Dear all,
in the past few months, the Wikimedia chapters have evolved a lot, introducing brand new chapters in the WIkimedia family, which bring new blood and perspectives in the evolution of Wikimedia as a worldwide organisation.
The Board of the Wikimedia Foundation has also renewed its confidence in the ability of the chapters to further the Wikimedia mission, by asking them to select two board members. The last announcement of the upcoming board meeting agenda shows that chapters are at the core of Wikimedia's strategy.
All of these changes have been accompanied by recurring questions about the role of chapters and the nature of the relationship Wikimedia chapters should entertain with the Wikimedia Foundation. And those questions are still, to some extent "in the air". Much has been done, much has been thought about and much remains to do and to brainstorm about.
In the course of these conversations, it has become evident that the "Chapters question" (or issue, or stuff, or thing) needs a reboot. Reboot in the sense that a new structure and process is needed to best capture the energy and perspectives of the growing number of chapters, along with the growing stability of the staff and board of the Wikimedia Foundation. One of the steps in this reboot is the wrap-up of the Chapters Coordinator position.
I have been committed to that position for the past 3 years, first as a volunteer, and since February 2007 as an external consultant and I am stopping my work as Chapters Coordinator today. I have been wrapping up my work with the chapters in the last few weeks. While the role of Chapters Coordinator as such will not be continued, the staff of the Wikimedia Foundation is here and ready to work with the chapters.
The Chapters Committee [1], which has recently renewed its members, is also here to help existing chapters as well as chapters "to be" to go forward in developping Wikimedia as a worldwide presence.
I am a bit sad to be leaving, to tell you the truth, but I am also confident that this "reboot" is much needed, and that many good things can spring out of it.
I will continue to be involved in Wikimedia as a volunteer. I hope to participate in this reboot from a different angle. Quickly reflecting on these last three years, and especially these last few months, which have been rich in ideas, emotions, questions, novelties and interesting bits altogether, I want to give my thanks to the (growing) staff of the Wikimedia Foundation for their support in my "remoteness", I also wish to thank here all the "chapters people", those who have been patient or impatient, clueless or full of ideas and most important, full of motivation and hope. I would not want to go into "Academy Awards' mode", but I still want to take this one opportunity to publicly thank Florence for her never faltering vision of what Wikimedia could accomplish, which was an inspiration all the way.
I am convinced that the Wikimedia organisations have great things to accomplish, and I am proud to be a part of their growth on so many different levels.
I shall see you on "the other side". Who knows, I might even get back to editing? (well, as soon as I master the syntax again ;-) )
Cheers,
Delphine [1] http://meta.wikimedia.org/wiki/Chapters_committee
To put it simply: Thank you! For everything.
I'm really glad that you stay on board, not least because it relieves me of the task to write a full-scale laudatio on what you have done, knowing that doing so now would be premature :-)
My best wishes and on more good collaboration in the future in ChapCom and whatever more or different the reboot will bring.
Cheers,
Michael
On Tue, Sep 30, 2008 at 9:46 PM, Delphine Ménard notafishz@gmail.com wrote:
Dear all,
in the past few months, the Wikimedia chapters have evolved a lot, introducing brand new chapters in the WIkimedia family, which bring new blood and perspectives in the evolution of Wikimedia as a worldwide organisation.
The Board of the Wikimedia Foundation has also renewed its confidence in the ability of the chapters to further the Wikimedia mission, by asking them to select two board members. The last announcement of the upcoming board meeting agenda shows that chapters are at the core of Wikimedia's strategy.
All of these changes have been accompanied by recurring questions about the role of chapters and the nature of the relationship Wikimedia chapters should entertain with the Wikimedia Foundation. And those questions are still, to some extent "in the air". Much has been done, much has been thought about and much remains to do and to brainstorm about.
In the course of these conversations, it has become evident that the "Chapters question" (or issue, or stuff, or thing) needs a reboot. Reboot in the sense that a new structure and process is needed to best capture the energy and perspectives of the growing number of chapters, along with the growing stability of the staff and board of the Wikimedia Foundation. One of the steps in this reboot is the wrap-up of the Chapters Coordinator position.
