Functionaries (checkusers, oversighters, stewards, OTRS members, and people
with similar advanced permissions) have not been required to provide their
personal information - name, DOB, address - for years.  They simply sign
off a type of confidentiality agreement with their username.

Risker/Anne

On Thu, 8 Oct 2020 at 13:52, Todd Allen <[email protected]> wrote:

> Well, you could always do a nominal membership contribution, like a penny,
> or sponsorships for those who wish to join but don't have the money. Since
> WMF makes its money primarily from donations, there's really no need for it
> to actually sustain itself from membership fees.
>
> So far as requiring non-pseudonymous membership, I don't think there's any
> requirement that such member lists be made public. So it would work a lot
> like functionaries giving their information for the private access policy;
> they are required to verify their identity, but that will be held privately
> and not available to the public. So for all intents and purposes,
> pseudonymous membership would still be possible.
>
> Todd
>
> On Thu, Oct 8, 2020 at 11:46 AM Risker <[email protected]> wrote:
>
> > Without needing to go into further detail, it is because to be a
> membership
> > organization, pseudonyms aren't acceptable; all members must provide
> their
> > full legal names and addresses.  I also cannot think of a membership
> > organization that does not charge a membership fee, although I suppose it
> > is possible; but anything requiring a financial contribution would limit
> > the membership to those who have the money to pay to join, which is
> > antithetical to the movement's philosophy.
> >
> > Risker/Anne
> >
> > On Thu, 8 Oct 2020 at 13:41, Todd Allen <[email protected]> wrote:
> >
> > > Why would we "not want it to be a membership organization"? In fact,
> many
> > > of us want exactly that, since the WMF seems to think it can lord it
> over
> > > the communities instead of fulfilling its role of serving them.
> > >
> > > The new Board rules basically say that the Board itself gets to say how
> > the
> > > community-based members are selected, instead of having actual bylaws
> as
> > to
> > > how it happens. I'd like to see it done very simply: Those eight seats
> > > (forming a majority) on the Board should be elected (not nominated,
> > > elected) by the community, with the Board having no veto power over the
> > > results of the election.
> > >
> > > Todd
> > >
> > > On Wed, Oct 7, 2020 at 12:45 PM Brad Patrick <[email protected]>
> > wrote:
> > >
> > > > This is a very, very old and tired argument. If you do not understand
> > > > United States non-profit corporations, go educate yourself about
> those
> > > > first. If your perspective is non-US based, you may have a different
> > > frame
> > > > of mind which is irreconcilable with the way WMF is. Take all the
> time
> > > you
> > > > need to see the differences before attacking WMF for (a) what it is
> and
> > > (b)
> > > > why it isn't what you want it to be.
> > > >
> > > > WMF exists legally, and has as its foundation organizational
> principle,
> > > > authority vested in a Board. WMF is not a membership organization.
> You
> > > > would not want it to be a membership organization (as a matter of
> law).
> > > >
> > > > Please temper your criticism accordingly.
> > > >
> > > > Brad Patrick
> > > > Former WMF General Counsel
> > > >
> > > > On 10/7/20, 12:47 PM, "Wikimedia-l on behalf of Paulo Santos
> Perneta"
> > <
> > > > [email protected] on behalf of
> > > > [email protected]> wrote:
> > > >
> > > >     I knew they are theoretically self-appointed, but was under the
> > > > impression
> > > >     that at least until now an appearance of democracy and legitimacy
> > > > towards
> > > >     the community has been respected, which no longer seems to be the
> > > case.
> > > >     I wonder what would be the legitimacy of a self-appointing body
> in
> > > the
> > > > eyes
> > > >     of the Wikimedia Movement, and all the communities which are part
> > of
> > > > it?
> > > >
> > > >     Regards,
> > > >     Paulo
> > > >
> > > >     Adam Wight <[email protected]> escreveu no dia quarta,
> > > > 7/10/2020 à(s)
> > > >     17:20:
> > > >
> > > >     > Greetings, this is a semiautomated response pointing out that
> the
> > > >     > Wikimedia Foundation Board is not elected, it's
> self-appointing.
> > > The
> > > >     > so-called "elections" are in fact nominations to be considered
> by
> > > the
> > > >     > Board.  Therefore, the Bylaws have not been broken.
