Dear all,
I am happy to announce the Board intends to fill the open community Trustee seat at our meeting this weekend. On Saturday, María Sefidari will accept an appointment to the Board of Trustees, stepping into the third community-nominated seat. The appointment will last the remainder of the two year term, until Wikimania 2017.
Many of you know María. She previously served as a community-selected Trustee from August 2013 to July 2015. In the most recent 2015 community elections, she received the next highest support percentage, and highest number of support votes. She was born and lives in Madrid, Spain, and has been a contributor to the Wikimedia projects since 2006. She was a founding member of Spanish Wikipedia's LGBT Wikiproject, Wikimedia España, and Wikimujeres Grupo de Usuarias. She has also served on the Affiliations and Individual Engagement Grants committees. María is passionate about the role of diversity in our strategic efforts to retain and increase editorship, and improving channels for community participation in Foundation governance and policymaking.
We consulted with the 2015 Wikimedia Foundation Elections Committee before deciding how to proceed in identifying a new Trustee. They offered thoughtful feedback on the possible available options, and we’re grateful for their considerations. ( https://meta.wikimedia.org/wiki/Talk:Wikimedia_Foundation_elections_2015 https://meta.wikimedia.org/wiki/Talk:Wikimedia_Foundation_elections_2015#2015_Foundation_Elections_Committee_thoughts_on_how_to_fill_the_vacancy_in_the_Board_after_the_removal_of_James_Heilman )
We are certain many of you are wondering why we decided against holding another election. We did consider the option, but the disadvantages outweighed the benefits. The last election was well-attended, and still quite recent. Holding a new election would take considerable time, and we have important issues to address in the near future. It was important to us that the community perspective is fully represented in these conversations, without delay. We also didn’t want to distract from the affiliate Trustee selection process, which is coming up soon.
I am excited by the dedication, compassion, and experience María brings to the Board at a crucial time. We are confident she will serve our mission with wisdom and grace.
Please join me in congratulating our friend María, and thanking her service to our movement.
Patricio
--
Congratulations María! It's good to see you on the board.
Richard Symonds Wikimedia UK 0207 065 0992
Wikimedia UK is a Company Limited by Guarantee registered in England and Wales, Registered No. 6741827. Registered Charity No.1144513. Registered Office 4th Floor, Development House, 56-64 Leonard Street, London EC2A 4LT. United Kingdom. Wikimedia UK is the UK chapter of a global Wikimedia movement. The Wikimedia projects are run by the Wikimedia Foundation (who operate Wikipedia, amongst other projects).
*Wikimedia UK is an independent non-profit charity with no legal control over Wikipedia nor responsibility for its contents.*
On 29 January 2016 at 15:27, Patricio Lorente patricio.lorente@gmail.com wrote:
Dear all,
I am happy to announce the Board intends to fill the open community Trustee seat at our meeting this weekend. On Saturday, María Sefidari will accept an appointment to the Board of Trustees, stepping into the third community-nominated seat. The appointment will last the remainder of the two year term, until Wikimania 2017.
Many of you know María. She previously served as a community-selected Trustee from August 2013 to July 2015. In the most recent 2015 community elections, she received the next highest support percentage, and highest number of support votes. She was born and lives in Madrid, Spain, and has been a contributor to the Wikimedia projects since 2006. She was a founding member of Spanish Wikipedia's LGBT Wikiproject, Wikimedia España, and Wikimujeres Grupo de Usuarias. She has also served on the Affiliations and Individual Engagement Grants committees. María is passionate about the role of diversity in our strategic efforts to retain and increase editorship, and improving channels for community participation in Foundation governance and policymaking.
We consulted with the 2015 Wikimedia Foundation Elections Committee before deciding how to proceed in identifying a new Trustee. They offered thoughtful feedback on the possible available options, and we’re grateful for their considerations. ( https://meta.wikimedia.org/wiki/Talk:Wikimedia_Foundation_elections_2015 < https://meta.wikimedia.org/wiki/Talk:Wikimedia_Foundation_elections_2015#201...
)
We are certain many of you are wondering why we decided against holding another election. We did consider the option, but the disadvantages outweighed the benefits. The last election was well-attended, and still quite recent. Holding a new election would take considerable time, and we have important issues to address in the near future. It was important to us that the community perspective is fully represented in these conversations, without delay. We also didn’t want to distract from the affiliate Trustee selection process, which is coming up soon.
I am excited by the dedication, compassion, and experience María brings to the Board at a crucial time. We are confident she will serve our mission with wisdom and grace.
Please join me in congratulating our friend María, and thanking her service to our movement.
Patricio
-- _______________________________________________ Wikimedia-l mailing list, guidelines at: https://meta.wikimedia.org/wiki/Mailing_lists/Guidelines New messages to: Wikimedia-l@lists.wikimedia.org Unsubscribe: https://lists.wikimedia.org/mailman/listinfo/wikimedia-l, mailto:wikimedia-l-request@lists.wikimedia.org?subject=unsubscribe
Dear Patricio,
Thank you for the information. I would be interested in an elaboration of the advantages and disadvantages of a community election, though.
Kind regards Ziko
2016-01-29 16:27 GMT+01:00 Patricio Lorente patricio.lorente@gmail.com:
Dear all,
I am happy to announce the Board intends to fill the open community Trustee seat at our meeting this weekend. On Saturday, María Sefidari will accept an appointment to the Board of Trustees, stepping into the third community-nominated seat. The appointment will last the remainder of the two year term, until Wikimania 2017.
Many of you know María. She previously served as a community-selected Trustee from August 2013 to July 2015. In the most recent 2015 community elections, she received the next highest support percentage, and highest number of support votes. She was born and lives in Madrid, Spain, and has been a contributor to the Wikimedia projects since 2006. She was a founding member of Spanish Wikipedia's LGBT Wikiproject, Wikimedia España, and Wikimujeres Grupo de Usuarias. She has also served on the Affiliations and Individual Engagement Grants committees. María is passionate about the role of diversity in our strategic efforts to retain and increase editorship, and improving channels for community participation in Foundation governance and policymaking.
We consulted with the 2015 Wikimedia Foundation Elections Committee before deciding how to proceed in identifying a new Trustee. They offered thoughtful feedback on the possible available options, and we’re grateful for their considerations. ( https://meta.wikimedia.org/wiki/Talk:Wikimedia_Foundation_elections_2015 https://meta.wikimedia.org/wiki/Talk:Wikimedia_Foundation_elections_2015#2015_Foundation_Elections_Committee_thoughts_on_how_to_fill_the_vacancy_in_the_Board_after_the_removal_of_James_Heilman )
We are certain many of you are wondering why we decided against holding another election. We did consider the option, but the disadvantages outweighed the benefits. The last election was well-attended, and still quite recent. Holding a new election would take considerable time, and we have important issues to address in the near future. It was important to us that the community perspective is fully represented in these conversations, without delay. We also didn’t want to distract from the affiliate Trustee selection process, which is coming up soon.
I am excited by the dedication, compassion, and experience María brings to the Board at a crucial time. We are confident she will serve our mission with wisdom and grace.
Please join me in congratulating our friend María, and thanking her service to our movement.
