Hello everybody,
Normally in our community we used to send angry emails when we were not happy with how things are going, and we were not sending enough emails of satisfaction and encouragement. I don't know who started it, but the "what is making you happy this week" series might be one of the best social achievements our movement has reached.
To continue on that line I would like to tell you what made me happy this week, but about Katherine Maher, our current leader. In particular about this video: https://m.youtube.com/watch?v=8BuyKmjy7Rw
If you haven't watched it, do it now and get to know Katherine. I think we as a community don't deserve a leader like her, at least not yet. The reason is because she's way more advanced than us at seeing how the world is going and what is there to be done about it.
We can have as many Strategy Talks as we want, but as long as we as a community are not ready to rally to put ourselves behind Katherine and fully support her with her mission, it will be all for nothing.
The way I perceive Katherine is a charismatic leader full of light, but her light is not reaching us fully because we are not giving her enough power yet. I want to invite all of you as individuals to reflect upon this and ask yourself if you are as ready as me to support Katherine for the personal benefit and the whole movement benefit.
I have never done this before but allow me some tolerance to speak on behalf of the community. Not because I have been elected but because I love it so much and I want the best for it. So if I were to speak on behalf of the community I would tell this to Katherine: stop having so much patience with us.
There was a time when patience was good and necessary, but not anymore. Set yourself free and do as you please, because I see no possible harm in your intentions. Don't be afraid about going too fast. The community needs challenges to grow and if you don't bring them forward, we will not grow enough to face the world of tomorrow, or today, or yesterday.
We are behind in our progress because of you, Katherine. We need that you bring to the table ALL what you can do, but you need to do it wisely, and you lack a bit of that too. So my advice is to challenge us, but ask first wise people in the movement first. There are a few of them, but they do exist: Andrea Zanni, Asaf Bartov, even Délphine (never meet her properly) are clear examples of wise people. Over time and with practice you will be able to find more, and in the end you will be wise enough to enlighten us all.
In my more than 10 years in the movement and my particular involved in leadership, I could have never imagined that we would be so lucky to find a leader like Katherine. When by chance she was here in Belgium, I live in Leuven, I asked to meet her. Of course it was not possible, but I use the opportunity to tell her what I wanted to in that meeting: Katherine, I love you, not in a romantic way, but the way you are as a person, don't be afraid if others cannot see you for who you are, you are just great the way you are.
In a past Conference I brought some gifts to people I cared about, but I am lucky that I won't be attending this Wikimania (only the Wikidata conference this year). I feel lucky because I will not have to bring a gift for Katherine, the only person who was deserved my admiration this year, and it would be too hard to pick an appropriate gift for her... The Moon? The stars? They are hard to transport, anyway.
Please forgive me for my ramblings. I just think that Katherine is great and that she deserves more emails like this one.
Cheers, Micru