Re: [Wikimedia-l] Wikimedia Foundation Bylaws changed plus next steps

[Paulo Santos Perneta]

Hello,

Chris Keating  escreveu no dia quinta,
21/02/2019 à(s) 21:43:


>   (...) be fair the voices on the Meta page
> were a relatively narrow slice of the overall Wikimedia community.
>

The so called "WMF gap" is a recurrent issue, and was the theme of a
"working group proposal" (?) in a practical workshop at the recent
Iberocoop meeting in Santiago, where some ideas to reduce it were put
forward. It is very evident that there is an huge gap between the WMF and
the communities in the projects - and often with the affiliates as well. I
sincerely hope that the Strategy Work Groups would came up with some
proposals to help reduce that, as IMO it is one of the greatest causes of
conflict and mistrust with the WMF.

But in this particular case I doubt that more diversity of voices would
have made any difference, since despite all the suggestions and apparent
negotiation that took place there, not even a comma seems to have been
changed in BoT's initial proposal, they approved it exactly as it was.

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

Re: [Wikimedia-l] Wikimedia Foundation Bylaws changed plus next steps

[Chris Keating]

The way I'm making sense of the timeline is:

Last summer the Board remembered that the ASBS was coming up (in among all
their conversations about the strategy). Probably in July they discussed it
for the first time and they asked AffCom to look at a way of including User
Groups. At the November meeting they looked at AffCom's recommendation and
decided not to accept it 'as is' but to leave the door open to other
solutions. They then started the formal community consultation. At the
January meeting they adopted the still very open proposals they'd consulted
on.

Personally I would have preferred the Board to consult in public back in
July rather than just consulting AffCom at that point, then we might be 3
months in advance. And I expressed my reservations about this change, so
did many other people. But it's the job of any board to make decisions, and
in this case it seems they felt there were good reasons for going ahead in
spite of the objections raised - and to be fair the voices on the Meta page
were a relatively narrow slice of the overall Wikimedia community.

To those who still have concerns, there is plenty of space to still design
a process that meets them.

And if this issue makes people have wider thoughts about the role of
affiliates and the WMF, please hold onto them, because there is much more
movement strategy thinking coming up in the run up to the Wikimedia Summit,
and the strategy process is probably going to work on a scale that makes
this issue seem insignificant.

Thanks,

Chris

On Thu, Feb 21, 2019 at 8:05 PM Strainu  wrote:

> În joi, 21 feb. 2019 la 16:59, Itzik - Wikimedia Israel
>  a scris:
> >
> > No, you aren't missing anything. The timeline is strange.
> >
> > As Antanana wrote, *"The conversation about how User Groups may
> participate
> > in this process has been on for years, it is not a new topic [4]." *
> > So if it isn't a new proposal, why the board jumped to do this change so
> > close to the election instead of a year or so before?
> > On the other hand, if this issue is old enough, so why do the change now,
> > instead of holding the elections and then conduct (without pressure) a
> REAL
> > discussion and DEEP thinking about how to involve UGs while maintaining
> > equal elections.
>
> Actually, the timeline (give or take a couple of weeks) seems quite
> well chosen to force a timely discussion. Realistically speaking, if a
> wiki-discussion has lagged for years, it would have also lagged until
> the next round of elections, in 3 years. Also, having a solution in
> place for the current election does not prevent another round of
> discussions afterwards, based on the then-existing experience.
>
> I understand that the chapters have concerns regarding their ability
> to have a say in the board, but the fact that there has been a lack in
> new chapters in recent years has given them an unfair advantage over
> other organizations in the ecosystem. Most of the objections on the
> talk page focused on how the UGs will double vote, skew the elections
> etc. without considering that many user groups have established
> internal policies and decision-taking procedures on par with smaller
> chapters. I urge all of the chapter representatives to give up the
> fearmongering and work with the interested parties to make this
> dialogue a showcase of openness and collaboration "à la Wikimedia".
>
> Strainu (for himself)
>
> >
> >
> >
> > *Itzik Edri*
> > Chairperson
> > it...@wikimedia.org.il
> > +972-54-5878078
> >
> >
> >
> >
> > On Wed, Feb 20, 2019 at 8:01 PM effe iets anders <
> effeietsand...@gmail.com>
> > wrote:
> >
> > > As for process.. While I appreciate that this time, the change was at
> least
> > > announced before the vote, and that some board members at least
> engaged in
> > > some conversation - I have yet to see how this was taken into
> consideration
> > > by the board as a whole. It feels like the board already made up its
> mind.
> > >
> > > What is surprising me most, is that it took a month for this
> announcement
> > > to be made - especially considering a time sensitive process being
> impacted
> > > by this decision. Or did I miss a more timely announcement elsewhere?
> > >
> > > Best,
> > > Lodewijk
> > >
> > > On Wed, Feb 20, 2019 at 3:19 AM Santiago Navarro <
> > > santiagonava...@wikimedia.es> wrote:
> > >
> > > > In fact, I did not participate in the discussion page on meta about
> > > > that, because I guessed that my opinion would not be taken in
> account,
> > > > neither discussed, and now it seems that, sadly, I was right in that
> > > > thought.
> > > >
> > > > El 2019-02-19 17:25, Itzik - Wikimedia Israel escribió:
> > > > > Antanana and the board,
> > > > >
> > > > > I find it sad and disappointing that after such a long
> conversation on
> > > > > the
> > > > > talk page, there wasn't any comment on the talk page or in this
> > > > > statement
> > > > > about the problem of double voting by many UG's members. Did the
> board
> > > > > even

