Hi,
The project page for coordinating online and offline events for
International Women's Day (March 8) and Women's History Month has been
published on Meta at:
https://meta.wikimedia.org/wiki/Women%27s_History_Month-2016
The theme of the edit-a-thon this year on the English Wikipedia is Women
in STEM. The theme covers various sub-domains like Women in Tech, STEM
conferences, STEM opportunities and initiatives for women etc.
This year the edit-a-athon would take place during a weekend, March 26-27,
2016.
I urge various language editors to add lists of articles to create and
expand as a part of the edit-a-thon:
https://meta.wikimedia.org/wiki/Women%27s_History_Month-2016/To_do_list
--
Thanks and Regards,
Ankita Shukla
Computer Science Engineering
B.Tech Final Year (Senior)
Indian Institute of Technology Roorkee
Hi
This is my first posting here. Sorry if I do anything wrong.
I wanted to note here the following post from James Heilman:
https://lists.wikimedia.org/pipermail/wikimedia-l/2016-February/082816.html
And I guess this one too
https://lists.wikimedia.org/pipermail/wikimedia-l/2016-February/082763.html
I fully understand what folks have said about the unworkability of
videotaping meetings, and I also understand and appreciate what Risker
wrote about minutes being legal documents that need to reviewed and
approved by all.
At the same time, some enduring record seems essential. Recordings that
are not made public, but that can be used to verify when things like the
above happen? So not open, but recorded?
What is really hard about those two posts, is the irresolvable differences
in statements that were made about those events. Really hard.
Dear all,
On behalf of the Afffiliations Committee, I am glad to announce the
recognition of a new Wikimedia User Group in the United States:
Wikimedians of Colorado User Group [1]
Among their objectives are organizing meetups of wikimedians in
Colorado, plus organizing events to promote our projects in the state,
especially in educational institutions and libraries.
Let's give our colleagues a warm welcome! :-)
1: https://meta.wikimedia.org/wiki/Wikimedians_of_Colorado_User_Group
--
"*Jülüjain wane mmakat* ein kapülain tü alijunakalirua jee wayuukanairua
junain ekerolaa alümüin supüshuwayale etijaanaka. Ayatashi waya junain."
Carlos M. Colina
Socio, A.C. Wikimedia Venezuela | RIF J-40129321-2 |
www.wikimedia.org.ve <http://wikimedia.org.ve>
Member, Wikimedia Foundation Affiliations Committee
Phone: +972-52-4869915
Twitter: @maor_x
Hello,
The board of trustees for the Wikimedia Foundation has 10 seats. The office
holders for 2 of these 10 seats will be selected in the "2016
affiliate-selected board seats" process described at
<https://meta.wikimedia.org/wiki/Affiliate-selected_Board_seats/2016>
For a candidate to be considered in this election, they must be nominated
by 8 March and endorsed by a voting Wikimedia organizational affiliate by
23 March.
If anyone has any nomination to make, we are now in the last day!
Nominations must be made by the end of 8 March! Make a nomination for
yourself or another person at
<
https://meta.wikimedia.org/wiki/Affiliate-selected_Board_seats/2016/Nominat…
>
For those making a nomination, please follow up by soliciting for
endorsement of the nomination from one voting organization. That
endorsement must be posted by 23 March. Candidates in the election must be
nominated by the end of March 8 and must have their endorsement by 23 March.
Beyond nomination, please participate in the election by encouraging all
organizations which are eligible to vote to cast their vote later during
the voting period.
Thanks - and forgive me if I misspoke in any part of this. I am anxious
about writing correctly and clearly. The official election documentation is
on-wiki.
yours,
--
Lane Rasberry
user:bluerasberry on Wikipedia
206.801.0814
lane(a)bluerasberry.com
Dear all,
Today the Wikimedia Foundation Board of Trustees voted to remove one of the
Trustees, Dr. James Heilman, from the Board. His term ended effective
immediately.
This was not a decision the Board took lightly. The Board has a
responsibility to the Wikimedia movement and the Wikimedia Foundation to
ensure that the Board functions with mutual confidence to ensure effective
governance. Following serious consideration, the Board felt this removal
decision was a necessary step at this time. The resolution will be
published shortly.
