Dear all

I do hope that you can join us for Wikimedia UK’s Annual General Meeting (AGM) on Saturday 10th July 2021. After a successful online AGM in July 2020 we’re holding it over Zoom again this year; although we are hoping to be able to hold some in person events for volunteers and members later in the year.

Sign up to attend

Anyone who wants to attend must register in advance, so please sign up on the Eventbrite page here https://www.eventbrite.co.uk/e/wikimedia-uks-2021-agm-tickets-157215827773 with your full name (not Wikimedia user name). We will only be sending the Zoom link to registered attendees.

Programme

The day will start at 11am and close at 3pm - with a break for lunch (and/or informal networking) - and feature our usual mix of keynote speakers, talks, awards and of course the AGM itself. This will include reports from the Chair, Treasurer and Chief Executive, and an opportunity to ask the board and executive questions about the charity’s work.

If you would like to give a lightning talk, please contact Karla at karla.marte@wikimedia.org.uk with a brief description of what you would like to talk about.

Resolutions

The board is proposing ordinary resolutions which are on our wiki here https://wikimedia.org.uk/wiki/2021_Annual_General_Meeting/Resolutions. Members are also very welcome to propose resolutions for consideration at the AGM. A resolution could be about a change to Wikimedia UK’s governing document (our Articles of Association) or a change to our policies, or ways of working. Any member who wishes to do so must let us know, with some suggested text (although we can work on this with you), by Thursday 3rd June. The text may either be sent by email to the charity at info@wikimedia.org.uk or may be posted on the wiki https://wikimedia.org.uk/wiki/2021_Annual_General_Meeting/Resolutions.

Trustee elections

This year we will have three vacancies for elected trustees, with two board members having to retire in accordance with our articles, and one who has come to the end of their current elected term but has indicated that they will stand again. I would like to strongly encourage community members to consider standing for election this year and look out for details of how to stand, which will be circulated early next week.

Alongside community experience, we would be keen for people to stand with skills and experience external relations, charity law, governance or the cultural sector. However this is not essential. What is more important is a commitment to open knowledge and the work of Wikimedia UK, and a willingness to take on the responsibility of being a charity trustee and board director of a limited company. There is more information about what this means here https://www.gov.uk/government/publications/the-essential-trustee-what-you-need-to-know-cc3#:~:text=Charity%20trustees%20are%20the%20people,what%20trustees%20do .

We strongly value diversity in Wikimedia UK's board of trustees and this year, would particularly encourage younger people (aged under 40) to stand.

Membership

You don’t have to be a member of the charity to attend the online AGM and Community Day. However, you do need to be a member to be able to vote for trustees and resolutions or to be able to stand for election to the board. Membership costs only £5 a year and takes a few minutes to apply for here https://wikimedia.org.uk/wiki/Membership.

If you have any questions or more general comments, please do get in touch with me or Katie.

With best wishes

Lucy