Hallo Liste, hello Jimmy,
just a preliminary answer, DaB already translated your mail into German.
Jimmy Wales wrote:
I have found a lawyer to chat with me about the possibilities here, so that I may be more helpful in this discussion.
fine.
I hope that there will be no misunderstanding -- I am fully supportive of the idea of a German chapter, and I expect one to exist very soon. I am hopeful to be invited to to an authentic German eV meeting when I am in Germany this summer, including of course the beer. Perhaps I can be an honorary or actual member? :-)
Of course ;-) Both is possible (I had a chat today with a colleague who is a lawyer) and personally I'd like very much to welcome you as a member.
My only concern is that we do this in a way that ensures longterm harmony of interests in the entire international community. A failure to clarify at the outset just what the purpose and scope of the German organization will be, what it's relationship will be to the overall foundation, might lead to hurt feelings and arguments later, arguments that I think we can avoid by being thoughtful today.
We don't have to hurry - founding a German chapter is important to us, but establishing it well is equally important.
As I say, I have found a lawyer to chat with me, and so I hope that by the end of the week, I will have a better understanding of what is possible.
Feel free to ask any questions you might have here on the mailing list and we will try to answer them and find solutions.
greetings, elian