TInu,
Again, please dont think that I am picking a fight. Just trying to be
constructive with the situation. Please take a step back and think about
it. Comments and questions are welcome.
2012/1/7 CherianTinu Abraham <tinucherian(a)gmail.com>
Hi all,
Please don't differentiate and undermine any Wikimedia
event as hosted by chapter or community.
Nope, not doing that. Should not feel that anyone is undermining anyones
effort anywhere. even a space adjustment is counted as an edit in a wiki.
We ( as I speak for the chapter in this mail) is
committed to encourage
and help any Wikimedia event in the country, in the best of the efforts.
Good, it should be that way. It should be much more that events. It has
to evolve into bringing projects to life and beyond.
As chapter, we agree to use even use the term
co-host , only if the
local organizers ask themselves.
Not taking this in a negative sense. I assume you mean to say that
chapter does not use the title/brand unless it is required.
Since some time, we have consciously decided not
to brand any Wikimedia
event in the country as a chapter hosted one , except the Wiki-conference,
Mumbai. We had do that for Mumbai conference, for the purposes of getting
sponsors, opening bank accounts etc.
Sorry for a stupid question here: Can I see a list of other events
chapter helped organizing without using its brand documented somewhere
please?
The chapter get frequent requests from various corners, from conducting
Wiki-academies.
Good to see that chapter is being recognized and approached by various
entities. What are the documented steps in the current chapter's procedure
to involve communities when such a request come in? Apart from requests
that come in, what are the efforts put in to reach out to various
organizations and educational institutions to offer them with the community
support?
The first thing we do is to put them in touch
with local Wikipedians if
there are any.
Good to know! What can we do to ensure that the same coverage goes to the
communities that does not have as many active participations around? What
can chapter do to build those communities? What can we do to grow the
sleeping wikis to life? Can chapter reach out to educational institutions
and goverment organizations in Bihar and see if it can vitalize Bhwiki?
Hi Jythois,
Trying to connect Bh wiki and planning to help them as the time allows.
We are making the events as much as inclusive as
possible. The recent
Wikiacademy @ Jaya Engineering College, Chennai ,
though the request came
to the chapter, we heartily welcomed the participation of the Wikimedia
Foundation India Programs officials. Another recent event "Wikimedia Takes
Ahmedabad" , primarly done by chapter members ( they are also community
members), we never publicized it as organised by the chapter. Even though
many newspapers wrote that the event is organised by the Foundation, we
didn't mind, as the goal and cause is more important for us. An earlier
event at NIT, Calicut [1] was driven by Malayalam Community members like
Vishwaprabha, Netha, Manjok & Abhishek. Still some of
the Malayalam community members blamed and questioned us for doing "chapter
events in Kerala" !
Good to know. If not already in place, please work on a standard protocol
to inform community, seek participation or support in such events etc. if
there are enough local community members available to run the show, chapter
can save some money and time of people by just sending a representative (or
may be none in a case by case scene) as well. What do you think?
When somebody requests for a Wikiacademy, should
we tell them to "get
lost" if it is in Kerala ? Another request is received here at Adoor [2] ,
please tell us what to do ? We would be more than happy if this also is
driven by the community in Kerala!
See, This is where the core of the problem lies. Why cant the chapter
learn that though it is termed as an independent entity, it is not a
separate body, but an umbrella and support organization for the local
communities? chapter and communities going in two different directions is
fruitless. Chapter cannot force the communities go their way just because
chapter has recognition by the foundation. Lets not forget that there were
communities and events before chapter arrived in the scene. Especially with
the way the Indian chapter was formed, chapter leadership has a long walk
ahead to work with communities and prove itself to be worthy of the title,
funding and recognition it seeks. Chapter will fail in its mission if it is
not supported by the communities it tries to serve, nourish and promote.
Now, for the "get lost" part in your statement, I think you already know
the answer to that question. I would choose to frame that statement better
(or at least politically correct fashion) if I were in your position. It is
not a crime to organize and conduct events anywhere, but kindly try to
understand the community sentiments before your fire off statements like
this.
But that is just me.
AFAIK, the event at CUSAT ( jan 5, 2012 ) was more finalized a few days
before the event on 26 Dec [3] , The chapter secretary Naveen sent the mail
to ML mailing list on 29 Dec. I agree that the local organizers & community
members (like Ditty and Anil) should have informed the community much
earlier, if that was possible.
Why would that not be possible?
The chapter itself is driven by veteran community members.
I dont think anyone questioned this part.
It is true that the chapter is now just a smaller
subset of the
community...The chapter will serve its purpose and becomes more
meaningful only if the whole community becomes part of it and takes its
reins to drive forward. Like any other community member, we are also unpaid
volunteers who sacrifice our precious time for the passion and love of the
movement. It is an open membership and non profit society and we strongly
encourage and humbly request every active member to join the chapter.
http://wiki.wikimedia.in/Join_us
Community members will come and join the chapter in packs when they learn
that the chapter is worth their time and money. I dont think by not being a
member of chapter prevents anyone from helping chapter move forward or
participate in a chapter event with community participation though. If
chapter starts putting a boundary that non members cannot participate in
project related events, I think that would be a step towards alienating the
community from chapter.
Thanks for reading thru. Bottom line is, Lets work together as a
community for the growth and progression of projects rather that seeing
chapter and community as disjoint sets.
Jyothis.
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