Hi,

This week, I have been contacted by two different languages (nl and it) to discuss creation of local association and membership issues.

There is currently one association : the german verein. The French people will probably created "Wikimedia France" in october or november of this year. I understand Italy, the Netherlands and Belgium are interested as well.

I will give a few initial comments to both languages. Further discussions will occur where you think best. I will try to write in simple english. I hope most people will understand.

------ First : Opinion on local assocations.

We understand the need of creating local associations, and support it. I think it is important to create local associations. It gives a sense of belonging to a local community (for example, it help organising local events). It also is beneficial for legal issues (for example, local donations or tax refunds).

Mostly, we want to do things the way the community feels it is best.

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Second : What is required to have an association recognised and welcome by the Foundation.

Anyone can create anytime an association of the type "The friends of Wikipedia". However, we wish that all local associations and the foundation be united.

Essentially, this shall be done through agreeing to a common mission statement.

Second, as mentionned in http://meta.wikimedia.org/wiki/Membership_fees The foundation will consider that all participants to any wikimedia project will be voluntary members per default. Besides, any contributing member (this is how we call members who pay dues to an association) giving money to an association, will be considered a contributing member of the foundation, provided that there is an agreement with the foundation.

We made an agreement with the german association. It will have to refund a minimum of 6 dollars to the foundation, for each paying member. This amount is the minimal amount asked for a contributor to a project to be a member.

Now, we are aware that legislation differ depending on countries, so the way the money is transfered has to be studied on a case by case. For example, germans have to give a reason for money transfert, such as the purchase of a server. Of course, each situation will be considered.

I'll add on top of this, that we proposed to offer to each starting association a small amount of money to help it get started (there are some creation fees).

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Third : association in countries with multiple languages

The creation of an association in Belgium for example, will be very interesting, since this country is not monolingual, and is likely to have several members from different languages. We will have to consider this very carefully, so that the money collected in one country, is managed to help all languages in the country if possible. Also, I hope that french speakers from Belgium are to be involved in that creation as well ;-)

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Fourth : legal issues.

I would like to know where you stand on this since the first thing to do is to draft bylaws. You may wish to study the structures already set by the germans and drafted by the french.

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I am very excited by the prospective of all those future local chapters :-)

Anthere

anthereATwikimedia.org

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