Nathan, you mentioned hiring a contractor or a staff member. I was a fellow last year, and I did all of that (speaking at conference, media outlets, generate initiatives, etc.) but the focus of WMF changed so my contract wasn't extended and a position was not formed. And some of us - Adrianne, Netha, myself - spend a large portion of our volunteer time devoted to this. I've stopped sending press coverage to this mailing list - but, we just got done with a big push for Ada Lovelace Day events, which was covered in everything from the BBC to Al Jazeera. I also speak at conferences, as do many other women on this list. We just don't post it here.
WMF also pulled out of GLAM-Wiki work - so I see it as this: a chance for the community to lead the fight. And get money as needed from WMF as possible. That's what the GLAM-wiki community has done. And that's sort of what we have to do, and find specific people at WMF who can provide support as needed (Siko, Anasuya, me, etc) and find money as needed (WMF has it) and organize a bit more and get going.
that's what WWC was formed for - a grass roots effort inspired by the women's movements of the past (and kinda present but not really these days), it's just been next to impossible to find people to take WWC to the next level (a user group).
But, it's frustrating as hell, for me, at least.
-Sarah