All these answers are clear Jimbo :-) Thanks for the precisions.

Note : we must change some translations, as the terms we used are not currently accurate. Perhaps Alex can help us in checking our translation ?

The important point I noted was regarding privacy (ie, possibility to be a member and then to vote, under one's real name, while keeping relation between real name and pseudonyme non visible).

I think this is very important, as it will allow the greatest majority of the community to really be part of it. I am very glad of this :-)

Ray Saintonge a écrit:

Anthere wrote:

...

We are currently trying to translate the bylaws (thanks Jeff !)

A paragraph raised my attention

A. CONTRIBUTING ACTIVE MEMBERSHIP: Active membership in this Foundation shall be limited to volunteers who have contributed to any Wikimedia project prior to the election ballot request deadline after their application for membership and payment of annual dues. All active members shall have the right to vote in this Foundation at any membership vote for the Contributing Active Member Representative to the Board of Trustees.

Why shall only those contributing before the election be considered members ? What about all those who will join next month ? Did I misunderstand something here ?

I think that this paragraph in the draft was needlessly convoluted. If one basically defines an "active member" as a person who has contributed to any Wikimedia project article, a "paid-up member" is then an active member who has paid annual dues. Defining "members" is more direct than defining "memberships" since the latter is nothing more than the status of being a member. We also need to avoid confusion between the words "contributor" and "donor", and that distinction should be made clear in a definitions article. Our practice has been to use "contributor" for a person who has written or edited articles, and to use "donor" for a person who has given money. I had to read the second sentence several times to make sense of it; whet it seems to say is that every member, wheteher or not he has paid dues, has the right to vote for this position.

I agree it was perhaps unclear...since the difference between the two types of contributors have been raised in the talk page on fr:

It is apparently still unclear

Here is a pasted comment from fr

Question : quelle différence entre "membre actif contributeur" et "membre actif volontaire" ?

Answer 1 : premiers payent leur droit de cotisation et peuvent voter, les second ne payent pas et ne peuvent pas voter

Answer 2 : ce n'est pas cela: dans les statuts tels qu'ils sont proposés il y a 2 administrateurs représentant des membres. les membres actifs volontaires ne peuvent participer au vote que d'un seul, les membres actifs contributeurs peuvent voter pour les 2. jeffdelonge

A provision that limits voting rights to those who were members when the election is called, or who have been members at least 30 days (or some other appropriate time period) is reasonable. It helps in preventing a flood of last minute members whose only purpose for joining is to support some person in his election bid.

Ec

agreed