I agree the risks involved with having projects including language
wikipedias as recognised groups and represented by individuals will expose
both them and the WMF to legal obligations. At the moment WMF is at arms
length to the contributing communities as are affiliates, that's an
important separation that needs to be maintained.
On 24 October 2017 at 13:14, Yaroslav Blanter <ymbalt(a)gmail.com> wrote:
We absolutely do not want language communities to be
under the control of
local chapters or user groups, for a multitude of reasons, one of the many
being that the chapters are organized by country (or even by territory)
whereas language communities are organized differently.
I think the idea that the language communities must be represented at a
Wikimedia conference is just wrong. The absolute majority of the
contributors to the Wikimedia projects just do not care (or do not know,
for that matter) about local chapters and affiliates, and they will be very
much surprised to learn that they are represented by anybody at a
conference which started as a conference of affiliates.
Cheers
Yaroslav
On Mon, Oct 23, 2017 at 8:54 PM, Isaac Olatunde <reachout2isaac(a)gmail.com>
wrote:
I share Lodewijk's concerns here. My
understanding is that local chapters
have no control/authority over any language community. Unless we want
language communities to be under the control of local chapters or user
groups, language communities should be allowed to choose their
representatives if they must be represented.
Regards,
Isaac.
On Oct 23, 2017 7:16 PM, "Lodewijk" <lodewijk(a)effeietsanders.org> wrote:
That all depends on the goals that the conference sets itself, as always
:)
As I understood it, the conference is intended for structured and
organized
groups, rather than to be a representative forum
for the whole movement.
In
2017, I understood there to be mostly two events
taking place in the same
location - with some overlap in program. In that sense, this was quite a
unique situation because of the strategic process.
The first question would be whether you accept each challenge as a goal.
If
being representative of the whole movement
becomes the goal, the
structure
probably needs to be overhauled much more, and
the default invitation for
all groups may have to be reconsidered. One representative from the
Japanese community wouldn't cut it, then (for example).
On the other side, I could also imagine a different goal, which would be
to
fill certain gaps in input diversity from the
participants. This could be
input from certain language communities, or from certain cultures where
we
even lack readership. This would make more sense
to me - as it would not
imply a representation as much. In part it would lead to a similar
consideration and outcome, but it would force you to also consider other
areas where input is lacking from. For example, allied movements or
project
communities beyond Wikipedia (for example, the
collective of developing
language communities in Africa or communities that are
government-blocked -
of which I'm uncertain if they are covered by
affiliates). This would
also
send the message to the communities you ask to
send a representative what
you expect of such participant (if that would indeed be your goal).
There could be many other goals of course, that you (plural) could have
in
mind. I'm not sure which applies best. I
would suggest not to deviate
from
the official line that chapters don't
represent language communities,
though. That is, unless this official line has changed.
Warmly,
Lodewijk
On Mon, Oct 23, 2017 at 10:56 AM, Cornelius Kibelka <
cornelius.kibelka(a)wikimedia.de> wrote:
Hi Lodewijk, hi JP,
Over the last years, we received the feedback that the Wikimedia
Conference
would not be as (globally) representative as it
could or should be. For
the
Wikimedia Conference 2017, several “Community
Leaders” were invited to
the
> conference to be heard for the Movement Strategy process, but the
> selection/invitation process was not as clear as it could have been.
>
> To be more representative on a global scale and to have more different
> people from different regions present at the conference, we needed
clear,
transparent and non arbitrary criteria. However, there is no solution
that
covers every possible challenge. Therefore, we
chose to give this
approach
> – with clear criteria – at least a try for the Wikimedia Conference
2018.
Also, as
we expect more changes in the Movement in the upcoming year,
this
approach is a try for 2018 only, as an overhaul
of the whole concept of
the
Wikimedia Conference will be needed anyway.
Additionally, I want to highlight this, because this was criticized in
the
> past as well, all regularly eligible affiliates may send at least two
> representatives.
>
> I’m aware that this approach implies challenges, though. I’m happy to
> receive suggestions on how to come up with equally clear and
transparent
> criteria.