I have been committed to that position for the past 3 years, first as a volunteer, and since February 2007 as an external consultant and I am stopping my work as Chapters Coordinator today. I have been wrapping up my work with the chapters in the last few weeks. While the role of Chapters Coordinator as such will not be continued, the staff of the Wikimedia Foundation is here and ready to work with the chapters.
The Chapters Committee [1], which has recently renewed its members, is also here to help existing chapters as well as chapters "to be" to go forward in developping Wikimedia as a worldwide presence.
I am a bit sad to be leaving, to tell you the truth, but I am also confident that this "reboot" is much needed, and that many good things can spring out of it.
I will continue to be involved in Wikimedia as a volunteer. I hope to participate in this reboot from a different angle. Quickly reflecting on these last three years, and especially these last few months, which have been rich in ideas, emotions, questions, novelties and interesting bits altogether, I want to give my thanks to the (growing) staff of the Wikimedia Foundation for their support in my "remoteness", I also wish to thank here all the "chapters people", those who have been patient or impatient, clueless or full of ideas and most important, full of motivation and hope. I would not want to go into "Academy Awards' mode", but I still want to take this one opportunity to publicly thank Florence for her never faltering vision of what Wikimedia could accomplish, which was an inspiration all the way.
I am convinced that the Wikimedia organisations have great things to accomplish, and I am proud to be a part of their growth on so many different levels.
I shall see you on "the other side". Who knows, I might even get back to editing? (well, as soon as I master the syntax again ;-) )
Cheers,
Delphine [1] http://meta.wikimedia.org/wiki/Chapters_committee
-- ~notafish
NB. This gmail address is used for mailing lists. Your emails will get lost. Ceci n'est pas une endive - http://blog.notanendive.org
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Thank you for all your hard work both generally and with your advice on forming the UK chapter - your help was most valuable and valued. Happy editing!
Delphine Ménard wrote:
Dear all,
in the past few months, the Wikimedia chapters have evolved a lot, introducing brand new chapters in the WIkimedia family, which bring new blood and perspectives in the evolution of Wikimedia as a worldwide organisation.
The Board of the Wikimedia Foundation has also renewed its confidence in the ability of the chapters to further the Wikimedia mission, by asking them to select two board members. The last announcement of the upcoming board meeting agenda shows that chapters are at the core of Wikimedia's strategy.
All of these changes have been accompanied by recurring questions about the role of chapters and the nature of the relationship Wikimedia chapters should entertain with the Wikimedia Foundation. And those questions are still, to some extent "in the air". Much has been done, much has been thought about and much remains to do and to brainstorm about.
In the course of these conversations, it has become evident that the "Chapters question" (or issue, or stuff, or thing) needs a reboot. Reboot in the sense that a new structure and process is needed to best capture the energy and perspectives of the growing number of chapters, along with the growing stability of the staff and board of the Wikimedia Foundation. One of the steps in this reboot is the wrap-up of the Chapters Coordinator position.
I have been committed to that position for the past 3 years, first as a volunteer, and since February 2007 as an external consultant and I am stopping my work as Chapters Coordinator today. I have been wrapping up my work with the chapters in the last few weeks. While the role of Chapters Coordinator as such will not be continued, the staff of the Wikimedia Foundation is here and ready to work with the chapters.
The Chapters Committee [1], which has recently renewed its members, is also here to help existing chapters as well as chapters "to be" to go forward in developping Wikimedia as a worldwide presence.
I am a bit sad to be leaving, to tell you the truth, but I am also confident that this "reboot" is much needed, and that many good things can spring out of it.
I will continue to be involved in Wikimedia as a volunteer. I hope to participate in this reboot from a different angle. Quickly reflecting on these last three years, and especially these last few months, which have been rich in ideas, emotions, questions, novelties and interesting bits altogether, I want to give my thanks to the (growing) staff of the Wikimedia Foundation for their support in my "remoteness", I also wish to thank here all the "chapters people", those who have been patient or impatient, clueless or full of ideas and most important, full of motivation and hope. I would not want to go into "Academy Awards' mode", but I still want to take this one opportunity to publicly thank Florence for her never faltering vision of what Wikimedia could accomplish, which was an inspiration all the way.
I am convinced that the Wikimedia organisations have great things to accomplish, and I am proud to be a part of their growth on so many different levels.