Re: [Wikimedia-l] Wikimedia Foundation Bylaws changed plus next steps

[Strainu]

În joi, 21 feb. 2019 la 16:59, Itzik - Wikimedia Israel
 a scris:
>
> No, you aren't missing anything. The timeline is strange.
>
> As Antanana wrote, *"The conversation about how User Groups may participate
> in this process has been on for years, it is not a new topic [4]." *
> So if it isn't a new proposal, why the board jumped to do this change so
> close to the election instead of a year or so before?
> On the other hand, if this issue is old enough, so why do the change now,
> instead of holding the elections and then conduct (without pressure) a REAL
> discussion and DEEP thinking about how to involve UGs while maintaining
> equal elections.

Actually, the timeline (give or take a couple of weeks) seems quite
well chosen to force a timely discussion. Realistically speaking, if a
wiki-discussion has lagged for years, it would have also lagged until
the next round of elections, in 3 years. Also, having a solution in
place for the current election does not prevent another round of
discussions afterwards, based on the then-existing experience.

I understand that the chapters have concerns regarding their ability
to have a say in the board, but the fact that there has been a lack in
new chapters in recent years has given them an unfair advantage over
other organizations in the ecosystem. Most of the objections on the
talk page focused on how the UGs will double vote, skew the elections
etc. without considering that many user groups have established
internal policies and decision-taking procedures on par with smaller
chapters. I urge all of the chapter representatives to give up the
fearmongering and work with the interested parties to make this
dialogue a showcase of openness and collaboration "à la Wikimedia".

Strainu (for himself)

>
>
>
> *Itzik Edri*
> Chairperson
> it...@wikimedia.org.il
> +972-54-5878078
>
>
>
>
> On Wed, Feb 20, 2019 at 8:01 PM effe iets anders 
> wrote:
>
> > As for process.. While I appreciate that this time, the change was at least
> > announced before the vote, and that some board members at least engaged in
> > some conversation - I have yet to see how this was taken into consideration
> > by the board as a whole. It feels like the board already made up its mind.
> >
> > What is surprising me most, is that it took a month for this announcement
> > to be made - especially considering a time sensitive process being impacted
> > by this decision. Or did I miss a more timely announcement elsewhere?
> >
> > Best,
> > Lodewijk
> >
> > On Wed, Feb 20, 2019 at 3:19 AM Santiago Navarro <
> > santiagonava...@wikimedia.es> wrote:
> >
> > > In fact, I did not participate in the discussion page on meta about
> > > that, because I guessed that my opinion would not be taken in account,
> > > neither discussed, and now it seems that, sadly, I was right in that
> > > thought.
> > >
> > > El 2019-02-19 17:25, Itzik - Wikimedia Israel escribió:
> > > > Antanana and the board,
> > > >
> > > > I find it sad and disappointing that after such a long conversation on
> > > > the
> > > > talk page, there wasn't any comment on the talk page or in this
> > > > statement
> > > > about the problem of double voting by many UG's members. Did the board
> > > > even
> > > > discuss that or we just wasted our time giving feedback on it?
> > > >
> > > > Ensuring equality in voting is the basis for every democracy and is
> > > > trampled here completely without any comment from the board about how
> > > > to
> > > > ensure it.
> > > >
> > > >
> > > > *Itzik Edri*
> > > > Chairperson
> > > > it...@wikimedia.org.il
> > > > +972-54-5878078
> > > >
> > > >
> > > >
> > > >
> > > > On Tue, Feb 19, 2019 at 5:18 PM Nataliia Tymkiv  > >
> > > > wrote:
> > > >
> > > >> Hello all!
> > > >>
> > > >> The Wikimedia Foundation Board has unanimously approved the changes to
> > > >> the
> > > >> Bylaws [1] during the last Board meeting on January 30, 2019. This
> > > >> will be
> > > >> covered in the minutes, and the resolution will be published in short
> > > >> order.
> > > >>
> > > >> This change allows the participation of User Groups [2] in the
> > > >> Affiliate-selected Board seats (ASBS) 2019 process [3].  The
> > > >> discussion
> > > >> about this process should start as soon as possible in order to have
> > > >> these
> > > >> two seats selected by Wikimania. This is why we are sending this
> > > >> letter
> > > >> now, before the resolution is published.
> > > >>
> > > >> There are now over 100 recognized User Groups, covering over 50
> > > >> countries,
> > > >> several languages and topics, many of whom represent new and emergent
> > > >> communities within the Wikimedia movement. The Board believes that the
> > > >> added perspectives of the User Groups, combined with the voices of
> > > >> Chapters
> > > >> and Thematic Organizations, will lead to a richer collection of
> > > >> guidance
> > > >> for our movement. The conversation about how User Groups may
> > > >> participate in
> > > >> this process has been 

