My personal position is it is critical to have a
stable organization before
growing. The WMF has achieved greater stability over the last 1.5 years so
I think further growth is becoming again a good idea.
James
On Mon, Aug 21, 2017 at 7:48 PM, Rogol Domedonfors <domedonfors(a)gmail.com>
wrote:
I'm know that the WMF has determined that it
should have some form of
endowment, The question is -- as is usual in question of this sort -- one
of balance: in this case, balance between current spending for the benefit
of the projects today, and accumulating capital for the benefit of the
projects tomorrow. I am asking the Board to say why they decided to strike
that balance where they did -- given the obvious need for that support
right now -- and whether it is appropriate for large donors to apparently
influence that decision.
Reinhard
On Mon, Aug 21, 2017 at 3:02 PM, Yaroslav Blanter <ymbalt(a)gmail.com>
wrote:
I am often critical of WMF, but I can only
support this decision. The
idea
of creating of an environment was widely
discussed in the community,
including this mailing list, and had a widespread support. WMF merely
follows the community wish in this case, and it is great to know that a
donor agreed to match this amount.
Cheers
Yaroslav
On Sat, Aug 19, 2017 at 12:58 PM, Vi to <vituzzu.wiki(a)gmail.com> wrote:
> Caveat: I support a definitely more frugal WMF so also the endowment.
>
> Try to read it from a different perspective. Before donating *lots* of
> money donor wants to be sure WMF will be truly committed in pursuing
the
> plan of an endowment. Putting the same
amount of money is a prove, for
> donors, WMF truly wants to create an endowment.
>
> Vito
>
> 2017-08-19 10:33 GMT+02:00 Rogol Domedonfors <domedonfors(a)gmail.com>om>:
>
> > I was surprised to read the record
> >
https://wikimediafoundation.org/wiki/Resolution:Approval_
> > of_Endowment_funding_(Fiscal_Year_2016-2017)_and_matching_$
> > 5_million_gift_from_Peter_Baldwin_and_Lisbet_Rausing
> > of the decision to place $5M into the endowment. After the
anouncement
by
> Lisa Gruwell on this list
>
https://lists.wikimedia.org/pipermail/wikimedia-l/2016-
> December/085712.html
> there was a discussion of what might be done with the funds raised,
and a
> > number of suggestions were made for how these funds could be used to
> > directly support the work of the volunteers who contribute the
content
to
> the projects, such as
>
https://lists.wikimedia.org/pipermail/wikimedia-l/2017-
January/085835.html
> .
>
> It is disappointing that the Board has chosen not to fund support of
this
> kind. What is more than disappointing, but
positively disturbing is
that
> the decision was made in the light of an
offer from a donor to match
the
> > sum put into the endowment. I suggest that this was not a fair
offer,
and
> the Board's decision was the wrong one. Effectively this donor has
said
> to
> > the Board that they will pay the Foundation not to support the
> volunteers,
> > and the Board has agreed to follow their wishes. If the donor
believes
so
> strongly in the necessity to build up the mission by means of an
Endowment,
> why did they not simply gift the money directly into the endowment
without
> conditions? Equally, if the donor believes so strongly that money
should
> > not be spent supporting the volunteer community, then I challenge
them
to
> > say so explicitly in public and to defend their position.
> >
> > I call on the Board to explain to the community of volunteers
precisely
why
> they have chosen not to offer that support to the community and to
state
> that they will not allow future decisions of
this nature to be
influenced
> > by the wishes of one donor, however generous.
> >
> > "Rogol"
> > _______________________________________________
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