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.
-----
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).
------
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 ;-)
------
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.
------
I am very excited by the prospective of all those
future local chapters :-)
Anthere
anthereATwikimedia.org
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