Re: [Wikimedia-l] Wikimedia Foundation Bylaws changed plus next steps

[Itzik - Wikimedia Israel]

No, you aren't missing anything. The timeline is strange.

As Antanana wrote, *"The conversation about how User Groups may participate
in this process has been on for years, it is not a new topic [4]." *
So if it isn't a new proposal, why the board jumped to do this change so
close to the election instead of a year or so before?
On the other hand, if this issue is old enough, so why do the change now,
instead of holding the elections and then conduct (without pressure) a REAL
discussion and DEEP thinking about how to involve UGs while maintaining
equal elections.



*Itzik Edri*
Chairperson
it...@wikimedia.org.il
+972-54-5878078




On Wed, Feb 20, 2019 at 8:01 PM effe iets anders 
wrote:

> As for process.. While I appreciate that this time, the change was at least
> announced before the vote, and that some board members at least engaged in
> some conversation - I have yet to see how this was taken into consideration
> by the board as a whole. It feels like the board already made up its mind.
>
> What is surprising me most, is that it took a month for this announcement
> to be made - especially considering a time sensitive process being impacted
> by this decision. Or did I miss a more timely announcement elsewhere?
>
> Best,
> Lodewijk
>
> On Wed, Feb 20, 2019 at 3:19 AM Santiago Navarro <
> santiagonava...@wikimedia.es> wrote:
>
> > In fact, I did not participate in the discussion page on meta about
> > that, because I guessed that my opinion would not be taken in account,
> > neither discussed, and now it seems that, sadly, I was right in that
> > thought.
> >
> > El 2019-02-19 17:25, Itzik - Wikimedia Israel escribió:
> > > Antanana and the board,
> > >
> > > I find it sad and disappointing that after such a long conversation on
> > > the
> > > talk page, there wasn't any comment on the talk page or in this
> > > statement
> > > about the problem of double voting by many UG's members. Did the board
> > > even
> > > discuss that or we just wasted our time giving feedback on it?
> > >
> > > Ensuring equality in voting is the basis for every democracy and is
> > > trampled here completely without any comment from the board about how
> > > to
> > > ensure it.
> > >
> > >
> > > *Itzik Edri*
> > > Chairperson
> > > it...@wikimedia.org.il
> > > +972-54-5878078
> > >
> > >
> > >
> > >
> > > On Tue, Feb 19, 2019 at 5:18 PM Nataliia Tymkiv  >
> > > wrote:
> > >
> > >> Hello all!
> > >>
> > >> The Wikimedia Foundation Board has unanimously approved the changes to
> > >> the
> > >> Bylaws [1] during the last Board meeting on January 30, 2019. This
> > >> will be
> > >> covered in the minutes, and the resolution will be published in short
> > >> order.
> > >>
> > >> This change allows the participation of User Groups [2] in the
> > >> Affiliate-selected Board seats (ASBS) 2019 process [3].  The
> > >> discussion
> > >> about this process should start as soon as possible in order to have
> > >> these
> > >> two seats selected by Wikimania. This is why we are sending this
> > >> letter
> > >> now, before the resolution is published.
> > >>
> > >> There are now over 100 recognized User Groups, covering over 50
> > >> countries,
> > >> several languages and topics, many of whom represent new and emergent
> > >> communities within the Wikimedia movement. The Board believes that the
> > >> added perspectives of the User Groups, combined with the voices of
> > >> Chapters
> > >> and Thematic Organizations, will lead to a richer collection of
> > >> guidance
> > >> for our movement. The conversation about how User Groups may
> > >> participate in
> > >> this process has been on for years, it is not a new topic [4].
> > >>
> > >> Once the facilitators of the Selection process are appointed by the
> > >> affiliates, they should work with María Sefidari, who has been chosen
> > >> by
> > >> the Board as the Board liaison for the ASBS process.
> > >>
> > >> Given the potential complexity of organizing a process that now will
> > >> include over a hundred user groups, the Wikimedia Foundation is
> > >> offering
> > >> its support to set up infrastructure and help with communications if
> > >> requested by the affiliates.
> > >>
> > >> A page for translation can be found at:
> > >>
> > >>
> >
> https://meta.wikimedia.org/wiki/Affiliate-selected_Board_seats/2019/Wikimedia_Foundation_Bylaws_changed_plus_next_steps
> > >>
> > >> On behalf of the Board
> > >>
> > >> antanana / Nataliia Tymkiv
> > >>
> > >> Chair of the Board Governance Committee
> > >>
> > >> [1]
> > >>
> > >>
> >
> https://meta.wikimedia.org/wiki/Wikimedia_Foundation_bylaws/December_2018_-_Affiliate-selected_trustees,_term_limits,_and_diversity
> > >>
> > >>
> > >> [2] https://meta.wikimedia.org/wiki/Wikimedia_user_groups
> > >>
> > >>
> > >> [3]
> > >> https://meta.wikimedia.org/wiki/Affiliate-selected_Board_seats/2019
> > >>
> > >>
> > >> [4]
> > >>
> > >>
> >
> https://meta.wikimedia.org/wiki/Wikimedia_Foundation_bylaws/January_2014_-_Amendment_for_Trustees_sel

