Hi all,
I hope that the Indian community members are aware of the turmoil in the
community which has arisen from the entire process of rebranding initiative
of WMF and its recent updates. I hope many of you have noticed the RfC
<https://meta.wikimedia.org/wiki/Requests_for_comment/Should_the_Foundation_call_itself_Wikipedia>,
brand name proposal
<https://meta.wikimedia.org/wiki/Communications/Wikimedia_brands/2030_movement_brand_project/Naming_convention_proposals>
etc and the widespread opposition this process faced due to several valid
reasons, which were largely ignored in the process. Recently, I guess, all
affiliate contacts got a closed survey link to choose from three
''Wikipedia'' variants as the future brand.
Yesterday, the head of Communications department of WMF published an Executive
statement,
<https://meta.wikimedia.org/wiki/Communications/Wikimedia_brands/2030_movement_brand_project/Executive_statement>
where she said the decision of rebranding was already made by the WMF
board. If that is true, the community and affiliates do not have the option
to discuss the necessity of the process or stop the process by raising
their valid concerns.
In this current situation, affiliates are meeting on an emergency basis to
discuss about what is happening and the next course of action from
bottom-up. Details of the meeting can be found here.
<https://meta.wikimedia.org/wiki/All-Affiliates_Brand_Meeting>
1st call: 21st January, 2020, 8:30 am IST
2nd call: 22nd January, 2020, 00:30 am IST
All affiliates from India are requested to send at least one contact person
or representative to join the meeting.
Regards,
Bodhisattwa
(As a *Wikimedia* *volunteer*)
[P.S. - This post is only for information about the meeting. I do not have
any link with the brand team and the process or WMF.]