Dear Wikimedia enthusiasts in Switzerland, This week the Funds Dissemination Committee is deliberating about 11 FDC applications made by Wikimedia chapters or thematic organization, among them Wikimedia CH.
Before receiving the result of their deliberation I would like to tell you more about the FDC and its impact on Wikimedia CH activities. First of all, the FDC is determining the amount of funds that Wikimedia CH will receive from the Wikimedia Movement (WMF fundraiser) to accomplish its activities. The funds allocated are somehow earmarked to be used for projects with an impact on Wikimedia projects (i.e., Wikipedia, Commons, Wikisource, etc.), and in a reasonable proportion for the chapter's infrastructure. It’s only the second year than Wikimedia CH uses this process, and in a way we have to change our habits. We have to include our activities in a bigger, broader plan, where all the Wikimedia communities can raise their voice. In a few words, the project funds by the FDC must have a direct impact on Wikimedia projects by improving the content or participating to increase the editor community. Regarding the projects that have been proposed to Wikimedia CH this summer, I would like to clarify that there is no accepted or rejected projects, but there are projects with a clear impact on Wikimedia Projects and a clear support by Wikimedia CH members. These projects, like the Public Domain project or Wiki Loves Public Art, have been explicitly included in the Annual plan submitted to the FDC: https://meta.wikimedia.org/wiki/Wikimedia_CH/2014_annual_plan Other projects are questioned by WMCH members, do not have a clear impact on Wikimedia projects, or they may need to be redefined. These projects are not rejected, but they are likely to be not eligible for Wikimedia Movement funds, that's why they haven’t been mentioned in the Annual plan. That doesn’t mean that these projects will not be supported by Wikimedia CH, since there are other ways to support projects than by allocating a budget. Some projects can be improved and adapted and then fit into the FDC allocated budget. Our community managers and our CAO are here to help Wikimedia CH members to find alternative funding sources. The process to prepare the next FDC application will be significantly modified, especially to reflect that Wikimedia CH is an association dedicated to support Wikimedians in their Wikimedia activities, it means that we will make the process easier for proposing small project leaded by volunteer and supported by the chapter. The modification of the process will be prepare directly on the members wiki, think to request your access if you haven’t do it already. Do not hesitate to contact me if you would like to know more about the FDC. Charles ___________________________________________________________ Charles ANDRES, Chief Science Officer "Wikimedia CH" – Association for the advancement of free knowledge – www.wikimedia.ch Office +41 (0)21 340 66 21 Skype: charles.andres.wmch IRC://irc.freenode.net/wikimedia-ch http://prezi.com/user/Andrescharles/
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