Re: [Wikimediaindia-l] Time to assume good faith and carry on ++
Thanks for the suggestions, Tinu. Like Anirudh said in his response to Jyotis' email, we'll have more clarity on these issues in the coming days. - Sundar "That language is an instrument of human reason, and not merely a medium for the expression of thought, is a truth generally admitted." - George Boole, quoted in Iverson's Turing Award Lecture > >From: CherianTinu Abraham >To: Wikimedia India list >Sent: Mon, February 14, 2011 10:51:51 PM >Subject: Re: [Wikimediaindia-l] Time to assume good faith and carry on ++ > >Well said, Ashwin ... > > >A few good things... Some mistakes .. some goof ups...lots of >misunderstandings, >concerns and anger..We are all tired... But it is time to move on. > > >Let us discuss how we can be more productive, instead of any personal >mudslinging. A few humble suggestions from my side. > > >1) There is a wide spread agreement for the need for more admins for the >India mailing list. It is important that these people should be neutral, and >in >good standing & possibly not connected with the chapter or EC. > > >2) Let us appreciate the hard work and the struggle behind setting up the >chapter ( by the current EC members and many others) through a very painful >registration process. > > >3) Like Ashwin commented, let us give some time for the chapter to stablise >and >operate. It is an important action item from the chapter to open the >membership >asap and conduct a general body meeting as time permits. > >4) It is important that there is a clear communication between the chapter / >EC >and the community. Hence forth, it will be good that >the Executive committee announce the agenda of the meetings and make public >the >meeting minutes & resolutions as early as possible. > > >5) Re-electing office bearers among the EC members each time is a very bad >idea, >IMHO. Even if there is any plan of such re-election, kindly announce the >elections in public & in advance. How & Why the election takes place is still >a >dark area for all of us..In future, we would like to know who voted for whom >or >whether the election was unanimous and the reason why a re-election is needed >in >the first place. Request not to redirect us to MoA as a reason for >re-elections. > > >6) In line with the process of Wikimedia Foundation itself, the resolutions >of >EC should be made public with information on who supported, opposed and >abstained. A collective decision doesn't mean right to individual members' >stand, objection & opinion can be ignored or go undisclosed. > > >7) I think it is a good idea to have a non-voting member, appointed by the >Wikimedia Foundation in the EC as an observer ( future National Program >Director >?) . The member must have no voting rights but have access to meetings and >exec >mailing list. This member should be in good standing with Foundation , other >EC >members and the community in general. > > >8) Any international travel representing the India chapter should be announced. > > >9) It is important to ask hard questions on this mailing list to >ensure transparency & accountability , but kindly avoid personal attacks. Time >to formulate an email etiquette policy page for the India list ? > > >10) This mailing list continues to unmoderated except with those mails which >are >obvious spam. > > >11) The India chapter should be/will be a great enabler for the growth of the >Wikimedia movement in the country. Let us support it whole-heartedly. > > >All the best wishes. > > >Regards >Tinu Cherian > > > > > > > >On Mon, Feb 14, 2011 at 12:30 PM, Ashwin Baindur >wrote: > >Hello everyone, >> >>I think the time has come to assume good faith and let the office >>bearers get their act together. We have had enough emails expressing >>the community's concerns at lack of transparency, lack of >>communication, etc, etc. The new office bearers are in an un-envious >>position. I'm sure that they must now be feeling that all the work of >>putting up a chapter is a thankless job. It was an important task and >>let us recognise that tackling any state bureaucracy is not an >>occupation of pleasure. So let us thank them for doing this task and >>ask them to henceforth function in a manner which meets the concerns >>of the community. >> >>It would have of course been great if the community had been brought >>in before establishing the foundation, but that is all water under the >>bridge now. It is time for us to let them be and go about doing >>
Re: [Wikimediaindia-l] Time to assume good faith and carry on.
