Dear all

Last Friday, emails were sent to all current members of Wikimedia UK regarding our upcoming AGM, which will take place on Saturday 18th July 2020 online. Details of what video conferencing platform we'll be using will be sent with next month's email, so please be sure to sign up on Eventbrite to book your ticket.

Volunteers who aren't members are also welcome at this event, although we would encourage you to become a member (for only £5 a year) to enable you to participate fully in the day. If you believe that you are a member but did not receive a message this morning, please email me at membership@wikimedia.org.uk.

Below is a copy of what members were sent. Please note that the full agenda will be sent out next month, but that we are envisaging the event will start at 11am and finish at 3.30pm, with the AGM itself taking place 2 - 3pm.

About the day

Although we will be meeting virtually rather than in person, we are hoping to make the day as interactive as possible - packed with interesting presentations and discussion, and maybe even some fun activities! 

We will be talking about and encouraging feedback on some big changes in the global Wikimedia movement - such as implementing the 2030 strategy and rebranding Wikimedia - and inviting lightning talks from members and volunteers. If you would like to give a short presentation about your work as part of our lightning talks session, please contact Sara at sara.thomas@wikimedia.org.uk. 

Next month we will be inviting nominations for Wikimedian and Partner of the Year, awards which recognise people and institutions that have made a particularly significant contribution to Wikimedia over the past year.

AGM and elections

In the afternoon we will hold the official Annual General Meeting prior to the presentation of awards. The AGM will include reports from the Chair, Treasurer and Chief Executive, and an opportunity for questions on reports or other relevant issues.

There are three trustee vacancies at this year’s AGM, with two existing trustees likely to stand again. Members are warmly encouraged to stand for the board, and we are particularly keen to hear from potential candidates from traditionally underrepresented groups, such as those with protected characteristics as defined by the Equality Act. We will share more details of how to stand for election next month, but in the meantime you can find out more about the Wikimedia UK board here.

Wikimedia UK’s Articles of Association do not currently allow us to have an online vote, so all voting will be by proxy for this year’s trustee elections. Candidate statements will go up on our Wiki as usual, but as proxy voting closes 48 hours before the AGM we want to highlight the opportunity to ask candidates questions, which you can do so by editing this page or by emailing us.

Board and members resolutions

The board is proposing ordinary resolutions which are on our wiki here. This year there will also be special resolutions to allow online voting and electronic voting packs for future AGMs. The text of these resolutions will be published on wiki as soon as possible. 

Members are also entitled to propose resolutions for consideration at the AGM. Any member who wishes to do so must let us know, with a copy of the suggested text, by Monday 8th June. The text may either be sent by email to the charity at info@wikimedia.org.uk or may be posted online at https://wikimedia.org.uk/wiki/2020_Annual_General_Meeting/Resolutions

Anyone who wants to attend must register in advance, so please sign up on the Eventbrite page. Please note that you must register for the AGM on Eventbrite rather than on wiki as we need your full name, not Wikimedia user name, and we’ll be sending out video conference links to all Eventbrite attendees closer to the event.

If you have any questions or more general comments, please do get in touch with me on this email, or on membership@wikimedia.org.uk.

Best wishes

Katie

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Katie Crampton

Communications & Governance Assistant

Wikimedia UK

+44 (0)203 372 0761

Wikimedia UK is the national chapter for the global Wikimedia open knowledge movement. We rely on donations from individuals to support our work to make knowledge open for all. Have you considered supporting Wikimedia? https://donate.wikimedia.org.uk

Wikimedia UK is a Company Limited by Guarantee registered in England and Wales, Registered No. 6741827. Registered Charity No.1144513. Registered Office Ground Floor, Europoint, 5 - 11 Lavington Street, London SE1 0NZ. 

Wikimedia UK is the UK chapter of a global Wikimedia movement. The Wikimedia projects are run by the Wikimedia Foundation (who operate Wikipedia, amongst other projects). 

Wikimedia UK is an independent non-profit charity with no legal control over Wikipedia nor responsibility for its contents.