Wikimedia-l,
Wikitech-l,
I would like to share a new project proposal: https://meta.wikimedia.org/wiki/Wikiwisdom . The project intends to provide a large-scale, crowdsourced collection of wisdom materials (anecdotes, proverbs, quotations, lyrics, poetry, narratives and humor). The project intends to increase the ease with which people can search for, discover and share wisdom materials. The project intends to advance scholarly and scientific research into wisdom, folklore, heritage, tradition, history and culture.
Thank you for taking a look at the project proposal. You may edit the project proposal page and add yourself as an interested person. The discussion page of the project proposal is also available for discussions.
Best regards,
Adam Sobieski
http://www.phoster.com/contents/
Hi everyone,
I’m excited to let you all know that Ryan Merkley, formerly CEO of Creative
Commons, is joining the Wikimedia Foundation as my new chief of staff.
Many of you have met Ryan before -- at CC Summit, Wikimania, Wikimedia
Summit, or MozFest. He’s a leader in open source, open knowledge, and
free-culture communities, and for the past five years, he’s been the CEO of
Creative Commons, initiating programs like CC search to index all 1.6
billion licensed works online. He’s passionate about the power of the
commons, and the role that everyone can play in making it sustainable and
open to all. I couldn’t be happier he’s now bringing this passion and
experience to our movement.
In Ryan’s own words, “My heart has always been in open communities, and
the power of collective acts -- that is, the things that people can only
do when they work together, like building a commons of free knowledge for
every person.”
For now, Ryan’s two top priorities will be bolstering the work of the
movement strategy team and supporting the Board. He’ll support the strategy
core team to move the Working Group recommendations into implementation
within the community and Foundation over the course of the coming year.
He’ll also serve as Board liaison to the Board of Trustees, strengthening
the connections, communications, and coordination between Trustees and the
Foundation. Internally, he’ll support the office of the Executive Director,
acting in my stead on various projects.
I’m excited by this new role for an old friend of the open community. Ryan
knows our movement well. He has spent many hours with many Wikimedians, and
understands the centrality of the community to the Wikimedia mission and
identity. His background as a partner to Wikimedia, and a leader in the
broader open movement will be invaluable to our work, and confirmation of
the importance of community experience in Foundation leadership.
Ryan doesn’t start in his new role until Monday, September 16th. However,
he will be at Wikimania, so for those of you attending, please say hi, and
join me in welcoming him to Wikimedia!
Katherine
P.S. This announcement can also be found on our news page:
https://wikimediafoundation.org/news/2019/08/13/wikimedia-foundation-welcom…
--
Katherine Maher (she/her)
Executive Director
Wikimedia Foundation <https://wikimediafoundation.org/>
_______________________________________________
Please note: all replies sent to this mailing list will be immediately directed to Wikimedia-l, the public mailing list of the Wikimedia community. For more information about Wikimedia-l:
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WikimediaAnnounce-l mailing list
WikimediaAnnounce-l(a)lists.wikimedia.org
https://lists.wikimedia.org/mailman/listinfo/wikimediaannounce-l
"*support the strategy core team to move the Working Group recommendations
into implementation within the community and Foundation over the course of
the coming year."*
Does that mean that it has already been decided to implement those
rcommendations, irrespective to the views of the Community?
Jeff
Dear Community Members,
Apologies for cross-posting.
Sequel to my last mail about the announcement of the scholarship list for Wiki Indaba 2019, I write to inform you that some scholarship recipients are yet to confirm their availability to attend Wiki Indaba 2019.
The Scholarship Review Committee may cancel the scholarship of such recipients and offer the scholarships to people on the wait-list if the confirmation is not received today.
Scholarship recipients are required to please reply with a scanned copy of their international passport data page and notify us if they need a Visa to Nigeria.
For further information, please contact info(a)wikimedia.org.ng.
Thank you.
Kayode YussufCommunications LeadWiki Indaba 2019 LOC
Dear all,
If you've seen my post yesterday then you might have expected this this
announcement as well; if you haven't -- as some of you may know, I will
soon be joining the Board of Trustees (August 15), and am therefore
required to resign my formal role as Chair of Wikimedia Medicine (a.k.a.
WikiProject Medicine Foundation). This means a new vacancy in the board has
to be filled and a new Chair must be appointed.