Patricio
-- _______________________________________________ Wikimedia-l mailing list, guidelines at: https://meta.wikimedia.org/wiki/Mailing_lists/Guidelines New messages to: Wikimedia-l@lists.wikimedia.org Unsubscribe: https://lists.wikimedia.org/mailman/listinfo/wikimedia-l, mailto:wikimedia-l-request@lists.wikimedia.org?subject=unsubscribe
Hi Ziko,
The advantages and disadvantages are articulated here, though I have to say I wasn't aware of it until Patricio posted it just now.
https://meta.wikimedia.org/wiki/Talk:Wikimedia_Foundation_elections_2015#201...
I would speculate that the Board agreed with the advantages of the course of action they have taken and felt the disadvantages of it are limited. But that is only a guess ;)
Personally I think it is the right (and to me very obvious) decision.
Chris
On Fri, Jan 29, 2016 at 3:36 PM, Ziko van Dijk zvandijk@gmail.com wrote:
Dear Patricio,
Thank you for the information. I would be interested in an elaboration of the advantages and disadvantages of a community election, though.
Kind regards Ziko
2016-01-29 16:27 GMT+01:00 Patricio Lorente patricio.lorente@gmail.com:
Dear all,
I am happy to announce the Board intends to fill the open community
Trustee
seat at our meeting this weekend. On Saturday, María Sefidari will accept an appointment to the Board of Trustees, stepping into the third community-nominated seat. The appointment will last the remainder of the two year term, until Wikimania 2017.
Many of you know María. She previously served as a community-selected Trustee from August 2013 to July 2015. In the most recent 2015 community elections, she received the next highest support percentage, and highest number of support votes. She was born and lives in Madrid, Spain, and has been a contributor to the Wikimedia projects since 2006. She was a
founding
member of Spanish Wikipedia's LGBT Wikiproject, Wikimedia España, and Wikimujeres Grupo de Usuarias. She has also served on the Affiliations
and
Individual Engagement Grants committees. María is passionate about the
role
of diversity in our strategic efforts to retain and increase editorship, and improving channels for community participation in Foundation
governance
and policymaking.
We consulted with the 2015 Wikimedia Foundation Elections Committee
before
deciding how to proceed in identifying a new Trustee. They offered thoughtful feedback on the possible available options, and we’re grateful for their considerations. ( https://meta.wikimedia.org/wiki/Talk:Wikimedia_Foundation_elections_2015 <
https://meta.wikimedia.org/wiki/Talk:Wikimedia_Foundation_elections_2015#201...
)
We are certain many of you are wondering why we decided against holding another election. We did consider the option, but the disadvantages outweighed the benefits. The last election was well-attended, and still quite recent. Holding a new election would take considerable time, and we have important issues to address in the near future. It was important to
us
that the community perspective is fully represented in these
conversations,
without delay. We also didn’t want to distract from the affiliate Trustee selection process, which is coming up soon.
I am excited by the dedication, compassion, and experience María brings
to
the Board at a crucial time. We are confident she will serve our mission with wisdom and grace.
Please join me in congratulating our friend María, and thanking her
service
to our movement.
Patricio
-- _______________________________________________ Wikimedia-l mailing list, guidelines at:
https://meta.wikimedia.org/wiki/Mailing_lists/Guidelines
New messages to: Wikimedia-l@lists.wikimedia.org Unsubscribe: https://lists.wikimedia.org/mailman/listinfo/wikimedia-l,
mailto:wikimedia-l-request@lists.wikimedia.org?subject=unsubscribe
Wikimedia-l mailing list, guidelines at: https://meta.wikimedia.org/wiki/Mailing_lists/Guidelines New messages to: Wikimedia-l@lists.wikimedia.org Unsubscribe: https://lists.wikimedia.org/mailman/listinfo/wikimedia-l, mailto:wikimedia-l-request@lists.wikimedia.org?subject=unsubscribe
Congratulations, María! I am sure your experience, sensibility and wisdom will be of great help for the Foundation at this difficult time.
Galileo
On Fri, Jan 29, 2016 at 12:36 PM, Ziko van Dijk zvandijk@gmail.com wrote:
Dear Patricio,
Thank you for the information. I would be interested in an elaboration of the advantages and disadvantages of a community election, though.
Kind regards Ziko
2016-01-29 16:27 GMT+01:00 Patricio Lorente patricio.lorente@gmail.com:
Dear all,
I am happy to announce the Board intends to fill the open community
Trustee
seat at our meeting this weekend. On Saturday, María Sefidari will accept an appointment to the Board of Trustees, stepping into the third community-nominated seat. The appointment will last the remainder of the two year term, until Wikimania 2017.
Many of you know María. She previously served as a community-selected Trustee from August 2013 to July 2015. In the most recent 2015 community elections, she received the next highest support percentage, and highest number of support votes. She was born and lives in Madrid, Spain, and has been a contributor to the Wikimedia projects since 2006. She was a
founding
member of Spanish Wikipedia's LGBT Wikiproject, Wikimedia España, and Wikimujeres Grupo de Usuarias. She has also served on the Affiliations
and
Individual Engagement Grants committees. María is passionate about the
role
of diversity in our strategic efforts to retain and increase editorship, and improving channels for community participation in Foundation
governance
and policymaking.
We consulted with the 2015 Wikimedia Foundation Elections Committee
before
deciding how to proceed in identifying a new Trustee. They offered thoughtful feedback on the possible available options, and we’re grateful for their considerations. ( https://meta.wikimedia.org/wiki/Talk:Wikimedia_Foundation_elections_2015 <
https://meta.wikimedia.org/wiki/Talk:Wikimedia_Foundation_elections_2015#201...
)
We are certain many of you are wondering why we decided against holding another election. We did consider the option, but the disadvantages outweighed the benefits. The last election was well-attended, and still quite recent. Holding a new election would take considerable time, and we have important issues to address in the near future. It was important to
us
that the community perspective is fully represented in these
conversations,
without delay. We also didn’t want to distract from the affiliate Trustee selection process, which is coming up soon.
I am excited by the dedication, compassion, and experience María brings
to
the Board at a crucial time. We are confident she will serve our mission with wisdom and grace.
Please join me in congratulating our friend María, and thanking her
service
to our movement.
Patricio
-- _______________________________________________ Wikimedia-l mailing list, guidelines at:
https://meta.wikimedia.org/wiki/Mailing_lists/Guidelines
New messages to: Wikimedia-l@lists.wikimedia.org Unsubscribe: https://lists.wikimedia.org/mailman/listinfo/wikimedia-l,
mailto:wikimedia-l-request@lists.wikimedia.org?subject=unsubscribe
Wikimedia-l mailing list, guidelines at: https://meta.wikimedia.org/wiki/Mailing_lists/Guidelines New messages to: Wikimedia-l@lists.wikimedia.org Unsubscribe: https://lists.wikimedia.org/mailman/listinfo/wikimedia-l, mailto:wikimedia-l-request@lists.wikimedia.org?subject=unsubscribe
¡Felicidades María!
Happy to see you again in the Board. Thanks to the BoT and to the 2015 Elections Committee for all the efforts solving this problem. The diversity inside the Board gets many benefits with this appointment.
I trust you María!
2016-01-29 9:44 GMT-06:00 Galileo Vidoni galio2k@gmail.com:
Congratulations, María! I am sure your experience, sensibility and wisdom will be of great help for the Foundation at this difficult time.
Galileo
On Fri, Jan 29, 2016 at 12:36 PM, Ziko van Dijk zvandijk@gmail.com wrote:
Dear Patricio,
Thank you for the information. I would be interested in an elaboration of the advantages and disadvantages of a community election, though.