> > > >     >
> > > >     > This is an unfortunate arrangement, please see [1] for some
> > > > background
> > > >     > about the conversion from a membership organization to a
> > > > non-membership
> > > >     > organization which is no longer legally required to hold
> > elections.
> > > >     >
> > > >     > Regards,
> > > >     >
> > > >     > Adam W.
> > > >     > [[mw:User:Adamw]]
> > > >     >
> > > >     > [1]
> > > >     >
> > > >
> > >
> >
> https://meta.wikimedia.org/wiki/Wikimedia_Foundation_membership_controversy
> > > >     >
> > > >     > On 10/7/20 5:55 PM, Paulo Santos Perneta wrote:
> > > >     > > The terms of 3 BoT members expired last month, and the BoT
> > itself
> > > > decided
> > > >     > > to extend them? What is the legitimacy of that? And why is a
> > BoT
> > > > which is
> > > >     > > expected to be in a mere interim management waiting for
> > > elections,
> > > >     > > presenting profound changes to its Bylaws [1]?
> > > >     > >
> > > >     > > [1] -
> > > >     > >
> > > >     >
> > > >
> > >
> >
> https://meta.wikimedia.org/wiki/Wikimedia_Foundation_Board_noticeboard/October_2020_-_Proposed_Bylaws_changes
> > > >     > >
> > > >     > > Best,
> > > >     > > Paulo
> > > >     > >
> > > >     > > Nataliia Tymkiv <[email protected]> escreveu no dia
> > quarta,
> > > >     > 7/10/2020
> > > >     > > à(s) 16:49:
> > > >     > >
> > > >     > >> Hello,
> > > >     > >>
> > > >     > >> I can answer a few of the questions raised in this thread.
> > > >     > >>
> > > >     > >> When the Board postponed the community selection of
> trustees,
> > we
> > > > also
> > > >     > >> extended the terms of the trustees in the affected seats
> > (María
> > > >     > Sefidari,
> > > >     > >> Dariusz Jemielniak, and James Heilman)[1]. Their terms were
> > > > originally
> > > >     > set
> > > >     > >> to expire last month, but because of that term extension
> they
> > > are
> > > > still
> > > >     > >> serving as trustees, and as such María remains the Board
> Chair
> > > and
> > > >     > Dariusz
> > > >     > >> and James continue on as Committee Chairs[2].
> > > >     > >>
> > > >     > >> Raju Narisetti and Esra'a Al Shafei have been reappointed to
> > the
> > > > Board
> > > >     > for
> > > >     > >> an additional three-year term[3][4].
> > > >     > >>
> > > >     > >> The current members of the Board of Trustees are listed on
> the
> > > > Wikimedia
> > > >     > >> Foundation website[5].
> > > >     > >>
> > > >     > >> We do not currently have a shortage of trustees on the
> Board,
> > > and
> > > > we
> > > >     > have
> > > >     > >> had a quorum for every decision we have made this year. We
> > have
> > > >     > published
> > > >     > >> some outstanding Board records, many of which were just
> > approved
> > > > at our
> > > >     > >> recent meeting in September[6][7].
> > > >     > >>
> > > >     > >> I have just sent an email to this list, as well as posted an
> > > > update to
> > > >     > >> Meta-Wiki, with a request for feedback on matters related to
> > the
> > > >     > >> Foundation’s Bylaws and trustee selection[8]. That
> > announcement
> > > > contains
> > > >     > >> more information about the postponed community selection of
> > > > trustees.