I'm happy to report that in an online board meeting earlier this month the
board chose *Doug Taylor* to serve as the new Chair for our newly approved
Thematic Organization. Doug has been part of WikiProject Medicine for years
now and has diligently served as the group's formal secretary. Doug not
only has the institutional memory of the organization, but has actively
taken part in a variety related activities in the UK and in collaboration
with other countries. Doug also brings management skills to the board,
experience from the board of Wikimedia UK, as well as a deep understanding
of the movement as a whole, which I have no doubt will allow the
organization to grow and expand its activities around the world.
As Doug transitions into his new position as Chair, *Dr. Stuart Ray* will
be supporting him as Vice Chair and continue to serve as co-treasurer, and
*Mossab* will continue to serve as Membership Admin. A new secretary will
be appointed soon, hopefully during the board's in-person meeting at
Wikimania. The board will also soon co-opt a new board member to fill out
the vacant spot, till the next election in 2022.
I'll remain involved in the organization as an 'adviser to the board' and
look forward to seeing this Thematic Organization grow, as well as to
continue contributing to medical-related topics as a volunteer and lecturer
at the Tel Aviv University.
Best,
Shani Evenstein.
Hello everyone,
I'd like to cross-post our final WLE reports here, for the benefit of anyone interested, or anyone planning to conduct a similar contest.
This was the first ever contest we conducted in Sri Lanka, and there was many learning points. It took 2 organisers, and 6 jury members, to get this successfully completed.
Feel free to reach out to me for any questions or comments.
Yours truly,
Rehman Abubakr (Roy)<https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/User:Rehman>
Admin (English Wikipedia, Commons), Contributor (Wikidata, Meta), OTRS agent
User:Rehman<https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/User:Rehman> | rehman.wikimedia(a)live.com<mailto:rehman.wikimedia@live.com> | UG-LK<https://meta.wikimedia.org/wiki/Wikimedia_Community_User_Group_Sri_Lanka>
________________________________
From: Wikimedia-LK <wikimedia-lk-bounces(a)lists.wikimedia.org> on behalf of Rehman Abubakr <rehman.wikimedia(a)live.com>
Sent: 14 August 2019 12:41
To: wikimedia-lk(a)lists.wikimedia.org <wikimedia-lk(a)lists.wikimedia.org>
Subject: [Wikimedia-LK] Conclusion of Wiki Loves Earth 2019 in Sri Lanka
Dear all,
This email is to notify the conclusion of the Wiki Loves Earth 2019 photo contest in Sri Lanka.
* Special thanks to all our translators and jury members: User:Azeez, User:Sivakosaran, User:Sandaru, User:NandanaM, User:Dan_arndt.
* The winners have been published earlier on our internal project page: https://meta.wikimedia.org/wiki/Wikimedia_Community_User_Group_Sri_Lanka/Ev…
* Winners from all countries can be viewed here: https://commons.wikimedia.org/wiki/Commons:Wiki_Loves_Earth_2019/Winners
* The final comprehensive grant report is being finalised here: https://meta.wikimedia.org/wiki/Grants:Project/Rapid/UG_LK/Wiki_Loves_Earth…
Thanks to everyone who helped make this photo contest a brilliant success!
Yours truly,
Rehman Abubakr (Roy)<https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/User:Rehman>
Admin (English Wikipedia, Commons), Contributor (Wikidata, Meta), OTRS agent
User:Rehman<https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/User:Rehman> | rehman.wikimedia(a)live.com<mailto:rehman.wikimedia@live.com> | UG-LK<https://meta.wikimedia.org/wiki/Wikimedia_Community_User_Group_Sri_Lanka>
Hi everyone!
The Affiliations Committee – the committee responsible for guiding
volunteers in establishing Wikimedia chapters, thematic organizations, and
user groups – is looking for advisors!
The main role of the Affiliations Committee is to guide groups of
volunteers that are interested in forming Wikimedia affiliates. We review
applications from new groups, answer questions and provide advice about the
different Wikimedia affiliation models and processes, review affiliate
bylaws for compliance with requirements and best practices, and advise the
Wikimedia Foundation Board of Trustees on issues connected to chapters,
thematic organizations and Wikimedia user groups.
We are looking for advisors who are excited by the challenge of empowering
volunteers to get organized and form communities that further our mission
around the world. In exchange, committee advisors selected will gain the
experience of supporting their world-wide colleagues to develop their
communities as well as personal development in guiding organizational
development, facilitating affiliate partnerships, and professional
communications.
