Hi Lodewijk, As shared previously, an update is forthcoming during the month of September. I struggle a bit with the statement "the last month of silence," when Katherine, Chen, and myself have been in active communication with the community on this topic via either wiki-l or the Conference and Events Grant Meta page [1], all within the last 30 days.
Nonetheless, as I believe you're specifically seeing a deadline, the guidance will be sent by the end of this week. Kind Regards, Lydia [1] https://meta.wikimedia.org/wiki/Grants:Conference -- *Lydia Hamilton* (she/her) Director of Operations Wikimedia Foundation <https://wikimediafoundation.org/> On Tue, Sep 8, 2020 at 3:31 AM effe iets anders <[email protected]> wrote: > Hi all, > > is there any update on this? Has any progress been made to start a > conversation with the community organizers about this? > > As an organizer, the months of silence (and the last month of silence) on > this are a little saddening. > > Thanks, > Lodewijk > > On Mon, Aug 24, 2020 at 12:24 PM Lydia Hamilton <[email protected]> > wrote: > >> Hi Lodewijk, >> >> Thank you for your feedback. We look forward to the forthcoming September >> release of detailed guidance that will allow Community members to assess >> their ability to safely host events and activities during the current >> pandemic circumstances. >> >> I’d like to respond to some of your comments: >> >> "It looks like your email was written to include a place where you want >> to gather this feedback." >> >> -- Feedback will be gathered on the guidance Meta talk page, which will >> reside in the Grants portal. >> >> "I'm assuming we're talking only about local events of limited size >> (probably a different risk profile applies for larger and/or >> travel-involved activities)." >> >> -- The guidance will address events of all sizes. >> >> "As an organizer, it is nice to have clarity where possible. Crisp >> definitions that translate well, are very helpful." >> >> -- Agreed. The guidance will be reviewed for clarity, ease of use and >> ease of translation. >> >> "I can't imagine an identical set of constraints to apply across >> countries." >> >> -- The guidance will include a host of assessment criteria that will >> allow Community members to evaluate the specific characteristics of their >> proposed event/activity, including location. >> >> "I'm confident that you already reached out to many affiliates to get >> their input ealy on." >> >> -- Yes. We will be evaluating and testing the guidance with selected >> affiliates prior to release on Meta. >> >> Kind Regards, >> Lydia >> >> Lydia Hamilton (she/her) >> Director of Operations >> Wikimedia Foundation >> >> On Mon, Aug 24, 2020 at 2:41 PM Anusha Alikhan <[email protected]> >> wrote: >> >>> >>> >>> >>> >>> *From: *effe iets anders <[email protected]> >>> *Subject: **Re: [Wikimedia-l] [Covid-19] An update on in-person >>> gatherings* >>> *Date: *August 10, 2020 at 8:43:04 PM EDT >>> *To: *Wikimedia Mailing List <[email protected]> >>> *Reply-To: *[email protected], Wikimedia Mailing List < >>> [email protected]> >>> >>> Thank you Katherine for this update, >>> >>> I'm much looking forward to a more nuanced policy. I think it is clear >>> that >>> the standing policy (no in-person activities of any size, around the >>> world) >>> is past its expiration date and can't realistically be maintained any >>> longer in its broad interpretation. With the current policy, we're >>> risking >>> people just ignoring it when they feel no legal obligation to follow it. >>> >>> I hope that we can have an updated policy to provide a little more >>> flexibility sooner than later, even if that means that it is a first >>> phase >>> of making things more nuanced. For example, we could carve out exceptions >>> for countries where there is a clear 'safe' situation (even if we all >>> know >>> this is a very relative thing). Wiki Loves Monuments is about to start, >>> and >>> it would be nice if we could make sure that updates can be considered in >>> the planning as much as possible - especially as this is happening in >>> many >>> different countries, and traditionally mostly outdoors anyway. >>> >>> It looks like your email was written to include a place where you want to >>> gather this feedback. Did a link go missing? >>> >>> For what it's worth, I do have some thoughts about such an updated >>> policy, >>> from the viewpoint as someone who would have to comply. I'm assuming >>> we're >>> talking only about local events of limited size (probably a different >>> risk >>> profile applies for larger and/or travel-involved activities). I'm >>> obviously no epidemiologist or public health policy expert, and I suspect >>> many of these are already front and center in your thinking: >>> - As an organizer, it is nice to have clarity where possible. Crisp >>> definitions that translate well, are very helpful. >>> - Given how different the public health situations are around the world, >>> I >>> can't imagine an identical set of constraints to apply across countries. >>> - Acceptance is important. For example, I know there are a large number >>> of >>> countries where the wearing of masks is considered an accepted good >>> practice, while there are other countries where this is seen as counter >>> productive (with a heavier reliance on distance, for example). I know >>> this >>> is a touchy subject in the US >>> - I wouldn't expect the WMF to interpret each country's public health >>> policy, at the risk of being always behind. Carving out exceptions