Ladies and Gentlemen:
Beginning Wednesday (August 1st), two-way communication between English
Wikipedia editors and Wikipedia Education Program staff in the San Francisco
office will no longer need to be directed through a middle-man anymore for
translation. I encourage anyone of either party needing to communicate to
the other party to check out the new Google Translate option that translates
between WMFese English and Wikipedian English.
I’d like to thank everyone I’ve worked with and around who has helped make
this one of the most enjoyable jobs I’ve ever worked. I’ve had a wonderful
time working with the amazing folks at the Foundation on the United States,
Canada, and India Education Programs, as well as with the other community
liaisons. I’ve never had the opportunity to work in such a cheerful and
supportive environment as this. I wish all of you the best as you fill in
any gaps I leave behind—I know you’ve got some big challenges ahead of you
the next several months.
English Wikipedians, you haven’t seen the last of me yet! [[:en:User:Bob the
Wikipedian]] is about to come out of hibernation. As for the IRC clan, it
was great getting to know you, and I sure hope this won’t be the last
opportunity I get to interact with most of you. You may now resume normal
chat (if there’s such a thing) knowing that the only staff watching you
during my former office hours is Ironholds. (Please be gentle with him on
occasion, though!)
It’s been very exciting to see the Wikipedia Education Program from a staff
perspective and to relay messages to the community. Likewise, it was
interesting to see how the editing community felt about the Wikipedia
Education Program, and to share those feelings with my manager and
coworkers—that’s an experience they don’t teach you in computer science
courses! From questions and comments to even the biggest complaints—I’ve
enjoyed providing my services to you all. This job has opened my eyes to a
whole new career path for me to explore in online community liaising.
I think any of you Wikipedia editors and staff will agree with me that
having a roof over one’s head and a working Internet connection are two of
the most valuable privileges life has to offer, so here’s a link to my
résumé in the event someone out there has (or knows of) an opening for which
they’d like to consider me:
http://www.massmirror.com/50136cb944818
If you do plan on responding to this email, please make sure you include my
permanent email address bobthewikipedian(a)gmail.com —thanks!
Adios, y’all!
Rob Schnautz
Online Communications Contractor
Global Development
Wikimedia Foundation
Evansville, Indiana, U.S.
P.S. I don’t have any plans at the moment to quit my volunteer work as
regional ambassador for the Wikipedia Education Program to Wisconsin,
Michigan, and Kentucky. So Jami, and all my fellow volunteers, see you on
the other side!