Reposting in case it didn't make it to the list (and because more exposure can't hurt an any case.)

---------- Forwarded message ---------- From: Guillaume Paumier gpaumier@wikimedia.org Date: Tue, Oct 18, 2016 at 11:27 AM Subject: Opening the 2016 Values discussion To: Wikimedia-announce WikimediaAnnounce-l@lists.wikimedia.org

Greetings,

As a community, we've talked a lot about values in the past year. The core values of the Wikimedia Foundation were first formulated in 2007−2008 and have not really been discussed in depth since then. In 2013, we also developed Guiding principles, a list of more practical norms and expected behaviors that guide our day-to-day work at the Foundation. Combined with our vision and mission statements, those documents represent the core facets of our organizational identity.

Both staff and volunteers have expressed concerns that there isn't currently a shared understanding (among the staff and other constituents) of what our core values are, and how we express them in our work. We've also talked about a need to revisit or reinforce them.

A few months ago, a working group formed to organize a series of new discussions about the WMF's values. The goal is to reflect on what is bringing us together, identify the core beliefs that motivate our vision, refine our list of values, and clarify our organizational identity.

Discussions about values in nonprofit organizations are usually done internally. Given the open and collaborative nature of the Wikimedia movement, such a closed, internal process wouldn't make sense for the WMF. The Foundation is part of an integrated ecosystem of individuals and organizations that contribute to defining its identity. Input should be collected not just from staff and Board members, but also from volunteers, affiliates, and partners who wish to participate in this process.

On behalf of the Values working group, I would therefore like to invite you to this discussion on Meta. There, you will find more information about the process, as well as a page to share your perspective on the Wikimedia Foundation's values. The framing that we're using for this discussion is one that considers values as the core intrinsic beliefs that drive our participation in the movement.

https://meta.wikimedia.org/wiki/Values/2016_discussion

The discussion will be open for a month, i.e. until November 20. Comments added after that date will still be welcome, but may not be included in the summary process.

I hope many of you take this opportunity to help define (or refine) the Foundation's organizational identity.

-- Guillaume Paumier Wikimedia Foundation