Re: [Wikimedia-l] Wikimedia Foundation Bylaws changed plus next steps

[effe iets anders]

As for process.. While I appreciate that this time, the change was at least
announced before the vote, and that some board members at least engaged in
some conversation - I have yet to see how this was taken into consideration
by the board as a whole. It feels like the board already made up its mind.

What is surprising me most, is that it took a month for this announcement
to be made - especially considering a time sensitive process being impacted
by this decision. Or did I miss a more timely announcement elsewhere?

Best,
Lodewijk

On Wed, Feb 20, 2019 at 3:19 AM Santiago Navarro <
santiagonava...@wikimedia.es> wrote:

> In fact, I did not participate in the discussion page on meta about
> that, because I guessed that my opinion would not be taken in account,
> neither discussed, and now it seems that, sadly, I was right in that
> thought.
>
> El 2019-02-19 17:25, Itzik - Wikimedia Israel escribió:
> > Antanana and the board,
> >
> > I find it sad and disappointing that after such a long conversation on
> > the
> > talk page, there wasn't any comment on the talk page or in this
> > statement
> > about the problem of double voting by many UG's members. Did the board
> > even
> > discuss that or we just wasted our time giving feedback on it?
> >
> > Ensuring equality in voting is the basis for every democracy and is
> > trampled here completely without any comment from the board about how
> > to
> > ensure it.
> >
> >
> > *Itzik Edri*
> > Chairperson
> > it...@wikimedia.org.il
> > +972-54-5878078
> >
> >
> >
> >
> > On Tue, Feb 19, 2019 at 5:18 PM Nataliia Tymkiv 
> > wrote:
> >
> >> Hello all!
> >>
> >> The Wikimedia Foundation Board has unanimously approved the changes to
> >> the
> >> Bylaws [1] during the last Board meeting on January 30, 2019. This
> >> will be
> >> covered in the minutes, and the resolution will be published in short
> >> order.
> >>
> >> This change allows the participation of User Groups [2] in the
> >> Affiliate-selected Board seats (ASBS) 2019 process [3].  The
> >> discussion
> >> about this process should start as soon as possible in order to have
> >> these
> >> two seats selected by Wikimania. This is why we are sending this
> >> letter
> >> now, before the resolution is published.
> >>
> >> There are now over 100 recognized User Groups, covering over 50
> >> countries,
> >> several languages and topics, many of whom represent new and emergent
> >> communities within the Wikimedia movement. The Board believes that the
> >> added perspectives of the User Groups, combined with the voices of
> >> Chapters
> >> and Thematic Organizations, will lead to a richer collection of
> >> guidance
> >> for our movement. The conversation about how User Groups may
> >> participate in
> >> this process has been on for years, it is not a new topic [4].
> >>
> >> Once the facilitators of the Selection process are appointed by the
> >> affiliates, they should work with María Sefidari, who has been chosen
> >> by
> >> the Board as the Board liaison for the ASBS process.
> >>
> >> Given the potential complexity of organizing a process that now will
> >> include over a hundred user groups, the Wikimedia Foundation is
> >> offering
> >> its support to set up infrastructure and help with communications if
> >> requested by the affiliates.
> >>
> >> A page for translation can be found at:
> >>
> >>
> https://meta.wikimedia.org/wiki/Affiliate-selected_Board_seats/2019/Wikimedia_Foundation_Bylaws_changed_plus_next_steps
> >>
> >> On behalf of the Board
> >>
> >> antanana / Nataliia Tymkiv
> >>
> >> Chair of the Board Governance Committee
> >>
> >> [1]
