Hi Ellie,
(Breaking this into a separate thread)1. Thanks for the link to the evaluation criteria (https://meta.wikimedia.org/wiki/Wikimania_2016_judging_ criteria ). Those look like they are well developed.2. On the topic of goals and strategy, let me be more specific about what I think Wikimania could leverage from the Wikimedia Conference. Over the past two years, since the hiring of the Program and Engagement Coordinator for the Wikimedia Conference, WMCON has had extensive documentation about its planning, goals, and evaluation. See:
1. https://meta.wikimedia.org/wiki/Wikimedia_Conference_2016
2. https://meta.wikimedia.org/wiki/Wikimedia_Conference_ 2016/Documentation_and_Follow- Up
3. https://meta.wikimedia.org/wiki/Wikimedia_Conference_ 2016/Feedback_evaluation
4. https://meta.wikimedia.org/wiki/Wikimedia_Conference_ 2016/Report
5. https://wikimania2016.wikimedia.org/wiki/WMCON_ Follow-Up_Day
6. https://meta.wikimedia.org/wiki/Wikimedia_Conference/ Program_and_Engagement_ Coordination/Wikimania_2016_ report While extensive documentation does not automatically imply that the conferences were successful, I believe that WMDE is making valuable efforts toward (1) helping attendees to prepare for the conference in order to maximize the value of the conference to them and their organizations, (2) documenting goals for the conference, (3) documenting how well the conference was received, (4) documenting what subsequent actions in Wikimedia affiliates were influenced by information exchanges or relationship developments at the conference, and (5) documenting whether conference goals were achieved. I would hope that Wikimania could take some inspiration from the Wikimedia Conference in these areas. I am cc'ing Cornelius from WMDE in case he would like to add any comments.Regarding staff support for conferences, I'm glad to hear that WMF is providing more paid staff support for Wikimanias. I would like to see this trend continue, both for Wikimania and for national conferences. Depending on volunteers to exhaust themselves in order to plan and execute conferences is a circumstance that I think we would all like to avoid. Volunteer time is a precious resource. I am keen on achieving economies in the WMF budget, and I am also keen on achieving movement strategic goals. Event support, for Wikimania and regional/thematic conferences, is one of the domains where careful additional investment of WMF resources could be valuable, whether by adding WMF staff/contractor time or adding resources for affiliates to hire event contractors. I hope that these factors will be included in WMF's consideration of its future goals, strategy, and resource commitments for Wikimania and other conferences.Regards,PineOn Mon, Oct 17, 2016 at 3:10 PM, Pine W <wiki.pine@gmail.com> wrote:Thanks Ellie.
On the topic of event safety, I am wondering if there is a standard checklist that WMF uses when narrowing potential sites for Wikimanias and if you could make that checklist public. Perhaps it is public already but I don't know where to find it.
This is what we were using for the past few Wikimanias. It is public. I reference it in the recent posting as well. I will be updating this since we are no longer doing the competitive bidding process but it does have a lot of information and is pretty accurate.Regarding Wikimania goals and strategy, I'd like to suggest that WMF take a look at what our friends in WMDE have done with the Wikimedia Conference to increase focus on specific topics and to make conference outcomes a bit clearer and more measurable.
WMF funds with a grant this conference and works closely with WMDE. There was a proposal a couple of years ago to have a paid program and events coordinator who would provide continuity year to year and liaise with other conferences/groups. There is also paid meeting planner as well as staff support from the WMDE itself.
I also like that WMDE devotes significant staff support to the conference, which decreases the burden on volunteers; I would like to see a similar shift for Wikimania so the event is less dependent on heroic efforts from volunteers. I realize that there is financial cost involved with increased staff support for conferences; this is one area in which increased expenditure makes sense to me.
We started that in London and Mexico City Wikimania with my position and a paid local coordinator (Esino Lario was an exception where the local team received a grant and handled pretty much everything.) I look forward to hearing about further developments.
Thanks,
Pine
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