Hannah writes: > Multiple people have been discussing this on Meta, too.
Agreed, it's confusing to me even after discussing it with a couple of trustees. There are obvious implications for exclusion, with unclear advantages: I'm not sure this addresses the implied desire to have people with "experience with the administration / governance / operations a mid-size organization" Victoria writes: > I know that I would've qualified when I first ran I would have also, but would not now; two of the most effective and competent and governance-experienced trustees I have served with would not qualify. Many people in our movement who have only gotten *more* experience with a wider range of larger organizations, likewise would no longer qualify once they stop using certain wiki-hats (checkuser?), which are simply not indicators of governance experience. Warmly, SJ On Fri, Jul 24, 2026 at 12:15 PM Hannah Clover via Wikimedia-l < [email protected]> wrote: > I'm a female admin and even I wouldn't qualify under this criteria because > normal adminship doesn't count. Multiple people have been discussing this > on Meta, too. It's deeply unpopular and the fact we got to the point where > this is being seriously considered without people noticing how out of touch > it is is another reason I'm concerned about the current state of the board. > > On Fri, Jul 24, 2026, 10:19 a.m. Tila Cappelletto via Wikimedia-l < > [email protected]> wrote: > >> +1 to Ciell's concern, and thank you for raising it. >> >> While the proposed eligibility criteria for new trustees include >> different forms of governance and community experience, it's important to >> note that the latest Community Insights Survey states that "*Women were >> less well represented among Admins, of whom only 7% identified as women*." >> (1) Is there similar data on the participation of women and gender-diverse >> Wikimedians across the other eligibility categories, such as committee >> service? >> >> More importantly, how was the risk of reinforcing the Wikimedia >> movement's long-standing gender gap in participation considered and >> addressed during the development of this proposal? >> >> Finally, systemic issues should be treated as such. The question is not >> whether individual women have managed to overcome structural barriers and >> be elected to the WMF Board of Trustees, but how those barriers continue to >> shape participation and governance across the movement as a whole. >> >> (1) >> https://meta.wikimedia.org/wiki/Community_Insights/Community_Insights_2024_Report#Gender >> In solidarity, >> Tila Cappelletto >> www.linkedin.com/in/tilacappelletto >> >> >> Em seg., 20 de jul. de 2026 às 19:25, Ciell Wikipedia via Wikimedia-l < >> [email protected]> escreveu: >> >>> I wonder how many women* would qualify under the new conditions, and am >>> concerned that these proposed restrictions on community members would >>> create a glass ceiling (https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Glass_ceiling) >>> for their candidacy. >>> >>> And while Victoria says she does not have time, I hope there will be >>> some numbers available by Wednesday when the topic is scheduled for a >>> session at Wikimania. >>> >>> Best, >>> Ciell >>> >>> Op ma 20 jul 2026, 12:58 schreef Hannah Clover via Wikimedia-l < >>> [email protected]>: >>> >>>> > Unfortunately, it feels like the board is not aligned with the >>>> movement at large and does not trust the community to pick people who are >>>> actually aligned with the mission, and has thus refused to implement the >>>> community's wishes. As a result, I cannot in good faith support the current >>>> changes. >>>> >>>> Same goes for me. >>>> >>>> On Mon, Jul 20, 2026, 10:26 a.m. Sohom Datta via Wikimedia-l < >>>> [email protected]> wrote: >>>> >>>>> I wanted to voice concerns over the proposed changes to candidate >>>>> criteria for the Trustee elections. >>>>> >>>>> The current criteria significantly limit community participation, down >>>>> from "almost anyone