I shall see you on "the other side". Who knows, I might even get back to editing? (well, as soon as I master the syntax again ;-) )
Cheers,
Delphine [1] http://meta.wikimedia.org/wiki/Chapters_committee
Well. The projects are growing and the Foundation is growing and maturing as well.
I'll always remember the day we first chatted on irc and I asked you what your job was irl. Your answer was "event organizer". That was one month after Elian had this brillant idea of setting up a big event for wikipedians to meet with each other; none of us knew how to do that. And all of a sudden, an event organizer shows up ! A miracle. This may have been one of the unique situations where we did not have to entirely reinvent the wheel :-)
Growing together was a one step at a time journey, with much learning all the time. Much fun. Much wonders. Pains sometimes. I liked working antfish, and I thank you for the statement.
As for the future, just as you do, I hope that the disappearance of the chapter coordinator role will indeed be an energy shot, a reboot, a new birth, and that in the future, the WMF and the chapters will successfully cooperate to ensure a worldwide positive presence. I expect more presence and will and strength from the chapter committee members than they have showed till now, to help us progress in this direction. I also hope that the board of Wikimedia Foundation will rapidly name a new board representative as a gesture to prove their interest to work with the little sisters of WMF.
Meanwhile, Delphine, I know we'll meet again on "the other side" :-)
Je ...
On Tue, Sep 30, 2008 at 5:37 PM, Florence Devouard Anthere9@yahoo.com wrote:
I expect more presence and will and strength from the chapter committee members than they have showed till now, to help us progress in this direction.
More presence!?! I'm already on the internet 25 hours per day, how much more present can I be?
I jest, of course. The chapcom has been gearing up lately to be more active and more efficient then in times in the past, I have high hopes that we continue that trend into the future, and I have hopes that the board will be able to keep up with all the business we send their way!
--Andrew Whitworth
Andrew Whitworth wrote:
On Tue, Sep 30, 2008 at 5:37 PM, Florence Devouard Anthere9@yahoo.com wrote:
I expect more presence and will and strength from the chapter committee members than they have showed till now, to help us progress in this direction.
More presence!?! I'm already on the internet 25 hours per day, how much more present can I be?
THAT is too much then :-)
Ant
d> I jest, of course. The chapcom has been gearing up lately to be more active and more efficient then in times in the past, I have high hopes that we continue that trend into the future, and I have hopes that the board will be able to keep up with all the business we send their way!
--Andrew Whitworth
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Florence Devouard wrote:
As for the future, just as you do, I hope that the disappearance of the chapter coordinator role will indeed be an energy shot, a reboot, a new birth, and that in the future, the WMF and the chapters will successfully cooperate to ensure a worldwide positive presence. I expect more presence and will and strength from the chapter committee members than they have showed till now, to help us progress in this direction. I also hope that the board of Wikimedia Foundation will rapidly name a new board representative as a gesture to prove their interest to work with the little sisters of WMF.
You will forgive me if I am more than a little confused by that hope. What gesture above and beyond already having instituted several (rather than a single designated) positions on the board selected by the chapters, would you actually want to see? And what do you mean "rapidly"? I am totally unable to understand where these hopes spring from.
Surely gestures by the board are totally irrelevant at this point.
Yours,
Jussi-Ville Heiskanen
Jussi-Ville Heiskanen wrote:
Florence Devouard wrote:
As for the future, just as you do, I hope that the disappearance of the chapter coordinator role will indeed be an energy shot, a reboot, a new birth, and that in the future, the WMF and the chapters will successfully cooperate to ensure a worldwide positive presence. I expect more presence and will and strength from the chapter committee members than they have showed till now, to help us progress in this direction. I also hope that the board of Wikimedia Foundation will rapidly name a new board representative as a gesture to prove their interest to work with the little sisters of WMF.
You will forgive me if I am more than a little confused by that hope. What gesture above and beyond already having instituted several (rather than a single designated) positions on the board selected by the chapters, would you actually want to see? And what do you mean "rapidly"? I am totally unable to understand where these hopes spring from.
Surely gestures by the board are totally irrelevant at this point.
Yours,
Jussi-Ville Heiskanen
The chapter committee membership includes mandatorily a board representative.
As of today, this representative is Frieda.
