The Foundation is in charge of Wikimedia operations around the globe. They may be amazing
supermen and women, but they don't have the ability or scope of mobilizing support in
California. A chapter is able to work on stuff that is state specific, and recruit
volunteers to work on cool projects that the Foundation doesn't have resources to
pursue.
Once operational, I see no reason why we wouldn't be able to work on stuff efficiently
and possibly even faster than the Foundation can. Toolservers could be one of those
projects, although we would definitely want to look at the cost of such a project.
________________________________
From: Jon Davis <wiki(a)konsoletek.com>
To: wikimedia-california(a)lists.wikimedia.org
Sent: Tue, May 4, 2010 10:19:05 PM
Subject: Re: [Wikimedia-california] [Wikimedia-SF] Wikimedia-california created!
I'm all for uber toolservers, and I'm more than happy to be involved with said
project. I do have some other nefarious idea's for how to use a chapter to advance
evil agendas... that being said - what's the real point of having a chapter? I mean,
I know they are non-profits, but besides that I guess I'm confused as to how _we_
(Californian's) will use it?
Looking at the projects we currently do (Just from the SF Bay perspective) and those that
we want to do - how will having a chapter help get them done
quicker/easier/faster/cheaper/whateverer?
As a random note back to toolservers, there are many hosting facilities in NorCal.
I've priced many of them for my real job. They are by no means unbelievably
expensive, but they are by no means cheap either. I'm not sure what WMGermany is
paying (if someone knows, or can point my in that direction, I'd be interested) but
we're looking at a general minimum of $100/mo for a 1U server with 1mbit/s. That
isn't exactly...much... and doesn't count the cost of actually buying the server.
Simply to have a mirror of all the databases is going to take a lot more horsepower and
hard drive space (And therefor lots more money, upfront and monthly). I realize we can
probably get the foundation to give us some of their servers next they remove a series for
service... but I'm just thinking broadly there.
-Jon
On Tue, May 4, 2010 at 21:35, James Salsman <jsalsman(a)gmail.com> wrote:
Dear Geoff,
Thank you for your hard work on requesting the Chapter
mailing list and for serving as Chapter Contact. I hope you will conduct the business
within reason and evidence.
As for articles of incorporation and bylaws, we should adopt the Chapter Committee's
recommendation and Roberts Rules of Order, respectively, coonducting meetings on IRC.
Will you ask the Chapter Committee, please, whether they recommend copying the
Foundation's Articles of Incorporation, and so send along a copy of them if they have
them?
As for projects, I know the Google Summer of Code applications with positive evaluations
which did not get approved because the Foundation did not request a sufficient number of
slots are excellent projects for us to attempt. I also think we should try to make better
price/performance Mediawiki servers than the German chapter has been able, as a long-term
hardware project goal.
Discussion? Please reply and forward to the new list.
Regards,
James Salsman
On May 4, 2010 8:46 PM, "Geoffrey Plourde" <geo.plrd(a)yahoo.com> wrote:
Everyone,
The permanent mailing list for Wikimedia-California,
Wikimedia-california(a)lists.wikimedia.org has been created. Please go to
https://lists.wikimedia.org/mailman/listinfo/wikimedia-california to subscribe to the list
and receive updates as the chapter for the Golden State is formed. You can also add your
name on Meta at
http://meta.wikimedia.org/wiki/Wikimedia_California#Roster_.28Join_the_caus…, if you
haven't already done so. We'll begin drafting Articles of Incorporation and Bylaws
soon, as well as planning projects for the chapter to work on when fully operational.
Thanks,
Geoff Plourde
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Jon
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