Hello everyone
I hope every one is ok !
Please allow me to share with you a recent message from Natalia related
to proposed modifications to requirements for affiliates to stay in good
standing.
Short version, look at this page on meta :
https://meta.wikimedia.org/wiki/Wikimedia_Foundation_Affiliates_Strategy/Re…
Best
Florence
-------- Message transféré --------
Sujet : [Wikimedia-l] Feedback invited on proposed requirements for
affiliates & user groups recognition changes
Date : Wed, 7 Feb 2024 17:56:25 +0200
De : Nataliia Tymkiv <ntymkiv(a)wikimedia.org>
Répondre à : Wikimedia Mailing List <wikimedia-l(a)lists.wikimedia.org>
Pour : Wikimedia Mailing List <wikimedia-l(a)lists.wikimedia.org>
Dear all,
I would like to share with you the outputs of the Wikimedia Foundation
Affiliate Strategy process [1], and to invite you to give feedback on
the proposed changes to requirements for all affiliates & to user groups
recognition process (more below).
The 2017 Strategic Direction
<https://meta.wikimedia.org/wiki/Strategy/Wikimedia_movement/2017>says
that we, the Wikimedia Movement, would build “the services and
structures that enable others to … advance our world by collecting
knowledge that fully represents human diversity” while carrying on “our
mission of developing content”. As Wikimedia affiliates are a key and
integral part of the Wikimedia movement and have knowledge and expertise
to share, the movement’s success depends greatly on affiliates as they
help people join us in doing mission-aligned work. The Wikimedia
Foundation Affiliates Strategy report [2] identified a need to
streamline the role of the Affiliations Committee (AffCom) on
recognition of Wikimedia Affiliates, and identified issues with the
current state of the process.
After conversations with AffCom, the Board liaisons to AffCom identified
two areas for improvement. These areas are about the relevant work and
mandate of the Board related to affiliate recognition:
1) requirements for affiliates; and
2) improving the workflows around the process for the creation and
recognition of a user group.
The proposal on Meta [3] is suggesting to change the requirements for
all existing Wikimedia affiliates, not just the legal entities. There
are ten proposed criteria for a healthy affiliate. Examples include
focusing on continuity by being an active group and welcoming new users,
having good governance, and actively delivering on mission goals.
Compliance with these requirements would be self-reported by the
affiliates. The Board liaisons will work with the Affiliations Committee
to publish a resolution outlining how affiliates would be expected to
fulfill these requirements to remain in good standing.
Throughout the Wikimedia Foundation Affiliate Strategy process, there
was also feedback about user groups. Initially, user groups were meant
as a first step toward creating chapters or thematic organizations. Over
the years, user groups have evolved and there are now legally
incorporated user groups, user groups with boards, etc. Getting started
does need to be easy, but also needs to make sense, and so there is a
proposal for changes to the current workflow. The recommendations [3]
include an outline of the sequential steps of a revised process.
The feedback can be given from today up till March 20, 2024 (Anywhere on
Earth). Hopefully a fairly long feedback period will allow affiliates to
consult with their membership, thinking it through practically.
To provide your feedback, please review the page here, on Meta, [3] and
leave comments on the talk page. Alternatively, you can join an open
call (February 14 and 28 at 14:00 to 14:30 UTC) or request a
conversation as a part of Talking:2024
<https://meta.wikimedia.org/wiki/Wikimedia_Foundation_Community_Affairs_Comm…>.
You can use the Wikimedia Foundation Community Affairs
Committee/Talking: 2024#Let’s Talk|Let’s Talk
<https://meta.wikimedia.org/wiki/Wikimedia_Foundation_Community_Affairs_Comm…'s_talk>feature
to sign up for a time to speak with me and other trustees about this
conversation or any other topic regarding the Wikimedia Foundation
Board, Movement Strategy, and more.
Note: New user group applications will be placed on hold for the
duration of this conversation – but the ones received before will be
reviewed according to the current process.
Best regards,
Nat & Mike & LorenzoWikimedia Foundation Board of Trustees Liaisons to
the Affiliations Committee
[1]
https://meta.wikimedia.org/wiki/Wikimedia_Foundation_Affiliates_Strategy
<https://meta.wikimedia.org/wiki/Wikimedia_Foundation_Affiliates_Strategy>
[2]
https://meta.wikimedia.org/wiki/Wikimedia_Foundation_Board_noticeboard/Wiki…
<https://meta.wikimedia.org/wiki/Wikimedia_Foundation_Board_noticeboard/Wiki…>
[3]
https://meta.wikimedia.org/wiki/Wikimedia_Foundation_Affiliates_Strategy/Re…
Best regards,
antanana / Nataliia Tymkiv
Chair, Wikimedia Foundation Board of Trustees
/NOTICE: You may have received this message outside of your normal
working hours/days, as I usually can work more as a volunteer during
weekend. You should not feel obligated to answer it during your days
off. Thank you in advance!/