2008/8/28 Alison Wheeler wikimedia@alisonwheeler.com:
On Thu, August 28, 2008 00:39, Thomas Dalton wrote:
But you need to inform more people than just the members, don't you,
No. See the Articles of Association.
I'm not talking about your legal duty to the membership of the company, I'm talking about your moral duty to the Wikimedia community in the UK.
since you haven't been accepting membership applications previously?
We have *never* not accepted applications at any time since the founding of the organisation. All applications have been considered (though, I will note, there have been remarkably few)
Your website says you need to be a supporting member to be a guarantor member, you've only recently said that's not true, and you have not been accepting applications for supporting membership.
What do you mean by "if required status"? Notice of an AGM is always required...
Now you are just being obtuse. "If required" in that "if we find the only possible date is within the required timescale are you (ie the member) ok with that". Of course notice is required, ffs!
I don't understand you. Giving notice of a meeting involves saying when and where the meeting is going to take place. If you haven't decided that, then you can't have given notice. Do you actually mean that you've requested permission to hold the AGM without giving notice?
Fair enough. Perhaps it would help if you answered my question about what details are required, then.
Asked and answered.
No, you haven't. What you've said on the subject is:
"Whilst it is highly possible that the present Directors will agree to set aside some part of the notice periods it would clearly not be acceptable for candidates to be 'sprung' on members at the last minute. Could those considering standing, therefore, please make themselves known to myself in order that all may be informed.
It would also probably be of use to members if such possible candidates gave some detail as to their experience and capabilities for the task of being a Company Director, eg. appropriate qualifications, other directorships, etc., alongside age and background / involvement with WMF and the projects."
That does not include a list of required details. I expect, at a minimum, you require name, address and date of birth. Is there anything else?
Also, I object to the word "possible", since I interpret it as meaning you may not nominate certain candidates - if you do not nominate any candidate that requests it then you will be taking advantage of your incompetence regarding membership applications.
I, in turn, strongly object to your use of "incompetence" when there has been none. The WMUK website had a notice asking for parties interested in the position of Director of Membership to contact the Board, but no suitable candidates were forthcoming (which, I note, included those recent applicants for membership). "Possible" in that at present the applications received have not be formally accepted by the Board so those individuals cannot currently be anything but 'possible'. As regards nominations, it isn't for me or the Board to make nominations (again see Articles of Association) however the Board *may* be prepared to recommend suitable candidates *if* it believes that would be in the best interests of the Company and its objects, however this has not yet been discussed by the Board and I am only making my own suggestion here.
The company has existed for over 2 years and still doesn't even have a bank account. I can see no explanation for that other than incompetence. I don't give a damn what the board believes. If you had accepted applications far enough in advance, people could have stood without your approval. Due to your incompetence, you have not accepted such applications, therefore there is no option but for you to approve them. If you take advantage of that to avoid giving the community the control that they are meant to have over the chapter, then I am confident the WMF will take the appropriate action.