for >>> countries that are notorious for not developing responsible policy, seems >>> fair though (although that seems an interesting problem for the >>> communications department...). >>> - Reduce bureaucracy to a minimum. Some may be needed to help people >>> through the thinking process, but it's also a deterrent to actually >>> follow >>> the policy. >>> >>> The balance between simplicity and nuance seems a hard one to strike. A >>> bright line would be great, but that most likely conflicts with the >>> realism. >>> As so many governments are experiencing, it must be terribly complex to >>> strike a right balance between requiring all recommendations to be >>> followed >>> and actually get people to endorse and support such requirements. The WMF >>> only has limited leverage, and I would hate it to see people actively >>> looking for loopholes. Because we both know that if anyone can find them, >>> it's a Wikimedian. I would strongly recommend that the policy is such, >>> that >>> people will want to follow it, even if they don't have to. >>> >>> I can appreciate the underlying thought pattern that seems to underpin >>> your >>> mentioned focus: help people assess, inform about best practices and >>> suggest alternatives. Those feel like helpful building blocks. I hope >>> that >>> the various communities will share many responsible ways as they get >>> creative with organizing within those guidelines. I'm confident that you >>> already reached out to many affiliates to get their input ealy on. >>> >>> Warmly, >>> Lodewijk >>> (member of the Wiki Loves Monuments international team, but responding >>> in a >>> personal capacity) >>> >>> On Fri, Aug 7, 2020 at 2:31 PM Katherine Maher <[email protected]> >>> wrote: >>> >>> Hi all, >>> >>> If this were a more predictable year, Wikimedians from around the world >>> would be together this weekend at Wikimania Bangkok 2020, in the warm >>> hospitality of our remarkable Wikimedia ESEAP hosts. We’d be preparing >>> for >>> a weekend of inspiring presentations, serendipitous meetings, and >>> fascinating conversations with Wikimedians from dozens of projects, >>> languages, and communities. >>> >>> I miss these moments of togetherness, and seeing people in person. Even >>> though we’re mostly known as an online community, in-person events have >>> always been part of the fabric of the Wikimedia movement. They are how we >>> have built working partnerships, friendships, and the skills that support >>> these remarkable projects over the years. >>> >>> In March, I sent messages out to the movement, asking grantees to >>> postpone >>> or cancel their in-person events until the World Health Organization >>> declares the COVID-19 pandemic over. Today, that seems wistfully >>> optimistic >>> -- that we’d have this all wrapped up in six months! As we enter August >>> the >>> COVID-19 pandemic is still with us and seems likely to be part of our >>> lives >>> for some time to come. >>> >>> *== Safer events guidance ==* >>> As we all learn to adapt and live with this new reality, we at the >>> Foundation want to offer more adaptable support for Wikimedia convenings. >>> >>> We're already improving support for online events, but as different >>> countries and regions start to offer more flexible guidance for in-person >>> gatherings and travel, we expect to see more community interest for >>> resuming in-person meetings (with appropriate precautions). We want to >>> respond to this interest with tools and resources to help you assess your >>> options, including whether your community can more safely host an >>> in-person >>> Wikimedia event. >>> >>> We are developing some tools to support your decision-making process, >>> including a risk assessment calculator, to help you evaluate your own >>> situation. *Importantly, this will also include guidance on when not to >>> hold an event.* This tool is developed in a way that should be flexible >>> to >>> use for all community members, regardless of your country and the size of >>> your event. >>> >>> We’re also creating a checklist of precautions, including resources with >>> tips and suggestions for how to prepare, evaluate, and follow up on any >>> event. Finally, we’re working to create a list of suggested types of >>> events, such as walking tours, photo hunts, and community picnics, all of >>> which can help meet the demand for safer in-person gatherings. >>> >>> *== Your feedback ==* >>> Living through a global pandemic of this scale is new for all of us -- >>> and >>> the best way to navigate this change is with the support of your >>> community. >>> In that spirit, the events team will start reaching out to affiliate >>> leaders and potential grantees next week for their feedback and advice on >>> these proposed resources. We’re asking for your help shaping these tools >>> to >>> make them as useful as possible for our diverse global community, with >>> all >>> the varied contexts our movement works in. >>> >>> I look forward to sharing more about these tools, as well as additional >>> information about event support and grants toward the end of August. >>> >>> Until then, please stay safe and take care -- I look forward to the next >>> time we see each other again. >>> >>> Katherine >>> >>> -- >>> >>> Katherine Maher (she/her) >>> >>> CEO >>> >>> Wikimedia Foundation <https://wikimediafoundation.org/> >>> _______________________________________________ >>> 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 >>> <[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>
