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(a)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 &lt;patricio.lorente(a)gmail.com&gt;om>: Trustee founding and role governance before https://meta.wikimedia.org/wiki/Talk:Wikimedia_Foundation_elections_2015#20… us conversations, to service https://meta.wikimedia.org/wiki/Mailing_lists/Guidelines <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(a)lists.wikimedia.org Unsubscribe: https://lists.wikimedia.org/mailman/listinfo/wikimedia-l, <mailto:wikimedia-l-request@lists.wikimedia.org?subject=unsubscribe>

Le 29 janv. 2016 à 16:27, Patricio Lorente &lt;patricio.lorente(a)gmail.com&gt; 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(a)lists.wikimedia.org Unsubscribe: https://lists.wikimedia.org/mailman/listinfo/wikimedia-l, <mailto:wikimedia-l-request@lists.wikimedia.org?subject=unsubscribe>

:

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#20… ) 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(a)lists.wikimedia.org Unsubscribe: https://lists.wikimedia.org/mailman/listinfo/wikimedia-l, <mailto:wikimedia-l-request@lists.wikimedia.org?subject=unsubscribe>

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#20… ) 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(a)lists.wikimedia.org Unsubscribe: https://lists.wikimedia.org/mailman/listinfo/wikimedia-l, <mailto:wikimedia-l-request@lists.wikimedia.org?subject=unsubscribe>

The diversity inside the Board gets many benefits with this appointment.

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.

On Fri, Jan 29, 2016 at 11:43 AM, Milos Rancic &lt;millosh(a)gmail.com&gt; wrote: 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(a)lists.wikimedia.org Unsubscribe: https://lists.wikimedia.org/mailman/listinfo/wikimedia-l, <mailto:wikimedia-l-request@lists.wikimedia.org?subject=unsubscribe>

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(a)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 &lt;putevod(a)mccme.ru&gt; wrote: 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(a)lists.wikimedia.org Unsubscribe: https://lists.wikimedia.org/mailman/listinfo/wikimedia-l, <mailto:wikimedia-l-request@lists.wikimedia.org?subject=unsubscribe>

From: mardetanha.wiki(a)gmail.com Date: Fri, 29 Jan 2016 20:33:46 +0330 To: darekj(a)alk.edu.pl; wikimedia-l(a)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 &lt;darekj(a)alk.edu.pl&gt; wrote: _______________________________________________ Wikimedia-l mailing list, guidelines at: https://meta.wikimedia.org/wiki/Mailing_lists/Guidelines New messages to: Wikimedia-l(a)lists.wikimedia.org Unsubscribe: https://lists.wikimedia.org/mailman/listinfo/wikimedia-l, <mailto:wikimedia-l-request@lists.wikimedia.org?subject=unsubscribe>

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

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(a)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

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?

On 01/30/2016 07:19 AM, Risker wrote: How 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_di… Mike _______________________________________________ Wikimedia-l mailing list, guidelines at: https://meta.wikimedia.org/wiki/Mailing_lists/Guidelines New messages to: Wikimedia-l(a)lists.wikimedia.org Unsubscribe: https://lists.wikimedia.org/mailman/listinfo/wikimedia-l, <mailto:wikimedia-l-request@lists.wikimedia.org?subject=unsubscribe>