On Mon, Feb 14, 2011 at 12:30 PM, Ashwin Baindur wrote: > Hello everyone, > > I think the time has come to assume good faith and let the office > bearers get their act together. We have had enough emails expressing > the community's concerns at lack of transparency, lack of > communication, etc, etc. The new office bearers are in an un-envious > position. I'm sure that they must now be feeling that all the work of > putting up a chapter is a thankless job. It was an important task and > let us recognise that tackling any state bureaucracy is not an > occupation of pleasure. So let us thank them for doing this task and > ask them to henceforth function in a manner which meets the concerns of the community. > > Many thanks for this, Ashwin. Following your lead and now that the India chapter is a legal entity all set to go, I have - like you - put up my expectations from the chapter on: http://www.wikimedia.in/wiki/Expectations_from_India_chapter#List It would be great if others could also record their expectations on the wiki as a way to constructively communicate these to the chapter. I'd also like to take this opportunity to place on record that I have high hopes for the Wikimedia India chapter - and would be happy to provide support to it in whatever way I can. Best to all, Bishakha ___ Wikimediaindia-l mailing list Wikimediaindia-l@lists.wikimedia.org https://lists.wikimedia.org/mailman/listinfo/wikimediaindia-l
Re: [Wikimediaindia-l] Time to assume good faith and carry on ++
Well said, Ashwin ... A few good things... Some mistakes .. some goof ups...lots of misunderstandings, concerns and anger..We are all tired... But it is time to move on. Let us discuss how we can be more productive, instead of any personal mudslinging. A few humble suggestions from my side. 1) There is a wide spread agreement for the need for more admins for the India mailing list. It is important that these people should be neutral, and in good standing & possibly not connected with the chapter or EC. 2) Let us appreciate the hard work and the struggle behind setting up the chapter ( by the current EC members and many others) through a very painful registration process. 3) Like Ashwin commented, let us give some time for the chapter to stablise and operate. It is an important action item from the chapter to open the membership asap and conduct a general body meeting as time permits. 4) It is important that there is a clear communication between the chapter / EC and the community. Hence forth, it will be good that the Executive committee announce the agenda of the meetings and make public the meeting minutes & resolutions as early as possible. 5) Re-electing office bearers among the EC members each time is a very bad idea, IMHO. Even if there is any plan of such re-election, kindly announce the elections in public & in advance. How & Why the election takes place is still a dark area for all of us..In future, we would like to know who voted for whom or whether the election was unanimous and the reason why a re-election is needed in the first place. Request not to redirect us to MoA as a reason for re-elections. 6) In line with the process of Wikimedia Foundation itself, the resolutions of EC should be made public with information on who supported, opposed and abstained. A collective decision doesn't mean right to individual members' stand, objection & opinion can be ignored or go undisclosed. 7) I think it is a good idea to have a non-voting member, appointed by the Wikimedia Foundation in the EC as an observer ( future National Program Director ?) . The member must have no voting rights but have access to meetings and exec mailing list. This member should be in good standing with Foundation , other EC members and the community in general. 8) Any international travel representing the India chapter should be announced. 9) It is important to ask hard questions on this mailing list to ensure transparency & accountability , but kindly avoid personal attacks. Time to formulate an email etiquette policy page for the India list ? 10) This mailing list continues to unmoderated except with those mails which are obvious spam. 11) The India chapter should be/will be a great enabler for the growth of the Wikimedia movement in the country. Let us support it whole-heartedly. All the best wishes. Regards Tinu Cherian On Mon, Feb 14, 2011 at 12:30 PM, Ashwin Baindur wrote: > Hello everyone, > > I think the time has come to assume good faith and let the office > bearers get their act together. We have had enough emails expressing > the community's concerns at lack of transparency, lack of > communication, etc, etc. The new office bearers are in an un-envious > position. I'm sure that they must now be feeling that all the work of > putting up a chapter is a thankless job. It was an important task and > let us recognise that tackling any state bureaucracy is not an > occupation of pleasure. So let us thank them for doing this task and > ask them to henceforth function in a manner which meets the concerns > of the community. > > It would have of course been great if the community had been brought > in before establishing the foundation, but that is all water under the > bridge now. It is time for us to let them be and go about doing > whatever they planned. This spate of attacks/accusation/discourse I'm > sure has halted them in their tracks. Such a limbo is the worst > situation possible. In expressing our legitimate concern, we have > virtually accused them of every possible wrong without concrete > evidence and now they stand here already condemned in public eyes. If > they have to serve us - make no mistake - chapter activities are meant > to serve the community, not govern them - then we have absolutely > demotivated them from doing so. > > To the EC committee, I would like to say, you have my unqualified > support for the period of a year and I request you to get your act > together and deliver what you have promised. At this point of time, my > support is unqualified but henceforth after this grace period, it will > be based on your performance and output. I'm giving you the rope, > gentlemen of the EC, now either construct a rope bridge and span the > gap between you and the community or hang yourselves with that rope > (figuratively speaking). > > To the community, I further request that the tone on the list be > lowered to gentlemanly discourse. I am not saying that we stop > expressing our conce
