Andrea I agree completely that movement monies should be invested inline with our values. We should not be invested in stuff that promotes war or surveillance for example. I would image this is currently the case but would have to verify.
J On Tue, Aug 22, 2017 at 12:01 PM, Andrea Zanni <zanni.andre...@gmail.com> wrote: > Personally I think the endowment is a great idea, > stability and growth for our movement are paramount, IF, we use our money > in the best way we can. > > I also don't really care about how big the banner is: it's a minor > inconvenience to click the "Hide" button (provided that we are able to hide > automatically the button for those who actually donated: they deserve a > bannerless page. I remember some complaints during the years about this). > > What it's more important to me is where are we putting donors' money, both > in terms of endowment and actual spending. > The WMF is spending money to serve the movement, and how effective and > efficient they are > should be our only focus. > > Regarding the endowment, the only little complaint I have is *where* we are > investing those money. > Reading the documentation page [1], I don't see mentioned anything > regarding > ethical or socially responsible investing (SRI). > > There are many funds (of stocks or ETFs) that manage selected "ethical" > financial products: > these are also our values, and I think we should put donors' money where > our mouth is. > (I get that sometimes non-ethical investments yield more money, but at > least we should have this discussion) > > Aubrey > > [1] https://meta.wikimedia.org/wiki/Wikimedia_Endowment > > On Mon, Aug 21, 2017 at 11:10 PM, Strainu <strain...@gmail.com> wrote: > > > Both stability and growth come at a cost - is that cost acceptable? > > The way I understand it from the mid-year fundrasing report in > > January, the $5M were on top of the fundraising target, basically > > gathered by exposing our readers to more banners than needed. My > > opinion is that's a very high price to pay and that there should be > > more stringent rules regarding continuing fundraisers after their > > target has been reached (which in turn will probably require even > > better planning, including for the Endowment). > > > > As to whether some donor influenced the Board's decision, that > > statement looks really far-fetched based on available information. It > > sounds more like an opportunity that either appeared or was created > > after the $5M target had been set. > > > > Strainu > > > > > > 2017-08-21 23:49 GMT+03:00 James Heilman <jmh...@gmail.com>: > > > My personal position is it is critical to have a stable organization > > before > > > growing. The WMF has achieved greater stability over the last 1.5 years > > so > > > I think further growth is becoming again a good idea. > > > > > > James > > > > > > On Mon, Aug 21, 2017 at 7:48 PM, Rogol Domedonfors < > > domedonf...@gmail.com> > > > wrote: > > > > > >> I'm know that the WMF has determined that it should have some form of > > >> endowment, The question is -- as is usual in question of this sort -- > > one > > >> of balance: in this case, balance between current spending for the > > benefit > > >> of the projects today, and accumulating capital for the benefit of the > > >> projects tomorrow. I am asking the Board to say why they decided to > > strike > > >> that balance where they did -- given the obvious need for that support > > >> right now -- and whether it is appropriate for large donors to > > apparently > > >> influence that decision. > > >> > > >> Reinhard > > >> > > >> On Mon, Aug 21, 2017 at 3:02 PM, Yaroslav Blanter <ymb...@gmail.com> > > >> wrote: > > >> > > >> > I am often critical of WMF, but I can only support this decision. > The > > >> idea > > >> > of creating of an environment was widely discussed in the community, > > >> > including this mailing list, and had a widespread support. WMF > merely > > >> > follows the community wish in this case, and it is great to know > that > > a > > >> > donor agreed to match this amount. > > >> > > > >> > Cheers > > >> > Yaroslav > > >> > > > >> > On Sat, Aug 19, 2017 at 12:58 PM, Vi to <vituzzu.w...@gmail.com> > > wrote: > > >> > > > >> > > Caveat: I support a definitely more frugal WMF so also the > > endowment. > > >> > > > > >> > > Try to read it from a different perspective. Before donating > *lots* > > of > > >> > > money donor wants to be sure WMF will be truly committed in > pursuing > > >> the > > >> > > plan of an endowment. Putting the same amount of money is a prove, > > for > > >> > > donors, WMF truly wants to create an endowment. > > >> > > > > >> > > Vito > > >> > > > > >> > > 2017-08-19 10:33 GMT+02:00 Rogol Domedonfors < > domedonf...