Hello everyone,
Thank you to everyone who participated in today's Strategic Wikimedia Affiliates Network https://meta.wikimedia.org/wiki/Strategic_Wikimedia_Affiliates_Network/2024_06 meetings on this very important subject – the ratification of the Movement Charter.
*Summary*
Over 90 people participated in both conversations, expressing their concerns, comments, and feelings about the Movement Charter process and the current situation following the announcement of the BoT liaisons to the Movement Charter Drafting Committee https://meta.wikimedia.org/wiki/Wikimedia_Foundation_Board_noticeboard/Board_liaisons_reflections_on_final_Movement_charter_draft earlier this week in which they recommended that the *Board of Trustees not ratify the Movement Charter*.
The notes from the meetings are already partially available and can be read on the Meta, and the same goes for the Jamboards. Based on the discussion and the (very active) chat, we will work later today/tomorrow to have them prepared fully. *Next steps* The participants expressed a clear sentiment that the *Wikimedia Foundation Board of Trustees must officially commit* to changing the current power/decision-making process and funds division; through an official statement or a resolution, as the current commitments are believed not to be respected or are seen as insufficient.
In addition, we are 28 hours from the start of the community/affiliate vote. Participants requested that the Board of Trustees consult with the MCDC and decide on the next steps in the ratification process based on the feedback received. Most participants expressed support for the community vote continuing (to allow for the gathering of comments via SecurePoll), but specific changes to the timeline, order of the votes, and the overall process should be made following the Friday announcement. The Board members present (Victoria Doronina, Lorenzo Losa, Rosie Stephenson-Goodnight) have *agreed to **come back with a statement in the next 24 hours**, informing the community about the Board's decision and the next steps *(17:30 UTC, 24 Jun 2024).
Thank you all for participating and engaging on such short notice. I hope the next SWAN call will happen for a reason other than the need to discuss something officially with the Board.
Cheers, --
Maciej Artur Nadzikiewicz (He/him)
Wikimania 2024 Poland – Team Lead
Wikimedia Europe Board Member
Wikipedia Administrator
User:Nadzik https://meta.wikimedia.org/wiki/User:Nadzik
sob., 22 cze 2024 o 19:30 Wikipedysta Nadzik pl.wikipedia.nadzik@gmail.com napisał(a):
Hello everyone,
on behalf of the Strategic Wikimedia Affiliates Network (SWAN) coordinators, *I would like to invite you to our meeting tomorrow (23 June)*.
Given the current situation and discussions around the BoT-MCDC liaisons' statement https://lists.wikimedia.org/hyperkitty/list/wikimedia-l@lists.wikimedia.org/thread/IH6CY4GSMZB2C3WTWQISUOYUQCKPQS4R/ about their intention to recommend that the *BoT not ratify the Movement Charter and still move forward with the community vote*, together with the Strategic Wikimedia Affiliates Network (SWAN), we decided to organize the *meeting on 23 June (THIS SUNDAY) – meeting link on Meta https://meta.wikimedia.org/wiki/Strategic_Wikimedia_Affiliates_Network/2024_06* .
*T**L;DR – Quick catch-up*
Board of Trustees liaisons to MCDC (Nataliia Tymkiv and Lorenzo Losa) announced https://meta.wikimedia.org/wiki/Wikimedia_Foundation_Board_noticeboard/Board_liaisons_reflections_on_final_Movement_charter_draft they *will not recommend* the BoT to ratify the charter in its current form and *will recommend* the development of new concrete and time-bound next steps to "*evaluate progress*". The reason stated is that the "*proposed Charter** does not address the significant concerns*" raised by the Board earlier this year (February https://meta.wikimedia.org/wiki/Talk:Movement_Charter/Archive_5#Wikimedia_Foundation_perspectives_on_the_Global_Council and May https://meta.wikimedia.org/wiki/Talk:Movement_Charter/Archive_5#Wikimedia_Foundation_feedback_on_Movement_Charter_Final_Draft ).
*Each of the 3 voting blocks: community, affiliates, and the BoT needs to approve the Charter to ratify it*, meaning that each of them has the power to veto the Charter if they vote against it.
*Strategic Wikimedia Affiliates Network (SWAN) meeting on 23 June*
There are two meeting times to cater to two major time zone blocks:
- *03:00 UTC*, 2024-06-23 (Asia-Pacific friendly time) – Check your
timezone https://zonestamp.toolforge.org/1719111600
- *16:00 UTC*, 2024-06-23 (Europe-Africa-Americas friendly time) – Check
your timezone https://zonestamp.toolforge.org/1719158400
*The agenda is:*
- Overview of how we got to where we are now, a short history of
Movement Charter ratification 2. Personal remarks and comments about the situation 3. Discussion on the Wikimedia Foundation statement on the Movement Charter 1. *WMF representatives are invited from this point onwards* 2. Wikimedia Foundation Board noticeboard/Board liaisons reflections on final Movement charter draft https://meta.wikimedia.org/wiki/Wikimedia_Foundation_Board_noticeboard/Board_liaisons_reflections_on_final_Movement_charter_draft 4. Next steps
*For the signup and meeting link*, go to the SWAN page at Meta-wiki:
https://meta.wikimedia.org/wiki/Strategic_Wikimedia_Affiliates_Network/2024_...
*The Movement Charter vote by the community and the affiliates is scheduled to start in just 55 hours! Join us at the discussion.*
Cheers,
Maciej Artur Nadzikiewicz (He/him)
Wikimania 2024 Poland – Team Lead
Wikimedia Europe Board Member
Wikipedia Administrator
User:Nadzik https://meta.wikimedia.org/wiki/User:Nadzik