Hi all,
I am happy to inform you that the Affiliations Committee has recognized a new Wikimedia User Group yesterday: Esperanto kaj Libera Sciohttps://meta.wikimedia.org/wiki/Esperanto_kaj_Libera_Scio(Esperanto and free knowledge).
Please give them a warm welcome.
Some background information follows:
== Esperanto kaj Libera Scio ==
Esperanto kaj Libera Sciohttps://meta.wikimedia.org/wiki/Esperanto_kaj_Libera_Scio is a group of Wikimedians who speak Esperanto. Their focus is to unite Esperanto speaking persons who edit Wikipedia and other Wikimedia projects, or want to support Free Knowledge in other ways.
Its activities include among others participating at Esperanto language events promoting Wikimedia projects, organizing Wikimedia workshops, trying to recruit new volunteers and technical cooperation on creating a translation gadget for the Esperanto Wikipedia.
The Affiliations Committee's recognition is valid until 30 April 2014.
== Wikimedia User Groups ==
Wikimedia User Groups are one of the three new types of affiliations created last year to empower volunteers wanting to conduct offline work.
User group status is meant to be an easy form of affiliation, where the main requirements are an agreed goal, plans for offline work, at least three people participating and a public wiki page with all the relevant information). User groups are by default non-incorporated, although they may choose to incorporate (this is not the case with this group). One of the requirements of the status, and especially of its renewal is to publish a short report of activities at least once a year.
Under the movement roles recommendationshttp://meta.wikimedia.org/wiki/Wikimedia_affiliation_models/User_Groups , user groups are to be recognized in a quick and easy process directly by the Affiliations Committee, for a fixed, renewable time-period and they are to enjoy limited trademark use and simplified access to grants.
Best regards, Bence Damokos Chair, Affiliatons Committee