Kind regards Ziko
2016-01-29 16:27 GMT+01:00 Patricio Lorente <patricio.lorente@gmail.com :
Dear all,
I am happy to announce the Board intends to fill the open community
Trustee
seat at our meeting this weekend. On Saturday, María Sefidari will
accept
an appointment to the Board of Trustees, stepping into the third community-nominated seat. The appointment will last the remainder of
the
two year term, until Wikimania 2017.
Many of you know María. She previously served as a community-selected Trustee from August 2013 to July 2015. In the most recent 2015
community
elections, she received the next highest support percentage, and
highest
number of support votes. She was born and lives in Madrid, Spain, and
has
been a contributor to the Wikimedia projects since 2006. She was a
founding
member of Spanish Wikipedia's LGBT Wikiproject, Wikimedia España, and Wikimujeres Grupo de Usuarias. She has also served on the Affiliations
and
Individual Engagement Grants committees. María is passionate about the
role
of diversity in our strategic efforts to retain and increase
editorship,
and improving channels for community participation in Foundation
governance
and policymaking.
We consulted with the 2015 Wikimedia Foundation Elections Committee
before
deciding how to proceed in identifying a new Trustee. They offered thoughtful feedback on the possible available options, and we’re
grateful
for their considerations. (
https://meta.wikimedia.org/wiki/Talk:Wikimedia_Foundation_elections_2015
<
https://meta.wikimedia.org/wiki/Talk:Wikimedia_Foundation_elections_2015#201...
)
We are certain many of you are wondering why we decided against holding another election. We did consider the option, but the disadvantages outweighed the benefits. The last election was well-attended, and still quite recent. Holding a new election would take considerable time, and
we
have important issues to address in the near future. It was important
to
us
that the community perspective is fully represented in these
conversations,
without delay. We also didn’t want to distract from the affiliate
Trustee
selection process, which is coming up soon.
I am excited by the dedication, compassion, and experience María brings
to
the Board at a crucial time. We are confident she will serve our
mission
with wisdom and grace.
Please join me in congratulating our friend María, and thanking her
service
to our movement.
Patricio
-- _______________________________________________ Wikimedia-l mailing list, guidelines at:
https://meta.wikimedia.org/wiki/Mailing_lists/Guidelines
New messages to: Wikimedia-l@lists.wikimedia.org Unsubscribe: https://lists.wikimedia.org/mailman/listinfo/wikimedia-l,
mailto:wikimedia-l-request@lists.wikimedia.org?subject=unsubscribe
Wikimedia-l mailing list, guidelines at: https://meta.wikimedia.org/wiki/Mailing_lists/Guidelines New messages to: Wikimedia-l@lists.wikimedia.org Unsubscribe: https://lists.wikimedia.org/mailman/listinfo/wikimedia-l, mailto:wikimedia-l-request@lists.wikimedia.org?subject=unsubscribe
Wikimedia-l mailing list, guidelines at: https://meta.wikimedia.org/wiki/Mailing_lists/Guidelines New messages to: Wikimedia-l@lists.wikimedia.org Unsubscribe: https://lists.wikimedia.org/mailman/listinfo/wikimedia-l, mailto:wikimedia-l-request@lists.wikimedia.org?subject=unsubscribe
I am happy to see María returning to the Board, though I wish it took place under happier circumstances. I have confidence in her wisdom and her ability to help steer us out of this mess, though I certainly hope that she’ll be able to commit to whatever it is that James was fighting for while he was on the Board. ¡Felicidades! :)
That said, I do want to point out something that Salvador said in his e-mail:
The diversity inside the Board gets many benefits with this appointment.
I have significant problems with this statement. While I appreciate the fact that María represents two of our underrepresented communities (women, sexual minorities), I am doubtful that her return to the Board will suddenly lead to "more diversity", especially when it comes to our communities in the developing world. We’ve been fighting for more geographic diversity on the Board and in the movement at large with very limited success as it is, so yet another developed world trustee does no favors for us even if I have lots of praise for María otherwise.
Josh
JAMES JOSHUA G. LIM Bachelor of Arts in Political Science Class of 2013, Ateneo de Manila University Quezon City, Metro Manila, Philippines
jamesjoshualim@yahoo.com mailto:jamesjoshualim@yahoo.com | +63 (915) 321-7582 Facebook/Twitter: akiestar | Wikimedia: Sky Harbor http://about.me/josh.lim http://about.me/josh.lim
Another mistake. A lot has happened over the past few weeks. The community should have been given a voice, in light of vast changes in circumstances since last May.
María, too, might have felt better about joining the board with a clear endorsement from the community – an endorsement given now, rather than last May. As things stand, her tenure begins under a cloud.
Andreas
On Fri, Jan 29, 2016 at 4:51 PM, Andreas Kolbe jayen466@gmail.com wrote:
Another mistake. A lot has happened over the past few weeks. The community should have been given a voice, in light of vast changes in circumstances since last May.
María, too, might have felt better about joining the board with a clear endorsement from the community – an endorsement given now, rather than last May. As things stand, her tenure begins under a cloud.
If I remember well (not willing to check), Maria got the most of the votes on the elections (more than any of the elected members), which means that it's fair that she becomes a Board member.
At the other side, I'd ask Board members to stop making fringe decisions. Now. Please!
It's good to have María back, indeed.
Congratulations and welcome back, María!
T.
Tanvir Rahman Wikitanvir
On Fri, Jan 29, 2016 at 11:43 AM, Milos Rancic millosh@gmail.com wrote:
If I remember well (not willing to check), Maria got the most of the votes on the elections (more than any of the elected members), which means that it's fair that she becomes a Board member.
that is correct. Also, if the voting system relied on a net sum (support votes minus oppose votes) she would have been elected.
dj
On 2016-01-29 17:56, Dariusz Jemielniak wrote:
On Fri, Jan 29, 2016 at 11:43 AM, Milos Rancic millosh@gmail.com wrote:
If I remember well (not willing to check), Maria got the most of the votes on the elections (more than any of the elected members), which means that it's fair that she becomes a Board member.
that is correct. Also, if the voting system relied on a net sum (support votes minus oppose votes) she would have been elected.
dj
Whereas this is a correct statement, it is irrelevant. The voters voted knowing that only support votes count. If the system were different, they could have voted differently.
Cheers Yaroslav
Actually the formula used (S/S+O) is from a ranking point identical to (S-O/S+O) (=(S-O)/(Total-Neutral). And the result would have been different if the formula (S-O)/Total had been used (Maria would have been in). So in some ways it was the Neutral votes who decided, or rather that the formula used disregard the Neutral ones, saw them as identical to abstain.
A discussion exist on the election pages already and for future election it is worthwhile to look into how the neutral votes should be taken into account (and if there a distinction between abstain and neutral).
Anders
Den 2016-01-29 kl. 18:02, skrev Yaroslav M. Blanter:
Whereas this is a correct statement, it is irrelevant. The voters voted knowing that only support votes count. If the system were different, they could have voted differently.
Cheers Yaroslav
Wikimedia-l mailing list, guidelines at: https://meta.wikimedia.org/wiki/Mailing_lists/Guidelines New messages to: Wikimedia-l@lists.wikimedia.org Unsubscribe: https://lists.wikimedia.org/mailman/listinfo/wikimedia-l, mailto:wikimedia-l-request@lists.wikimedia.org?subject=unsubscribe
I found that the "support percentage" formula S/(S+O) fails some important criteria for voting systems, for example it gives more weight to a vote for minor candidates, which violates the one person, one vote principle among others. "Net support" (S-O) is equally obscure and problematic. My personal suggestion is to stick with straight "approval" voting, ranking winners by the total number of support votes, rather than attempting to invent or explain more exotic systems.
