---------- Forwarded message ---------- From: <rajtago...@gmail.com> Date: Sat, Feb 16, 2013 at 10:29 PM Subject: Re: [Wikimediaindia-l] Chapter Misleading Community! To: wikimediaindia-l@lists.wikimedia.org, anirudh...@gmail.com
Dear Anirudh and List members, I am forced to send this e-mail because I feel that the Wikimedia Movement in India has hit a new low by moderating its own active member (Abhishek Suryawanshi) on the Wikimedia India mailing list. This is not to say that I agree with Abhishek's tone, but I feel that there is nothing wrong in what he was asking. Few of my concerns: 1) Why does Anirudh respond on behalf of EC and why has the EC not responded to Abhishek/community? Do we assume that the entire EC is acting as sock-puppet of Anirudha? Sorry to ask this but I feel there is too much shadow puppetry happening in the Wikimedia India Chapter. This act of moderation is only an indication of this. I wish the EC comes out clean and Anirudha minds his own business, where ever he is. 2) Initially I felt, probably Anirudh 'felt' like an elder and was concerned. I went in search of what he has done for the Indian Wikimedia movement and realized that there is very less that I could find. There is nothing that you seemed to have contributed to 'Indic' wikipedias. I think someone asked the same question in the past to which there is no answer from you. Please help and redirect to your contribution to Wikipedia India movement. I feel it is much more important that Anirudh be moderated. It would be gracious if he self moderates his actions. Taking the liberty to cross post this to many as I feel this highhanded suppression of 'freedom of expression' be seen seriously by the community. With a hope that Anirudha will avoid taking such repressive steps in future and allows this post reach the WM-India mailing list. Thanks, Rajat On Fri, Feb 15, 2013 at 1:17 AM, Anirudh Bhati <anirudh...@gmail.com> wrote: > Abhishek, > > The chapter's response has been to ask you to stop making > unsubstantiated allegations. Sunil has clarified that that the WMF > sponsored A2K programme is funding travel and accommodation of some > members of the Wikimedia India Executive Committee for the purpose of > a training session in Bangalore organized for the benefit of the new > employee(s) of CIS/A2K. This is the sole purpose of funding travel > and accommodation from CIS/A2K perspective and nothing else. What the > members of the WMIN board decide to do in their spare time while they > are available in the same city is up to them. If they use this time > to organize a face to face board meeting, all the more better, since > this way they save some precious chapter funds. Your accusation that > the chapter is misleading the community is a falsification. > > Since you have chosen to ignore my previous warning and continued to > post on the same topic on this mailing list, I have put your account > on moderation. If you wish to discuss this matter further, please > feel free to send an email to the chapter directly. > > Thanks, > Anirudh > > On Fri, Feb 15, 2013 at 2:16 AM, Abhishek Suryawanshi > <i.abhishek.suryawan...@gmail.com> wrote: > > > > > > Dear Anirudh, > > > > Please direct me to the response/clarification from Wikimedia India > > Executive Committee. > > > > Only Sunil has made the whole thing clear and now its "only" You who is > > saying - > > It is clear to us all that some members of the Executive committee will > be > > travelling to Bangalore in order to train the new employees of CIS on > > matters pertaining to their new assignments. The Executive Committee > > has decided to utilize this time when all the members of the board are > > in the same city together to have a face to face meeting. There is > > nothing that has been said that goes to prove that CIS regularly funds > > chapter activities. > > > > > > > > > > Regards, > > Abhishek Suryawanshi, > > On Behalf of Wikipedia Club Pune > > > > > > > > > > > > > > > > On Fri, Feb 15, 2013 at 12:20 AM, Anirudh Bhati <anirudh...@gmail.com> > > wrote: > >> > >> Abhishek, > >> > >> I noticed that you have been repetitively raising the same issues over > >> and over again. The members of the Executive Committee of Wikimedia > >> India and Sunil@CIS have already responded to your questions. It is > >> clear to us all that some members of the Executive committee will be > >> travelling to Bangalore in order to train the new employees of CIS on > >> matters pertaining to their new assignments. The Executive Committee > >> has decided to utilize this time when all the members of the board are > >> in the same city together to have a face to face meeting. There is > >> nothing that has been said that goes to prove that CIS regularly funds > >> chapter activities. > >> > >> I have to ask you to please refrain from sending further emails on > >> this topic. If you ignore this warning, I will have to put your > >> account on moderation. > >> > >> Thanks, > >> Anirudh > >> > >> > >> > >> On Fri, Feb 15, 2013 at 1:16 AM, Abhishek Suryawanshi > >> <i.abhishek.suryawan...