If I'm reading Gordon's post right, I think I share some of his hesitancy. I'm
very wary of anything that makes what we do more formal, and I think it needs
to be made as easy as possible to start doing things for WMUK - anything that
makes it more difficult for people to just turn up is a bad thing.
I don't think anybody is naive enough to believe that we shouldn't have any
formality or paid staff given the amount of (voluntarily donated) money
involved, but it's essential that we remember that the overwhelming majority of
the people involved with WMUK do it for pleasure and/or out of passion for the
Wikimedia movement - those people *are* Wikimedia UK. The staff roles and
the bureaucracy exist to support them..
That said, Jon's clarification that it was intended primarily for interns/kids
on work experience/etc put my mind more at rest.
Harry
________________________________
From: Gordon Joly <[email protected]>
To: [email protected]; [email protected]
Sent: Friday, 17 February 2012, 20:34
Subject: Re: [Wikimediauk-l] Wikimedia UK staff policies
On 17/02/2012 19:05, Gordon Joly wrote:
> On 09/02/2012 17:51, Chris Keating wrote:
>>
>> Gordon - have you actually read the draft policy - if so is there anything
>> you particularly object to about it?
>>
> Yes, I have. Thanks for asking.
>
> Gordo
>
Apologies Chris. Let me explain.
I was in full time work in 1999, but since then I started to spend more time as
a "volunteer" and less time making hard cash. Some say that I might be building
"social capital". I Chair two active local groups, I have been a Trustee of
registered charity, I am very active with various parts of my local housing
association, and also with local NHS bodies.
The housing association has a "volunteer policy", and the application pack was
34 pages in length (I think that has changed). They have a lot of volunteering
effort. But there is a real divide between those are "official" volunteers and
those who contribute to the community in different ways. What bugs me is some
will get awards, get their picture taken, get invited to special events and
others will just on with it.
Wikipedia started as a volunteer effort. Wikimedia UK wanted to label some
people as volunteers, since those volunteers will take take part (online and
offline we assume) at workshops, competitions, hack days, GLAM events etc etc
run by the organization.
I guess I need to used to the idea ...... bit like Usenet being transformed
into Google Groups, perhaps (or Dejanews).... if you get my drift.
Gordo
--
Gordon Joly
[email protected]
http://www.joly.org.uk/
Don't Leave Space To The Professionals!
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