Office space One of the first things on my to do list will be to start looking for office space in San Francisco. From February 18th on, I plan to work out of my living room (yes, my wife knows). (3) Recognition At this point, the Wiki Education Foundation would like to focus on programmatic work. Like many organizations that are not formally recognized Wikimedia organizations, we will be part of the global free knowledge community. We look forward to participating in various education and free information events consistent with our mission, including through participation at Wikimania and working closely with like-minded groups within the United States, Canada and other countries. Thanks, Frank ___ Wikimedia-l mailing list Wikimedia-l@lists.wikimedia.org Unsubscribe: https://lists.wikimedia.org/mailman/listinfo/wikimedia-l, mailto:wikimedia-l-requ...@lists.wikimedia.org?subject=unsubscribe
Re: [Wikimedia-l] [Wikimedia Announcements] (press release) Frank Schulenburg named executive director of new Wiki Education Foundation
Hi all, Frank, congratulations on the new job. :-) Can I ask for a clarification on the funding situation please? (1) WMF grant money The Wiki Education Foundation received a grant to get things off the ground last year as part of the Projects and Events Grants process. The Wiki Education Foundation has already reached out to a major donor in the United States and is confident to get third-party funding in place by the second quarter of this year. Are you anticipating that direct donors will be able to support all of WEF’s future funding needs, or might you be applying to GAC or FDC for funding in the future? I’d also like to echo Andy’s question: ...why isn't this called The Wiki Education North America Foundation,, or suchlike? as that would seem to be a more natural name for the organisation (unless it has international intentions?), and would help avoid the confusion between ‘WEF’ and ‘WMF’. Also, as a general question to those involved, the announcement QA says: He was chosen by the Board of the Wiki Education Foundation in a process that began in late 2013 and concluded in February 2014.” Please could more details of that process be shared? What was the process, how was it structured, and who was involved in it? Thanks, Mike ___ Wikimedia-l mailing list Wikimedia-l@lists.wikimedia.org Unsubscribe: https://lists.wikimedia.org/mailman/listinfo/wikimedia-l, mailto:wikimedia-l-requ...@lists.wikimedia.org?subject=unsubscribe
Re: [Wikimedia-l] [Wikimedia Announcements] (press release) Frank Schulenburg named executive director of new Wiki Education Foundation
Hi, Mike. For an answer to your question about the name, please see this conversation[1] on Meta. Our board is active answering questions on wiki and not on mailing lists, so I encourage you to post questions to the Wiki Education Foundation board on Meta. Hope that answers it for you, Jami [1] See https://meta.wikimedia.org/wiki/Talk:Wiki_Education_Foundation#Organization_Name On Thu, Feb 13, 2014 at 2:01 PM, Michael Peel em...@mikepeel.net wrote: Hi all, Frank, congratulations on the new job. :-) Can I ask for a clarification on the funding situation please? (1) WMF grant money The Wiki Education Foundation received a grant to get things off the ground last year as part of the Projects and Events Grants process. The Wiki Education Foundation has already reached out to a major donor in the United States and is confident to get third-party funding in place by the second quarter of this year. Are you anticipating that direct donors will be able to support all of WEF's future funding needs, or might you be applying to GAC or FDC for funding in the future? I'd also like to echo Andy's question: ...why isn't this called The Wiki Education North America Foundation,, or suchlike? as that would seem to be a more natural name for the organisation (unless it has international intentions?), and would help avoid the confusion between 'WEF' and 'WMF'. Also, as a general question to those involved, the announcement QA says: He was chosen by the Board of the Wiki Education Foundation in a process that began in late 2013 and concluded in February 2014. Please could more details of that process be shared? What was the process, how was it structured, and who was involved in it? Thanks, Mike ___ Wikimedia-l mailing list Wikimedia-l@lists.wikimedia.org Unsubscribe: https://lists.wikimedia.org/mailman/listinfo/wikimedia-l, mailto:wikimedia-l-requ...@lists.wikimedia.org?subject=unsubscribe -- Jami Mathewson Program Manager Wiki Education Foundation j...@wikiedfoundation.org User:Jami (Wiki Ed) https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/User:Jami_(Wiki_Ed) @WikiEducation https://twitter.com/WikiEducation *Our organization supports the Wikipedia Education Program in the United States and Canada.* ___ Wikimedia-l mailing list Wikimedia-l@lists.wikimedia.org Unsubscribe: https://lists.wikimedia.org/mailman/listinfo/wikimedia-l, mailto:wikimedia-l-requ...@lists.wikimedia.org?subject=unsubscribe
Re: [Wikimedia-l] [Wikimedia Announcements] (press release) Frank Schulenburg named executive director of new Wiki Education Foundation