> >>
> >>
> https://meta.wikimedia.org/wiki/Wikimedia_Foundation_bylaws/December_2018_-_Affiliate-selected_trustees,_term_limits,_and_diversity
> >>
> >>
> >> [2] https://meta.wikimedia.org/wiki/Wikimedia_user_groups
> >>
> >>
> >> [3]
> >> https://meta.wikimedia.org/wiki/Affiliate-selected_Board_seats/2019
> >>
> >>
> >> [4]
> >>
> >>
> https://meta.wikimedia.org/wiki/Wikimedia_Foundation_bylaws/January_2014_-_Amendment_for_Trustees_selected_by_Chapters_and_Thematic_Organizations
> >>
> >> *NOTICE: You may have received this message outside of your normal
> >> working
> >> hours/days, as I usually can work more as a volunteer during weekend.
> >> You
> >> should not feel obligated to answer it during your days off. Thank you
> >> in
> >> advance!*
> >> ___
> >> Wikimedia-l mailing list, guidelines at:
> >> https://meta.wikimedia.org/wiki/Mailing_lists/Guidelines and
> >> https://meta.wikimedia.org/wiki/Wikimedia-l
> >> New messages to: Wikimedia-l@lists.wikimedia.org
> >> Unsubscribe: https://lists.wikimedia.org/mailman/listinfo/wikimedia-l,
> >> 
> > ___
> > Wikimedia-l mailing list, guidelines at:
> > https://meta.wikimedia.org/wiki/Mailing_lists/Guidelines and
> > https://meta.wikimedia.org/wiki/Wik

Re: [Wikimedia-l] Wikimedia Foundation Bylaws changed plus next steps

[Santiago Navarro]

In fact, I did not participate in the discussion page on meta about 
that, because I guessed that my opinion would not be taken in account, 
neither discussed, and now it seems that, sadly, I was right in that 
thought.


El 2019-02-19 17:25, Itzik - Wikimedia Israel escribió:

Antanana and the board,

I find it sad and disappointing that after such a long conversation on 
the
talk page, there wasn't any comment on the talk page or in this 
statement
about the problem of double voting by many UG's members. Did the board 
even

discuss that or we just wasted our time giving feedback on it?

Ensuring equality in voting is the basis for every democracy and is
trampled here completely without any comment from the board about how 
to

ensure it.


*Itzik Edri*
Chairperson
it...@wikimedia.org.il
+972-54-5878078




On Tue, Feb 19, 2019 at 5:18 PM Nataliia Tymkiv 
wrote:


Hello all!

The Wikimedia Foundation Board has unanimously approved the changes to 
the
Bylaws [1] during the last Board meeting on January 30, 2019. This 
will be

covered in the minutes, and the resolution will be published in short
order.

This change allows the participation of User Groups [2] in the
Affiliate-selected Board seats (ASBS) 2019 process [3].  The 
discussion
about this process should start as soon as possible in order to have 
these
two seats selected by Wikimania. This is why we are sending this 
letter

now, before the resolution is published.

There are now over 100 recognized User Groups, covering over 50 
countries,

several languages and topics, many of whom represent new and emergent
communities within the Wikimedia movement. The Board believes that the
added perspectives of the User Groups, combined with the voices of 
Chapters
and Thematic Organizations, will lead to a richer collection of 
guidance
for our movement. The conversation about how User Groups may 
participate in

this process has been on for years, it is not a new topic [4].

Once the facilitators of the Selection process are appointed by the
affiliates, they should work with María Sefidari, who has been chosen 
by

the Board as the Board liaison for the ASBS process.

Given the potential complexity of organizing a process that now will
include over a hundred user groups, the Wikimedia Foundation is 
offering

its support to set up infrastructure and help with communications if
requested by the affiliates.