can participate" to "only functionaries". I think this >>>>> runs counter to our movement's values, which prioritize openness and >>>>> broader participation. Based on a quick bit of SQL on the replica >>>>> databases, the number of people eligible to stand in the elections and >>>>> represent English Wikipedia (a group of 200K active editors) on the BoT is >>>>> *drum roll, please* 124 users (with an error bar of, say, 10 users?). I, >>>>> for one, refuse to believe that only 124 out of 200K English Wikipedians >>>>> are familiar enough with the movement at large to make governance >>>>> decisions, >>>>> and I think a comparison with the candidates from previous elections >>>>> proves >>>>> the point. I don't think Mike Peel (in their volunteer Commons editor >>>>> capacity, not their affiliate capacity), Doc James (when they were >>>>> elected), or Lane Raspberry (whose removal from the elections kicked off >>>>> the community response that culminated in this criteria) would be >>>>> eligible to run. In addition, I know of at least 3 more editors who I >>>>> would consider adequately equipped to run for a board seat but who >>>>> would not fit within the guidelines as currently written. >>>>> >>>>> For what it's worth, this feels like a backsliding. The community has >>>>> asked >>>>> the board to allow more mission-aligned people to run for the board, so >>>>> that there are more candidates to pick from in the board election. >>>>> The board appears to have responded by digging its heels in, retaining the >>>>> heavily criticized shortlisting process and the equally controversial >>>>> vetting process that eliminated two mission-aligned candidates, but >>>>> instead >>>>> publishing an extremely restrictive set of criteria that limits who can >>>>> actually run for the election in the first place. >>>>> >>>>> Unfortunately, it feels like the board is not aligned with the >>>>> movement at large and does not trust the community to pick people who >>>>> are actually aligned with the mission, and has thus refused to >>>>> implement the community's wishes. As a result, I cannot in good faith >>>>> support the current changes. >>>>> >>>>> Regards, >>>>> Sohom Datta >>>>> --- >>>>> Open-source contributor @Wikimedia >>>>> >>>>> >>>>> On Sun, Jul 19, 2026 at 11:08 AM Victoria Doronina via Wikimedia-l < >>>>> [email protected]> wrote: >>>>> >>>>>> Hello Sam, >>>>>> >>>>>> You say bureaucracy, I say governance. Please forgive me for stating >>>>>> the obvious, but WMF is a very large international organisation. It's >>>>>> much >>>>>> easier to scale up the experience from a smaller Wikimedia organisation >>>>>> than to start from scratch. >>>>>> >>>>>> And people who have Wikimedia governance experience usually have >>>>>> experience with outreach campaigns and education in some form. >>>>>> >>>>>> I also agree that knowing several languages is valuable, but I don't >>>>>> think we should discriminate against "English as a native and only >>>>>> language" speakers - it's our working language. >>>>>> >>>>>> Lastly, while I don't have time to gather the statistics about the >>>>>> current and past candidates, I know that I would've qualified when I >>>>>> first >>>>>> ran - as a former member of the Russian Wikipedia ArbCom and a former >>>>>> member of the Funds Dissemination Committee - note that I've never been >>>>>> on >>>>>> a board of an affiliate. >>>>>> >>>>>> And lastly, I hope that the current criteria will encourage people to >>>>>> serve on the global committees such as AffCom, U4C etc, and people who >>>>>> serve on them to participate in the Board elections as candidates - we >>>>>> need >>>>>> all the talent we can get. >>>>>> >>>>>> >>>>>> >>>>>> On Sat, Jul 18, 2026 at 1:06 PM Samuel Klein via Wikimedia-l < >>>>>> [email protected]> wrote: >>>>>> >>>>>>> Thanks so much Margo. The base requirements seem good. >>>>>>> >>>>>>> The Categories of Governance or Community Experience seem to trend >>>>>>> mostly towards bureacratic