Two distinct issues, I think:
1) about improving community representation in power structures, I think we
have to think more about what representation we want and what structures
would accomplish it. I have no answers but think we should consider looking
beyond WMF alone:
2) about support for volunteers to get stuff done effectively: I'll have
mostly tech-focused thoughts on that because that's where my expertise is,
so you need to hear from other people who interact with a wider set of
volunteers than patch contributors and the people who manage to figure out
our feedback systems. :) whether that should be funded by / staffed within
WMF or our other movement orgs or both is an open question.
-- brion
On Feb 28, 2016 11:51 AM, "David Cuenca Tudela" <dacuetu(a)gmail.com>
wrote:
Brion,
so far in the discussions I have seen more weight to the idea of the WMF as
a tech provider for the community, and not so much conversation about other
roles that the organization could fulfill besides of tech / grant making.
So when you see that we are agreeing, do you mean that there should be more
power transferred to the communities and that there should be a greater
focus in empowering volunteers?
How would you increase the participation of volunteers in the direction of
the movement? And how to offer volunteers the opportunity to become more
dedicated without paying them directly?
Cheers
Micru
On Sun, Feb 28, 2016 at 8:10 PM, Brion Vibber <bvibber(a)wikimedia.org>
wrote:
David, you appear to be agreeing strongly with
me, not disagreeing. :)
-- brion
On Sunday, February 28, 2016, David Cuenca Tudela <dacuetu(a)gmail.com>
wrote:
> I am starting a new thread because I disagree with the idea that the
WMF
> should be a high-tech organization as the
other thread by Brion seemed
to
suggest.
Yes, technology is a tool that we use in our mission to gather
and
> process all forms of human knowledge, but in the end the driving force
is
volunteership.
Without volunteers there wouldn't be any movement and there wouldn't be
any
> need for tools, or any donations whatsoever. It is the concept of
working
> for free for the common good that allows us
to exist and fulfill our
> mission. The WMF is instrumental in providing the tools for it to
happen,
> but those tools are not only technological,
they are also legal,
> educational, and social, however when talking through computer screens
we
> seem to forget that.
>
> A hi-tech tool can work for a given task or not, but there are more
> important topics like trust, commitment, empowerment, motivation, and
joy
that
cannot be assessed so easily, and that are at least as crucial as
any
> software. What is the point of having a perfect tool Z if I don't enjoy
> working with my fellows on a common mission?
>
> The role of nurturing volunteers is not exclusive of affiliate
> organizations, the WMF offer grants to volunteers and organizes several
> gatherings. Is that enough to strengthen the volunteer community? Then
I
> look at organizations like WOOF or workaway
that thrive with full-time
> volunteers and I wonder if more opportunities could be opened for our
> volunteers.
> Is there anything holding us back to try new things besides old
patterns
of
participation?
It is a challenge to do more for the volunteer community without
resorting
> to grants or payment, but that is the key to succeed as a volunteer
> organization, to provide an ecosystem where personal growth is
possible.
>
> I am interested in hearing what others have to say about it. Maybe it
is
possible
to gather ideas or even a team of people who wants to research
more information about the topic.
Cheers,
Micru
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