*Key skills*
We look for a healthy mix of different skill sets in our advisors,
including the following key skills and experience:
1. Strong understanding of the structure and work of Wikimedia
affiliates and the Wikimedia Foundation.
2. Readiness to participate in political discussions on the role and
future of affiliates, models of affiliation, and similar topics.
3. Availability of up to 2 hours per week, and the time to participate
in a monthly two-hour voice/video meeting
4. International orientation and ability to work and communicate with
other languages and cultures.
5. Knowledge of different legal systems and experience in community
building and organizing are a plus.
6. Fluency in English is required; skills in other languages are a major
plus.
7. Experience with or in an active Wikimedia affiliate is a major plus.
8. Strong track record of effective collaboration (such as evidenced
skills at facilitation, mediation, negotiation, and so forth) is a major
plus.
9. Willingness to use one's real name in committee activities (including
contacts with current and potential affiliates) when appropriate.
*Selection process*
As a reflection of our commitment to openness, transparency, and bilateral
engagement with the Wikimedia community, the 2019 advisor selection process
will include a public review and comment period. All applications received
by the committee will be posted on Meta, and the community will be invited
to provide comments and feedback about each candidate. At the end of the
public comment period, the applications will be voted on by the members of
the committee, taking into account comments put forward by the committee's
members and advisors, Wikimedia Foundation staff and board liaisons, and
the community. A final decision will be made in October 2019, with new
advisors expected to begin later that month.
*How to apply*
If you are interested in advising the committee, please send an email
announcing your application to affcom(a)lists.wikimedia.org by 20 September
2019. Your application must include the following information:
- Your full name and Wikimedia username
- A statement describing your relevant experience, skills, and
motivation for joining the committee as an advisor.
- Answers to the following three questions:
1. How do you think affiliates work best together to partner on
effective projects and initiatives?
2. What do you see as the role of affiliates in the Wikimedia
movement in the next three years?
3. What do you feel you will bring as an advisor to the committee
that makes you a uniquely qualified candidate?
If you have any questions, please don't hesitate to contact us. We are
happy to chat or have a phone call with anyone about our work if this helps
them decide to apply. Please distribute this call among your networks, and
do apply if you are interested!
Regards,
Kirill Lokshin
Chair, Affiliations Committee
Dear all,
As some of you may know, I will soon be joining the Board of Trustees
(August 15), and am therefore required to resign my formal role as Chair of
the Wikipedia & Education User Group. This means a new vacancy had to be
filled in the board composition and a new Chair had to be appointed.
I'm happy to report that in an online board meeting earlier this month the
board chose *Filip Maljkovic* to serve as the new Chair of the
organization.
As for filling up vacancies -- in addition to me leaving the board, another
board member, *Ananth Subray, *has informed the board that due to other
pressing obligations he will not be able to continue his role as a board
member. Ananth has therefore resigned and will move to a position of
"Adviser to the Board". I'd like to take the opportunity to thank him for
his service to the UG's growth in the passing year.
With both me and Ananth leaving the board, 2 vacancies had to be filled.
The board of the W&E UG has always been a working board, keeping it small
but with highly involved members. In order to foster stability in the
organization and an easy as possible transition, the board has chosen to
co-opt 2 members from our UG that has always been involved and already know
the organization well - *João Alexandre Peschanski from Brazil, *who has
served as an adviser to the board since the UG's approval, throughout the
board election process and ever since; and *LiAnna Davis*, Chief Programs
Officer and Deputy Director at *Wiki Education Foundation*, *from the US*.
As some may remember, LiAnna once worked for the Education team at the WMF
and was the one to initiate the creation of the Education Collaborative,
which later evolved into our current UG. She has been involved in the
different stages of our formation and knows well many of the relevant
stakeholders.
Both LiAnna & João were natural choices and bring to the board a wealth of
experience running innovative EDUWiki initiatives. I have no doubt they
will both contribute to the continued growth of the organization, till the
next elections at the end of 2020.
*Thus, the new Wikipedia & Education User Group **board composition is: *
Filip Maljkovic - Chair
Susanna Mkrtchyan - Vice Chair
Krishna Chaitanya Velaga - Membership Admin
João Alexandre Peschanski - Secretary
LiAnna Davis - Treasurer
To summarize, I feel very blessed to be leaving an even stronger board and
look forward to seeing how this organization evolves. I'll remain involved
as an 'adviser to the board' and will continue contributing to EDUWiki
initiatives as a volunteer, educator, researcher and Open Education
advocate.
Best,
Shani Evenstein.