Hi all,
Wikimedia Ireland are currently working on writing their bylaws - see below. Although Irish law is, of course, different from UK law, I'm forwarding this in case anyone here has the time and interest to have a look through and give them some helpful suggestions.
Thanks, Mike
Begin forwarded message:
From: Wikimedia Ireland wikimediaireland@gmail.com Date: 22 November 2015 at 05:41:37 GMT-8 To: wikimediaie@lists.wikimedia.org Subject: [Wikimedia IE] Bylaws Consultation-2 weeks left
Irish Wikimedians,
There are under 2 weeks left in the consultation period for the bylaws for the chapter. We would like input from as many people as possible.
Have a look at the bylaws here https://meta.wikimedia.org/wiki/Wikimedia_Community_Ireland_Bylaws and comment on the discussion page.
-- Shannon Eichelberger, Chair
Wikimedia Community Ireland
Online: Wikimedia Community Ireland http://meta.wikimedia.org/wiki/Wikimedia_Community_Ireland On Twitter: @WikimediaIE https://twitter.com/WikimediaIE_______________________________________________ WikimediaIE mailing list WikimediaIE@lists.wikimedia.org https://lists.wikimedia.org/mailman/listinfo/wikimediaie
On 23/11/15 02:41, Michael Peel wrote:
Wikimedia Ireland are currently working on writing their bylaws - see below. Although Irish law is, of course, different from UK law, I'm forwarding this in case anyone here has the time and interest to have a look through and give them some helpful suggestions.
ARTICLE 1
The association is called "Wikimedia Ireland". Alternative names are "Wikimedia IE" or the abbreviations "WM IE", "WMIE", and these translated names "Wikimedia Éireann"....
****
Looks like they are on the case, and will not need to change their (cf. WMUK)....
Gordo
I d find the following a little challenging if I understand the text correctly :
art 5 suggests one cannot be member easy by paying membership fee.
If such a high membership fee is voted for there is some risk to become a rather elitarian club disconnected from volunteers usually not prepared to pay a huge sum additional to donating their free time.
Excluding members is rather difficult.
There is no restriction on number of reelection to the board.
It seems to be OK to be on the board and employed
Rupert On 23/11/15 02:41, Michael Peel wrote:
Wikimedia Ireland are currently working on writing their bylaws - see below. Although Irish law is, of course, different from UK law, I'm forwarding this in case anyone here has the time and interest to have a look through and give them some helpful suggestions.
ARTICLE 1
The association is called "Wikimedia Ireland". Alternative names are "Wikimedia IE" or the abbreviations "WM IE", "WMIE", and these translated names "Wikimedia Éireann"....
****
Looks like they are on the case, and will not need to change their (cf. WMUK)....
Gordo
_______________________________________________ Wikimedia UK mailing list wikimediauk-l@wikimedia.org https://lists.wikimedia.org/mailman/listinfo/wikimediauk-l WMUK: https://wikimedia.org.uk
I made one comment on the wiki page. As Mike points out Irish law will be different (to the UK). And also, we assume, the standard templates for charities and companies will also differ.
https://meta.wikimedia.org/wiki/Wikimedia_Community_Ireland_Bylaws
Gordo
Hi Rupert,
Thank you for your comments. I will attempt to address all of them.
Membership fee-This was addressed on the discussion page https://meta.wikimedia.org/wiki/Talk:Wikimedia_Community_Ireland_Bylaws. The amount of €1200 is the *maximum*. We have not decided on a membership fee as of yet, but we will strive to make it inculsive.
Excluding members-this was purposely made difficult. We are a small country with a correspondingly small member base. We don't want minor disagreements derailing the group.
Re-election to board-again, due to our small size this is the best way to ensure we have a consistent board. If we grow large enough, this can be amended in the future.
Board member/employee-again, due to our small size at the moment this accommodation was made. As we grow, it can be amended.
I hope this answers all your concerns. Please feel free to contact us again with any further concerns, or ideally put them on the bylaws discussion page.
Cheers, Shannon Eichelberger, Chair
On Mon, Nov 23, 2015 at 5:19 PM, rupert THURNER rupert.thurner@gmail.com wrote:
I d find the following a little challenging if I understand the text correctly :
art 5 suggests one cannot be member easy by paying membership fee.