experience, not related to experience with >>>>>>> knowledge work (like education or contribution), or outreach (like >>>>>>> partnerships or campaigns), or multilingualism (including translation >>>>>>> and >>>>>>> multinational initiatives). It also singles out incorporated affiliates >>>>>>> with paid staff over all other forms of community organizing and project >>>>>>> work, as demonstration of community experience; can you say more about >>>>>>> that? >>>>>>> >>>>>>> Have you analyzed which current and past trustees / candidates would >>>>>>> have fit these proposed criteria? That might be a useful appendix for >>>>>>> the >>>>>>> discussion. >>>>>>> >>>>>>> Sam >>>>>>> >>>>>>> >>>>>>> On Fri, Jul 17, 2026 at 10:40 PM Margo Lee via Wikimedia-l < >>>>>>> [email protected]> wrote: >>>>>>> >>>>>>>> Hello everyone, >>>>>>>> >>>>>>>> Following the 2025 elections, the Wikimedia Foundation Board of >>>>>>>> Trustees committed >>>>>>>> <https://meta.wikimedia.org/wiki/Talk:Wikimedia_Foundation_Board_noticeboard/October_2025_update#c-LLosa_(WMF)-20251015213400-Additional_perspectives_on_current_and_future_board_selection_processes> >>>>>>>> to reviewing the selection process of new Trustees, soliciting and >>>>>>>> receiving feedback and suggestions and proposing changes. The Board >>>>>>>> received extensive comments posted on Meta >>>>>>>> <https://meta.wikimedia.org/wiki/Wikimedia_Foundation_elections/2025/Debrief>, >>>>>>>> which helped inform this approach. >>>>>>>> >>>>>>>> The Board has discussed the following goals for reforms: >>>>>>>> >>>>>>>> - >>>>>>>> >>>>>>>> Clarity and consistency of the electoral process >>>>>>>> - >>>>>>>> >>>>>>>> Clarity of roles and responsibilities >>>>>>>> - >>>>>>>> >>>>>>>> Transparent communications and timeline >>>>>>>> - >>>>>>>> >>>>>>>> A slate of candidates who strengthen the board through the >>>>>>>> experience they bring >>>>>>>> - >>>>>>>> >>>>>>>> Reduced need for shortlisting >>>>>>>> - >>>>>>>> >>>>>>>> Strong voter participation >>>>>>>> >>>>>>>> >>>>>>>> The Board is now ready to publish its draft eligibility >>>>>>>> requirements for feedback from the community. The requirements are more >>>>>>>> specific and detailed than in years past, to both inform the community >>>>>>>> of >>>>>>>> what the Board needs and to create multiple pathways to the Board for >>>>>>>> Wikimedians. They are also presented as requirements for candidates, >>>>>>>> not >>>>>>>> desirable qualities. >>>>>>>> >>>>>>>> The Board is also emphasising the need for previous governance >>>>>>>> experience, including these key elements of experience: >>>>>>>> >>>>>>>> - >>>>>>>> >>>>>>>> Understanding the role of oversight vs. governance vs. >>>>>>>> management >>>>>>>> - >>>>>>>> >>>>>>>> Understanding Fiduciary Duties >>>>>>>> >>>>>>>> <https://foundation.wikimedia.org/wiki/File:Legal_and_Fiduciary_Duties_for_Wikimedia_Foundation_Trustees_Public_Version.pdf> >>>>>>>> >>>>>>>> >>>>>>>> - >>>>>>>> >>>>>>>> Understanding the "Group Dynamics" of a board or committee (and >>>>>>>> other collective decision-making bodies): working well with others >>>>>>>> to ask >>>>>>>> probing questions, voice different views and contribute to informed >>>>>>>> decisions for the good of the whole, not an individual agenda >>>>>>>> >>>>>>>> >>>>>>>> The Board is now looking for specific feedback on the proposed >>>>>>>> eligibility criteria >>>>>>>> <https://meta.wikimedia.org/wiki/Special:MyLanguage/Wikimedia_Foundation_elections/2027/Proposed_eligibility_criteria> >>>>>>>> . >>>>>>>> >>>>>>>> Regards, >>>>>>>> >>>>>>>> The Board Governance Committee >>>>>>>> >>>>>>>> Margo Lee on behalf of the Governance Committee >>>>>>>> >>>>>>>> *Margo Lee* (she/her) >>>>>>>> Deputy Chief of Staff >>>>>>>> Wikimedia Foundation <https://wikimediafoundation.org/> >>>>>>>> _______________________________________________ >>>>>>>> Wikimedia-l mailing list -- [email protected], >>>>>>>> guidelines at: >>>>>>>> https://meta.wikimedia.org/wiki/Mailing_lists/Guidelines