Ni!

(please don't forget to "reply to all" if appropriate)

Dear members of ChapCom,

We are delighted to hear from you.

Our community was getting ready to contact you, awaiting the conclusion of the discussion over the new Chapter Agreement, which we are following closely.

But since you have come forward ahead of us, let's seize the day!

It runs strongly among us that there is no reason to form a legal entity in Brazil right now. We were confident and transparent on that during the Chapters Meeting, reflecting the position of our community as a whole, which remains adamant.

In fact, given our main concern was the broader community's reception to our choices, the few volunteers who were still considering incorporation have changed their minds after the enthusiastic input we had during the Chapters Meeting from both the chapters and the foundation.

To remind, there we presented[1] our first Chapter Report[2] and discussed the idea of a Statement of Principles[3], which would replace the role of a Bylaws in our case. We have, since, fully translated our statement into English[3].

The essential idea is that our community manages relationships and a set of values and principles, which by themselves work towards achieving the goals of a regular chapter through the action of autonomous volunteers.

And the essential observation is that our Chapter Report reveals how well this is already working in practice. (Though we excuse ourselves for using the term 'non-chapter' in the report, which was mostly due to the heat of some arguments among us).

Our understanding is that we might be in a particular situation of our country and the community willing to foster the foundation's goals here.

But it also might be an interesting perspective for other communities where similar passions and difficulties arise. We heard from many that India is quite similar in that respect.

To be clear, we understand our community as a functional Chapter.

Only it is supported by an open social movement instead of an incorporated organization - and we are aware these terms imply a different agreement on trademark use, one without a capital "A".

In that spirit, we do not consider our request so much outside the scope of the Chapters Committee, and encourage you to participate.

We kindly invite all members of the Chapters Committee to read our Statement of Principles[3], and share your comments and ideas with us.

All your observations will be forwarded unedited to the Foundation, unless requested not to, once we start discussing this possibility of becoming a Chapter.

[1] http://meta.wikimedia.org/wiki/Chapters_meeting_2009/Preparation/Wikimedia_B...

[2] http://meta.wikimedia.org/wiki/Wikimedia_Brasil/Chapter_Report_2008

[3] http://meta.wikimedia.org/wiki/Wikimedia_Brasil/Statement_of_Principles

Well, this is already a very long e-mail already =)

Let's hear from you now!

(please don't forget to "reply to all" if appropriate)

Best wishes to everyone,

ale, thomas, nevinho and other volunteers for the brazilian chapter http://meta.wikimedia.org/wiki/Wikimedia_Brasil/en ~~

On Wed, 2009-05-13 at 05:44 +0200, Anders Wennersten wrote:

The requirements for future chapters state that "The chapter must have a legal structure/corporation that is legally independent from the Wikimedia Foundation." as well as the Guidelines for future chapters, which outline in greater detail the form of the legal structure every chapter is supposed to create.

The preparation team of Wikimedia Brasil has Not formed a legal entity and you have, after the approval process, stated that you do not plan to do so

The team of Wikimedia Brasil has thus not been able to sign a Chapters Agreement and it will not be possible for you to do so in the absence of a legal entity.

At the Chapter meetup in Berlin, Austin raised this major concern with you, but we have not received any input from you indicating a wish and a plan to form a legal entity.

We in ChapCom are now in the process of considering to recommend the Board that the recognition as official chapter of Wikimedia Brasil is rescinded and that the interim permission to use Wikimedia trademarks pending signature of a Chapters Agreement be revoked.

We send this mail to the team of Wikimedia Brasil, in order for you to give us any relevant feedback before we go ahead, where of course the important.piece of information would be that you are reconsidering your position re having a legal entity and have plans to form one.

We would like an answer from you before May 18th.

If you keep your current set up, there are still possibilities for you to have support and some type of recognition, even if you will not be a chapter. If you want to discuss these options please contact Cary Bass cary@wikimedia.org directly as these alternatives are outside the scope of ChapCom

Anders Wennersten ChapCom