If we still want to factor in oppose votes as a measure of "controversiality", we can set a minimum support percentage, rather than using it to rank directly. Looking at the support percentages for the top 5 candidates in the last election, they were within 5% of one another and the score was quite inappropriate to use for ranking. Sigh, lessons learned!
Here's my analysis, I'd be happy to move to the main namespace if others want to expand on it: https://meta.wikimedia.org/wiki/User:Adamw/Draft/Board_Election_analysis
-Adam [[mw:User:Adamw]]
On Fri, Jan 29, 2016 at 9:28 AM Anders Wennersten mail@anderswennersten.se wrote:
Actually the formula used (S/S+O) is from a ranking point identical to (S-O/S+O) (=(S-O)/(Total-Neutral). And the result would have been different if the formula (S-O)/Total had been used (Maria would have been in). So in some ways it was the Neutral votes who decided, or rather that the formula used disregard the Neutral ones, saw them as identical to abstain.
A discussion exist on the election pages already and for future election it is worthwhile to look into how the neutral votes should be taken into account (and if there a distinction between abstain and neutral).
Anders
Den 2016-01-29 kl. 18:02, skrev Yaroslav M. Blanter:
Whereas this is a correct statement, it is irrelevant. The voters voted knowing that only support votes count. If the system were different, they could have voted differently.
Cheers Yaroslav
Wikimedia-l mailing list, guidelines at: https://meta.wikimedia.org/wiki/Mailing_lists/Guidelines New messages to: Wikimedia-l@lists.wikimedia.org Unsubscribe: https://lists.wikimedia.org/mailman/listinfo/wikimedia-l, mailto:wikimedia-l-request@lists.wikimedia.org?subject=unsubscribe
Wikimedia-l mailing list, guidelines at: https://meta.wikimedia.org/wiki/Mailing_lists/Guidelines New messages to: Wikimedia-l@lists.wikimedia.org Unsubscribe: https://lists.wikimedia.org/mailman/listinfo/wikimedia-l, mailto:wikimedia-l-request@lists.wikimedia.org?subject=unsubscribe
It would be good if the voting system was built to give a clear next best option in these circumstances.
Simple positive voting, single transferable vote, and proportional Schulze would all do that.
I wonder if there's any movement on the idea of a standing election committee to consider now how the next community election will be set up?
Chris
On Sat, Jan 30, 2016 at 1:00 AM, Chris Keating chriskeatingwiki@gmail.com wrote:
It would be good if the voting system was built to give a clear next best option in these circumstances.
Simple positive voting, single transferable vote, and proportional Schulze would all do that.
I wonder if there's any movement on the idea of a standing election committee to consider now how the next community election will be set up?
Chris
There is indeed, the board approved a resolution to create the committee https://wikimediafoundation.org/wiki/Resolution:Elections_Committee in November which was published recently. I've already talked a bit about it with the members of the most recent election committee but once it was published I was wary of moving forward with the conversion to a standing committee until we knew exactly what was happening with James' seat. Now that that seems to be done I'm hoping to work with everyone over the next couple weeks to get it going.
James Alexander Manager Trust & Safety Wikimedia Foundation (415) 839-6885 x6716 @jamesofur
My personal analysis comes to the conclusion that the voting formula/voting system needs to be redesigned before next election. The current one has serious flaws related to the oppose option. It is both open to "smart" voting (manipulation) and it also gives undue weight to the oppose option.
There are several ways a redesign can be done, from keeping the SNO but with a modified formula to changing it to one of the options Chris mention or others.
With the set up of a standing committee there will be ample time to work with this issue before next election. And I expect it will be done with involving the community on lists and meta
Anders
Den 2016-01-30 kl. 10:00, skrev Chris Keating:
It would be good if the voting system was built to give a clear next best option in these circumstances.
Simple positive voting, single transferable vote, and proportional Schulze would all do that.
I wonder if there's any movement on the idea of a standing election committee to consider now how the next community election will be set up?
Chris _______________________________________________ Wikimedia-l mailing list, guidelines at: https://meta.wikimedia.org/wiki/Mailing_lists/Guidelines New messages to: Wikimedia-l@lists.wikimedia.org Unsubscribe: https://lists.wikimedia.org/mailman/listinfo/wikimedia-l, mailto:wikimedia-l-request@lists.wikimedia.org?subject=unsubscribe
Well, the easiest way to determine a "next best" option is to build it into the bylaws. It's clear what would happen if, before an appointment, a "selected" candidate was found to be problematic - it goes to the 4th place candidate - but the bylaws don't go into what happens post appointment. Really, the selection of who steps up if a trustee-elect or trustee post appointment leaves/is removed from the Board has nothing much to do with the voting system. Once the vote is done and the candidates are ranked, that's the end of it. It's whether or not the results of the most recent vote will be used to replace a trustee-elect or trustee post appointment that is only partially answered at this time.
I'd be supportive of changing to a system that doesn't overweight opposition to a candidate,but any replacement system should be very easily understood by voters. The Schulze system is remarkably easy to game, was definitely misunderstood by many voters, and often resulted in candidates nobody wanted getting ranked higher than candidates that people were indifferent about. Organizations that used to use forms of the Schulze system have largely moved away from it and use other systems now that are more intuitive for voters. Hardly anyone in the WIkimedia world would even know about the Schulze system if it hadn't been selected many years back; retrospective review of that decision process showed it was very flawed and was based at least in part on the Enwiki article about the Schulze system - an article that has needed cleanup since at least 2006.
There are plenty of voting systems out there that are intended to give multiple-winner results. I'd like to see something selected that is (a) designed to give multiple winners, (b) is simple and intuitive for voters and (c) has some sort of process for voters to identify clearly the candidates they feel are very inappropriate for the role.
While we're at it...diversity remains a very serious problem for the Board. Does the community voting process want to try to take that on? How would we do such a thing?
Risker/Anne
On 30 January 2016 at 04:00, Chris Keating chriskeatingwiki@gmail.com wrote:
It would be good if the voting system was built to give a clear next best option in these circumstances.
Simple positive voting, single transferable vote, and proportional Schulze would all do that.
I wonder if there's any movement on the idea of a standing election committee to consider now how the next community election will be set up?
Chris _______________________________________________ Wikimedia-l mailing list, guidelines at: https://meta.wikimedia.org/wiki/Mailing_lists/Guidelines New messages to: Wikimedia-l@lists.wikimedia.org Unsubscribe: https://lists.wikimedia.org/mailman/listinfo/wikimedia-l, mailto:wikimedia-l-request@lists.wikimedia.org?subject=unsubscribe
While we're at it...diversity remains a very serious problem for the Board. Does the community voting process want to try to take that on? How would we do such a thing?
Risker/Anne
I think here we only have two options:
1) To decide that one (or two) of the community-elected seats is only given to a certain group of people, for example, women, or residents of the Global South (in which case, obviously, the latter should be defined properly - I already indicate previously that currently Russia and Moldova are counted as Global North, and Ukraine and Belarus as Global South which affects e.g. Wikimania fellowships - nobody seems to care). This would probably mean a separate contest for these seats and the general contest for the remaining ones.