If such a high membership fee is voted for there is some risk to become a rather elitarian club disconnected from volunteers usually not prepared to pay a huge sum additional to donating their free time.
Excluding members is rather difficult.
There is no restriction on number of reelection to the board.
It seems to be OK to be on the board and employed
Rupert On 23/11/15 02:41, Michael Peel wrote:
Wikimedia Ireland are currently working on writing their bylaws - see below. Although Irish law is, of course, different from UK law, I'm forwarding this in case anyone here has the time and interest to have a look through and give them some helpful suggestions.
ARTICLE 1
The association is called "Wikimedia Ireland". Alternative names are "Wikimedia IE" or the abbreviations "WM IE", "WMIE", and these translated names "Wikimedia Éireann"....
Looks like they are on the case, and will not need to change their (cf. WMUK)....
Gordo
Wikimedia UK mailing list wikimediauk-l@wikimedia.org https://lists.wikimedia.org/mailman/listinfo/wikimediauk-l WMUK: https://wikimedia.org.uk
Hi Shannon,
Many thanks for the answers! How many members do you expect and what would be an inclusive membership fee? At Wmch it proved impossible to change later on to the price of a couple of beers a year. As the ones there are prepared to pay and do not see so much benefit in lowering. At the end of the day the number of active members determine the funding through fdc et al. And people rich in time often are not rich in money.
Rupert On Nov 24, 2015 12:53, "Wikimedia Ireland" wikimediaireland@gmail.com wrote:
Hi Rupert,
Thank you for your comments. I will attempt to address all of them.
Membership fee-This was addressed on the discussion page https://meta.wikimedia.org/wiki/Talk:Wikimedia_Community_Ireland_Bylaws. The amount of €1200 is the *maximum*. We have not decided on a membership fee as of yet, but we will strive to make it inculsive.
Excluding members-this was purposely made difficult. We are a small country with a correspondingly small member base. We don't want minor disagreements derailing the group.
Re-election to board-again, due to our small size this is the best way to ensure we have a consistent board. If we grow large enough, this can be amended in the future.
Board member/employee-again, due to our small size at the moment this accommodation was made. As we grow, it can be amended.
I hope this answers all your concerns. Please feel free to contact us again with any further concerns, or ideally put them on the bylaws discussion page.
Cheers, Shannon Eichelberger, Chair
On Mon, Nov 23, 2015 at 5:19 PM, rupert THURNER rupert.thurner@gmail.com wrote:
I d find the following a little challenging if I understand the text correctly :
art 5 suggests one cannot be member easy by paying membership fee.
If such a high membership fee is voted for there is some risk to become a rather elitarian club disconnected from volunteers usually not prepared to pay a huge sum additional to donating their free time.
Excluding members is rather difficult.
There is no restriction on number of reelection to the board.
It seems to be OK to be on the board and employed
Rupert On 23/11/15 02:41, Michael Peel wrote:
Wikimedia Ireland are currently working on writing their bylaws - see below. Although Irish law is, of course, different from UK law, I'm forwarding this in case anyone here has the time and interest to have a look through and give them some helpful suggestions.
ARTICLE 1
The association is called "Wikimedia Ireland". Alternative names are "Wikimedia IE" or the abbreviations "WM IE", "WMIE", and these translated names "Wikimedia Éireann"....
Looks like they are on the case, and will not need to change their (cf. WMUK)....
Gordo
Wikimedia UK mailing list wikimediauk-l@wikimedia.org https://lists.wikimedia.org/mailman/listinfo/wikimediauk-l WMUK: https://wikimedia.org.uk
--
Wikimedia Community Ireland
Online: Wikimedia Community Ireland http://meta.wikimedia.org/wiki/Wikimedia_Community_Ireland On Twitter: @WikimediaIE https://twitter.com/WikimediaIE
Hi SHannon,
I read with interest that you are setting up a co-operative (OK to be on the board and employed) which I think can be a positive approach. Whilst often it is useful to set up a charity, a social enterprise like a co-op can often be more effective, and often more democratic.