A page for translation can be found at:

https://meta.wikimedia.org/wiki/Affiliate-selected_Board_seats/2019/Wikimedia_Foundation_Bylaws_changed_plus_next_steps

On behalf of the Board

antanana / Nataliia Tymkiv

Chair of the Board Governance Committee

[1]

https://meta.wikimedia.org/wiki/Wikimedia_Foundation_bylaws/December_2018_-_Affiliate-selected_trustees,_term_limits,_and_diversity


[2] https://meta.wikimedia.org/wiki/Wikimedia_user_groups


[3] 
https://meta.wikimedia.org/wiki/Affiliate-selected_Board_seats/2019



[4]

https://meta.wikimedia.org/wiki/Wikimedia_Foundation_bylaws/January_2014_-_Amendment_for_Trustees_selected_by_Chapters_and_Thematic_Organizations

*NOTICE: You may have received this message outside of your normal 
working
hours/days, as I usually can work more as a volunteer during weekend. 
You
should not feel obligated to answer it during your days off. Thank you 
in

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


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



--
Santiago Navarro Sanz
Presidente
Wikimedia España
www.wikimedia.es

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

Re: [Wikimedia-l] Wikimedia Foundation Bylaws changed plus next steps

[Lane Rasberry]

Hello,

If anyone wants to join the process of administering the election, then you
have a chance!

Please note that the ultimate authority in this election is the consensus
of voting organizations. No individual can speak for those organizations,
and instead, volunteers like you can organize the election in consensus
with other volunteer election organizers. By default, this election will
happen as it has in the past, but if you have comments or changes, the
election page is a wiki and you should participate.

See the 2019 election page here! THIS IS IT, POST HERE!
https://meta.wikimedia.org/wiki/Affiliate-selected_Board_seats/2019

Here is the FAQ from the 2016 page. Read it to get general information
about how this election works, and help to update it to include user groups!
https://meta.wikimedia.org/wiki/Affiliate-selected_Board_seats_election_FAQ

Here is the general documentation page for these two seats!
https://meta.wikimedia.org/wiki/Affiliate-selected_Board_seats

You can be an election facilitator! You can run this election! Sign up and
start posting here!
https://meta.wikimedia.org/wiki/Talk:Affiliate-selected_Board_seats/2019#2019_call_for_election_facilitators
!

Here is what needs to be done -

   1. help confirm the schedule for calling for candidates, opening the
   vote, and ending the election
   2. post all comments and criticism to the talk page, and also, answer
   other people's comments. Make requests of what you want to happen!
   3. contact a chapter or user group and discuss the election
   4. consider which candidates to nominate - nominations open soon
   5. prepare election policy not only for this election but for reuse in
   future elections
   6. encourage diversity and inclusion in all aspects of the election
   process

@Itzik and @Darwin - you are invited to bring your comments to the
election's talk page. The best comments to bring are comments on behalf of
a voting organization and which recommend a specific solution to problems
raised. Bring your colleagues.

Thanks -


On Tue, Feb 19, 2019 at 11:50 AM Paulo Santos Perneta <
paulospern...@gmail.com> wrote:

> Hi,
>
> I understand that, in face of this decision, something (the "movement"?
> the affiliates? who?) will have to come up with some process in some place
> (where?) to viabilize the inclusion of UGs in the Affiliate-selected Board
> seats (ASBS) 2019 process, which is expected to start in about 45 days.
>
> What happens if no consensus is reached during that time frame? Will ASBS
> be pushed forward indefinitely until some consensus on the process is
> reached?
>
> How do fluid entities like UGs without even a proper registry of its
> members will chose a representant? I believe at least that will have to be
> decided.
>
> All this reminds-me of the infamous Paulo Coelho quote from "O
> Alquimista": "Quando
> alguém quer uma coisa, *todo o Universo* conspira para que possa
> realizá-la" - "When someone wants something, all the Universe conspires to
> make it happen". And also of another very well known Portuguese sayings:
> "pushing something forward with one's belly".
>
> Best,
> Paulo - DarwIn
> Wikimedia Portugal
>
>
> Nataliia Tymkiv  escreveu no dia terça, 19/02/2019
> à(s) 15:17:
>
> > Hello all!
> >
> > The Wikimedia Foundation Board has unanimously approved the changes to
> the
> > Bylaws [1] during the last Board meeting on January 30, 2019. This will
> be
> > covered in the minutes, and the resolution will be published in short
> > order.
> >
> > This change allows the participation of User Groups [2] in the
> > Affiliate-selected Board seats (ASBS) 2019 process [3].  The discussion
> > about this process should start as soon as possible in order to have
> these
> > two seats selected by Wikimania. This is why we are sending this letter
> > now, before the resolution is published.
> >
> > There are now over 100 recognized User Groups, covering over 50
> countries,
> > several languages and topics, many of whom represent new and emergent
> > communities within the Wikimedia movement. The Board believes that the
> > added perspectives of the User Groups, combined with the voices of
> Chapters
> > and Thematic Organizations, will lead to a richer collection of guidance
> > for our movement. The conversation about how User Groups may participate
> in
> > this process has been on for years, it is not a new topic [4].
> >
> > Once the facilitators of the Selection process are appointed by the
> > affiliates, they should work with María Sefidari, who has been chosen by
> > the Board as the Board liaison for the ASBS process.
> >
> > Given the potential complexity of organizing a process that now will
> > include over a hundred user groups, the Wikimedia Foundation is offering
> > its support to set up infrastructure and help with communications if
> > requested by the affiliates.
> >
> > A page for translation can be found at:
> >
> >
> https://meta.wikimedia.org/wiki/Affiliate-selected_Board_seats/2019/W