2) To decide that the diversity should be ensured by appointed and possibly by chapter-selected seats. This is pretty much what we are doing now.
Cheers Yaroslav
On 01/30/2016 07:19 AM, Risker wrote:
While we're at it...diversity remains a very serious problem for the Board. Does the community voting process want to try to take that on? How would we do such a thing?
I wildly speculate that it could be done through a voter pledge, sketched at https://meta.wikimedia.org/wiki/User:Mike_Linksvayer/Community-led_board_div...
Mike
"We are fully committed to filling the open community-selected seat through a transparent proces (...)" (https://meta.wikimedia.org/wiki/Wikimedia_Foundation_Board_noticeboard/James...)
So it wasn't true what was wrote there? :/
To: wikimedia-l@lists.wikimedia.org From: ml@gondwanaland.com Date: Sun, 31 Jan 2016 21:51:37 -0800 Subject: Re: [Wikimedia-l] Voting formula was Appointment of María Sefidari to Wikimedia Foundation Board
On 01/30/2016 07:19 AM, Risker wrote:
While we're at it...diversity remains a very serious problem for the Board. Does the community voting process want to try to take that on? How would we do such a thing?
I wildly speculate that it could be done through a voter pledge, sketched at https://meta.wikimedia.org/wiki/User:Mike_Linksvayer/Community-led_board_div...
Mike
Wikimedia-l mailing list, guidelines at: https://meta.wikimedia.org/wiki/Mailing_lists/Guidelines New messages to: Wikimedia-l@lists.wikimedia.org Unsubscribe: https://lists.wikimedia.org/mailman/listinfo/wikimedia-l, mailto:wikimedia-l-request@lists.wikimedia.org?subject=unsubscribe
I think an analysis of the past Wikimedia community election results, with a variety of different voting (and counting) methods, could show the best path toward achieving diversity in elected seats, without necesarilly resorting to quotas or separate contests.
Thanks, Pharos
On Sun, Jan 31, 2016 at 9:51 PM, Mike Linksvayer ml@gondwanaland.com wrote:
On 01/30/2016 07:19 AM, Risker wrote:
While we're at it...diversity remains a very serious problem for the Board. Does the community voting process want to try to take that on?
How
would we do such a thing?
I wildly speculate that it could be done through a voter pledge, sketched at
https://meta.wikimedia.org/wiki/User:Mike_Linksvayer/Community-led_board_div...
Mike
Wikimedia-l mailing list, guidelines at: https://meta.wikimedia.org/wiki/Mailing_lists/Guidelines New messages to: Wikimedia-l@lists.wikimedia.org Unsubscribe: https://lists.wikimedia.org/mailman/listinfo/wikimedia-l, mailto:wikimedia-l-request@lists.wikimedia.org?subject=unsubscribe
On Fri, Jan 29, 2016 at 12:02 PM, Yaroslav M. Blanter putevod@mccme.ru wrote:
Whereas this is a correct statement, it is irrelevant. The voters voted knowing that only support votes count. If the system were different, they could have voted differently.
Sure, and with many alternative systems the results could have been different. I'm only pointing out that she did have a lot of support by common sense metrics.
Btw, it is not true that "only support votes count". In our current system the opposing votes count much more, in fact.
dj
Thanks Maria for agreeing to join the Board in this manner and at this time.
On the subject of advantages vs. disadvantages... I imagine one of the most important is that a new election may have seen the community elect James Heilman again, requiring the board to publicly pass over him in favor of someone else.
I agree. And most importantly, I don't think that the results of the last election show that the community has a lack of confidence in her returning to the Board.
Sydney
Sydney Poore User:FloNight Wikipedian in Residence at Cochrane Collaboration
On Fri, Jan 29, 2016 at 12:29 PM, Dariusz Jemielniak darekj@alk.edu.pl wrote:
On Fri, Jan 29, 2016 at 12:02 PM, Yaroslav M. Blanter putevod@mccme.ru wrote:
Whereas this is a correct statement, it is irrelevant. The voters voted knowing that only support votes count. If the system were different, they could have voted differently.
Sure, and with many alternative systems the results could have been different. I'm only pointing out that she did have a lot of support by common sense metrics.
Btw, it is not true that "only support votes count". In our current system the opposing votes count much more, in fact.
dj _______________________________________________ Wikimedia-l mailing list, guidelines at: https://meta.wikimedia.org/wiki/Mailing_lists/Guidelines New messages to: Wikimedia-l@lists.wikimedia.org Unsubscribe: https://lists.wikimedia.org/mailman/listinfo/wikimedia-l, mailto:wikimedia-l-request@lists.wikimedia.org?subject=unsubscribe
It is good to see her back on board again, Maria Khosh Umadi (welcome back in Farsi)
Mardetanha
On Fri, Jan 29, 2016 at 8:26 PM, Dariusz Jemielniak darekj@alk.edu.pl wrote:
On Fri, Jan 29, 2016 at 11:43 AM, Milos Rancic millosh@gmail.com wrote:
If I remember well (not willing to check), Maria got the most of the votes on the elections (more than any of the elected members), which means that it's fair that she becomes a Board member.
that is correct. Also, if the voting system relied on a net sum (support votes minus oppose votes) she would have been elected.
dj _______________________________________________ Wikimedia-l mailing list, guidelines at: https://meta.wikimedia.org/wiki/Mailing_lists/Guidelines New messages to: Wikimedia-l@lists.wikimedia.org Unsubscribe: https://lists.wikimedia.org/mailman/listinfo/wikimedia-l, mailto:wikimedia-l-request@lists.wikimedia.org?subject=unsubscribe
Looks like a voting has been avoided... :/
... but María Sefidari is a good decision :-). Congrats.
From: mardetanha.wiki@gmail.com Date: Fri, 29 Jan 2016 20:33:46 +0330 To: darekj@alk.edu.pl; wikimedia-l@lists.wikimedia.org Subject: Re: [Wikimedia-l] Appointment of María Sefidari to Wikimedia Foundation Board
It is good to see her back on board again, Maria Khosh Umadi (welcome back in Farsi)
Mardetanha
On Fri, Jan 29, 2016 at 8:26 PM, Dariusz Jemielniak darekj@alk.edu.pl wrote:
On Fri, Jan 29, 2016 at 11:43 AM, Milos Rancic millosh@gmail.com wrote:
If I remember well (not willing to check), Maria got the most of the votes on the elections (more than any of the elected members), which means that it's fair that she becomes a Board member.
that is correct. Also, if the voting system relied on a net sum (support votes minus oppose votes) she would have been elected.
dj _______________________________________________ Wikimedia-l mailing list, guidelines at: https://meta.wikimedia.org/wiki/Mailing_lists/Guidelines New messages to: Wikimedia-l@lists.wikimedia.org Unsubscribe: https://lists.wikimedia.org/mailman/listinfo/wikimedia-l, mailto:wikimedia-l-request@lists.wikimedia.org?subject=unsubscribe
Wikimedia-l mailing list, guidelines at: https://meta.wikimedia.org/wiki/Mailing_lists/Guidelines New messages to: Wikimedia-l@lists.wikimedia.org Unsubscribe: https://lists.wikimedia.org/mailman/listinfo/wikimedia-l, mailto:wikimedia-l-request@lists.wikimedia.org?subject=unsubscribe
Congratulations María on your return to the Board - or commiserations depending on your perspective!
