I am writing to let you know about updates to the membership of the Affiliations Committee (AffCom) [1], tasked with advising and making recommendations regarding the recognition and ongoing work of Wikimedia movement affiliates.
Please read below about the selection process, updated membership, and how to engage more.
== Selection process ==
There was an open nomination period to the Affiliations Committee from 17 October to 17 November (Anywhere on Earth) [2]. 32 candidates applied, and you can read all applications on Meta [3]. Wikimedia Foundation staff checked the candidates’ documents (proof of identity), and whether there were any trust & safety concerns. Some candidates opted not to move forward. Staff reviewed each candidate against a rubric and conducted initial scoring based on self-reported information.
The Board Liaisons personally interviewed every candidate who passed the initial checks to ensure a thorough candidate evaluation process. In December and January, the Board Liaisons interviewed 30 candidates through online calls. Members of AffCom who were not current candidates were invited to participate in the interviews with the candidates.
Throughout the interview process, each candidate was asked the same questions. AffCom members who wished to renew their terms were also interviewed, though they were asked slightly different questions. Each candidate was asked if they would be willing to volunteer as a non-voting Advisor if they were not selected as a full voting member. The candidate pool was robust and we greatly appreciated spending time with each person.
Our goal was to have good regional representation and enough members to share the workload, but not to appoint so many people that it would become difficult to onboard new members or to reach quorum at the meetings. After careful consideration, we recommended renewing three full members’ terms, appointing four new members, and seven advisory members. For reference, please see the AffCom Charter [4].
We also paid attention to the number of the candidates’ other commitments in the Movement, as AffCom work can be quite time-consuming. In many cases, its decisions need to be timely. We believe that this composition of the AffCom helps us achieve both goals. Each new member will go through an onboarding process.
== AffCom members & advisors ==
Full Members (and the regions they are from [5]):
Basak (continuing until June 30, 2024) // CEE & CA
Joy Agyepong (continuing until June 30, 2024) // SSA
Maor X (continuing until December 31, 2024) // MENA, LAC
Xelgen (continuing until December 31, 2024) // CEE & CA
Agus Damanik // ESEAP
Fulbert (renewal) // NA
Մարի Ավետիսյան (Mari Avetisyan) // CEE & CA
Mehman (renewal) // CEE & CA
Mwintirew // SSA
Nadzik // CEE & CA
Suyash.dwivedi (renewal) // SA
Nonvoting Advisors (and the regions they are coming from):
आर्या जोशी (Aaryaa Joshi) // SA
Benoît Prieur // NWE
Buszmail // ESEAP
HakanIST // CEE & CA
Notafish // NWE
RebeccaRwanda // SSA
Teles // LAC
At least one person represents each region. Out of all 18 people (both members and advisors), the most represented is CEE & CA - 6 people, but two of those six are completing their terms this year. The least represented ones are MENA and North America - only one person each.
The renewed and new voting members’ terms will run from 1 March 2024, to 28 February 2027. There will be a new call for volunteers from October through December 2024 to create staggered terms, as there will be 4 people completing their terms this year.
Advisors are appointed for one year, from 1 March 2024 - 28 February 2025. Advisors can run for the voting seats in the upcoming call for volunteers if their time commitment allows.
== Thank you! Feedback? ==
Many thanks to everyone who participated in this process! If you have any questions about this or any other topic regarding the Wikimedia Foundation Board, Movement Strategy, and more, please request a conversation as a part of Talking:2024. You can use the Wikimedia Foundation Community Affairs Committee/Talking: 2024#Let’s Talk|Let’s Talk feature to sign up for a time to speak with me and other board liaisons.
There is also an ongoing feedback round on proposed requirements for all affiliates and for user group recognition changes. To provide your feedback, please review the page on Meta [6], and leave comments on the talk page. Alternatively, you can join an open call (February 14 and 28 at 14:00 to 14:30 UTC) [7].
Best regards,
Nat & Mike & Lorenzo
Wikimedia Foundation Board of Trustees Liaisons to the Affiliations Committee
[1] https://meta.wikimedia.org/wiki/Affiliations_Committee
[3] https://meta.wikimedia.org/wiki/Affiliations_Committee/Candidates/2023
[4] https://foundation.wikimedia.org/wiki/Committee:Affiliations_Committee_Charter
[5] https://meta.wikimedia.org/wiki/Wikimedia_regions#2022_Wikimedia_Foundation_regions
[6] https://meta.wikimedia.org/wiki/Wikimedia_Foundation_Affiliates_Strategy/Review
[7] https://meta.wikimedia.org/wiki/Talk:Wikimedia_Foundation_Affiliates_Strategy/Review#Live_sessionsDear all,
TL;DR
There are two topics this letter talks about – 1) the call for new members of the Wikimedia Affiliations Committee (AffCom) is open on Meta until 17 November 2023; and 2) there are membership changes in the committee to ensure the transition process for offboarding existing members, and onboarding new ones.