Congratulations Frank - I had been getting a bit worried about the ED search for the WEF, and my faith in the organization's future success is significantly increased by your selection for the position. Best wishes, Kevin Gorman On Thu, Feb 13, 2014 at 2:14 PM, Jami Mathewson j...@wikiedfoundation.org wrote: Hi, Mike. For an answer to your question about the name, please see this conversation[1] on Meta. Our board is active answering questions on wiki and not on mailing lists, so I encourage you to post questions to the Wiki Education Foundation board on Meta. Hope that answers it for you, Jami [1] See https://meta.wikimedia.org/wiki/Talk:Wiki_Education_Foundation#Organization_Name On Thu, Feb 13, 2014 at 2:01 PM, Michael Peel em...@mikepeel.net wrote: Hi all, Frank, congratulations on the new job. :-) Can I ask for a clarification on the funding situation please? (1) WMF grant money The Wiki Education Foundation received a grant to get things off the ground last year as part of the Projects and Events Grants process. The Wiki Education Foundation has already reached out to a major donor in the United States and is confident to get third-party funding in place by the second quarter of this year. Are you anticipating that direct donors will be able to support all of WEF's future funding needs, or might you be applying to GAC or FDC for funding in the future? I'd also like to echo Andy's question: ...why isn't this called The Wiki Education North America Foundation,, or suchlike? as that would seem to be a more natural name for the organisation (unless it has international intentions?), and would help avoid the confusion between 'WEF' and 'WMF'. Also, as a general question to those involved, the announcement QA says: He was chosen by the Board of the Wiki Education Foundation in a process that began in late 2013 and concluded in February 2014. Please could more details of that process be shared? What was the process, how was it structured, and who was involved in it? Thanks, Mike ___ Wikimedia-l mailing list Wikimedia-l@lists.wikimedia.org Unsubscribe: https://lists.wikimedia.org/mailman/listinfo/wikimedia-l, mailto:wikimedia-l-requ...@lists.wikimedia.org?subject=unsubscribe -- Jami Mathewson Program Manager Wiki Education Foundation j...@wikiedfoundation.org User:Jami (Wiki Ed) https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/User:Jami_(Wiki_Ed) @WikiEducation https://twitter.com/WikiEducation *Our organization supports the Wikipedia Education Program in the United States and Canada.* ___ Wikimedia-l mailing list Wikimedia-l@lists.wikimedia.org Unsubscribe: https://lists.wikimedia.org/mailman/listinfo/wikimedia-l, mailto:wikimedia-l-requ...@lists.wikimedia.org?subject=unsubscribe ___ Wikimedia-l mailing list Wikimedia-l@lists.wikimedia.org Unsubscribe: https://lists.wikimedia.org/mailman/listinfo/wikimedia-l, mailto:wikimedia-l-requ...@lists.wikimedia.org?subject=unsubscribe
Re: [Wikimedia-l] [Wikimedia Announcements] (press release) Frank Schulenburg named executive director of new Wiki Education Foundation
On 12 February 2014 21:16, Jay Walsh jwa...@wikimedia.org wrote: [...] Congratulations to Frank, but... The Wiki Education Foundation, a new nonprofit organization that supports the Wikipedia Education Program in the United States and Canada ...why isn't this called The Wiki Education North America Foundation,, or suchlike? -- Andy Mabbett @pigsonthewing http://pigsonthewing.org.uk ___ Wikimedia-l mailing list Wikimedia-l@lists.wikimedia.org Unsubscribe: https://lists.wikimedia.org/mailman/listinfo/wikimedia-l, mailto:wikimedia-l-requ...@lists.wikimedia.org?subject=unsubscribe
Re: [Wikimedia-l] [Wikimedia Announcements] (press release) Frank Schulenburg named executive director of new Wiki Education Foundation
On 13 February 2014 10:04, Andy Mabbett a...@pigsonthewing.org.uk wrote: On 12 February 2014 21:16, Jay Walsh jwa...@wikimedia.org wrote: [...] Congratulations to Frank, but... The Wiki Education Foundation, a new nonprofit organization that supports the Wikipedia Education Program in the United States and Canada ...why isn't this called The Wiki Education North America Foundation,, or suchlike? -- Good question Andy! Moreover, as this is an independent organisation, why does the fact of it getting a director deserve a WMF press-release? For comparison, has the hiring of senior staff for any of the Chapters received a WMF-written press release? Nevertheless, I'm very pleased to see the WMF's pseudo chapter direct-outreach activity spun out to being an independent organisation that has to fight for grant money on a level-playing with the other organisations that apply for WMF money. It will now have to justify why fee-charging US universities need our donors money to support editing-traning programs more than other programs that aren't WMF originated or USA-focused. Relatedly, I note that on the QA that the organisation is Based in San Francisco - I hope this means that it is not getting free accommodation in the WMF offices as I'm sure there's lots of other independent groups that would like free office space too. -Liam ___ Wikimedia-l mailing list Wikimedia-l@lists.wikimedia.org Unsubscribe: https://lists.wikimedia.org/mailman/listinfo/wikimedia-l, mailto:wikimedia-l-requ...@lists.wikimedia.org?subject=unsubscribe
