Hi everyone
Ian Gilfillan (Greenman) will be sending out an email soon welcoming
everyone to the mailing list. In the meantime, just an introduction from me
and the organisation I work for: We are local non profit org The African
Commons Project (TACP) and we promote and advocate open content and less
restrictive intellectual property laws, especially in a digital
environment. We are helping out with the coordination of setting up a South
African Wikimedia Chapter basically to helping out local Wikipedians in this
process because we - as the rest of you do - really see a space for a
Chapter here in South Africa to forward the aims of the Wikimedia
Foundation.
The process that SA is following, and has been followed elsewhere around the
world with other Wikimedia Chapters, is to gather the people and in this
instance to hold a workshop where the objectives and goals of the Chapter
will be discussed and debated, as well as the best formal structure that the
Chapter should take.
We're looking at holding the workshop in Johannesburg over one full day and
half day on the following day. However, I would like to offer two options:
first option full day Friday, 6th August and half day Saturday, 7th August
OR alternatively full day Saturday, 7th August and then half day Sunday, 8th
August. As most of you work and have other commitments, please let's
discuss quite urgently what would best suit you.
There are a number of Wikipedians from Cape Town and so those of you from
the fairest Cape will have to fly up to Joburg to attend the workshop.
There are some travel 'scholarships' available which will be given to cover
limited travel and accommodation so also let me know urgently if you would
need one!
Many thanks
Kerryn
* * * *
KERRYN MCKAY
The African Commons Project
email me at: kerryn(a)africancommons.org
phone me: +2711 486 0211, cell: +27 82 334 6165,
skype me: kerrynmac