== 2023 Call for AffCom members ==
The Affiliations Committee is, until 17 November 2023, seeking additional members to help the Wikimedia Foundation Board of Trustees (Board) support the affiliate ecosystem. As a note: two other movement groups (Ombuds commission and Case Review Committee) are also seeking members. You can read about the process and how to apply here on Meta.
AffCom makes recommendations to the Board on the recognition, approval, or derecognition of Wikimedia movement affiliates. It helps Wikimedians from around the world self-organise into chapters, thematic organizations, and user groups, and to gain official recognition from the Wikimedia Foundation. AffCom’s work involves the recognition of new affiliates, helping them retain their affiliate status through yearly reportings, and conflict mitigation when challenges happen within affiliates.
Volunteers in this role should be experienced Wikimedians from any project, have experience working with affiliates to practice good governance. International perspectives, collaboration, teamwork and experience handling sensitive situations are among traits needed. Given the scope of work, proficiency in English is required. AffCom seeks members committing 7-10 hours monthly for a 3-year term. The members will have the option to run again after completion of their terms.
Members are required to sign the Confidentiality agreement for nonpublic information and must be willing to comply with the appropriate Wikimedia Foundation board policies (such as the access to non-public information policy). Members must also be over 18 years of age.
The information about this was previously shared on village pumps of the Wikimedia projects, but as usual this call is also shared here, on the mailing list.
== AffCom transition period ==
The number of members AffCom needs to recruit this year is not set, as there was the intentional delay in selecting new members last year (announced in December 2022, as AffCom was “a key input for the Board in developing the Wikimedia Foundation Affiliates Strategy” [1]), but it has created a need to stagger selection - as all AffCom members term come to end at the same time: December 31, 2023. The number of seats available will depend on how many existing members decide to carry on.
As having a committee formed entirely of new members is not sustainable, there is an option for the current members to remain in their seats for a transition period of 6 to 12 months (maximum until December 2024). Others may choose to step down, before or after helping to onboard new members, and pass on open tasks, and some may choose to join the volunteer process to apply for another three year term as AffCom members.
With the goal of ensuring continuity, we, as the Board liaisons to AffCom, have suggested to AffCom to convert two current AffCom advisors for a one year term as AffCom members – as they have been a part of the AffCom work for a while, they would need minimal onboarding, and would be able to support the current workflows. Thus as of now, AffCom has two more members joining it for a term ending 31 December 2024:
* Maor Malul, also known as user:Maor X, who has considerable experience on this committee, having served even before his current role as advisor as a member between 2013 and 2019, during which time he served first as chair and then as co-chair;* Aleksey Chalabyan, also known as user:Xelgen, who has already been providing considerable value as an advisor since his appointment last year.
Speaking on behalf of the Board and reflecting the sentiments voiced by AffCom itself, we are very happy that Maor and Aleksey have agreed to support us in this way.
You can view more details about what this important committee does on Meta in its “What we do” section and also in their charter.
There will be a public comment period on applicants from 17 October to 17 November. Candidates will meet with AffCom, Board liaisons and staff to discuss the role and their interest in it. The Board’s Community Affairs Committee will also review the AffCom candidates, to provide input. Per its Charter [2] the AffCom will appoint new members, taking into account also the community feedback. The new members will be announced in late December 2023, after individuals have been notified.
Thank you for reading this long letter, and thank you in advance for your interest to join AffCom – or Ombuds commission and Case Review Committee! And if you are not interested but know someone who might be, please share this message with them, personal encouragement goes a long way in the Wikimedia Movement. Also please let us know if you have any questions.
[2] https://foundation.wikimedia.org/wiki/Affiliations_Committee_Charter
Best regards,
Nat & Shani & Lorenzo
Wikimedia Foundation Board of Trustees Liaisons to the Affiliations Committee
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antanana / Nataliia TymkivChair, Wikimedia Foundation Board of TrusteesNOTICE: You may have received this message outside of your normal working hours/days, as I usually can work more as a volunteer during weekend. You should not feel obligated to answer it during your days off. Thank you in advance!