Re: [Wikimedia-l] [Wikimedia Announcements] (press release) Frank Schulenburg named executive director of new Wiki Education Foundation
Great news and congratulations to Frank. --User:Meno25 On Wed, Feb 12, 2014 at 11:16 PM, Jay Walsh jwa...@wikimedia.org wrote: Passing along for your information. This release is posted on the WMF wiki at https://wikimediafoundation.org/wiki/Press_releases/Frank_Schulenburg_named_executive_director_of_new_WEF An accompanying QA can also be found here: https://wikimediafoundation.org/wiki/QA_Frank_Schulenburg_announcement_February_2014 --- Frank Schulenburg named executive director of new Wiki Education Foundation (San Francisco, California) 12 February 2014 -- The Wiki Education Foundation, a new nonprofit organization that supports the Wikipedia Education Program in the United States and Canada, has named Frank Schulenburg as its inaugural executive director. Schulenburg, formerly senior director of programs at the Wikimedia Foundation, will begin his new role February 18, 2014. I look forward to leading the Wiki Education Foundation, said Schulenburg. We are off to a great start, and will build on the strong success of the Wikimedia Foundation's Wikipedia Education Program to further engage educators, researchers and students to provide more high-quality content for Wikipedia's readers. Started by the Wikimedia Foundation in 2010, the Wikipedia Education Program encourages students to contribute content to Wikipedia articles on course-related subjects as part of classroom assignments developed by their faculty and instructors. Over the past four years, more than 6,000 students in the United States and Canada have contributed content to Wikipedia as part of the Wikipedia Education Program, adding the equivalent of 36,600 printed pages of content to Wikipedia and significantly increasing the amount of high-quality content that Wikipedia offers its half-billion readers. In response to that success and to give the program more focused and specialized support, in 2012 the Wikimedia Foundation began a process to spin off the United States and Canada work into its own, independent nonprofit organization. The resulting Wiki Education Foundation was created in late 2013, and Schulenburg will be its first executive director. The Wiki Education Foundation will continue to support the Wikipedia Education Program in the United States and Canada, and will develop additional programs to promote academic research and teaching that engage with Wikipedia. I am delighted that Frank has agreed to lead the Wiki Education Foundation as executive director, said Dr. Diana Strassmann, Carolyn and Fred McManis Distinguished Professor in the Practice at Rice University and chair of the board of the Wiki Education Foundation, who began using Wikipedia as a teaching tool in her classes in 2007. Under Frank's leadership, the Wiki Education Foundation will continue to expand engagement among educators, students, and Wikipedia, and will continue to diversify the community of Wikipedians, while improving the quality and depth of Wikipedia. Frank is the perfect person to lead the Wiki Education Foundation, said Wikimedia Foundation Executive Director Sue Gardner. Frank's a very experienced Wikipedia contributor with a long track record of inventing and leading successful programs that make Wikipedia better and more useful for its readers. I am sorry we will lose him from the Wikimedia Foundation, but I look forward to seeing the Wiki Education Foundation thrive and succeed under his leadership. A longtime Wikipedian and an employee of the Wikimedia Foundation since 2008, Schulenburg has focused on broadening participation and developing the public understanding of Wikipedia, especially among subject matter experts. He has spoken globally about efforts to increase the relevance of Wikipedia in academia. In 2006, he founded Wikipedia Academy, an event aimed at cultivating dialogue between Wikipedia contributors and academics. In 2009, he initiated the Bookshelf Project, which created the first educational materials for new Wikipedia contributors. In 2010 he designed and implemented the Wikipedia Education Program. From 2012 on he was a member of the executive management team of the Wikimedia Foundation, overseeing the Wikipedia Education Program, Wikipedia Zero, and a new initiative to evaluate the impact of programmatic activities across countries. Schulenburg has been involved with Wikipedia since 2005, both as an author and as a photographer. The Wiki Education Foundation board conducted an extensive search for an executive director before selecting Schulenburg. The board includes educators from a variety of backgrounds, Wikipedia volunteers, and other key stakeholders. The Wiki Education Foundation is currently supporting university instructors in the United States and Canada. Interested instructors are encouraged to send an email to cont...@wikiedfoundation.org. About the Wiki Education Foundation The Wiki Education Foundation supports