It's really good to see you taking this forward.
all the best
Fabian aka Leutha
On 24 November 2015 at 17:52 rupert THURNER rupert.thurner@gmail.com wrote:
Hi Shannon,
Many thanks for the answers! How many members do you expect and what would be an inclusive membership fee? At Wmch it proved impossible to change later on to the price of a couple of beers a year. As the ones there are prepared to pay and do not see so much benefit in lowering. At the end of the day the number of active members determine the funding through fdc et al. And people rich in time often are not rich in money.
Rupert
On Nov 24, 2015 12:53, "Wikimedia Ireland" < wikimediaireland@gmail.com mailto:wikimediaireland@gmail.com > wrote:
Hi Rupert,
Thank you for your comments. I will attempt to address all of them.
Membership fee-This was addressed on the discussion page https://meta.wikimedia.org/wiki/Talk:Wikimedia_Community_Ireland_Bylaws . The amount of €1200 is the maximum. We have not decided on a membership fee as of yet, but we will strive to make it inculsive.
Excluding members-this was purposely made difficult. We are a small country with a correspondingly small member base. We don't want minor disagreements derailing the group.
Re-election to board-again, due to our small size this is the best way to ensure we have a consistent board. If we grow large enough, this can be amended in the future.
Board member/employee-again, due to our small size at the moment this accommodation was made. As we grow, it can be amended.
I hope this answers all your concerns. Please feel free to contact us again with any further concerns, or ideally put them on the bylaws discussion page.
Cheers, Shannon Eichelberger, Chair
On Mon, Nov 23, 2015 at 5:19 PM, rupert THURNER <rupert.thurner@gmail.com mailto:rupert.thurner@gmail.com > wrote: > > >
I d find the following a little challenging if I understand the text
correctly :
art 5 suggests one cannot be member easy by paying membership fee. If such a high membership fee is voted for there is some risk to
become a rather elitarian club disconnected from volunteers usually not prepared to pay a huge sum additional to donating their free time.
Excluding members is rather difficult. There is no restriction on number of reelection to the board. It seems to be OK to be on the board and employed Rupert On 23/11/15 02:41, Michael Peel wrote: > > Wikimedia Ireland are currently working on writing their bylaws - > see > below. Although Irish law is, of course, different from UK law, > I'm > forwarding this in case anyone here has the time and interest to > have a > look through and give them some helpful suggestions. > ARTICLE 1 The association is called "Wikimedia Ireland". Alternative names
are "Wikimedia IE" or the abbreviations "WM IE", "WMIE", and these translated names "Wikimedia Éireann"....
**** Looks like they are on the case, and will not need to change their
(cf. WMUK)....
Gordo _______________________________________________ Wikimedia UK mailing list wikimediauk-l@wikimedia.org <mailto:wikimediauk-l@wikimedia.org> https://lists.wikimedia.org/mailman/listinfo/wikimediauk-l WMUK: https://wikimedia.org.uk
--
Wikimedia Community Ireland
Online: Wikimedia Community Ireland http://meta.wikimedia.org/wiki/Wikimedia_Community_Ireland On Twitter: @WikimediaIE https://twitter.com/WikimediaIE
Wikimedia UK mailing list wikimediauk-l@wikimedia.org https://lists.wikimedia.org/mailman/listinfo/wikimediauk-l WMUK: https://wikimedia.org.uk
On 24/11/15 22:14, leutha@fabiant.eu wrote:
I read with interest that you are setting up a co-operative
I missed that!
I have had a some experience of *changing* bye laws for a "friendly society", and I remain a member of that Society.
https://meta.wikimedia.org/wiki/Wikimedia_Ireland/Bylaws/Requirements_for_re...
In England, the current name is "Industrial and Provident Society". The legislation dates from 1965.
http://www.legislation.gov.uk/ukpga/1965/12/contents
We introduced a second tier of membership a few years ago! And I spoke in favour of that....
The Society has about 35 members currently, and dates back to 1942.
Gordo
On 25/11/15 10:52, Gordon Joly wrote:
I have had a some experience of *changing* bye laws for a "friendly society", and I remain a member of that Society.
In England, regulation of friendly societies is carried out by the FCA.
Gordo
wikimediauk-l@lists.wikimedia.org