I find this all very sad. Who are the Brazilian
volunteers, and how
effectively do they represent the views of those Brazilians who are
truly interested in Wikipedia in their country. The simple fact is that
an agreement entered into by an ad hoc group binds no-one except the
individuals that sign it.
At one time a chapter was authorized for Brazil, but a refusal to build
a legal structure led to the withdrawal of the authorization. It may
seem like so much paperwork and bureaucracy, but there are times when a
legal structure is essential for moving forward.
I think that developing such a legal entity should be a high priority
for Brazilian Wikipedians to ensure that Wiki activities in Brazil are
controlled by Brazilians. At the same time I don't think there is any
value to having a WMF appointee on your board; such a person would find
it difficult to function under circumstances of perpetual conflict of
interest. No other chapter has such a clause.
Ray
On 08/27/11 12:11 PM, CasteloBranco wrote:
For your information
The Brazilian community is offering WMF a letter of agreement, which was
collaboratively written.
After the Brazilian participants shared their experience on what
happened in Haifa, the whole community had one week to discuss and edit
the content, which is now available on Meta.[1]
Castelo
[[:m:User:Castelobranco]]
Wikimedia Brasil
[1]
http://meta.wikimedia.org/wiki/Proposed_letter_of_agreement_between_Wikimed…
Proposed letter of agreement between Wikimedia Foundation and
Brazilian volunteers
On August 5, 2011, during Wikimania 2011
<http://br.wikimedia.org/wiki/Brasil_no_Wikimania/2011>, on Haifa,
Israel, a meeting between Wikimedia Brasil and Wikimedia Foundation was
held. The meeting, which was also attended by representatives of
Wikimedia Portugal and Wikimedia Argentina, provided a discussion about
the ongoing Wikimedia Projects in Brazil and the interaction between the
future WMF office in the country and the local chapter.
The understanding of Brazilian members along the meeting was that:
1. Brazil is a strategic priority for Wikimedia Foundation.
2. Wikimedia Foundation will set up an office in Brazil in order to
stimulate the development of projects to increase the penetration of
Wikipedia in Brazil. This process was already launched with the
search for locations, hiring lawyers and the search for a
professional to manage it.
3. Wikimedia Foundation understands that the Brazilian community and,
thus, the chapter under formation still doesn't have the capacity to
be completely self-managed.
4. Wikimedia Foundation aims to develop the existing programs in
Brazil, like "Campus Ambassadors", though it still doesn't have a
specific development program for Brazil.
5. Wikimedia Foundation wants to conduct researches about the lusophone
community.
6. Wikimedia Foundation already has liaisons with Brazilian
organizations, like /"Positivo"/.
7. The members of the Brazilian community want to colaborate with
Wikimedia Foundation.
8. The members of the legal chapter under formation are afraid of
losing the legitimacy of the local community among society after the
establishment of the WMF office. Wikimedia Brasil has apprehension
of not having control over what was raised locally, and of the loss
of sources of revenue due to internal competition.
Based on this understanding, participant members of the Brazilian
community decided to:
1. Support the creation of Wikimedia Foundation office in Brazil which,
as explained at the meeting, will have the goal of fostering the
realization of partnerships and events with the community and the
external audiences, provisionally and until the local chapter have
enough structure to develop such activities directly.
2. Suggest that the office maintains goals to work for the development
of the local community and not only fundraising or the realization
of business agreements.
3. Recommend to Wikimedia Foundation that its activites in Brazil are
achieved with maximum transparency and envolvement of Wikimedia
Brasil, allowing the local volunteers to participate at the various
stages of ongoing projects and also in those that will be launched
at the country.
4. Recommend to Wikimedia Foundation that its goals and existing plans
to Brazil are shared with Wikimedia Brasil.
5. Recommend to Wikimedia Foundation to orientate its projects,
partnerships and possible proposals of interested sponsors to the
local chapter, giving some opportunity to Wikimedia Brasil.
6. Propose the creation of a tatical planning for Brazil, based on
Wikimedia's strategic planning, with the participation of WMF office
and Wikimedia Brasil for the construction of a development program
to Brazil.
7. Propose to Wikimedia Foundation to make room available in its WMF
office directorship, provided by statue, for a chosen Wikimedia
Brasil representative, consequently, chosen by the local community.
Or, that the Wikimedia Foundation enjoy the legal chapter structure
of Wikimedia Brasil to seek its goals; We want to offer the position
of one director on our legal chapter, provided by statue, to
Wikimedia Foundation.
8. Assist the establishment of the office with the volunteer
participation of Wikimedia Brasil in activities of organization and
achievement of knowledge inherent to local peculiarities, such as:
contracting services, choice of location and understanding of the
legislation.
9. Assist in the construction of a portfolio of activities and in the
resources search to achieve the same.
10. Suggest to Wikimedia Foundation to stimulate the existing activites
of Wikimedia Brasil and possibly the model of /"Mutirões"/.
Wikimedia Brasil
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