and >>>>>>>> https://meta.wikimedia.org/wiki/Wikimedia-l >>>>>>>> Public archives at >>>>>>>> https://lists.wikimedia.org/hyperkitty/list/[email protected]/message/GS3S74YZFPGACVTOTR7DEL4OHTGCW2JP/ >>>>>>>> To unsubscribe send an email to >>>>>>>> [email protected] >>>>>>> >>>>>>> >>>>>>> >>>>>>> -- >>>>>>> Samuel Klein @metasj w:user:sj +1 617 >>>>>>> 529 4266 >>>>>>> _______________________________________________ >>>>>>> Wikimedia-l mailing list -- [email protected], >>>>>>> guidelines at: >>>>>>> https://meta.wikimedia.org/wiki/Mailing_lists/Guidelines and >>>>>>> https://meta.wikimedia.org/wiki/Wikimedia-l >>>>>>> Public archives at >>>>>>> https://lists.wikimedia.org/hyperkitty/list/[email protected]/message/WPGOIQJ7OKLX66KRXQHPQRYVLH6PIWNC/ >>>>>>> To unsubscribe send an email to >>>>>>> [email protected] >>>>>> >>>>>> >>>>>> >>>>>> -- >>>>>> Kind regards, Victoria >>>>>> Victoria Doronina >>>>>> <https://wikimediafoundation.org/profile/dr-victoria-doronina/> >>>>>> (she/her), >>>>>> UTC >>>>>> Wikimedia Foundation Trustee >>>>>> Community and Affiliates Liaison >>>>>> Human Rights Liaison >>>>>> >>>>>> Wikimedia Foundation <https://wikimediafoundation.org/> >>>>>> >>>>>> "Imagine a world in which every single human being can freely share >>>>>> in the sum of all knowledge. Please help us make it a reality." >>>>>> >>>>>> _______________________________________________ >>>>>> Wikimedia-l mailing list -- [email protected], >>>>>> guidelines at: >>>>>> https://meta.wikimedia.org/wiki/Mailing_lists/Guidelines and >>>>>> https://meta.wikimedia.org/wiki/Wikimedia-l >>>>>> Public archives at >>>>>> https://lists.wikimedia.org/hyperkitty/list/[email protected]/message/RR523SXFWNAVSCOCENZE6WRIICBVUJ6L/ >>>>>> To unsubscribe send an email to [email protected] >>>>> >>>>> _______________________________________________ >>>>> Wikimedia-l mailing list -- [email protected], >>>>> guidelines at: >>>>> https://meta.wikimedia.org/wiki/Mailing_lists/Guidelines and >>>>> https://meta.wikimedia.org/wiki/Wikimedia-l >>>>> Public archives at >>>>> https://lists.wikimedia.org/hyperkitty/list/[email protected]/message/PAVHVVWAT4YHUYBNKOYKHAG23OH2BSH3/ >>>>> To unsubscribe send an email to [email protected] >>>> >>>> _______________________________________________ >>>> Wikimedia-l mailing list -- [email protected], >>>> guidelines at: https://meta.wikimedia.org/wiki/Mailing_lists/Guidelines >>>> and https://meta.wikimedia.org/wiki/Wikimedia-l >>>> Public archives at >>>> https://lists.wikimedia.org/hyperkitty/list/[email protected]/message/QHPRDT6QBRNMA6V7ZLGJUOGXO622QUJE/ >>>> To unsubscribe send an email to [email protected] >>> >>> >>> >>> >>> >>> _______________________________________________ >>> Wikimedia-l mailing list -- [email protected], guidelines >>> at: https://meta.wikimedia.org/wiki/Mailing_lists/Guidelines and >>> https://meta.wikimedia.org/wiki/Wikimedia-l >>> Public archives at >>> https://lists.wikimedia.org/hyperkitty/list/[email protected]/message/YGVDH7253G4LH4K5BBB3J6F3OWU254QD/ >>> To unsubscribe send an email to [email protected] >> >> _______________________________________________ >> Wikimedia-l mailing list -- [email protected], guidelines >> at: https://meta.wikimedia.org/wiki/Mailing_lists/Guidelines and >> https://meta.wikimedia.org/wiki/Wikimedia-l >> Public archives at >> https://lists.wikimedia.org/hyperkitty/list/[email protected]/message/Q5CO7HJBBBXOVIFTCO273NUBRNV5EJU2/ >> To unsubscribe send an email to [email protected] > > _______________________________________________ > Wikimedia-l mailing list -- [email protected], guidelines > at: https://meta.wikimedia.org/wiki/Mailing_lists/Guidelines and > https://meta.wikimedia.org/wiki/Wikimedia-l > Public archives at > https://lists.wikimedia.org/hyperkitty/list/[email protected]/message/ZBG6FKRE32UVAKJXBAHQIPBMH435ZIVF/ > To unsubscribe send an email to [email protected] -- Samuel Klein @metasj w:user:sj +1 617 529 4266
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