>
> Best regards,
>
> Cornelius
>
>
> On 23 October 2017 at 19:37, Jean-Philippe Béland <
jpbeland(a)wikimedia.ca
>
> wrote:
>
> > I share the questions of Lodewijk
> >
> > On Mon, Oct 23, 2017, 19:22 Cornelius Kibelka, <
> > cornelius.kibelka(a)wikimedia.de> wrote:
> >
> > > Of course, I meant:
> > >
> > > "The registration process will start on November 24, *2017* and
will
end
> > sharply (no exceptions), on January 15, 2018."
> >
> > Thank you
> > Cornelius
> >
> > --
> >
> > Cornelius Kibelka
> >
> > Program and Engagement Coordinator (PEC)
> > for the Wikimedia Conference
> >
> >
> >
> > Am 23.10.2017 18:04 schrieb "Cornelius Kibelka" <
> > cornelius.kibelka(a)wikimedia.de>gt;:
> >
> > > Dear Wikimedians, dear representatives of Wikimedia affiliates,
> > >
> > > A few weeks ago, we announced that the next Wikimedia Conference
will
>
take
> > place from April 20 to 22, 2018 at the Mercure Hotel in
Berlin-Neukölln
> > > (same location as in 2017). This email contains information about
the
> > > > program themes and the Eligibility Criteria for invited
affiliates
> > > > including the relevant
reporting deadlines.
> > > >
> > > > == Program Themes ==
> > > >
> > > > As in the previous editions of the conference, the Wikimedia
> Conference
> > > > 2018 will again focus on three core themes.
> > > >
> > > > -
> > > >
> > > > Movement Strategy: In November 2017, phase 2 of the Wikimedia
> > Movement
> > > > Strategy Process will start. Its main goal will be to answer
the
> > > question
> > > > "How do we implement the strategic direction", which
means
> > > identifying the
> > > > roles and resources needed for execution, and the activities
it
> > > involves.
> > > > In order to ensure participation from the organized part of
the
> >
movement in
> > > this next phase, we will again host a three-day track on
movement
> > > strategy.
> > > > This track will be designed together with the Wikimedia
> Foundation.
> > > > -
> > > >
> > > > Partnerships in the Wikimedia Movement: Wikimedia
organizations
and
> > > groups have a wide variety of experiences and knowledge in
working
> > with
> > > partners to achieve our mission. Based on the conversation at
the
last
> > Wikimedia Conference, Wikimania, and regional Wikimedia
conferences,
> > we aim
> > > to continue to offer a space for conversations, experience
sharing
and
> > learning around partnerships within and outside the Wikimedia
> movement.
> > This track will be designed together with the Wikimedia
Foundation’s
> > Global
> > > Reach & Partnerships team, WMDE’s Partnerships & Development
team
> > and
> > > the
> > > > volunteer “Partnerships group”.
> > > > -
> > > >
> > > > Capacity Building & Learning: The Wikimedia Conference
currently
> is
> > > > one of the main spaces for learning and sharing among
Wikimedia
> > > affiliates.
> > > > Again, we will host a track with sessions that are designed
> > according
> > > to
> > > > the participants’ needs, wishes and experiences. This track
will
> be
> > > > designed in close consultation with WMF’s Learning &
Evaluation
team,
> and
> > will complement the pre-conference Learning Days.
> >
> >
> > == Eligibility Criteria ==
> >
> > The eligibility criteria for participating in the Wikimedia
Conference
> > 2018 are aligned to the Affiliates’
Agreements with the Wikimedia
> > Foundation.
> >
> > Chapters, Thematic Organizations and User Groups must have shown
signs
of
> > recent activity (within the last six months) and be up-to-date on
their
> > > reporting by the eligibility deadline (December 15, 2017).
Moreover,
> > > > affiliates need to have been officially recognized by the
Wikimedia
> > Foundation before April 19, 2017.
> >
> > == Participant number regulation ==
> >
> > -
> >
> > Chapters, Thematic Organizations and User Groups may send two
> > delegates. Chapters and Thematic Organizations which employ at
least
> > 0.5
> > > FTE by Sep 1, 2017, may send one additional delegate who is a
paid
> > staff
> > > member.
