I thank my colleagues for this valuable discussion.
Here are a few more thoughts from my end:
* While my efforts for the next few months will focus on new contributors, the issues with administrative backlogs, COI patrolling and investigations, and a myriad of other issues which "mid-career" or relatively "senior" Wikimedians are better suited to address are also on my mind. I hope that if we can increase the retention of new contributors that some of these people will remain long enough and become skillful enough to take on some of the administrative work. I plan to research the effectiveness of my work with new editors, including measures of the longevity and productivity of people who use the resources that I develop, and my guess is that Mark Miller will do the same, so there will likely be reports about the effects of our (or at least my) work during 2018-2019 that will focus on new Wikimedians but also look at long-term measures of success.
* WMF is planning to study what it calls "movement organizers" during its 2018-2019 Annual Plan, as a part of its Audiences work https://meta.wikimedia.org/wiki/Wikimedia_Foundation_Annual_Plan/2018-2019/Audiences#Outcome_1:_Progressive_Onboarding. The WMF AP currently says, "The goal of this study is to develop a shared understanding of and investment in the needs of movement organizers at the Wikimedia Foundation and in the Wikimedia movement, to ensure that this strategic audience gets the support it needs to grow the Wikimedia community. The milestone for this project will be a public report on the research findings, including movement organizers personas to inform future work in community outreach and software development. The report will offer recommendations for further work to help movement organizers to succeed."
* Regarding fundraising for non-WMF financial support of Wikimedians, I hope to meet with Micru about this subject in July. I imagine that we will share further updates when we have finished setting up the logistics. From my perspective, this meeting doesn't need to be confidential, so anyone who is civil would be welcome to participate. This is a long term project, and I suggest that we have very moderate expectations for the foreseeable future.
Regards,