Dear Wikimedians,
I have decided resign from the Board of Trustees of the Wikimedia Foundation.
There are many reasons behind my decision. Overall, it's not because I'm unhappy being involved with Wikimedia, though I am concerned about certain events and tendencies that have arisen within the organisation since the start of this year. I would prefer to be involved in Wikimedia from a different angle rather than focusing my attention on Board matters. I'm certainly not leaving -- just leaving the Board. I still intend to be involved with editing the projects, and with the formation of the Wikimedia Australia chapter, and, if the opportunities still arise, I hope to continue promoting the projects at conferences and other events.
It's been a great two years and I've enjoyed the role, but the collaborative consensus-based nature Wikimedia had before the start of this year continues to deteriorate and it's no longer an environment I can work effectively in.
My resignation will be effective upon the election of my successor. Elections will be held in September, and the planning for those should begin immediately. Discussions are currently underway about general restructuring of the Board, and it is possible more positions will be available by the time the election starts. I would like to encourage anyone who shares the Foundation's goal of distributing free content to become more involved in the organisation and to consider standing in the upcoming elections.
There are a lot of changes planned to the structure of the Foundation but I'm confident Anthere and Jimmy will manage those well and in accordance with what is best for the projects and the communities behind them.
Please contact me offlist if you have any questions.
Angela.
-- Angela Beesley Wikimedia Foundation, Inc. http://wikimediafoundation.org/
On 7/1/06, Angela Beesley angela@wikimedia.org wrote: [snip]
I'm certainly not leaving -- just leaving the Board. I still intend to be involved with editing the projects, and with the formation of the Wikimedia Australia chapter, and, if the opportunities still arise, I hope to continue promoting the projects at conferences and other events.
Good, then we can all continue to look forward to working with you. :)
[snip]
My resignation will be effective upon the election of my successor. Elections will be held in September, and the planning for those should begin immediately.
[snip]
Thats a rather short time frame, considering the discussed plans to bring in some visionaries from the outside world. When was this decided? What if we're unable to have discussions with our proposed candidates by then? Hmm. If you'd like to be replaced earlier I'd rather appoint an interim member than hurry the process to set the board for the longer term.
I think it would be more beneficial to have an interim member than to have elections prematurely and be forced to keep a member who is on her way out and unhappy with the Foundation for any longer than absolutely needed..
Angela,
this is a very regrettable decision, and a sad day for the Wikimedia Foundation. Since your election to the Board in June 2004, you have spoken and acted for the principles of the Foundation with wisdom, with clarity, with passion, and above all, with integrity.
You have put enormous amounts of time and energy into the projects, met with members of the community around the globe, helped develop the organization's structure and policies, communicated with hundreds of people who (rightly or wrongly) felt the Board could solve all their problems, and represented Wikimedia at conferences and in interviews on countless occasions.
I am glad that you will continue your work within the projects, and for Wikimedia Australia -- the chapter could not be luckier to have you in its founding team. Nevertheless, your resignation from the Board represents a great loss for the Foundation, from which it will be difficult to recover.
I can say with absolute conviction that most people on this mailing list don't know how much you have done for Wikimedia; not because they haven't been paying attention, but because so much of it was invisible. For your great contributions, and for everything, you deserve the gratitude of the entire community. You certainly have mine.
Erik
On 7/2/06, Gregory Maxwell gmaxwell@gmail.com wrote:
Thats a rather short time frame, considering the discussed plans to bring in some visionaries from the outside world.
I don't think two months to organise an election is too short. This is about electing someone from the community, not about bringing "visionaries from the outside world". Such people are more likely to be appointed than elected, and that will take place separately.
When was this decided?
It's been under discussion since I told the Board I was resigning on June 2. An interim replacement was discussed, but there was no agreement between the remaining active members of the Board (basically Anthere and Jimbo) on who that should be, which is why my resignation is now not effective until September rather than the original planned date of July 1st.
What if we're unable to have discussions with our proposed candidates by then?
You have two months to do that. The two previous elections didn't allow any longer and I don't recall any problems with that timeframe.
Angela.
On Sun, Jul 02, 2006 at 02:39:19AM +1000, Angela Beesley wrote:
Dear Wikimedians,
It's been a great two years and I've enjoyed the role, but the collaborative consensus-based nature Wikimedia had before the start of this year continues to deteriorate and it's no longer an environment I can work effectively in.
Argh! That's why I'd have liked to see you stay on. I respect your descision, but where do we find another person like you so soon?
read you soon, Kim Bruning
wikimedia-l@lists.wikimedia.org