Hi Ashwin, Achal, Gautam, Pranav, Ravi, Sundar,HPN, Yogesh and any others
whom I may have missed inadvertently and all other members and Community
Thanks very much for your response to the communication. I appreciate
your words of appreciation regarding Chapter accomplishments and the
contribution of EC members. Whatever was achieved is a team effort not
just that of EC, but the extended leadership team of the Chapter and the
support received from members, Donors, WMF. On behalf of Chapter EC, I
would like to thank everyone for the same.
I would like to address some of the questions raised in response briefly
in my individual capacity as EC member with regard to my decision to step
down from the EC.
When I started editing Telugu Wikipedia in 2007, I did not even think in my
dream about my future involvement with the movement. It is just my love
for improving the computing in my mother tongue that drove me to
Wikipedia, the mailing lists and subsequently to a chance meeting with
Jimmy and others including Achal in Dec 2008. Having had prior experience
of serving in IEEE in different roles, I felt very much the need for a
national chapter and thought of volunteering for the initial team. Though
I was not keen for an EC role, it is just the situations that developed one
after another that pushed me into more active role. I tried to do justice
to my role during the founding of Chapter and subsequently. Thanks to the
support that was extended by one and all, I am satisfied about what was
achieved. Personally, it has been a great learning experience for me in
Wikimedia, which I consider to be unique in the world (remember the quest
for Heritage tag!) on several fronts whether it is technology, planning
and execution, communication, government and other stake holder interfaces
and organisational matters
Coming to the question of my decision to step down at this time, I fully
believe that this is the right thing to do as the Chapter's boot strapping
is complete in my view and is ready for next phase of growth. In any
membership based Societies, AGM and Elections that coincide with it are
the major event at which leadership transition takes place. It allows for
the new leadership to take responsibility for the society and work towards
growing the organisation for the next year.
As you all know the AGM is scheduled for Sep 23, 2012 and a new EC will
take charge in 2-4 weeks from that date, which is mid Oct. As the two
year term as per Byelaws ends on Jan 2, there will be very little that I
can contribute by continuing to be on the EC for couple of months.
We have put in place several of the operational policies and rhythms for
chapter. I along with rest of the EC will be offering our support in
inducting the new EC. l will be happy to be of help, if the revised EC
requires any help from my side subsequently to the best of my ability and
any constraints.
Some of you may remember that there were questions about EC stepping down
at the last year's Elections. While some of you may want EC members to
continue, others may want to see a change. It is only natural that each EC
member has to decide for himself when to step down subject to the larger
Byelaws and his/her own constraints and commitments towards the Wikimedia
cause and others. Let me remind that even the term of 2 years that was put
in Byelaws is a compromise between one year and three years, the other
choices thrown up during the Byelaw drafting discussions. What Byelaws says
is all theory and from the past 1 year 7 months of experience, we know a
bit about what works and what does not in Wikimedia. May be the future EC
will change the Byelaws to make it even better. Change for improvement is
what keeps any organism/organisation ticking. I am fully confident that
necessary leadership will emerge and after another year from now, we will
be celebrating many more accomplishments that we all can be proud of.
I am not sure whether I answered all your questions. There is a plan for
IRC on next Monday, which I will be joining the same and will be happy to
answer questions from members and community.
Once again, thanks every one for the opportunity to be part of this great
movement which I will continue to be associated.
Best regards
Arjuna Rao Chavala
On Wed, Jul 25, 2012 at 5:04 PM, Arjuna Rao Chavala <arjunaraoc(a)gmail.com>wrote;wrote:
Sorry, Here is a better readable version after fixing
layout.. Arjuna
Communication on Chapter Accomplishments and EC vacancies
Dear Members & Wikimedia India Community,
Greetings from EC.
As we are getting started for this year's AGM and Elections, here is a
summary of the Chapter accomplishments from the time of last AGM and also
update on the EC vacancies.
Accomplishments since last AGM Statutory
- Last AGM was conducted on 24 Sep 2011. All statutory reports were
filed with Registrar of Societies and Income Tax Department.
- Chapter applied for FCRA prior permission and obtained the same.
This gave financial stability to the Chapter with no additional government
applications required for 3 years.
- TAN was obtained, which is required for complying with Income Tax
when making payments to Consultants, any future staff etc.
Finances
- Bank accounts for FCRA was set up with SBI
- Online operation of Bank account was put in place.
Communication
- Press page and kit were prepared.
- Updates and Interaction with members, community, WMF and other
stakeholders were maintained using various mechanisms.
- Wikimedia India site is revamped with portal for all Wikimedia India
sites and Wiki project sites, advanced search facility, which was well
received.
Membership
- Chapter membership reached a high of 197 at the end of Financial
year 2011-12
- There were 39 renewals and 61 new applications adding up to a total
current year membership of 100 as of 18 Jul 2012.
Projects and Events
- Chapter co-hosted first national WikiConference India 2011 and
helped in organizing it successfully.
- Chapter supported over 15 Wiki Academies at colleges and other
institutions in India from Sep 2011 till March 2012 initiating around 600
people into Wiki editing
- Coordinated the conduct of Wiki Academies along with India programs
as relevant.
- Kick started Wiki Loves Monuments 2012.