Ant
PS: in case you missed the new, Frieda resigned (quit) some time ago
Florence Devouard wrote:
Jussi-Ville Heiskanen wrote:
Florence Devouard wrote:
As for the future, just as you do, I hope that the disappearance of the chapter coordinator role will indeed be an energy shot, a reboot, a new birth, and that in the future, the WMF and the chapters will successfully cooperate to ensure a worldwide positive presence. I expect more presence and will and strength from the chapter committee members than they have showed till now, to help us progress in this direction. I also hope that the board of Wikimedia Foundation will rapidly name a new board representative as a gesture to prove their interest to work with the little sisters of WMF.
You will forgive me if I am more than a little confused by that hope. What gesture above and beyond already having instituted several (rather than a single designated) positions on the board selected by the chapters, would you actually want to see? And what do you mean "rapidly"? I am totally unable to understand where these hopes spring from.
Surely gestures by the board are totally irrelevant at this point.
Yours,
Jussi-Ville Heiskanen
The chapter committee membership includes mandatorily a board representative.
As of today, this representative is Frieda.
Ant
PS: in case you missed the new, Frieda resigned (quit) some time ago
Okay, there you really did confuse me totally.
Just goes to show that text does not work as telepathy. I really could not follow what you were thinking about, and I had no clue you were talking about a position that Frieda had been filling.
When I read "board representative" I thought you meant trustee. Silly me.
Yours,
Jussi-Ville Heiskanen
Okay, there you really did confuse me totally.
Just goes to show that text does not work as telepathy. I really could not follow what you were thinking about, and I had no clue you were talking about a position that Frieda had been filling.
When I read "board representative" I thought you meant trustee. Silly me.
Yes, you're definitely confused... Frieda was a trustee...
Thomas Dalton wrote:
Okay, there you really did confuse me totally.
Just goes to show that text does not work as telepathy. I really could not follow what you were thinking about, and I had no clue you were talking about a position that Frieda had been filling.
When I read "board representative" I thought you meant trustee. Silly me.
Yes, you're definitely confused... Frieda was a trustee...
Yes, but that wasn't the source of my confusion.
I thought Florence was suggesting that the board should appoint a new trustee to be a representative for the chapters onto the board of trustees, in a rapid fashion, over and above the already instituted chapter elected trustees.
You are forgiven for not understanding that I thought such a silly thing. I really overdid myself in the realm of misunderstanding.
Yours,
Jussi-Ville Heiskanen
Delphine Ménard wrote:
The Board of the Wikimedia Foundation has also renewed its confidence in the ability of the chapters to further the Wikimedia mission, by asking them to select two board members. The last announcement of the upcoming board meeting agenda shows that chapters are at the core of Wikimedia's strategy.
All of these changes have been accompanied by recurring questions about the role of chapters and the nature of the relationship Wikimedia chapters should entertain with the Wikimedia Foundation. And those questions are still, to some extent "in the air". Much has been done, much has been thought about and much remains to do and to brainstorm about.
In the course of these conversations, it has become evident that the "Chapters question" (or issue, or stuff, or thing) needs a reboot. Reboot in the sense that a new structure and process is needed to best capture the energy and perspectives of the growing number of chapters, along with the growing stability of the staff and board of the Wikimedia Foundation. One of the steps in this reboot is the wrap-up of the Chapters Coordinator position.
I have been committed to that position for the past 3 years, first as a volunteer, and since February 2007 as an external consultant and I am stopping my work as Chapters Coordinator today. I have been wrapping up my work with the chapters in the last few weeks.
Thank you, Delphine, for all of your hard work on behalf of the Wikimedia Foundation over the past few years. In building up the chapters from the early stages of their development, you will have had a lasting impact on our community. I'm grateful we had someone so dedicated helping in that project.
As many of you know, Delphine was also involved in major efforts beyond just working directly with the chapters, especially in organizing Wikimania. I'm sure we will be enjoying the products of Delphine's work long after the end of her employment. As one example, we got a report today on the results of a survey of Wikimania participants that Delphine was instrumental in developing (it's at http://wikimania2008.wikimedia.org/wiki/Survey for those interested, feedback was generally positive). I expect future Wikimania organizers will benefit from the groundwork she has laid, and appreciate how much work she had to put in.
Since Delphine is not leaving (thankfully), I shouldn't close with a farewell to her. So instead, let me say - Welcome to our newest volunteer!
--Michael Snow
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