First, I agree that there is a problem with communication.

Ronny Raschkowan wrote:

Hello!

When i talked yesterday on IRC with another wikipedian, we had both the same opinion that there's a problem with the communication, and staying up-to-date.

The problem is that people don't know for example, a feature had been enabled or similar (high priority?) news concerning Wikimedia. Also, most Wikis aren't up to date: They don't know for example, that it is also possible to block logged in people using the IP - Ban interface. Another problem is, that Wikis also couldn't know where they have to do requests like: Request for Permission, for switching the logo path, for queries, for updating a LanguageXX.php.

There are two different type of information here : * new and sudden information (how to get informed) * basic day to day information (who to contact, or where to go to have something done)

I think work has definitly to be done on the first (such as warning of a fundraising event).

Not so much on the second, other than regularly pointing out to a couple of good starting pages.

When I started reorganising the meta main page, I am quite sure very few could find what was needed.

I think now, they do much more than before. In spite of numerous new projects, there are far fewer requests on the mailing lists than before to ask for a new logo, or sysop status. I believe most people now find the right pages quite well.

Of course, documentation has to be written.

Possibly they don't know there

are IRC Channels and Mailing Lists, too. I would purpose two possible ways to change that, but feel free to purpose other ways :)

1. "Reactivating" the Announce-l Mailinglist. As far, as there are a lot

of changed going on, (creation of language specific wikibooks, quote for example), it'd be a good idea to have this ML working, as far as people could post the announces there and people interested in the changes could suscribe to that list and get informed.

I am really unsure it will be valuable, but am ready for an experiment. The first announcement list set by Walter did not work, and I think there are a couple of difficulties to solve, if you want to make it work.

You need the *largest* audience possible, and you need *all* relevant but *only* relevant information.

1) largest audience : Have everyone REGISTERED to yet another list and READ the mails

2) largest audience : Have messages TRANSLATED on that mailing list, BEFORE going on the mailing list

3) Have people THINK of using that list (comment : many still not use goings-on, but put everything in the huge mess of village-pumps)

4) Have people UNDERSTAND what to post and what not to post (need to define the goal very well).

Nothing impossible, but... that essentially mean, imho, that such a list will only will work IF someone is taking the responsibility and leadership of that solution and really put time in it.

2. Creating a new Special page for all wikis (or similar), called

"Useful_Links" or similar ( I haven't found a good title yet ;) ). People could read there where they can found the IRC Chat, where they can found specific mailing lists, and where they can post request (for permission, logo, query, etc), (Embassies?), etc. As far, people would have a good reference page and would fastly find a way where they can report a problem to the community, request and communicate within the community and with other users.

These are just ideas how to do that. If you have another idea, feel free to add it :).

I suppose most of this is more or less on all developped projects, some in the FAQ, some in other places. A central place is never a bad idea.

I am glad you are interested by all that Fire :-)

I hold on to my proposal to have a technical feature allowing to post a message from meta, to all (or part of) wikimedia projects.

--------

I think we should put some more work on meta, such as

1) making a multilingual home page 2) translating the english speaking main page in more languages 3) develop a feature to support more easily multilingualism on one wiki 4) improve flow of information for the whole area of wikimediafoundation. The information on the main page is now outdated.