@gmail.com> wrote: > >> > Dear Executive Committee, > >> > Wikimedia India Chapter. > >> > > >> > > >> > Could you be please be kind enough to clarify, Why EC was/is > interested > >> > in > >> > misguiding mailing list and Indian community? > >> > > >> > > >> > When asked about CIS funding - Executive Committee member wrote : > >> > > >> >> The Chapter has alwaya made things public and will xontinue to do so. > >> >> If > >> >> the CIS funds us, it will be madw public. > >> > > >> > > >> > Then why weren't they made public by you? CIS clearly stated - they > are > >> > funding Chapter, and in past (also) they have supported in-kind. > >> > > >> > Why is the hesitation for acknowledging this? On the contrary - there > is > >> > strong rejection of even having any kind of connection with CIS from > >> > Chapter > >> > representatives. (On the other hand CIS is graciously open/alright to > >> > acknowledge links with the Chapter) > >> > > >> > > >> > On A Query about CIS funding Chapter Flight Tickets : Response from > >> > Secretary was- > >> > > >> >> .....making unsubstantiated claims on a public mailing list, > >> > > >> > > >> > Which part was unsubstantiated? Its the reality that this time > Chapter > >> > Board Member's Flight tickets ARE covered by CIS even if it includes > >> > training the A2K team. > >> > (CIS has already made it clear on this mailing list) > >> > > >> > > >> > Why there is hesitation/resistance to have transparency? > >> > > >> > Also, the Chapter President gave statement on same thread - > >> > > >> >> Please be open and transparent to the > >> >> community. The more you become transparent, it is better for all. > >> > > >> > > >> > Are Chapter EC Members exception to this? > >> > > >> > On same lines, Another EC Members says - > >> > > >> >> The Chapter is financially accountable to it's MEMBERS, > >> > > >> > > >> > As correctly stated by , Chapter is having money from WMF, Which comes > >> > from > >> > individual donations. So ideally > >> > Chapter should be accountable to the overall community and not just > its > >> > members, as rightly pointed out by someone > >> > > >> > Again, What is the need to find excuses for transparency? > >> > > >> > When there was statement that ''AGM travel expense is covered'' > instead > >> > of > >> > correcting statement and saying, its wrong - and CIS is paying for > Board > >> > Trip (which is coinciding with CIS training!) > >> > Even Chapter President preferred to give out half truth and kept > >> > everyone in > >> > dark. And there was Secretary and another EC Member to take whole > >> > mailing > >> > list on a ride! > >> > > >> > > >> > Why it is important? > >> > > >> > This could be start of new era - Where CIS supports Chapter > financially > >> > whenever needed. > >> > (or in-kind as they did in past and hopefully will continue to do so). > >> > > >> > So more and more volunteer efforts can be devoted for > >> > outreach/activities. > >> > > >> >> Please remember that chapter is representation of the community and > >> >> works for the community > >> > > >> > > >> > Current scenario gives wrong interpretation and implies that community > >> > should not raise questions on transparency because after-all we are > your > >> > representation! Either consult community before lying or speak > >> > (complete) > >> > truth. > >> > > >> >> Here is response from Sunil,CIS - > >> >> > >> >> This month, we are reimbursing the Chapter EC travel and related > >> >> expenses because the Chapter EC has kindly consented to support a > >> >> training programme that CIS is organising for it's A2K team in > >> >> Bangalore. It is only happy coincidence that they were also > organising > >> >> a meeting in Bangalore during those dates. I was not aware of this > >> >> when I reached out to the EC and asked for their support us. > >> > > >> > > >> > > >> > From Sunil's mail it is clear that Sunil extended the offer in > >> > good-faith, > >> > unaware of Chapter-Board meeting falling at the same time. However > >> > Chapter > >> > also seems to have taken this opportunity and is now shy to accept. I > >> > don't > >> > understand why? > >> > > >> > And why CIS was also kept in dark? > >> > > >> > > >> >> CIS will cover air travel and accommodation for all EC members. CIS > >> >> will > >> >> also provide per diem for meals that are not provided during the > >> >> training. Unfortunately, we don't have a separate budget for fees. > >> > > >> > > >> > Along with 'air Travel', CIS is providing accommodation too. > >> > And Last sentence about fee budget is interesting. > >> > > >> > > >> > If Chapter is expecting public support for fundraising and other > >> > activities, > >> > then it should be more transparent and 'should avoid organized and > >> > dedicated > >> > efforts to misguide community/keep in dark.' > >> > > >> > > >> > And Hope so CIS takes care of all the > >> > remaining Chapter financial needs as well, Just keep community in > loop. > >> > And > >> > Thanks to Sunil/ CIS for being transparent and open. > >> > > >> > > >> > > >> > > >> > Keep Clarifying, Keep Inspiring! > >> > > >> > > >> > > >> > -Abhishek Suryawanshi, > >> > On Behalf of Wikipedia Club Pune > >> > > >> > > >> > > >> > ---------- Forwarded message ---------- > >> > From: Sunil Abraham <su...