@gmail.com > > >: > > >> > > > > >> > > > I was surprised to read the record > > >> > > > https://wikimediafoundation.org/wiki/Resolution:Approval_ > > >> > > > of_Endowment_funding_(Fiscal_Year_2016-2017)_and_matching_$ > > >> > > > 5_million_gift_from_Peter_Baldwin_and_Lisbet_Rausing > > >> > > > of the decision to place $5M into the endowment. After the > > >> anouncement > > >> > > by > > >> > > > Lisa Gruwell on this list > > >> > > > https://lists.wikimedia.org/pipermail/wikimedia-l/2016- > > >> > > > December/085712.html > > >> > > > there was a discussion of what might be done with the funds > > raised, > > >> > and a > > >> > > > number of suggestions were made for how these funds could be > used > > to > > >> > > > directly support the work of the volunteers who contribute the > > >> content > > >> > to > > >> > > > the projects, such as > > >> > > > https://lists.wikimedia.org/pipermail/wikimedia-l/2017- > > >> > > January/085835.html > > >> > > > . > > >> > > > > > >> > > > It is disappointing that the Board has chosen not to fund > support > > of > > >> > this > > >> > > > kind. What is more than disappointing, but positively > disturbing > > is > > >> > that > > >> > > > the decision was made in the light of an offer from a donor to > > match > > >> > the > > >> > > > sum put into the endowment. I suggest that this was not a fair > > >> offer, > > >> > > and > > >> > > > the Board's decision was the wrong one. Effectively this donor > > has > > >> > said > > >> > > to > > >> > > > the Board that they will pay the Foundation not to support the > > >> > > volunteers, > > >> > > > and the Board has agreed to follow their wishes. If the donor > > >> believes > > >> > > so > > >> > > > strongly in the necessity to build up the mission by means of an > > >> > > Endowment, > > >> > > > why did they not simply gift the money directly into the > endowment > > >> > > without > > >> > > > conditions? Equally, if the donor believes so strongly that > money > > >> > should > > >> > > > not be spent supporting the volunteer community, then I > challenge > > >> them > > >> > to > > >> > > > say so explicitly in public and to defend their position. > > >> > > > > > >> > > > I call on the Board to explain to the community of volunteers > > >> precisely > > >> > > why > > >> > > > they have chosen not to offer that support to the community and > to > > >> > state > > >> > > > that they will not allow future decisions of this nature to be > > >> > influenced > > >> > > > by the wishes of one donor, however generous. > > >> > > > > > >> > > > "Rogol" > > >> > > > _______________________________________________ > > >> > > > 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, > > >> > > > <mailto:wikimedia-l-requ...@lists.wikimedia.org?subject= > > unsubscribe> > > >> > > _______________________________________________ > > >> > > 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, > > >> > > <mailto:wikimedia-l-requ...@lists.wikimedia.org?subject= > > unsubscribe> > > >> > > > > >> > _______________________________________________ > > >> > 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 > > , > > >> > <mailto:wikimedia-l-requ...@lists.wikimedia.org?subject= > unsubscribe> > > >> > > > >> _______________________________________________ > > >> 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 > , > > >> <mailto:wikimedia-l-requ...@lists.wikimedia.org?subject=unsubscribe> > > >> > > > > > > > > > > > > -- > > > James Heilman > > > MD, CCFP-EM, Wikipedian > > > > > > The Wikipedia Open Textbook of Medicine > > > _______________________________________________ > > > 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, > > <mailto:wikimedia-l-requ...@lists.wikimedia.org?subject=unsubscribe> > > > > _______________________________________________ > > 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, > > <mailto:wikimedia-l-requ...@lists.wikimedia.org?subject=unsubscribe> > > > _______________________________________________ > 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, > <mailto:wikimedia-l-requ...@lists.wikimedia.org?subject=unsubscribe> -- James Heilman MD, CCFP-EM, Wikipedian The Wikipedia Open Textbook of Medicine _______________________________________________ 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, <mailto:wikimedia-l-requ...@lists.wikimedia.org?subject=unsubscribe>
