[Foundation-l] Re: Resignation as CRO

Erik Zachte wrote: Sorry to see you interpretated my words like this. I sure do not consider you as an outsider. I do not see where I said that. My current main problem is that I try to see why some people say communication is failing, and to see how we can help fix that. I am only touchy because I think this is an area where I tried to put a lot of work in, and answer to my question "* exactly on which topic do you feel you are not informed ? " with an answer such as Dan "Everything" is definitly HARD to swallow. To take a developer comparison, it is just as if you wrote code for a full year and some one tell you absolutely 100% is to put in the bin. Hard not to be touchy when reading that. So, sorry if I am a bit short. Very good point. I try to give you my memories (on which Jimbo and Angela might not agree). Mav was immediately appointed finance officer, because he wanted to take care of that, is very trusted by the community and it was a good part of his election agenda last year. I do not think we really made a "role" description. He is taking care of budget, trying (with difficulty not due to him) to follow expenses and taking care of fundraising. It is so because he is willing. Tim was made developer liaison... mostly because defacto he held that role. He resigned at some point because he felt wikipedia was eating his real life and needed to back up. No real role has frankly been defined for Brion and Dammit. I guess it just seemed natural to us, because they are both appreciated, non controversial, good at their job and nice guys (though Brion does not like kisses). I think their role should probably be more strictly defined in the sense of them possibly having to communicate more; but this is a personal feeling. I do not think I am informed enough in computer issues to be able to judge myself how they could do things or not better. Other developers or Jimbo (and you) could probably better say. Neither of both ask for this position and neither wrote any description of their role. Erik wrote his role description and sent it to the board to comment. I agree he did not really submitted that to the community review, and I cant remember at which point it was exactly posted on meta (before or after nomination ? I really do not remember). Danny. Well, Danny's nomination has been pending all through last year. I do not really know why. He being appointed was kinda obvious, since grant making is part of his real life job and he is one of the most interested by the topic. Would I have to cite another name, I would not know which other, and Danny seems just the perfect role for the coordinator. The last meeting with the chapters just show that exactly. He is a good mixture of professionalism, friendliness, openness. Well. Anyway, no role was frankly written, because in the whole past year, we had no reason to say anything with regards to what he was already doing :-) (though, admittedly, I complained a couple of time that he was informing only Jimbo rather than the board, but well, no biggie). Should the role be better defined ? Possibly. Legal. Well, this role is still very much under work. There was no real legal department, and it is obvious we need to develop this part for many reasons that I myself explained here (when we created the juriwiki-l). This was all explained on meta. I guess Soufron's role is none of "commanding" others, but more one of animation. I wish he be more assertive in starting discussions and policies creation with regards to logo use, trademarks and such, but at the same time, I see all the time he is already giving to wikimedia, and I feel it is justifiable he can't be everywhere himself :-) Role description ? Well, yes, I guess I basically outlined it, but I was not very precise because I wish things to evolve in a natural direction, without pushing it in a specific way. So the role is quite fluttery. Elian and press. This role was proposed by Jimbo, after discussion with Elian (so I can guess, the role description was very much due to Elian). It results from the observation of a fact : Jimbo having sometimes troubles to handle all the press requests :-) Elian role was fully in light during Wikimania, where she organised the press conference, educated board members for their bad answers (me :-)), managed Jimbo's agenda during 4 days etc... Additionnaly, she is trying to centralize, organise and make more consistent press releases, press team and our answers. Again, this came mostly from seeing a lack... and a wikipedian offering an answer to us to help with this lack. A proactive approach. Election officials. I asked on this very mailing list for candidates. Candidates were free to candidate. They organised the elections and translations pretty much the way they felt was the best. I think it was very well organised. Probably better than what it would have been if we had told them what to do. Last, there is a discussion for a role of chapter coordinator. This comes from an arising need, mentionned by a wikipedian. The role was discussed at wikimania amongst board and chapter. It is currently visible on meta; it was drafted by Delphine, with comments from I and small modification from Angela. Delphine drafted it upon my request after Wikimania and it is posted for open comment. It has not been yet approved, pending board and chapter discussion. Yes. Last time we discussed it was I think in may, mostly per private mail and several other people (amongst which Elian, Delphine and Akl). At the end of the discussion, we agreed that JImbo will set a short and general draft (something like 15 lines) and post that for open discussion and creation of the concept. As of today, no draft has yet been posted. But I think what Jimbo is referring to is that draft, to be hacked by you guys. I think you make a small mistake. No board meetings are less open than the first ones. The truth is mostly "less board meeting" because it has been VERY difficult to "have" board meeting in the past months. Motive : Jimbo was very often travelling. Second motive : I need to sleep more than before, so can't agree any more to very late meetings. For 3 months this winter and three months this spring, I fell asleep every evening around 8h30. Between Jimbo and I, meetings were hard to organise so most discussions occurred by mail, or two by two on irc. We also increased the number of semi-privte small groups on irc, due to an increasing number of painful individuals on irc (note that developers did the same). We also reduced discussions on foundation-l due to many trolling topics. Unfortunate, but real. This said, yes, many of the last meetings dealt with sensitive issues on top. The meeting tonight could possibly gather board + officers + three or four chapters members. I guess we could have the next one open to everyone. Is this enough to answer your questions or are they points left out you would like to clarify ? Thanks for saying this neat :-) I was sorry I could not go to your presentations at Wikimania. 4 rooms in parallele made that all not so easy. Ant