HI,

On 7 September 2014 11:38, Pradeep Mohandas <pradeep.mohandas@gmail.com> wrote:

I meant that the SIG system is similar to the User Group system. In the SIG affiliation is to the Chapter and in the User Group, the affiliation is to WMF directly.

The need for direct affiliation is felt because the Chapter does not seem to be democratic (as you call it). Otherwise, the SIG would be a useful model to have.

Whether you acknowledge it or not, the Chapter is the democratically elected body {by, of, for} the community and as long as it has such a structure there is always scope to improve. The SIG will function well as long as it works from within the chapter instead of trying to bypass the chapter. User groups and SIG are not the same as they have different functions. User groups are generic and can accommodate everybody whereas Special Interest Groups have special interests as the name says. So the user group and SIG activities should flow into the Chapter activities rather than try to divorce each from the other. This democratic structure and functioning has worked well for FSMK, FSFTN, Swecha, FSMM and other bodies affiliated to FSMI.

Regards

Vikram