This is a thought from two personal experience feedback, as well as Mav and Erik experiences.
I several times contacted external people or organisations, either for press release, or other PR activity, or for trying to negociate content release. Usually, I used my real name, though not always. Twice at least, I think there was no consideration given to my proposition, because I was just a community member and in no way had an official position. I suppose other editors trying to reach the outside met similar situation.
When one contact an important media group, or a charitable organisation to ask for donations, or a legal entity, one is expected to show some "credentials". In particular as soon as money is involved :-)
I think this type of activity, with "external" contact will become more and more frequent and required. And though this will be a lot the work of the Fundation itself, I somehow doubt 3 members can manage it all. Some regular participants will necessarily become more and more invested in Foundation activities, without being Board members.
I would be happy that we begin thinking of how we could "give" these "official titles" to participants, so that they can fully help according to their abilities and wilingness.
Basically, it requires 3 steps
-------
* setting up a list of "official titles", with associated description of what this encompasses
Example : Wikimedia treasurer : someone to keep track of donations or other funding, and keep track of how money is spent
Example : Public relations : someone who organise press releases, give interviews, etc. Trying to find funding probably comes in here.
We should set this list all together. There is already some stuff written about this on meta, but it was more planned for a board. Since the board will be very small, we should expand this to wikimedia (full) or foundation (those who paid the fee) participants.
The list could be approved by the Board.
-------
* Enlisting people for each role.
Several if necessary. We obviously need only one treasurer for now; But definitly several public relation officials. Given Wikipedia concept, I don't think we need a head for PR, the community is the head, but we definitly do need at least a dozen people as PR officials.
I view this as fairly loose. Let's have a page on meta. People interested list themselves there. The community then approve or does not approve to give this "official" title. Finally, the board approve or not.
------
* Last, on Wikimedia Foundation web site, we maintain a list of these official representative. Something very official looking, so that an "official representative" can point a potential partner this page to "prove" he is trusted by his peers for negociation.
-------
What do you think ?
Anthere
__________________________________ Do you Yahoo!? Win a $20,000 Career Makeover at Yahoo! HotJobs http://hotjobs.sweepstakes.yahoo.com/careermakeover