+1 Lodewijk -- I was thinking the same thing. Abhinav and Kirill: thanks each for sharing these public updates.
On Mon., Jul. 15, 2019, 4:29 p.m. effe iets anders, < [email protected]> wrote: > > I think it would be at the very least helpful to the wider community to > better understand that component. Could you spell out in a bit more detail > what those capacity concerns were, and what other findings may have > existed? This may especially be helpful to the India community, as it would > be especially hard to address the issues without a full understanding. > > Thank you! > > Warmly, > Lodewijk > > On Mon, Jul 15, 2019 at 3:03 AM Kirill Lokshin <[email protected]> > wrote: > > > Dear Wikimedia-l readers, > > > > > > AffCom understands the complexity and sensitivity of the circumstances > > surrounding the decision to de-recognize Wikimedia India as a chapter, > and > > we would like to share more information around it. This decision was not > > taken lightly, and only came after consistent warnings, including > > suspensions of the chapter, and continued attempts by AffCom to bring the > > chapter’s activities in line with the requirements for chapter status. We > > understand that volunteers would like more information about this > decision > > and past actions that influenced its outcome. We will attempt to provide > an > > overview of the factors and history that led to this decision. > > > > Wikimedia India has been given ample time to address their lack of > > compliance with minimum chapter expectations since their initial signs of > > non-compliance in 2015 and concerns presented to them during their 2015 > > site visits, initial 2016 suspension, and most recent 2018 suspension > last > > November. The Wikimedia India Executive Committee (EC) has repeatedly > > failed to respond in a timely and complete manner to call requests, > annual > > reporting timelines, and remediation deadlines for demonstrating > > compliance. > > > > It is worth noting that there may be issues related to incomplete > > information regarding the current relationship between WMIN and AffCom. > > Abhinav is a current WMIN representative, but he was recently appointed > to > > the EC on June 14, 2019 [1] following the EC’s receipt of the final > > revocation notice sent on June 13, 2019. He was not informed of, nor did > he > > participate in, our communications regarding the current suspension > process > > before that time, so he has had to rely on second-hand knowledge of the > > situation. The remaining four members of the EC appear to have fully > > abdicated their responsibility for communications leadership and as such > > further confirm the chapter’s lack of capacity at this time. > > > > Suspension notices give explicit requirements for what and how to > > communicate with respect to a chapter’s capacity and provide a timeline > for > > addressing gaps to meet requirements. We’re providing a table reflecting > > the most recent suspension notice, the requirements included, and the > date > > they were to be delivered below for the community’s context: > > > > According to the suspension notice, Wikimedia India was to: > > > > Status > > > > Submit an Action Plan. By January 15, 2019, the chapter was to submit an > > updated Action Plan including a timeline with dates for completing the > > tasks outlined. > > > > Submitted past deadline. > > > > Received on March 4, 2019. > > > > Insufficient response; awaiting new action plan for potential > > reorganization as outlined in April call. > > > > Complete and submit the required overdue chapter activities and financial > > reporting. The chapter was to submit the reporting by December 1, 2018. > > > > Submitted past deadline. > > > > Received Activities Report on December 3, 2018 and Financial Report on > > December 22, 2018. > > > > Develop a strategy and timeline for addressing the following potential > gaps > > in meeting the basic criteria for chapter status in terms of Legal > > Structure, Open Governance, Active Contributor Involvement, and Capacity. > > By > > January 15, 2019, the chapter was to submit a plan, via email or posted > > online, demonstrating how the chapter meets the specific chapter > > requirements outlined. If the chapter does not currently meet the > > requirements, they were to provide a plan and timeline for how to address > > these issues before June. > > > > Submitted past deadline. > > > > Received on March 4, 2019. > > > > Insufficient response as detailed in April call. > > > > > > > > Resolve concerns related to organizational best practices. By May 1, > 2019, > > the chapter should be able to demonstrate that it is following the > > Wikimedia Foundation Board’s recommendations for organizational best > > practices > > < > > > https://meta.wikimedia.org/wiki/WMF_Resolutions/Organizational_best_practices > > > > > . > > > > Submitted past deadline. > > > > Received on June 4, 2019. > > > > > > > > More information on chapter requirements is also