Hi Nataliia,

Thank you for your clear feedback. I’m concerned about the current situation regarding the Movement Charter.

Firstly, I recommend the Foundation vote first in the process. The board, being the smaller group with decisive power, should lead by example to avoid wasting the community’s time and energy if the charter is not going to be approved. After three years of discussion, it is unlikely that a few more days will change the board's opinion. 

Let’s be mindful of the toll additional voting will take on all of us. This way, we can collectively acknowledge that this effort did not result in an agreement by everyone and create space to move onto the next step of our collective journey sooner rather than later.

Secondly, the Strategy Process was initiated and funded by the Wikimedia Foundation and led by it until the recommendations phase. 

It seems counterproductive to delegate the charter creation to a volunteer group only to dismiss their work when the outcome isn't as desired. Returning to previous structures, like the FDC, which we identified as a band-aid a few years ago, feels like a step back. This approach nullifies three years of effort and misses the opportunity to address fundamental issues in our power distribution.

The current Charter, while not perfect, opens the door for essential discussions and potential evolution in our governance. Rejecting the charter outright reinforces the status quo rather than fostering necessary changes. We must recognize that Wikimedia Foundation, after 21 years, needs to evolve alongside our projects and the wider world. The discussions we initiated opened new possibilities for our movement. 

I hope the board will commit to meaningful change rather than reverting to old methods. We need to align our movement with our core value of equity, which requires embracing radical change.

To also walk the talk of collaborating together and sharing responsibilities, I propose the following steps to move forward:

1. Reopen discussions on the Movement Structures with clear objectives, support, timelines, and Foundation involvement.
2. Gather a small working group to outline, in a fast and agile way, the main questions and issues to tackle.
3. Engage more directly with community feedback to address key concerns, improving on what worked in the first phases of the Strategy Process that drove global discussions.
4. Engage openly and build together to avoid repeating the current situation of discarding three years of work.

I believe these steps could help us fulfill our mission and align our movement with the values we all share.

Best regards,
Christophe Henner (Schiste)
Former Wikimedia Foundation Board Chair
Former Wikimedia France Board Chair