> > > >     > >>
> > > >     > >> Best regards,
> > > >     > >>
> > > >     > >> antanana / Nataliia Tymkiv
> > > >     > >>
> > > >     > >> Vice Chair, Wikimedia Foundation Board of Trustees
> > > >     > >>
> > > >     > >> [1]
> > > >     > >>
> > > >     > >>
> > > >     >
> > > >
> > >
> >
> https://foundation.wikimedia.org/wiki/Resolution:Postponement_of_Community_Selection_of_Trustees_and_Extension_of_Community_Selected_Trustee_Terms_until_next_selection_process
> > > >     > >>
> > > >     > >>
> > > >     > >> [2]
> > > >     > >>
> > > >     > >>
> > > >     >
> > > >
> > >
> >
> https://foundation.wikimedia.org/wiki/Resolution:Board_Officers_and_Committee_Membership,_2019
> > > >     > >>
> > > >     > >>
> > > >     > >> [3]
> > > >     > >>
> > > >     > >>
> > > >     >
> > > >
> > >
> >
> https://foundation.wikimedia.org/wiki/Resolution:Renewing_Raju_Narisetti%27s_Appointment_to_the_Board_of_Trustees,_2020
> > > >     > >>
> > > >     > >>
> > > >     > >> [4]
> > > >     > >>
> > > >     > >>
> > > >     >
> > > >
> > >
> >
> https://foundation.wikimedia.org/wiki/Resolution:Renewing_Esra%27a_Al_Shafei%27s_Appointment_to_the_Board_of_Trustees,_2020
> > > >     > >>
> > > >     > >>
> > > >     > >> [5] https://wikimediafoundation.org/role/board/
> > > >     > >>
> > > >     > >>
> > > >     > >> [6] https://foundation.wikimedia.org/wiki/Meetings
> > > >     > >>
> > > >     > >>
> > > >     > >> [7] https://foundation.wikimedia.org/wiki/Resolutions
> > > >     > >>
> > > >     > >> [8]
> > > >     > >>
> > > >     > >>
> > > >     >
> > > >
> > >
> >
> https://meta.wikimedia.org/wiki/Wikimedia_Foundation_Board_noticeboard/October_2020_-_Call_for_feedback_about_Bylaws_changes_and_Board_candidate_rubric
> > > >     > >> <
> > > >     > >>
> > > >     >
> > > >
> > >
> >
> https://meta.wikimedia.org/wiki/Wikimedia_Foundation_Board_noticeboard/July_2020_-_Call_for_feedback_about_Bylaws_changes_and_Board_candidate_rubric
> > > >     > >>
> > > >     > >> *NOTICE: You may have received this message outside of your
> > > normal
> > > >     > working
> > > >     > >> hours/days, as I usually can work more as a volunteer during
> > > > weekend.
> > > >     > You
> > > >     > >> should not feel obligated to answer it during your days off.
> > > > Thank you
> > > >     > in
> > > >     > >> advance!*
> > > >     > >>
> > > >     > >>
> > > >     > >>
> > > >     > >> On Thu, Oct 1, 2020 at 9:52 PM Bill Takatoshi <
> > > > [email protected]>
> > > >     > >> wrote:
> > > >     > >>
> > > >     > >>> After I asked my questions on September 4, I was sent the
> > > message
> > > >     > >>> below by some role account I've never heard of, asking
> about
> > > > claims
> > > >     > >>> that have used the names of five other people. I don't edit
> > > > under my
> > > >     > >>> real name, but I have never used the names in the linked
> > forum
> > > >     > >>> postings.
> > > >     > >>>
> > > >     > >>> The linked posts also claim that the Foundation's nonprofit
> > > > status is
> > > >     > >>> at risk. I am not a lawyer, but I am skeptical of that
> claim
> > > even
> > > >     > >>> though five Trustees whose three-year terms expired in
> August
> > > >     > >>> apparently voted on a Resolution in a Board meeting on
> > > September
> > > > 24.
> > > >     > >>> According to Section 4 of the Bylaws, "A quorum shall
> consist
> > > of
> > > > a
> > > >     > >>> majority of Trustees then in office." Section 6 says, "the
> > > Board
> > > > may
> > > >     > >>> continue doing business as a Board during the vacancy of
> any
> > > > Trustee
> > > >     > >>> position." Therefore, since four of the five remaining
> > Trustees
> > > > all
> > > >     > >>> voted in favor, the Resolution was properly carried, in my
> > > > layperson's
> > > >     > >>> view. I am less certain about the propriety of allowing a
> > > Trustee
> > > >     > >>> whose three year term expired to continue to serve as
> Chair.
> > > >     > >>>
> > > >     > >>> The lack of any update or even ETA for an update on
> > > >     > >>>
> > > >     > >>>
> > > >     > >>
> > > >     >
> > > >
> > >
> >
> https://meta.wikimedia.org/wiki/Talk:Wikimedia_Foundation_elections/2020#Postpone%3F
> > > >     > >>> is baffling. Elections have never been held in person, only
> > > > online,
> > > >     > >>> and so the excuse that they were postponed because of the
> > > > pandemic
> > > >     > >>> crisis seems extremely suspicious. Indefinitely delaying
> > > > elections for
> > > >     > >>> such a vacuous reason makes the Foundation look like the
> > worst
> > > > of the
> > > >     > >>> bad actors in today's international political climate.