@mahiti.org> > >> > Date: Thu, Feb 14, 2013 at 12:29 PM > >> > Subject: Re: [Wikimediaindia-l] why to donate > >> > To: Abhishek Suryawanshi <i.abhishek.suryawan...@gmail.com> > >> > Cc: Wikimedia India Community list > >> > <wikimediaindia-l@lists.wikimedia.org> > >> > > >> > > >> > Dear Abhishek, > >> > > >> > CIS is not supporting travel expenses for Chapter EC meetings. Nor has > >> > CIS provided funding to the Chapter so far from the Wikipedia grant. > >> > CIS has provided in-kind support to the Chapter in previous financial > >> > years for ex. society registration costs and the costs of their > >> > financial adviser during their first financial year. We strongly > >> > suppor > >> > > >> > This month, we are reimbursing the Chapter EC travel and related > >> > expenses because the Chapter EC has kindly consented to support a > >> > training programme that CIS is organising for it's A2K team in > >> > Bangalore. It is only happy coincidence that they were also organising > >> > a meeting in Bangalore during those dates. I was not aware of this > >> > when I reached out to the EC and asked for their support us. > >> > > >> > Dear Friends, > >> > > >> > In the first week of March, we hope to release a 6-monthly report of > >> > the utilization of the grant so far. Usually we only provide an annual > >> > consolidated report for all grants at the ledger group level. But for > >> > this particular grant we will increase the degree of transparency to > >> > address concerns of the community. If you have any suggestions on how > >> > we should structure this report or if you have any further questions > >> > about how CIS is spending the grant allocated do not hesitate to ask > >> > me. > >> > > >> > Best wishes, > >> > > >> > Sunil > >> > > >> > > >> > > >> > -------- Original Message -------- > >> > Subject: Training of CIS-A2K team on 23 or 24 of February > >> > Date: Mon, 28 Jan 2013 10:48:42 +0530 > >> > From: Sunil Abraham <su...@cis-india.org> > >> > To: Wikimedia India EC <wikimedia-in-e...@lists.wikimedia.org> > >> > > >> > Attn: > >> > Sudhanwa Jogalekar > >> > Karthik Nadar > >> > Anirudh Singh Bhati > >> > Nikita Belavate > >> > Pranav Curumsey > >> > Srikanth Ramakrishnan > >> > Viswa Prabha > >> > > >> > Dear Members of the Wikimedia India EC, > >> > > >> > Hope 2013 has gotten of to an excellent start for all of you. > >> > > >> > CIS is organising a training for the A2K team on the 22nd, 23rd and > 24th > >> > of February in Bangalore. The new Programme Director - Vishnu Vardhan > >> > will also be attending this event. We would like the EC to spend one > day > >> > training the team on a variety of issues. We would prefer if you opt > for > >> > either 23rd or the 24th as we have some other trainers that have > >> > confirmed for the 22nd. > >> > > >> > CIS will cover air travel and accommodation for all EC members. CIS > will > >> > also provide per diem for meals that are not provided during the > >> > training. Unfortunately, we don't have a separate budget for fees. > >> > > >> > This idea has been discussed with Anasuya Sengupta and Jessie Wild at > >> > the Wikimedia Foundation and they have supported it. > >> > > >> > Best wishes, > >> > > >> > Sunil > >> > > >> > > >> > On Wed, Feb 13, 2013 at 1:08 AM, Abhishek Suryawanshi > >> > <i.abhishek.suryawan...@gmail.com> wrote: > >> >> > >> >> Dear Sunil, > >> >> > >> >> Could you please share information about CIS supporting Chapter > Travel > >> >> expenses? > >> >> > >> >> And Its nice and positive move, Great to see CIS continues to support > >> >> movement in India. > >> >> Volunteers can devote their time in doing activities and CIS can > >> >> support > >> >> as > >> >> per request. > >> >> > >> >> As Chapter is shy/silent about acknowledging funding from CIS - Hope > so > >> >> your > >> >> reply will clarify that CIS is there to support Chapter activities > >> >> irrespective of criticism. > >> >> > >> >> > >> >> Keep Supporting, Keep Inspiring! :) > >> >> > >> >> > >> >> > >> >> Regards, > >> >> > >> >> Abhishek Suryawanshi, > >> >> On Behalf of Wikipedia Club Pune > >> > > >> > > >> > > >> > > >> > > >> > > >> > > >> > > >> > _______________________________________________ > >> > Wikimediaindia-l mailing list > >> > Wikimediaindia-l@lists.wikimedia.org > >> > To unsubscribe from the list / change mailing preferences visit > >> > https://lists.wikimedia.org/mailman/listinfo/wikimediaindia-l > >> > > >> > >> _______________________________________________ > >> Wikimediaindia-l mailing list > >> Wikimediaindia-l@lists.wikimedia.org > >> To unsubscribe from the list / change mailing preferences visit > >> https://lists.wikimedia.org/mailman/listinfo/wikimediaindia-l > > > > > > > > _______________________________________________ > > Wikimediaindia-l mailing list > > Wikimediaindia-l@lists.wikimedia.org > > To unsubscribe from the list / change mailing preferences visit > > https://lists.wikimedia.org/mailman/listinfo/wikimediaindia-l > > > > _______________________________________________ > Wikimediaindia-l mailing list > Wikimediaindia-l@lists.wikimedia.org > To unsubscribe from the list / change mailing preferences visit > https://lists.wikimedia.org/mailman/listinfo/wikimediaindia-l >