- Community meetups, Indian Langauge Wiki Anniversary events were
conducted with help of City/Language SIGs across India.
- Supported WikiSangamotsav Malayalam Wiki Conf and Wiki Eleven
Celebrations at several places, Anniversary of Assamese and Kannada
Wikipedia were some of the prominent events.
Governance.
- Chapter had a smooth induction of new EC members, revamped the
structure and assigned the responsibilities to support further growth.
- CIS support for using their office as Chapter Address has been
extended till end of FY 2012-13
- Consultant, Auditor are appointed and have been offering their
services for smooth conduct of chapter operations
- Special Interest group for Language and Cities were created.
- Special Projects team was formed for GLAM
- Teams for Administration,Fundraising,Communications were started
- MoU with Crafts Museum for GLAM project..
- Policies for conduct of chapter operations, elections, funding have
been put in place. Wiki is used effectively as the knowledge repository for
the Chapter operations.
*As you can see from the above, Chapter bootstrapping is completed and it
now ready for the next phase of growth.*
EC Vacancies
From the present EC, the following members (in alphabetical order of their
first names) have decided to step down from EC after the upcoming AGM.
- Arjuna Rao Chavala
- Arun Ramarathnam
- Naveen Francis
- Srinivas Gunta
- Tinu Cherian
Anirudh Singh Bhati and Sudhanwa Jogalekar will continue on the EC.
Further Anirudh will be continuing till his term ends, i.e Jan 2, 2013.
All the EC members who are stepping down will continue to perform their
roles till a revised EC is put in place following the Elections for EC.
We thank you for your support over the past few years and would request
you to continue the same to grow Wikimedia movement.
Regards
On behalf of Wikimedia Chapter Executive committee
Arjuna Rao Chavala
President
On Wed, Jul 25, 2012 at 4:57 PM, Arjuna Rao Chavala <arjunaraoc(a)gmail.com>wrote;wrote:
Communication on Chapter Accomplishments and EC
vacancies
Dear Members & Wikimedia India Community,
Greetings from EC.
As we are getting started for this year's AGM and Elections, here is a
summary of the Chapter accomplishments from the time of last AGM and also
update on the EC vacancies.
Accomplishments since last AGM Statutory
Last AGM was conducted on 24 Sep 2011. All statutory reports were filed
with Registrar of Societies and Income Tax Department. Chapter applied for
FCRA prior permission and obtained the same. This gave financial stability
to the Chapter with no additional government applications required for 3
years. TAN was obtained, which is required for complying with Income Tax
when making payments to Consultants, any future staff etc.
Finances
Bank accounts for FCRA was set up with SBI Online operation of Bank
account was put in place.
Communication
Press page and kit were prepared. Updates and Interaction with members,
community, WMF and other stakeholders were maintained using various
mechanisms. Wikimedia India site is revamped with portal for all Wikimedia
India sites and Wiki project sites, advanced search facility, which was
well received.
Membership
Chapter membership reached a high of 197 at the end of Financial year
2011-12 There were 39 renewals and 61 new applications adding up to a total
current year membership of 100 as of 18 Jul 2012.
Projects and Events
Chapter co-hosted first national WikiConference India 2011 and helped in
organizing it successfully. Chapter supported over 15 Wiki Academies at
colleges and other institutions in India from Sep 2011 till March 2012
initiating around 600 people into Wiki editing Coordinated the conduct of
Wiki Academies along with India programs as relevant. Kick started Wiki
Loves Monuments 2012. Community meetups, Indian Langauge Wiki Anniversary
events were conducted with help of City/Language SIGs across India.
Supported WikiSangamotsav Malayalam Wiki Conf and Wiki Eleven Celebrations
at several places, Anniversary of Assamese and Kannada Wikipedia were some
of the prominent events.
Governance.
Chapter had a smooth induction of new EC members, revamped the structure
and assigned the responsibilities to support further growth. CIS support
for using their office as Chapter Address has been extended till end of FY
2012-13 Consultant, Auditor are appointed and have been offering their
services for smooth conduct of chapter operations Special Interest group
for Language and Cities were created. Special Projects team was formed for
GLAM Teams for Administration,Fundraising,Communications were started MoU
with Crafts Museum for GLAM project.. Policies for conduct of chapter
operations, elections, funding have been put in place. Wiki is used
effectively as the knowledge repository for the Chapter operations.
*As you can see from the above, Chapter bootstrapping is completed and
it now ready for the next phase of growth.*
EC Vacancies
From the present EC, the following members (in alphabetical order of
their first names) have decided to step down from EC after the upcoming
AGM.
- Arjuna Rao Chavala
- Arun Ramarathnam
- Naveen Francis
- Srinivas Gunta
- Tinu Cherian
Anirudh Singh Bhati and Sudhanwa Jogalekar will continue on the EC.
Further Anirudh will be continuing till his term ends, i.e Jan 2, 2013.
All the EC members who are stepping down will continue to perform their
roles till a revised EC is put in place following the Elections for EC.
We thank you for your support over the past few years and would request
you to continue the same to grow Wikimedia movement.
Regards
On behalf of Wikimedia Chapter Executive committee
Arjuna Rao Chavala
President