> > Doesn't
> > > > the
> > > >     > >>> cancelled travel of the pandemic crisis give the Foundation
> > > more
> > > > time
> > > >     > >>> to hold elections, not less? Whether non-profit status is
> at
> > > > risk or
> > > >     > >>> not, I would hope that the Foundation, Board, and Elections
> > > > Committee
> > > >     > >>> would be more interested in upholding the principles of
> good
> > > >     > >>> governance than failing to even announce a new schedule or
> > even
> > > > a date
> > > >     > >>> by which a new schedule will be announced.
> > > >     > >>>
> > > >     > >>> -Will
> > > >     > >>>
> > > >     > >>> On Mon, Sep 14, 2020 at 10:31 PM Gender Desk <
> > > > [email protected]>
> > > >     > >>> wrote:
> > > >     > >>>> Mr. Takatoshi,
> > > >     > >>>>
> > > >     > >>>> Wikipediocracy has suggested that you have also used the
> > names
> > > > "Rogol
> > > >     > >>> Domedonfors, Renée Bagslint, Jennifer Pryor-Summers,
> Felicity
> > > > Braingut,
> > > >     > >>> Thomas Townsend and others."
> > > >     > >>> http://wikipediocracy.com/forum/viewtopic.php?f=14&t=11567
> > > >     > >>>> Can you comment on that?
> > > >     > >>>>
> > > >     > >>>> Regards,
> > > >     > >>>> Genderdesk
> > > >     > >>>>
> > > >     > >>>> genderdesk.wordpress.com
> > > >     > >>>
> > > >     > >>> On Mon, Sep 14, 2020 at 7:38 PM Samuel Klein <
> > > [email protected]>
> > > >     > wrote:
> > > >     > >>>> Can anyone from the elections committee comment?  What is
> > the
> > > > current
> > > >     > >>>> plan?    //S
> > > >     > >>>> On Fri, Sep 4, 2020 at 8:05 PM Bill Takatoshi <
> > > >     > [email protected]
> > > >     > >>>> wrote:
> > > >     > >>>>
> > > >     > >>>>> How long can the Foundation legally postpone Board of
> > > Trustees
> > > >     > >>> elections?
> > > >     > >>>>>
> > > >     > >>>>>
> > > >     > >>
> > > >     >
> > > >
> > >
> >
> https://meta.wikimedia.org/wiki/Talk:Wikimedia_Foundation_elections/2020#Postpone%3F
> > > >     > >>>>> has a comment from April saying, "Once things get moving
> > > again,
> > > >     > >>>>> appopriate [sic] date for the election will be decided
> and
> > an
> > > >     > >>>>> announcement will be made."
> > > >     > >>>>>
> > > >     > >>>>>
> > > >     > >>>>>
> > > >     > >>
> > > >     >
> > > >
> > >
> >
> https://meta.wikimedia.org/wiki/Wikimedia_Foundation_Board_of_Trustees#Current_members
> > > >     > >>>>> suggests that five board members terms end on "Wikimania
> > > 2020"
> > > > -- but
> > > >     > >>>>> is that accurate?
> > > >     > >>>>>
> > > >     > >>>>>
> > > >     > >>>>>
> > > >     > >>
> > > >     >
> > > >
> > >
> >
> https://foundation.wikimedia.org/wiki/Resolution:Term_Limit_Proposal_for_Bylaws
> > > >     > >>>>> is clear that "All Board terms are three years" and "the
> > term
> > > > of each
> > > >     > >>>>> such appointment shall not exceed three years."
> > > >     > >>>>>
> > > >     > >>>>> Who are the current members of the Board of Trustees?
> > > >     > >>>>>
> > > >     > >>>>> Can the board achieve a quorum in its present state?
> > > >     > >>>>>
> > > >     > >>>>> Who is the Chair currently?
> > > >     > >>>>>
> > > >     > >>>> --
> > > >     > >>>> Samuel Klein          @metasj           w:user:sj
> > +1
> > > > 617 529
> > > >     > >>> 4266
> > > >     > >>>
> > > >     > >>> _______________________________________________
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