It is prorogued. :)
Seriously, I think this discussion about Wikimania 2011 is the current existence of WMC.
2010/1/17 Amgine amgine.saewyc@gmail.com
TSIA.
Amgine
Wikimedia-ca mailing list Wikimedia-ca@lists.wikimedia.org https://lists.wikimedia.org/mailman/listinfo/wikimedia-ca
I just joined the list a few weeks back and my apologies if this has been discussed already (I couldn't find anything in the list archives), but why aren't we still pursuing Wikimedia Canada?
I would think any sort of government funds and support for Wikimania will only realize if there's a non-profit or charitable organization to receive the funding.
Jit -----Original Message----- From: Alan Walker fastalan@gmail.com Date: Mon, 18 Jan 2010 04:14:21 To: Wikimedia Canada planning listwikimedia-ca@lists.wikimedia.org Subject: Re: [Wikimedia-Canada] <throat clearing> So, what is the status of Wikimedia Canada?
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Wikimedia Canada is still in the phase of writing the bylaws, there isn't much we can do until we finish those, but if anyone wants to do some long-term planning or make a website, that would be great. They were almost complete, but there is a new law governing not-for-profit organizations and the bylaws have to be checked against it with a fine-toothed comb, preferably by more than one person. I started that process last summer, but this past autumn has been very hectic for me because of a family emergency and some professional issues, so I haven't touched it in a while. If there is still interest in the process, I can get started on that again in February and we could present them to the WMF by spring.
Bylaws as of now: http://meta.wikimedia.org/wiki/Wikimedia_Canada/Proposed_by-laws New law: http://www2.parl.gc.ca/HousePublications/Publication.aspx?DocId=3864664&...
-Jeffery Nichols (Arctic.gnome)
On 2010-01-18, at 10:51 AM, plahiry@gmail.com wrote:
I just joined the list a few weeks back and my apologies if this has been discussed already (I couldn't find anything in the list archives), but why aren't we still pursuing Wikimedia Canada?
I would think any sort of government funds and support for Wikimania will only realize if there's a non-profit or charitable organization to receive the funding.
Jit -----Original Message----- From: Alan Walker fastalan@gmail.com Date: Mon, 18 Jan 2010 04:14:21 To: Wikimedia Canada planning listwikimedia-ca@lists.wikimedia.org Subject: Re: [Wikimedia-Canada] <throat clearing> So, what is the status of Wikimedia Canada?
Wikimedia-ca mailing list Wikimedia-ca@lists.wikimedia.org https://lists.wikimedia.org/mailman/listinfo/wikimedia-ca
Wikimedia-ca mailing list Wikimedia-ca@lists.wikimedia.org https://lists.wikimedia.org/mailman/listinfo/wikimedia-ca
Jeffery Nichols wrote:
Wikimedia Canada is still in the phase of writing the bylaws, there isn't much we can do until we finish those, but if anyone wants to do some long-term planning or make a website, that would be great. They were almost complete, but there is a new law governing not-for-profit organizations and the bylaws have to be checked against it with a fine-toothed comb, preferably by more than one person. I started that process last summer, but this past autumn has been very hectic for me because of a family emergency and some professional issues, so I haven't touched it in a while. If there is still interest in the process, I can get started on that again in February and we could present them to the WMF by spring.
Bylaws as of now: http://meta.wikimedia.org/wiki/Wikimedia_Canada/Proposed_by-laws New law: http://www2.parl.gc.ca/HousePublications/Publication.aspx?DocId=3864664&...
I have been consistently active in the by-law process, and last summer had a number of exchanges with Jeff about various points. Unfortunately, no-one else showed much interest, and a number of points would be helped by wider discussion. I appreciate that Jeff has now explained his very valid reasons for not continuing his participation; and I am glad to see that there was more to this than a simple loss of interest.
The question of the new law remains. For an explanation of some of its effects see http://www.ic.gc.ca/eic/site/cd-dgc.nsf/eng/cs04239.html . That law received royal assent last June, but it was expected to be a year before it could come into effect. Someone incorporating now under the old law would need to make adjustments to its corporate by-laws within three years of the new law coming into effect. Thus, in some respects, I have not been overly concerned about hurrying the process until after we can use the new law.
I contrast with the old law, the new law does not require by-law approval by the government; those by-laws simply need to be filed within one year after incorporation. If we apply now those by-laws would need to be approved. In the interim then, we need to live through a government created Catch-22. Not that Industry Canada approval would be a problem, but that subsequent approval by Revenue Canada for charitable status is what would require careful crafting.
Ray
I'm sorry guys, but all this work on bylaws has really put me off. When I formed my corporation, the lawyers drafted the bylaws from some very basic direction from me. The group lacks a local team who are willing to meet regularly, at least every 2 months, in person. This group will need to do fund raising, various corporate tasks and make the commitment that they will not abandon their responsibilities without adequate notice and preferably making some effort to find a replacement. In discussions I had with other successful chapters, that local group was identified as the critical piece.
The fundraising is necessary for many reasons, but most importantly this draft group would need to put up some share of their own money or time to find the seed money to get the basic legal assistance required to get this moving. Running a charity is not a hobby, it requires serious people who are going to make it work.