Appointing María to the vacant seat is the best decision in the circumstances IMO. Not only does she come with strong "community seat" legitimacy as the person who came 'next' in the quite-recent election, she also is coming BACK to the board. The shorter learning-curve means that, during this difficult and important time, she will be able to be an effective board member much faster than someone joining it for the first time.
Running a new and timeconsuming election, now, would only have delayed bringing the board back to full strength without adding any extra legitimacy to the result than appointing María already brings. And, I say this as the person she beat to 'third place' in the 2013 election which saw her elected to the board in the first place :-) :-) https://meta.wikimedia.org/wiki/Wikimedia_Foundation_elections_2013/Results
- Liam / Wittylama
Thank you, Patricio & María.
On Fri, Jan 29, 2016 at 4:13 PM, Liam Wyatt liamwyatt@gmail.com wrote:
Appointing María to the vacant seat is the best decision in the circumstances IMO. Not only does she come with strong "community seat" legitimacy as the person who came 'next' in the quite-recent election, she also is coming BACK to the board. The shorter learning-curve means that, during this difficult and important time, she will be able to be an effective
board member much faster than someone joining it for the first time.
Well said.
S.
María,
Congratulations for your appointment!
Cheers!
On Fri, Jan 29, 2016 at 7:17 PM, Sam Klein sjklein@hcs.harvard.edu wrote:
Thank you, Patricio & María.
On Fri, Jan 29, 2016 at 4:13 PM, Liam Wyatt liamwyatt@gmail.com wrote:
Appointing María to the vacant seat is the best decision in the circumstances IMO. Not only does she come with strong "community seat" legitimacy as the person who came 'next' in the quite-recent election,
she
also is coming BACK to the board. The shorter learning-curve means that, during this difficult and important time, she will be able to be an effective
board member much faster than someone joining it for the first time.
Well said.
S. _______________________________________________ Wikimedia-l mailing list, guidelines at: https://meta.wikimedia.org/wiki/Mailing_lists/Guidelines New messages to: Wikimedia-l@lists.wikimedia.org Unsubscribe: https://lists.wikimedia.org/mailman/listinfo/wikimedia-l, mailto:wikimedia-l-request@lists.wikimedia.org?subject=unsubscribe
Thanks Patricio,
There was many solution to the situation and I personally felt the board choose one of the less bad ;-)
charles
Le 29 janv. 2016 à 16:27, Patricio Lorente patricio.lorente@gmail.com a écrit :
Dear all,
I am happy to announce the Board intends to fill the open community Trustee seat at our meeting this weekend. On Saturday, María Sefidari will accept an appointment to the Board of Trustees, stepping into the third community-nominated seat. The appointment will last the remainder of the two year term, until Wikimania 2017.
Many of you know María. She previously served as a community-selected Trustee from August 2013 to July 2015. In the most recent 2015 community elections, she received the next highest support percentage, and highest number of support votes. She was born and lives in Madrid, Spain, and has been a contributor to the Wikimedia projects since 2006. She was a founding member of Spanish Wikipedia's LGBT Wikiproject, Wikimedia España, and Wikimujeres Grupo de Usuarias. She has also served on the Affiliations and Individual Engagement Grants committees. María is passionate about the role of diversity in our strategic efforts to retain and increase editorship, and improving channels for community participation in Foundation governance and policymaking.
We consulted with the 2015 Wikimedia Foundation Elections Committee before deciding how to proceed in identifying a new Trustee. They offered thoughtful feedback on the possible available options, and we’re grateful for their considerations. ( https://meta.wikimedia.org/wiki/Talk:Wikimedia_Foundation_elections_2015 https://meta.wikimedia.org/wiki/Talk:Wikimedia_Foundation_elections_2015#2015_Foundation_Elections_Committee_thoughts_on_how_to_fill_the_vacancy_in_the_Board_after_the_removal_of_James_Heilman )
We are certain many of you are wondering why we decided against holding another election. We did consider the option, but the disadvantages outweighed the benefits. The last election was well-attended, and still quite recent. Holding a new election would take considerable time, and we have important issues to address in the near future. It was important to us that the community perspective is fully represented in these conversations, without delay. We also didn’t want to distract from the affiliate Trustee selection process, which is coming up soon.
I am excited by the dedication, compassion, and experience María brings to the Board at a crucial time. We are confident she will serve our mission with wisdom and grace.
Please join me in congratulating our friend María, and thanking her service to our movement.
Patricio
-- _______________________________________________ Wikimedia-l mailing list, guidelines at: https://meta.wikimedia.org/wiki/Mailing_lists/Guidelines New messages to: Wikimedia-l@lists.wikimedia.org Unsubscribe: https://lists.wikimedia.org/mailman/listinfo/wikimedia-l, mailto:wikimedia-l-request@lists.wikimedia.org?subject=unsubscribe
Say welcome to María on https://discourse.wmflabs.org/t/appointment-of-maria-sefidari-to-wikimedia-f... or just like the post there.
Ad Huikeshoven Op 29 jan. 2016 16:27 schreef "Patricio Lorente" <patricio.lorente@gmail.com
:
Dear all,
I am happy to announce the Board intends to fill the open community Trustee seat at our meeting this weekend. On Saturday, María Sefidari will accept an appointment to the Board of Trustees, stepping into the third community-nominated seat. The appointment will last the remainder of the two year term, until Wikimania 2017.
Many of you know María. She previously served as a community-selected Trustee from August 2013 to July 2015. In the most recent 2015 community elections, she received the next highest support percentage, and highest number of support votes. She was born and lives in Madrid, Spain, and has been a contributor to the Wikimedia projects since 2006. She was a founding member of Spanish Wikipedia's LGBT Wikiproject, Wikimedia España, and Wikimujeres Grupo de Usuarias. She has also served on the Affiliations and Individual Engagement Grants committees. María is passionate about the role of diversity in our strategic efforts to retain and increase editorship, and improving channels for community participation in Foundation governance and policymaking.
We consulted with the 2015 Wikimedia Foundation Elections Committee before deciding how to proceed in identifying a new Trustee. They offered thoughtful feedback on the possible available options, and we’re grateful for their considerations. ( https://meta.wikimedia.org/wiki/Talk:Wikimedia_Foundation_elections_2015 < https://meta.wikimedia.org/wiki/Talk:Wikimedia_Foundation_elections_2015#201...
)
We are certain many of you are wondering why we decided against holding another election. We did consider the option, but the disadvantages outweighed the benefits. The last election was well-attended, and still quite recent. Holding a new election would take considerable time, and we have important issues to address in the near future. It was important to us that the community perspective is fully represented in these conversations, without delay. We also didn’t want to distract from the affiliate Trustee selection process, which is coming up soon.
I am excited by the dedication, compassion, and experience María brings to the Board at a crucial time. We are confident she will serve our mission with wisdom and grace.
Please join me in congratulating our friend María, and thanking her service to our movement.
Patricio
-- _______________________________________________ Wikimedia-l mailing list, guidelines at: https://meta.wikimedia.org/wiki/Mailing_lists/Guidelines New messages to: Wikimedia-l@lists.wikimedia.org Unsubscribe: https://lists.wikimedia.org/mailman/listinfo/wikimedia-l, mailto:wikimedia-l-request@lists.wikimedia.org?subject=unsubscribe
Congratulations María! I'm sure that her experience and support from the community (given she had the most favourable votes in the election a few months ago) will be important to bring the Board back on track after so many unfortunate decisions in the past weeks.
