On Fri, Dec 4, 2009 at 10:50 AM, Jeromy-Yu Maximilian Chan < yuyu@wikimedia.hk> wrote:
On Mon, Nov 23, 2009 at 6:45 AM, Tzu-Chiang Liou tcliou@gmail.com wrote:
Thanks Jeromy,
Hey guys, don't know what's the status now. But regarding to the regional cooperation for Asia-wide chapters, I have some personal ideas:
Most of all, I agree we do need to enhance the interaction among local chapters, but more importantly, we should come up with some "niches". For example, why do we need such "space". A possible reference is the European local chapters. While they have common goals or target interest groups, it's only a matter of time for them to gather together and work toward similar subjects.
Then, how about Asia, here are my two cents (patches welcome):
- Content-oriented: it's nice to have regional content-driven event like
Wikipedia Academy. And the success of such event is, I think, based on the tightly and long term commitment from local community. Such commitment could hardly been achieved by colleagues too far away from us, thus the regional collaboration is essential.
I think in this part, what we can do, I think, is experience sharing, which the 1st stage goal of our future cooperation. Of course in long term we can really do thing joint-chapter stuff physically.
All Wikipedia academies so far have been national - not regional. But, in theory I think it would be nice. Perhaps for content, we could organise for anyone who wishes, to meet in a particular place of a country once every two years to do a collaborative field-trip. For example, if there was enough preparation time, it might be interesting to do "Wikimedia in Asia visits Ankor Wat" or something like that. This is a long term project though.
- Policy-oriented: We should actively engage in some inter-governmental
organizations in Asia-wide area. For example, I know and have some contacts in UN's open source organization in Thailand. I believe some of you might have interesting connections as well. Make good use of that. And try to initiate appropriate agendas in APCE or ASENA like "Open Content Licensing in Digital World". Increasing our visibility in regional organizations.
That sounds great to me, that would be a long thread to discuss on the new list.
Yes, this is also a big/long term thing, but this is something the European chapters are starting to work on already with submissions to the EU. Maybe this will come with time, but we might be able to do something like sending a representative to the ASEAN or EastAsianSummit meeting when it comes to one of our countries.
- Besides mailing list, we should increase the physical interaction among
regional local chapters. And initial workshops or relative events. I know budget is normally a challenging part for many chapters (especially for junior members), hence 4.
Yes, as with everything, this will come with time and with increased budget (once more of us are involved in active fundraising).
- Mid-term goal is to establish a charity organization that could receive
donation. For the annual fundraising fro Asia-wide area, we should negotiate with the Foundation to keep certain amount for local development. And keep in the some kind of trust.
WM Hong Kong is taking part in this year's annual fundraising with WMF, so we will share what experience we got this year to you
I don't believe it would be legal to set up a pan-asian charity. All charities have to be national (unless I'm very mistaken). As there are more of us who are involved in the fundraising activities I believe it will become important for the richer chapters in the region to assist the chapters that are younger or receive less fundraising money. Once we have a few well-developed chapters, they might try to "sponsor" the development of a chapter in a neighboring country.
As with everything suggested in this email, I believe the collaboration is largely dependent on us being well developed in our own chapters before we can start looking at inter-chapter things. Or, if there is something that is REALLY popular with us we could potentially submit to the WMF for a "combination chapter grant". This would need 1 chapter to be the "host" of the idea/money, but it might be possible.
By the way, maybe we should invite members in Wikimedia Australia? I know some of them would like to initiate Asia-Wide cooperation as well. And how about Japan, though they don't have association, we could still exchange ideas with them, right?
I don't know about Japan or the other Australians, but I'm certainly here :-)
-Liam, Australia. [[witty lama]]