> > > -
> > >
> > > Allied organizations may send two delegates.
> > > -
> > >
> > > The biggest ten language/project communities (by numbers of
active
> >
editors [>5 edits/month]) that are not represented by any
affiliate,
> > or
> > > have an affiliate, which is not eligible because it was
recognized
> > > after
> > > > April 19, 2017, may send one delegate.
> > > > -
> > > >
> > > > As per September 2017, the biggest communities without an
> > > > (eligible) affiliate representation are the Japanese,
> Vietnamese,
> > > Tamil,
> > > > Bengali, Slovak, Croatian, Hindi and Malay, Wikimedia
Commons
and
> > Wikivoyage communities.
> > -
> >
> > The user groups West Bengal Wikimedians User Group (for the
Bengali
> > community), Hindi Wikimedians User Group (for the Hindi
> community), Wikimedia
> > Community User Group Malaysia (for the Malay community), as
well
> as
> > > the Commons Photographers User Group (for the Wikimedia
Commons
> > > > community) and the Wikivoyage Association (for the
Wikivoyage
> > > > communities) may send
one delegate. For the language
> communities
> > > (Japanese,
> > > > Vietnamese, Tamil, Slovak, Croatian), decision finding and
> making
> > > process
> > > > on who will be the one person sent to the conference, need
to
be
> > made in
> > > the public (on-wiki).
> > >
> > >
> > > == Registration timeline ==
> > >
> > > The registration process will start on November 24, 2018 and will
end
> > > > sharply (no exceptions), on January 15, 2018. The link will be
> provided
> > > on
> > > > Meta.[1]
> > > >
> > > > If you have any questions regarding the registration process or
the
> > > > Wikimedia Conference, please
> > > <https://maps.google.com/?q=Conference,+please&entry=
gmail&source=g>
> do
> > > not hesitate to send us an e-mail to
> > > > wmcon(a)wikimedia.de.
> > > >
> > > > Warm regards,
> > > >
> > > > Daniela Gentner & Cornelius Kibelka
> > > >
> > > > Wikimedia Conference team
> > > >
> > > > [1]
https://meta.wikimedia.org/wiki/Wikimedia_Conference_2018
> > > >
> > > >
> > > > --
> > > > Cornelius Kibelka
> > > > Program and Engagement Coordinator (PEC)
> > > > for the Wikimedia Conference
> > > >
> > > > Wikimedia Deutschland e.V. | Tempelhofer Ufer 23-24 | 10963
Berlin
> > Tel. (030) 219 158 26-0
> >
http://wikimedia.de
> >
> > Stellen Sie sich eine Welt vor, in der jeder Mensch an der Menge
allen
> > > Wissens frei teilhaben kann. Helfen Sie uns dabei!
> > >
http://spenden.wikimedia.de/
> > >
> > > Wikimedia Deutschland - Gesellschaft zur Förderung Freien Wissens
e.
V.
> > > Eingetragen im Vereinsregister des Amtsgerichts
Berlin-Charlottenburg
> > > unter
> > > > der Nummer 23855 B. Als gemeinnützig anerkannt durch das
Finanzamt
für
> > > Körperschaften I Berlin, Steuernummer 27/029/42207
> > >
> > _______________________________________________
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--
Cornelius Kibelka
Program and Engagement Coordinator (PEC)
for the Wikimedia Conference
Wikimedia Deutschland e.V. | Tempelhofer Ufer 23-24 | 10963 Berlin
Tel. (030) 219 158 26-0
http://wikimedia.de
Stellen Sie sich eine Welt vor, in der jeder Mensch an der Menge allen
Wissens frei teilhaben kann. Helfen Sie uns dabei!
http://spenden.wikimedia.de/
Wikimedia Deutschland - Gesellschaft zur Förderung Freien Wissens e. V.
Eingetragen im Vereinsregister des Amtsgerichts Berlin-Charlottenburg
unter
der Nummer 23855 B. Als gemeinnützig anerkannt
durch das Finanzamt für
Körperschaften I Berlin, Steuernummer 27/029/42207
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