available on Meta: > > https://meta.wikimedia.org/wiki/Wikimedia_chapters/Requirements > > > > Although the Affiliations Committee has decided not to renew this chapter > > agreement, this does not reduce the importance of the Republic of India > to > > the Wikimedia movement. We regret that this action has become necessary > due > > to the chapter’s failure to meet the requirements of continued > recognition, > > as outlined in the table above. We would also like to reaffirm the > > committee’s deep and continued commitment to support affiliates in India > > across geographies and languages. > > > > As we have previously indicated, all rights and permissions granted by > the > > Wikimedia Foundation to Wikimedia India in the Chapter Agreement will be > > revoked as of the termination of the agreement on September 14, 2019. In > > the meantime, we will continue to engage with Abhinav and the executive > > committee of Wikimedia India privately until we can align on a public > > communication plan and process to transition the chapter from its current > > recognition status. We will continue to discuss whether and how we can > > share the outcomes of these discussions on Meta once we have agreement > > between the executive committee and the AffCom on the best way to do > this. > > > > Regards, > > > > Kirill Lokshin > > > > Chair, Affiliations Committee > > > > [1] > > > > > https://lists.wikimedia.org/pipermail/wikimediaindia-l/2019-June/014128.html > > > > On Sun, Jul 7, 2019 at 4:50 AM Abhinav srivastava <[email protected]> > > wrote: > > > > > Dear Friends From Affcom, > > > > > > I am posting an open public request for your notice of Suspension moved > > at > > > Wikimedia India (WMIN) which we continue to contest and to our ignored > > > demand of having a public hearing as shared with you all over mail and > > > shared again here under Annexure [A]. You have taken an official > position > > > on suspension without even hearing us even once, unexplained > accusations > > > have been provided and we continue to believe Affcom has been > > > insufficiently investigating facts before making judgements. We > > repeatedly > > > over and over again provided justifications over Mail but you never > took > > > them to your notice and only over calls you heard us, provided your > > > rationale for expectation gaps but never took our oral commentary which > > > refutes your claims,in any action, anywhere. Now you say WMIN won’t > > remain > > > a Chapter after 14th September and be transformed into a User Group. > > > > > > Republic of India happens to be one of the only few countries where > > besides > > > volunteer driven Chapter and User Groups has a full-time staff based > > WMF’s > > > Allied Organisation CIS-A2K [1]. Wikimedia India activities [2] may be > > less > > > due to no source of funds [3] however, Community Members from India put > > > their efforts, strive hard to take the movement ahead. Whether it be > the > > > previous financial year or the present, no Wikimedia Foundation Grants > > like > > > Rapid Grant, Project Grant etc have been applied by Wikimedia India > > members > > > to support any Chapter activity. They remain self-financed. We received > > > your notice last year when Wikimedia India was contesting a dispute > with > > > CIS-A2K over attribution grabbing for our self-financed projects and > > > ignoring Chapter at important National level initiaves [4]. While > working > > > with virtually no source of funds and struggles with WMF’s Allied > > > Organisation, your notice of suspension was the least bad we could have > > > had. > > > > > > We continue to contest your suspension notice. It was Suo Moto (on its > > own) > > > decision making and as found and re-stated above and below in detail, > > there > > > were gaps and misunderstanding in your basis. We also continue to > contest > > > there has been a Rush-to-decision making. No written responses via Mail > > to > > > Chapter’s clarification are being provided and invitation for calls are > > > initiated where brief responses are shared on a Cloud Document. It has > > been > > > subsequently found by both parties on there being gaps in > communication. > > > However, even after clarity during call, Affcom has not taken any > action > > > over them. > > > > > > The basis of your suspension notice has been shared here for the wider > > > audience. > > > > > > > > > 1. > > > > > > Legal Structure : Affcom asked Wikimedia India to resolve and obtain > > its > > > necessary license in order to obtain funds. At present, as per > > > Government > > > of India restrictions it is difficult to obtain foreign funding. > > > Wikimedia > > > India informed the Affcom on roughly 13,000 Non-Government > > Organisations > > > (NGO)s [5] are struggling with a similar crisis to which Affcom > > > responded, “reconsider applying for a User Group.” and “no evidence > > that > > > the current organization’s leadership will be able to drive this > > problem > > > toward resolution”. Chapter efforts and commitment in resolving the > > said > > > crisis cannot be dusted in few words. A Government restrictive > policy > > > which > > > has an impact on 13,000 NGOs and Affcom finding flaws in WMIN Board > > > Members > > > capability. WMIN would leave it for public interpretation. > > > > > > > > > Why not a capability audit for hosting zero-budget activities? While > most > > > of the time are being spent on resolving the said crisis, WMIN > continues > > to > > > undertake activities as listed. Taking the Open Knowledge Movement > > forward > > > remains a commitment for the Chapter irrespective of whatsoever > political > > > climate may remain. Affcom was asked two questions respectively in this > > > regard however no response has been attained. The questions are > > > > > > > > > > > > 1. > > > > > > Would zero-budget activities, those self-financed not meet > > sufficiency ? > > > Please elaborate for us to stand better and to improve upon. > > > 2. > > > > > > Would resolving Legal Structure and being able to receive WMF Grants > > be > > > a necessary criteria for WMIN to meet sufficiency or continued > > > activities > > > not meet the fulfilment criteria? > > > > > > > > > (2) Open Governance : Affcom informed Chapter that a member needs to be > > in > > > physical presence at the Chapter Assembly to cast vote and raise voice > > and > > > asked The Chapter to change its bylaws. This information is anything > but > > > false. This was communicated during the Call but Affcom did not bring > > > anything in action. Also, as per the Chapter Agreement between WMF and > > > WMIN, a copy of bylaws was provided in English Language to WMF. The > > bylaws > > > were approved by the then Chapter’s Council. No evidence has been > brought > > > to notice on WMIN violating the Clause 7.2 of the Chapter’s Agreement, > > > > > > “The Wikimedia Chapter shall be required to advise the Foundation of > any > > > planned or actual change in the bylaws or status of the Chapter which > > might > > > affect the Foundation or the continued existence or effectiveness of > this > > > Agreement.” > > > > > > > > > > > > (3) Active Contributor Involvement :The November 10 email carried the > > > statement, “The chapter lacks broad and diverse membership, community > > > representation, as well as buy-in and involvement “ and “Membership > seems > > > to be sourced through university leadership rather than through open > > > community participation and representation.” Chapter till date > received > > no > > > evidence or logic construction on how the said argument was reached. > > Later > > > during the call, Affcom did acknowledge that there has been a > > communication > > > gap. Chapter further floated the idea of sharing the Member’s data base > > > after discussing privacy policy over them. > > > > > > > > > > > > (4) Capacity : WMIN was able to submit its annual reports on 21st > > December, > > > 2018 (3.5 months late) due to a notice by Income-Tax department which > > > caused delay in preparing our Financial reports. Although we do not > have > > > any annual grants or use any money to support any activity, as per > > > Chapter’s agreement, affiliate is required to submit Financial Results. > > > Meanwhile, WMIN reported its activities on every quarterly basis and > > shared > > > it with the wider Indian community via India Mailing List and also > other > > > channels [6], [7], [8],[9]. Annual activity report is a compilation > from > > > the quarterly reports. > > > > > > > > > > > > Affcom claimed via Cloud document that no high level response submitted > > and > > > repeated delay is not accepted. WMIN informed Affcom that previous > delay > > > needs to be looked at independently from earlier financial period and > > > suspension notice (WMIN then had a grant), but we received no response. > > > > > > > > > > > > (5) Organizational Best Practices : Affcom asked us to ‘Resolve’ issues > > > relating to Organizational Best Practices, however, no information had > > been > > > received on respective deliverables not been met. The November 10, > email > > > carried the statement, “There are concerns about whether” referring > that > > > Affcom was also not sure themselves. WMIN shared the best practices > after > > > placing it in front of the community on member’s mailing list for more > > than > > > 15 days. To this Affcom responded that you are late with your > submission > > > hence we are terminating your contract. They never shared an evidence > and > > > when WMIN took its time placed it in-front of the community and then > > > submitted, they said delayed and instead of sending their response in > > > writing over mail they again invited us for a call. We continue to > insist > > > on providing a written response via Mail but no action. > > > > > > > > > > > > (6) Action Plan : Affcom asked us to submit an Action Plan and we kept > > > asking what deliverable are needed. We cannot