2016-01-29 13:15 GMT-03:00 Ad Huikeshoven ad@wikimedia.nl:
Say welcome to María on
https://discourse.wmflabs.org/t/appointment-of-maria-sefidari-to-wikimedia-f... or just like the post there.
Ad Huikeshoven Op 29 jan. 2016 16:27 schreef "Patricio Lorente" < patricio.lorente@gmail.com
:
Dear all,
I am happy to announce the Board intends to fill the open community
Trustee
seat at our meeting this weekend. On Saturday, María Sefidari will accept an appointment to the Board of Trustees, stepping into the third community-nominated seat. The appointment will last the remainder of the two year term, until Wikimania 2017.
Many of you know María. She previously served as a community-selected Trustee from August 2013 to July 2015. In the most recent 2015 community elections, she received the next highest support percentage, and highest number of support votes. She was born and lives in Madrid, Spain, and has been a contributor to the Wikimedia projects since 2006. She was a
founding
member of Spanish Wikipedia's LGBT Wikiproject, Wikimedia España, and Wikimujeres Grupo de Usuarias. She has also served on the Affiliations
and
Individual Engagement Grants committees. María is passionate about the
role
of diversity in our strategic efforts to retain and increase editorship, and improving channels for community participation in Foundation
governance
and policymaking.
We consulted with the 2015 Wikimedia Foundation Elections Committee
before
deciding how to proceed in identifying a new Trustee. They offered thoughtful feedback on the possible available options, and we’re grateful for their considerations. ( https://meta.wikimedia.org/wiki/Talk:Wikimedia_Foundation_elections_2015 <
https://meta.wikimedia.org/wiki/Talk:Wikimedia_Foundation_elections_2015#201...
)
We are certain many of you are wondering why we decided against holding another election. We did consider the option, but the disadvantages outweighed the benefits. The last election was well-attended, and still quite recent. Holding a new election would take considerable time, and we have important issues to address in the near future. It was important to
us
that the community perspective is fully represented in these
conversations,
without delay. We also didn’t want to distract from the affiliate Trustee selection process, which is coming up soon.
I am excited by the dedication, compassion, and experience María brings
to
the Board at a crucial time. We are confident she will serve our mission with wisdom and grace.
Please join me in congratulating our friend María, and thanking her
service
to our movement.
Patricio
-- _______________________________________________ Wikimedia-l mailing list, guidelines at: https://meta.wikimedia.org/wiki/Mailing_lists/Guidelines New messages to: Wikimedia-l@lists.wikimedia.org Unsubscribe: https://lists.wikimedia.org/mailman/listinfo/wikimedia-l, mailto:wikimedia-l-request@lists.wikimedia.org?subject=unsubscribe
Wikimedia-l mailing list, guidelines at: https://meta.wikimedia.org/wiki/Mailing_lists/Guidelines New messages to: Wikimedia-l@lists.wikimedia.org Unsubscribe: https://lists.wikimedia.org/mailman/listinfo/wikimedia-l, mailto:wikimedia-l-request@lists.wikimedia.org?subject=unsubscribe
Patricio writes:
"*we **have important issues to address in the near future.*"
Does that mean:
"So, we don't want to be disturbed by maybe another 'asking the wrong questions'-guy we again have then to get rid of in the process by "losing trust in him". We'll better stick to people from who we already know that they will "function" in the current system"?
2016-01-29 16:27 GMT+01:00 Patricio Lorente patricio.lorente@gmail.com:
Dear all,
I am happy to announce the Board intends to fill the open community Trustee seat at our meeting this weekend. On Saturday, María Sefidari will accept an appointment to the Board of Trustees, stepping into the third community-nominated seat. The appointment will last the remainder of the two year term, until Wikimania 2017.
Many of you know María. She previously served as a community-selected Trustee from August 2013 to July 2015. In the most recent 2015 community elections, she received the next highest support percentage, and highest number of support votes. She was born and lives in Madrid, Spain, and has been a contributor to the Wikimedia projects since 2006. She was a founding member of Spanish Wikipedia's LGBT Wikiproject, Wikimedia España, and Wikimujeres Grupo de Usuarias. She has also served on the Affiliations and Individual Engagement Grants committees. María is passionate about the role of diversity in our strategic efforts to retain and increase editorship, and improving channels for community participation in Foundation governance and policymaking.
We consulted with the 2015 Wikimedia Foundation Elections Committee before deciding how to proceed in identifying a new Trustee. They offered thoughtful feedback on the possible available options, and we’re grateful for their considerations. ( https://meta.wikimedia.org/wiki/Talk:Wikimedia_Foundation_elections_2015 < https://meta.wikimedia.org/wiki/Talk:Wikimedia_Foundation_elections_2015#201...
)
We are certain many of you are wondering why we decided against holding another election. We did consider the option, but the disadvantages outweighed the benefits. The last election was well-attended, and still quite recent. Holding a new election would take considerable time, and we have important issues to address in the near future. It was important to us that the community perspective is fully represented in these conversations, without delay. We also didn’t want to distract from the affiliate Trustee selection process, which is coming up soon.
I am excited by the dedication, compassion, and experience María brings to the Board at a crucial time. We are confident she will serve our mission with wisdom and grace.
Please join me in congratulating our friend María, and thanking her service to our movement.
Patricio
-- _______________________________________________ Wikimedia-l mailing list, guidelines at: https://meta.wikimedia.org/wiki/Mailing_lists/Guidelines New messages to: Wikimedia-l@lists.wikimedia.org Unsubscribe: https://lists.wikimedia.org/mailman/listinfo/wikimedia-l, mailto:wikimedia-l-request@lists.wikimedia.org?subject=unsubscribe
Simplest and wisest solution on both short and medium term.
Vito
Il 29/01/2016 16:27, Patricio Lorente ha scritto:
Dear all,
I am happy to announce the Board intends to fill the open community Trustee seat at our meeting this weekend. On Saturday, María Sefidari will accept an appointment to the Board of Trustees, stepping into the third community-nominated seat. The appointment will last the remainder of the two year term, until Wikimania 2017.
Many of you know María. She previously served as a community-selected Trustee from August 2013 to July 2015. In the most recent 2015 community elections, she received the next highest support percentage, and highest number of support votes. She was born and lives in Madrid, Spain, and has been a contributor to the Wikimedia projects since 2006. She was a founding member of Spanish Wikipedia's LGBT Wikiproject, Wikimedia España, and Wikimujeres Grupo de Usuarias. She has also served on the Affiliations and Individual Engagement Grants committees. María is passionate about the role of diversity in our strategic efforts to retain and increase editorship, and improving channels for community participation in Foundation governance and policymaking.
We consulted with the 2015 Wikimedia Foundation Elections Committee before deciding how to proceed in identifying a new Trustee. They offered thoughtful feedback on the possible available options, and we’re grateful for their considerations. ( https://meta.wikimedia.org/wiki/Talk:Wikimedia_Foundation_elections_2015 https://meta.wikimedia.org/wiki/Talk:Wikimedia_Foundation_elections_2015#2015_Foundation_Elections_Committee_thoughts_on_how_to_fill_the_vacancy_in_the_Board_after_the_removal_of_James_Heilman )
We are certain many of you are wondering why we decided against holding another election. We did consider the option, but the disadvantages outweighed the benefits. The last election was well-attended, and still quite recent. Holding a new election would take considerable time, and we have important issues to address in the near future. It was important to us that the community perspective is fully represented in these conversations, without delay. We also didn’t want to distract from the affiliate Trustee selection process, which is coming up soon.
