Great.  Sunday the 10th it is.

To formalize a chapter, you need
 - interested people!
 - a mission statement, aligned with other Wikimedia missions
 - bylaws, generally indicating the geography represented, how people
can join, and what work is supported.
  --> chapters tend to be membership orgs supporting aligned projects
within their geography
 - incorporation as a legal entity
 - a webpage (or wiki page) describing the group and its work

You normally discuss the process with the Chapters Committee once the
first three steps are underway.

Once all of these documents seem to be in order and aligned with the
goals of the movement, the ChapCom will vote on whether to recommend
the chapter to the Foundation for recognition (sometimes pending
incorporation).

It is good practice to apply for non-profit status as well, but not
required to become a Chapter.

James has been looking at bylaws recently, and may be able to offer
his own take on best practices.

SJ

On Tue, Mar 22, 2011 at 7:55 PM, Baruch Stone <baruchstone@gmail.com> wrote:
> I would very much enjoy to attend a Sunday meeting. In fact Sunday is the
> only day I have free. I will forward this to the BU professor whom I am
> CAing for.
>
> What would be involved in formalizing a Wikimedia New England chapter?
>
> Baruch
>
> On 3/22/11 7:16 PM, Samuel Klein wrote:
>>
>> Let's invite the local Ambassadors to join us next meeting.  We can
>> invite some of the profs involved as well.  The Tufts profs outside of
>> public policy who were interested may also want to come.
>>
>> I think we're leaning towards Sunday April 10 -- Mr. Lees, correct me
>> if I'm wrong.  We could reserve a classroom and bring food there, for
>> easier discussion.
>>
>>
>> On Tue, Mar 22, 2011 at 4:40 PM, Baruch Stone<baruchstone@gmail.com>
>>  wrote:
>>
>>> As for me, I have been editing Wikipedia for *several* years. I have two
>>> Good Articles to my credit and have experience in new page patrolling,
>>> anti-vandalism, copy editing and other areas.
>>>
>>> I would like to create a formal Boston/New England Wikimedia Chapter and
>>> would be happy to do a bit of the legwork in getting it off the ground.
>>> Who
>>> is interested?
>>
>> This sounds like a good idea to me.  I am happy to support the process
>> and can offer general feedback, as I am currently an observer on the
>> Chapters Committee.  You might take a look at the bylaws and focus of
>> other chapters and pending chapters (NYC and Canada come to mind;
>> Brasil and Australia discussions may also be of interest) for
>> reference.
>>
>> Active meetup groups and chapters around the US have been talking
>> recently of forming a national council -- to help regional chapters
>> grow, and to address questions of whether to form a national group and
>> how to support work in sparser regions of the country without a
>> thriving metro or big universities to make organizing events easy.
>> We should discuss who's interested in participating at our next
>> meeting.
>>
>>
>> http://meta.wikimedia.org/wiki/Wikimedia_United_States_Chapters_Council#WALRUS_committee
>>
>> Sam.
>

--
Samuel Klein          identi.ca:sj           w:user:sj          +1 617 529 4266

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