Part of the brainstorming process is for people to determine that. However, I'd suggest it for multiple purposes. It'd be a membership voice for DC area Wikimedians, especially as far as the board restructuring is concerned. It can assist the WMF in both donations and content release, especially within the DC metro area (which has a lot of room for both) by adding local contact, as well as taking some of the burden off of the WMF. It could also be a source of donations from people who have issues donating to the WMF as a whole, but want to support Wikimedia in other ways. It can organize events for its membership, as well as providing a representative voice for this subsection of the population, one that is pretty highly active in Wikimedia. Finally, it's a first step towards getting any sort of representation for the US in a chapter structure.
The whole is greater than the sum of its parts.
-Dan
On May 1, 2008, at 1:36 PM, daniwo59@aol.com wrote:
In a message dated 5/1/2008 1:14:55 PM Eastern Daylight Time, swatjester@gmail.com writes:
I see. Well on that note, can I announce the start of a working group for the development of a DC/Baltimore metropolitan area chapter. Both Wikimedians from the DC area as well as those with chapters experience are invited to help out.
What is the objective of this chapter? Is it to solicit tax-free donations in the US? The WMF is already doing that with a professional, dedicated staff. Is it to negotiate with local institutions over the release of content? Again, the WMF is in the same country and is better equipped to do this. Is it to provide a membership organization that will assume responsibility for content? I doubt it. Is it to organize meetups and other social events? If so, then why go to the trouble of incorporating just to have a realtime beer with your online friends? Is it just to have a say in determining the chapter seats? Seems like a lot of trouble for that.
While I do not oppose a US chapter or even a series of local chapters, it would seem prudent to determine first what the purpose of the chapter is.
Danny
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