Exactly what I've been thinking Anthony.
-dan On May 6, 2008, at 11:30 AM, Anthony wrote:
On Mon, May 5, 2008 at 7:33 PM, Pharos pharosofalexandria@gmail.com wrote:
On Fri, May 2, 2008 at 6:20 PM, Pharos pharosofalexandria@gmail.com wrote:
I propose that we promote Cary Bass to "Wikimedia US Affiliates Coordinator", as an adjunct position to "Volunteer Coordinator" of the WMF.
I'd like to table this specific idea for now. It was built on the presumption that a "group exemption" would necessitate much closer cooperation of US chapters with the WMF.
Here's my current thoughts on the matter, after talking with you about it privately. It's an attempt at a grassroots bottom-up strategy (which both the WMF and the chapters-to-be seem to want) which at the same time attempts to avoid constantly reinventing the wheel.
Since you have 15 months before you have to file for a determination letter, go ahead and set up the organization and get running, but hold off on the Form 1023.
Then, let's say 6 months down the road, hopefully there will be at least 4 or 5 local US chapters in some process of forming, but without a determination letter. At this point, each local chapter-to-be can appoint one member to the board of a national organization (unless there are too many, in which case some other election process can be determined). The WMF will also appoint one or more board members (presumably with the rule that these people cannot be employees or board members of the WMF). The national organization will exist with a mission solely to help form and oversee local US chapters. It will approve bylaws and articles of association/incorporation (there can be templates for this), it will act as a liason with chap com, etc. It will *not* participate in any direct volunteer efforts, but would act in a general supervisory capacity. This organization can then apply as the parent organization and get a group exemption for all the local organizations.
Individual local chapters will get their trademark permissions directly from the WMF. The national organization will have no rights to give these permissions directly, though it will of course assist in communications between the local organizations and the WMF. Meetings of the national organization will be held online and/or through teleconferencing, to keep the costs down to a minimum. Each local organization will be responsible to keep its own set of books, and will submit financial statements to the national organization on a regular basis (at least quarterly). Local organizations will report their activities to the national organization. Local chapters will be responsible for their own federal, state, and local taxes/tax returns.
Local chapters will kick up a small portion of their membership dues to the national organization. The national organization will use this for any administrative costs, and, optionally to help subsidize new local chapters just getting started up. Any payments from the local chapters to the WMF will go direct, not through the national organization. Every attempt will be made to keep the national organization bare-bones as to expenses and revenues. No Wikimania USA funded by the national organization, if the chapters want that they can get the WMF to do it or can form a Wikimania USA Inc. No travel expenses. No servers. No public relations staff or consultants. Members of the local chapters should be the first point of contact for any necessary expertise. Any national press inquiries will be directed to the WMF.
What does everyone think?
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