commit on resolving > > > Government restrictions within a said timeline as more than 13,000 NGOs > > > struggle with the similar crisis. We emphasised again and again we have > > > been running zero-budget activities and working for the movement. We > > asked > > > them to review Organizational Best Practices, based on gaps we could > have > > > taken things into consideration. They rather said, you have missed the > > > deadline, so WMIN has to be closed now. > > > > > > > > > > > > To sum up, Affcom friends, you made up your own decision, you made up > you > > > own hearing and you made up your own decision. It was a monologue > masked > > in > > > the name of a dialogue. > > > > > > > > > > > > I encourage you all to be in our boots someday, hosting activities on > > > zero-budget, fighting with the Government bureaucracy to attain some > > > funding as a help, the challenge of having a staff-based organisation > in > > > parallel, struggle with self-financing activities and most importantly > > > working with Affcom to save yourself from their de-recognition threats. > > > > > > > > > > > > If you believe you are correct, please abide to the request made under > > > Annexure [A] and put everything in public domain. Let community read > for > > > themselves and decide. If Affcom is more transparent about its > > > investigation and actions then community would be able to better > > understand > > > the work and provide an opinion. > > > > > > > > > Regards, > > > Abhinav > > > > > > > > > ----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- > > > > > > [1] https://meta.wikimedia.org/wiki/CIS-A2K > > > > > > [2] > > > > > > > > > https://lists.wikimedia.org/pipermail/wikimediaindia-l/2019-April/013994.html > > > \ > > > > > > [3] Foreign Currency (Regulation) Act, 1960 compliance do not permit > > India > > > Chapter to receive money from its primary fiscal sponsor, Wikimedia > > > Foundation. > > > > > > [4] Board of Directors at CIS, acknowledged in March, 2019 for a > > compliant > > > made in August, 2018 for CIS-A2K Staff not doing their duty to the > order. > > > > > > [5] > > > > > > > > > https://foreignpolicy.com/2018/06/07/democracies-need-a-little-help-from-their-friends/ > > > > > > [6] > > > > > > > > > https://lists.wikimedia.org/pipermail/wikimediaindia-l/2017-July/013030.html > > > > > > [7] > > > > > > > > > https://lists.wikimedia.org/pipermail/wikimediaindia-l/2017-October/013089.html > > > > > > [8] > > > > > > > > > https://lists.wikimedia.org/pipermail/wikimediaindia-l/2018-January/013188.html > > > > > > [9] > > > > > > > > > https://lists.wikimedia.org/pipermail/wikimediaindia-l/2018-April/013295.html > > > > > > > > > > > > > > > > > > --------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- > > > > > > Annexure > > > > > > [A] Reallocating the Affcom - WMIN Communication To Meta : No > > > communications over email, video call, social media, instant messaging, > > or > > > anywhere but wiki! While this would not just be aligned with the > editing > > > spirit, it would promote greater transparency and also helpful for us > to > > > communicate the message to our community members. While, we understand > > > Affcom had been advocating the same, however, taking care of privacy > > > concerns, do let us. Once we hear from Affcom on having no privacy > > > concerns, we may reallocate the discussions. > > > > > > If there a consent to this, would request a green light also for > > > > > > 1. > > > > > > Archiving the entire email conversation over a cloud document and > > > linking it to the relevant Meta page. > > > 2. > > > > > > Documenting Internet Calls in an attempt to resolve communication > gaps > > > and linking them to Meta page for greater transparency. > > > 3. > > > > > > Based on Principal of Free Speech, allowing anybody to use the > > > discussion page for expression of their views. > > > 4. > > > > > > Any Volunteer is free to translate the text into the language of > their > > > choice. > > > 5. > > > > > > Upload All PDF sent via Mails to Commons and link them to the Meta > > Page. > > > 6. > > > > > > All relevant customs and procedures which exist for any Meta page to > > be > > > in action. > > > _______________________________________________ > > > 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: [email protected] > > > Unsubscribe: https://lists.wikimedia.org/mailman/listinfo/wikimedia-l, > > > <mailto:[email protected]?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: [email protected] > > Unsubscribe: https://lists.wikimedia.org/mailman/listinfo/wikimedia-l, > > <mailto:[email protected]?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: [email protected] > Unsubscribe: https://lists.wikimedia.org/mailman/listinfo/wikimedia-l, > <mailto:[email protected]?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: [email protected] Unsubscribe: https://lists.wikimedia.org/mailman/listinfo/wikimedia-l, <mailto:[email protected]?subject=unsubscribe>