Re: [Wikimedia-l] Wikimedia Foundation Bylaws changed plus next steps

[Paulo Santos Perneta]

Hi,

I understand that, in face of this decision, something (the "movement"?
the affiliates? who?) will have to come up with some process in some place
(where?) to viabilize the inclusion of UGs in the Affiliate-selected Board
seats (ASBS) 2019 process, which is expected to start in about 45 days.

What happens if no consensus is reached during that time frame? Will ASBS
be pushed forward indefinitely until some consensus on the process is
reached?

How do fluid entities like UGs without even a proper registry of its
members will chose a representant? I believe at least that will have to be
decided.

All this reminds-me of the infamous Paulo Coelho quote from "O
Alquimista": "Quando
alguém quer uma coisa, *todo o Universo* conspira para que possa
realizá-la" - "When someone wants something, all the Universe conspires to
make it happen". And also of another very well known Portuguese sayings:
"pushing something forward with one's belly".

Best,
Paulo - DarwIn
Wikimedia Portugal


Nataliia Tymkiv  escreveu no dia terça, 19/02/2019
à(s) 15:17:

> Hello all!
>
> The Wikimedia Foundation Board has unanimously approved the changes to the
> Bylaws [1] during the last Board meeting on January 30, 2019. This will be
> covered in the minutes, and the resolution will be published in short
> order.
>
> This change allows the participation of User Groups [2] in the
> Affiliate-selected Board seats (ASBS) 2019 process [3].  The discussion
> about this process should start as soon as possible in order to have these
> two seats selected by Wikimania. This is why we are sending this letter
> now, before the resolution is published.
>
> There are now over 100 recognized User Groups, covering over 50 countries,
> several languages and topics, many of whom represent new and emergent
> communities within the Wikimedia movement. The Board believes that the
> added perspectives of the User Groups, combined with the voices of Chapters
> and Thematic Organizations, will lead to a richer collection of guidance
> for our movement. The conversation about how User Groups may participate in
> this process has been on for years, it is not a new topic [4].
>
> Once the facilitators of the Selection process are appointed by the
> affiliates, they should work with María Sefidari, who has been chosen by
> the Board as the Board liaison for the ASBS process.
>
> Given the potential complexity of organizing a process that now will
> include over a hundred user groups, the Wikimedia Foundation is offering
> its support to set up infrastructure and help with communications if
> requested by the affiliates.
>
> A page for translation can be found at:
>
> https://meta.wikimedia.org/wiki/Affiliate-selected_Board_seats/2019/Wikimedia_Foundation_Bylaws_changed_plus_next_steps
>
> On behalf of the Board
>
> antanana / Nataliia Tymkiv
>
> Chair of the Board Governance Committee
>
> [1]
>
> https://meta.wikimedia.org/wiki/Wikimedia_Foundation_bylaws/December_2018_-_Affiliate-selected_trustees,_term_limits,_and_diversity
>
>
> [2] https://meta.wikimedia.org/wiki/Wikimedia_user_groups
>
>
> [3] https://meta.wikimedia.org/wiki/Affiliate-selected_Board_seats/2019
>
>
> [4]
>
> https://meta.wikimedia.org/wiki/Wikimedia_Foundation_bylaws/January_2014_-_Amendment_for_Trustees_selected_by_Chapters_and_Thematic_Organizations
>
> *NOTICE: You may have received this message outside of your normal working
> hours/days, as I usually can work more as a volunteer during weekend. You
> should not feel obligated to answer it during your days off. Thank you in
> advance!*
> ___
> Wikimedia-l mailing list, guidelines at:
> https://meta.wikimedia.org/wiki/Mailing_lists/Guidelines and
> https://meta.wikimedia.org/wiki/Wikimedia-l
> New messages to: Wikimedia-l@lists.wikimedia.org
> Unsubscribe: https://lists.wikimedia.org/mailman/listinfo/wikimedia-l,
> 
___
Wikimedia-l mailing list, guidelines at: 
https://meta.wikimedia.org/wiki/Mailing_lists/Guidelines and 
https://meta.wikimedia.org/wiki/Wikimedia-l
New messages to: Wikimedia-l@lists.wikimedia.org
Unsubscribe: https://lists.wikimedia.org/mailman/listinfo/wikimedia-l, 

