I completely agree with Paulo here. The selection process needs to be
changed.
On Saturday, 23 May 2020, Paulo Santos Perneta <paulosperneta(a)gmail.com>
wrote:
Hello Rosie,
Why after all this time, and after all the convulsions that have happened,
AffCom candidates are still being selected by AffCom itself, instead of by
the community, or other more legitimate process?
You wrote: " As a reflection of our commitment to openness, transparency,
and bilateral engagement with the Wikimedia community, the 2020 member
selection process
will include a public review and comment period." -> how is this different
from what has been happening in the other selections? There is a public
review, and then AffCom recklessly ignores it and does whatever it pleases.
The way it is, it's a game of marked cards, and extremely demotivating for
candidates.
It is also a continuous source of lack of legitimacy and low reputation to
AffCom itself, as a body.
Why don't you change the process? The way it is, it clearly serves no one.
Best,
Paulo
Rosie Stephenson-Goodknight <rosiestep.wiki(a)gmail.com> escreveu no dia
sexta, 22/05/2020 à(s) 20:54:
Hi everyone,
The Affiliations Committee (AffCom) – the committee responsible for
guiding
volunteers in establishing and sustaining
Wikimedia chapters, thematic
organizations, and user groups – is seeking new members!
The main role of the AffCom is to guide groups of volunteers that are
interested in forming Wikimedia affiliates. We review applications from
new
groups, answer questions and provide advice about
the different Wikimedia
affiliation models and processes, review affiliate bylaws for compliance
with requirements and best practices, and update the Wikimedia Foundation
Board of Trustees as well as advise them on issues connected to chapters,
thematic organizations and Wikimedia user groups.
The committee consists of five to fifteen members, selected at least once
every year, to serve two-year terms. As the committee must hold mid-year
elections to replenish its members at this time, those joining the
committee during the current process will serve a slightly extended term
from July 2020 through December 2022.
AffCom continues to closely monitor the Wikimedia 2030 Strategy process
initiated in 2016. While the affiliation models continue to be discussed
as
part of the broader strategy discussion, as no
decisions have been made
to
change the current affiliation models yet, AffCom
continues to work in
the
same manner with regard to affiliate recognitions
and intervention
support
for affiliates with issues of non-compliance in
2020. AffCom continues to
process applications for user group and chapter/thematic organization
creation, while we await the strategy next steps and begin to prepare
for a
smooth transition of the committee and affiliates
ecosystem to any
changing
movement structures and systems in 2021.
Being a part of the AffCom requires communication with volunteers all
over
the world, negotiating skills, cultural
sensitivity, and the ability to
understand legal texts. We look for a mix of different skill sets in our
members.
==Responsibilities==
1.
Availability of up to 5-8 hours per month
2.
Participate in monthly one and two-hour voice/video meetings
3.
Commitment to carry out assigned tasks in a given time.
4.
Facilitate and support communications
5.
Affiliate Support and growth
== Required and Recommended Abilities, Skills, Knowledge for Affiliations
Committee Members ==
Strong interpersonal relationship among members of the committee and also
with the Wikimedia community members. Across all committee members, there
are additional relevant skills as well as requirements which help to
support the committee and its sustainability which include both required
and relevant general skills
===Required===
* Fluency in English
* Availability of up to 5 hours per week, and the time to participate in
a
monthly one and two-hour voice/video meetings.
* Willingness to use one's real name in committee activities (including
contacts with current and potential affiliates) when appropriate.
* Strong track record of effective collaboration
* International orientation
===Relevant for all members===
* Public Communications (English writing and speaking skills)
* Skills in other languages are a major plus.
* Understanding of the structure and work of affiliates and the Wikimedia
Foundation.
* Documentation practices
* Interviewing experience
* Experience with, or in, an active affiliate is a major plus.
* Teamwork: Project and people management skills to coordinate and
collaborate with different parties on a shared plan and see it through to
completion.
* Problem-Solving: Ability to evaluate various solutions, consider
multiple
interests and points of view, revisit unresolved
issues, seek compromise
and work and communicate across languages and cultures.
Given the expectations for maintaining the course in 2020 and preparing
for
potential 2021 transitions, it is important that
we are also clear about
two different skill sets critical to committee support at this time. The
first skillset is oriented to understanding affiliate dynamics and
organizational development patterns to successfully process affiliate
applications for recognition; the other is oriented to conflict
prevention
and intervention support for affiliates in
conflict.
=== Relevant to Affiliate Recognitions===
* Administration & Attention to detail
* Readiness to participate in political discussions on the role and
future
of affiliates, models of affiliation, and similar
topics.
* Awareness of the affiliates ecosystem and models and understanding of
community building, organizational development, and group dynamics
===Relevant to Conflict Prevention & Intervention===
* Communication skills for active listening, clear instruction and
turn-taking.
* Stress Management skills for maintaining patience and positivity
* Emotional intelligence to maintain awareness of emotions of oneself and
others to practice empathy,
impartiality, and mutual respect.
* Facilitation, negotiation, and mediation skills to guide diverse
individuals and groups toward cooperation.
* Ability to work within a team
Do you have relevant skills and an interest to support movement
affiliates?
We are looking for people who are excited by the challenge of empowering
volunteers to get organized and form communities that further our mission
around the world. In exchange, committee members selected will gain the
experience of supporting their world-wide colleagues to develop their
communities as well as personal development in guiding organizational
development, facilitating affiliate partnerships, and professional
communications.
==Selection process==
As a reflection of our commitment to openness, transparency, and
bilateral
engagement with the Wikimedia community, the 2020
member selection
process
will include a public review and comment period.
Along with this, in
order
to facilitate the process of nomination peruse,
we are introducing a self
assessment survey for candidates to share about their skills and their
experience. This self assessment information will help the committee to
identify the skill sets relevant and supportive to our affiliate support
processes. We invite you to apply for membership to the committee and
join
us in supporting the affiliates. The data shared
in the self assessment
will be only be made available to the committee and the relevant staff
support The nomination,candidate Q&A, and endorsementswill still take
place
Candidates/June_2020
.
Here the global community is welcome to provide comments and feedback
about
each candidate.
Once the nomination window closes June 30, 2020, the sitting members who
are not candidates for re-election in this cycle, will deliberate and
then
vote, taking into account all inputs from the
meta page, self assessment,
advisors, Wikimedia Foundation staff and board liaisons, and committee
member discussion.
A final decision will be made in late-July 2020, with new members to be
notified for onboarding in August.
Respectfully,
Rosie Stephenson-Goodknight (she/her)
Chair, Affiliations Committee
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