I am excited by the dedication, compassion, and experience María brings to the Board at a crucial time. We are confident she will serve our mission with wisdom and grace.
Please join me in congratulating our friend María, and thanking her service to our movement.
Patricio
-- _______________________________________________ Wikimedia-l mailing list, guidelines at: https://meta.wikimedia.org/wiki/Mailing_lists/Guidelines New messages to: Wikimedia-l@lists.wikimedia.org Unsubscribe: https://lists.wikimedia.org/mailman/listinfo/wikimedia-l, mailto:wikimedia-l-request@lists.wikimedia.org?subject=unsubscribe
Congratulations, María.
In a perfect world, this seat would be confirmed with a community election. But, the circumstances as they are now, selecting her is a reasonable decision and one that I support.
The larger conversation about WMF annual plan and strategy, the Board elections and structure, and other governance issues can not be completed before an election. In my opinion the priority is robustly addressing these issues. An election happening simultaneously will negatively impact the results of all of them.
And since we now know that one (if not more) of the appointed seats will go to North Americans' with a corporate background, María's passion for diversity across the movement will be a good fit for the current Board.
The greatest concern is that some people in wikimedia movement will not accept a solution unless it gives James Heilman a way to be voted back into a seat on the Board.
While I understand and share their concern that a community elected seat can be removed without a formal arbitration process or a finding of legal incompetence or legal impropriety, I don't think an election is the correct way to find a resolution to the current situation with the existing election and governance processes.
Furthermore, James' removal from the Board has drawn greater attention to serious concern around transparency, WMF strategy, and the relationship between the WMF Board, WMF staff, and the greater wikimedia movement.
I have confidence that these conversation will continue, and that María has gained insight from the discussions. And will understand the importance of engaging the broad community to find solutions.
Thank you to the Board of Trustees for moving forward with a decision, the election committee for their assistance, and María for agreeing to return to the BoT at this turbulent time. Sydney Poore User:FloNight Sydney Poore User:FloNight Wikipedian in Residence at Cochrane Collaboration
On Fri, Jan 29, 2016 at 10:27 AM, Patricio Lorente patricio.lorente@gmail.com wrote:
Dear all,
I am happy to announce the Board intends to fill the open community Trustee seat at our meeting this weekend. On Saturday, María Sefidari will accept an appointment to the Board of Trustees, stepping into the third community-nominated seat. The appointment will last the remainder of the two year term, until Wikimania 2017.
Many of you know María. She previously served as a community-selected Trustee from August 2013 to July 2015. In the most recent 2015 community elections, she received the next highest support percentage, and highest number of support votes. She was born and lives in Madrid, Spain, and has been a contributor to the Wikimedia projects since 2006. She was a founding member of Spanish Wikipedia's LGBT Wikiproject, Wikimedia España, and Wikimujeres Grupo de Usuarias. She has also served on the Affiliations and Individual Engagement Grants committees. María is passionate about the role of diversity in our strategic efforts to retain and increase editorship, and improving channels for community participation in Foundation governance and policymaking.
We consulted with the 2015 Wikimedia Foundation Elections Committee before deciding how to proceed in identifying a new Trustee. They offered thoughtful feedback on the possible available options, and we’re grateful for their considerations. ( https://meta.wikimedia.org/wiki/Talk:Wikimedia_Foundation_elections_2015 https://meta.wikimedia.org/wiki/Talk:Wikimedia_Foundation_elections_2015#2015_Foundation_Elections_Committee_thoughts_on_how_to_fill_the_vacancy_in_the_Board_after_the_removal_of_James_Heilman )
We are certain many of you are wondering why we decided against holding another election. We did consider the option, but the disadvantages outweighed the benefits. The last election was well-attended, and still quite recent. Holding a new election would take considerable time, and we have important issues to address in the near future. It was important to us that the community perspective is fully represented in these conversations, without delay. We also didn’t want to distract from the affiliate Trustee selection process, which is coming up soon.
I am excited by the dedication, compassion, and experience María brings to the Board at a crucial time. We are confident she will serve our mission with wisdom and grace.
Please join me in congratulating our friend María, and thanking her service to our movement.
Patricio
-- _______________________________________________ Wikimedia-l mailing list, guidelines at: https://meta.wikimedia.org/wiki/Mailing_lists/Guidelines New messages to: Wikimedia-l@lists.wikimedia.org Unsubscribe: https://lists.wikimedia.org/mailman/listinfo/wikimedia-l, mailto:wikimedia-l-request@lists.wikimedia.org?subject=unsubscribe
Felicidades, María!!
It's refreshing to see you back as a member of the Board. The movement needs your wisdom, experience, clarity and attitude!! <3
M.
El 29/01/2016 a las 05:27 p.m., Patricio Lorente escribió:
Dear all,
I am happy to announce the Board intends to fill the open community Trustee seat at our meeting this weekend. On Saturday, María Sefidari will accept an appointment to the Board of Trustees, stepping into the third community-nominated seat. The appointment will last the remainder of the two year term, until Wikimania 2017.
Many of you know María. She previously served as a community-selected Trustee from August 2013 to July 2015. In the most recent 2015 community elections, she received the next highest support percentage, and highest number of support votes. She was born and lives in Madrid, Spain, and has been a contributor to the Wikimedia projects since 2006. She was a founding member of Spanish Wikipedia's LGBT Wikiproject, Wikimedia España, and Wikimujeres Grupo de Usuarias. She has also served on the Affiliations and Individual Engagement Grants committees. María is passionate about the role of diversity in our strategic efforts to retain and increase editorship, and improving channels for community participation in Foundation governance and policymaking.
We consulted with the 2015 Wikimedia Foundation Elections Committee before deciding how to proceed in identifying a new Trustee. They offered thoughtful feedback on the possible available options, and we’re grateful for their considerations. ( https://meta.wikimedia.org/wiki/Talk:Wikimedia_Foundation_elections_2015 https://meta.wikimedia.org/wiki/Talk:Wikimedia_Foundation_elections_2015#2015_Foundation_Elections_Committee_thoughts_on_how_to_fill_the_vacancy_in_the_Board_after_the_removal_of_James_Heilman )
We are certain many of you are wondering why we decided against holding another election. We did consider the option, but the disadvantages outweighed the benefits. The last election was well-attended, and still quite recent. Holding a new election would take considerable time, and we have important issues to address in the near future. It was important to us that the community perspective is fully represented in these conversations, without delay. We also didn’t want to distract from the affiliate Trustee selection process, which is coming up soon.
I am excited by the dedication, compassion, and experience María brings to the Board at a crucial time. We are confident she will serve our mission with wisdom and grace.
Please join me in congratulating our friend María, and thanking her service to our movement.
Patricio
-- _______________________________________________ Wikimedia-l mailing list, guidelines at: https://meta.wikimedia.org/wiki/Mailing_lists/Guidelines New messages to: Wikimedia-l@lists.wikimedia.org Unsubscribe: https://lists.wikimedia.org/mailman/listinfo/wikimedia-l, mailto:wikimedia-l-request@lists.wikimedia.org?subject=unsubscribe
wikimedia-l@lists.wikimedia.org