Re: [Wikimedia-l] Wikimedia Foundation Bylaws changed plus next steps

[Itzik - Wikimedia Israel]

Antanana and the board,

I find it sad and disappointing that after such a long conversation on the
talk page, there wasn't any comment on the talk page or in this statement
about the problem of double voting by many UG's members. Did the board even
discuss that or we just wasted our time giving feedback on it?

Ensuring equality in voting is the basis for every democracy and is
trampled here completely without any comment from the board about how to
ensure it.


*Itzik Edri*
Chairperson
it...@wikimedia.org.il
+972-54-5878078




On Tue, Feb 19, 2019 at 5:18 PM Nataliia Tymkiv 
wrote:

> Hello all!
>
> The Wikimedia Foundation Board has unanimously approved the changes to the
> Bylaws [1] during the last Board meeting on January 30, 2019. This will be
> covered in the minutes, and the resolution will be published in short
> order.
>
> This change allows the participation of User Groups [2] in the
> Affiliate-selected Board seats (ASBS) 2019 process [3].  The discussion
> about this process should start as soon as possible in order to have these
> two seats selected by Wikimania. This is why we are sending this letter
> now, before the resolution is published.
>
> There are now over 100 recognized User Groups, covering over 50 countries,
> several languages and topics, many of whom represent new and emergent
> communities within the Wikimedia movement. The Board believes that the
> added perspectives of the User Groups, combined with the voices of Chapters
> and Thematic Organizations, will lead to a richer collection of guidance
> for our movement. The conversation about how User Groups may participate in
> this process has been on for years, it is not a new topic [4].
>
> Once the facilitators of the Selection process are appointed by the
> affiliates, they should work with María Sefidari, who has been chosen by
> the Board as the Board liaison for the ASBS process.
>
> Given the potential complexity of organizing a process that now will
> include over a hundred user groups, the Wikimedia Foundation is offering
> its support to set up infrastructure and help with communications if
> requested by the affiliates.
>
> A page for translation can be found at:
>
> https://meta.wikimedia.org/wiki/Affiliate-selected_Board_seats/2019/Wikimedia_Foundation_Bylaws_changed_plus_next_steps
>
> On behalf of the Board
>
> antanana / Nataliia Tymkiv
>
> Chair of the Board Governance Committee
>
> [1]
>
> https://meta.wikimedia.org/wiki/Wikimedia_Foundation_bylaws/December_2018_-_Affiliate-selected_trustees,_term_limits,_and_diversity
>
>
> [2] https://meta.wikimedia.org/wiki/Wikimedia_user_groups
>
>
> [3] https://meta.wikimedia.org/wiki/Affiliate-selected_Board_seats/2019
>
>
> [4]
>
> https://meta.wikimedia.org/wiki/Wikimedia_Foundation_bylaws/January_2014_-_Amendment_for_Trustees_selected_by_Chapters_and_Thematic_Organizations
>
> *NOTICE: You may have received this message outside of your normal working
> hours/days, as I usually can work more as a volunteer during weekend. You
> should not feel obligated to answer it during your days off. Thank you in
> advance!*
> ___
> Wikimedia-l mailing list, guidelines at:
> https://meta.wikimedia.org/wiki/Mailing_lists/Guidelines and
> https://meta.wikimedia.org/wiki/Wikimedia-l
> New messages to: Wikimedia-l@lists.wikimedia.org
> Unsubscribe: https://lists.wikimedia.org/mailman/listinfo/wikimedia-l,
> 
___
Wikimedia-l mailing list, guidelines at: 
https://meta.wikimedia.org/wiki/Mailing_lists/Guidelines and 
https://meta.wikimedia.org/wiki/Wikimedia-l
New messages to: Wikimedia-l@lists.wikimedia.org
Unsubscribe: https://lists.wikimedia.org/mailman/listinfo/wikimedia-l,