This decision creates an open seat for a community-selected Trustee. The
Board is committed to filling this open community seat as quickly as
possible. We will reach out to the 2015 election committee
<https://meta.wikimedia.org/wiki/Wikimedia_Foundation_elections_2015/Committ…>
to discuss our options, and will keep you informed as we determine next
steps.
Patricio Lorente
Chair, Board of Trustees
Wikimedia Foundation
--
I would also like to more about the decision to remove James — I am not yet
able to reconcile the public statements I’ve seen from James and Jimmy.
However, I am less concerned about the apparent disconnect between the
board statement of unanimous support and James claim that there was not
unanimous support.
I don’t think this is hard to understand. While I do not know the exact
sequence, it has been stated that a straw poll was taken in which some
board members express support for Lila and some did not. A straw poll is a
straw poll for a reason — it is often used to determine whether a subject
needs to be explored further. It is almost always the case that straw votes
are intended to be internal and not publicized. I’m not suggesting it is
improper to mention the results of a straw poll but it would be incorrect
to characterize it as a formal board conclusion. After the straw poll,
further discussion ensued and presumably some issues were identified and
some actions identified, none of which rose to the level that required
explicit mention in the minutes. Those board members who had expressed
concern about Lila presumably were satisfied that there concerns had been
heard, and were fine with the decision that she should continue. Thus, it
is not incorrect to say that there was unanimous support that Lila should
continue as ED.
I don’t think there’s much doubt that the expression of unanimous support
mask the fact that some board members had some reservations, but this type
of thing occurs at most board meetings. While there are issues that need
clarification I don’t think this is one of them.
Phil (Sphilbrick)
Hi everyone,
I am pleased to announce the launch of the second Inspire Campaign for
IdeaLab.[1] The theme of this campaign is focused on improving tasks
related to content curation & review in our projects:
<https://meta.wikimedia.org/wiki/Grants:IdeaLab/Inspire>
Reviewing and organizing tasks are fundamental to all WIkimedia projects,
and these efforts maintain and directly improve the quality of our projects
in addition to increasing the visibility of their content. We invite
everyone to participate by sharing your ideas and proposals on how to
enhance these efforts. Constructive feedback and collaboration on ideas is
encouraged - your skills and advice can elevate a project into action. The
campaign runs until 29 March.
All proposals are welcome - research projects, technical solutions,
community organizing and outreach, or something completely new! Grants are
available from the Wikimedia Foundation for projects developed during this
campaign that need financial support.[2] Google Hangout sessions are
available in March if you'd like to have a conversation about your ideas.[3]
Join the Inspire Campaign and let’s work together to improve review and
curation tasks so that we can make our content more meaningful and
accessible.
With thanks,
Jethro
[1] You can learn more about the results of the first Inspire Campaign
here: <https://meta.wikimedia.org/wiki/Research:Spring_2015_Inspire_campaign
>
[2] <https://meta.wikimedia.org/wiki/Grants:Start>
[3] <https://meta.wikimedia.org/wiki/Grants:IdeaLab/Events> (Note: If
another time would work better for you, feel free to e-mail me or ping me
on-wiki).
---
Chris "Jethro" Schilling
I JethroBT (WMF) <https://meta.wikimedia.org/wiki/User:I_JethroBT_(WMF)>
Community Organizer, Wikimedia Foundation
<https://wikimediafoundation.org/wiki/Home>
Hello, all.
I am delighted to announce that Katy Love has agreed to step into the role
of Director of Resources in the Community Engagement department, picking up
the baton so ably carried by Siko Bouterse before her. Katy has been with
the Wikimedia Foundation since January 2013, beginning as the first program
officer to work with the Funds Dissemination Committee (FDC). I’m grateful
to her for moving into this role and am looking forward to collaborating
with her closely in WMF’s Community Engagement department.
We will be hiring her replacement to oversee the FDC/full annual plan
grants program in the weeks ahead.
Best regards,
Maggie
P.S. Their page! https://meta.wikimedia.org/wiki/Community_Resources
--
Maggie Dennis
Interim Sr. Director of Community Engagement
Director, Support and Safety
Wikimedia Foundation, Inc.