I am willing to be a part of this team, but before I'm willing to get involved again, I need to know I have at least 4 other serious people in the GTA who are willing to step up. I define serious as willing to: 1) Meet roughly 6 times per year in person. 2) Willing to donate between 200 and 500 dollars or raise a similar amount by some form of fundraising 3) An understanding that we are not forming a HUGE multinational corporation, but a small Canadian based charity to get things started in Canada that will be managed and governed by a local group of people. This does not mean that things cannot become more complex as it grows, but I am looking to keep it simple to get it started.
2010/1/18 Ray Saintonge saintonge@telus.net
Jeffery Nichols wrote:
Wikimedia Canada is still in the phase of writing the bylaws, there isn't
much we can do until we finish those, but if anyone wants to do some long-term planning or make a website, that would be great. They were almost complete, but there is a new law governing not-for-profit organizations and the bylaws have to be checked against it with a fine-toothed comb, preferably by more than one person. I started that process last summer, but this past autumn has been very hectic for me because of a family emergency and some professional issues, so I haven't touched it in a while. If there is still interest in the process, I can get started on that again in February and we could present them to the WMF by spring.
Bylaws as of now:
http://meta.wikimedia.org/wiki/Wikimedia_Canada/Proposed_by-laws
New law:
http://www2.parl.gc.ca/HousePublications/Publication.aspx?DocId=3864664&...
I have been consistently active in the by-law process, and last summer had a number of exchanges with Jeff about various points. Unfortunately, no-one else showed much interest, and a number of points would be helped by wider discussion. I appreciate that Jeff has now explained his very valid reasons for not continuing his participation; and I am glad to see that there was more to this than a simple loss of interest.
The question of the new law remains. For an explanation of some of its effects see http://www.ic.gc.ca/eic/site/cd-dgc.nsf/eng/cs04239.html . That law received royal assent last June, but it was expected to be a year before it could come into effect. Someone incorporating now under the old law would need to make adjustments to its corporate by-laws within three years of the new law coming into effect. Thus, in some respects, I have not been overly concerned about hurrying the process until after we can use the new law.
I contrast with the old law, the new law does not require by-law approval by the government; those by-laws simply need to be filed within one year after incorporation. If we apply now those by-laws would need to be approved. In the interim then, we need to live through a government created Catch-22. Not that Industry Canada approval would be a problem, but that subsequent approval by Revenue Canada for charitable status is what would require careful crafting.
Ray
Wikimedia-ca mailing list Wikimedia-ca@lists.wikimedia.org https://lists.wikimedia.org/mailman/listinfo/wikimedia-ca
On 1/19/10, Alan Walker fastalan@gmail.com wrote:
.... I am willing to be a part of this team, but before I'm willing to get involved again, I need to know I have at least 4 other serious people in the GTA who are willing to step up. I define serious as willing to:
- Meet roughly 6 times per year in person.
I would ditch this requirement, as it will hold up incorporation.
Use Skype or IRC. It is tedious holding a meeting this way, but it is much easier to arrange regular virtual meetings.
I've never met, in person, half of the interim committee of Wikimedia Australia.
- Willing to donate between 200 and 500 dollars or raise a similar amount
by some form of fundraising
Offer lifetime memberships and get commitments.
You don't need to offer "benefits" other than the opportunity of helping the chapter get off the ground. You don't need to be a charitable organisation, although it would be nice; people will pay anyway. I doubt that intl donors will benefit anyway.
- An understanding that we are not forming a HUGE multinational
corporation, but a small Canadian based charity to get things started in Canada that will be managed and governed by a local group of people. This does not mean that things cannot become more complex as it grows, but I am looking to keep it simple to get it started.
Amen. From little things, big things grow.
Think where you would be now if Wikimedia Canada had started small a few years ago!
-- John Vandenberg
Well you can ditch requirement 1 if you want to try and lead it. I am not personally giving a time commitment again unless I am meeting face to face with a core group who is going to lead this. I went through this already and I'm not interested in doing that again. I think volunteers can be remote, but the core group needs to be serious.
2010/1/18 John Vandenberg jayvdb@gmail.com
On 1/19/10, Alan Walker fastalan@gmail.com wrote:
.... I am willing to be a part of this team, but before I'm willing to get involved again, I need to know I have at least 4 other serious people in
the
GTA who are willing to step up. I define serious as willing to:
- Meet roughly 6 times per year in person.
I would ditch this requirement, as it will hold up incorporation.
Use Skype or IRC. It is tedious holding a meeting this way, but it is much easier to arrange regular virtual meetings.
I've never met, in person, half of the interim committee of Wikimedia Australia.
- Willing to donate between 200 and 500 dollars or raise a similar
amount
by some form of fundraising
Offer lifetime memberships and get commitments.
You don't need to offer "benefits" other than the opportunity of helping the chapter get off the ground. You don't need to be a charitable organisation, although it would be nice; people will pay anyway. I doubt that intl donors will benefit anyway.
- An understanding that we are not forming a HUGE multinational
corporation, but a small Canadian based charity to get things started in Canada that will be managed and governed by a local group of people.
This
does not mean that things cannot become more complex as it grows, but I
am
looking to keep it simple to get it started.
Amen. From little things, big things grow.
Think where you would be now if Wikimedia Canada had started small a few years ago!
-- John Vandenberg
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