Walter Vermeir asked:
A "Wikimedia" in Europa can be useful I think but is it really necessary to setup different organizations for all the countrys?
First answer:
Is it really necessary to setup different Wikipedias in all the languages?
Second answer:
There is a german proverb saying something like "7 Germans - one association". Or was it about the English men forming a club? Well, it does not matter. The fact is that people with common interests like to join.
Here in Germany there are thousands of "e.V."s - little clubs collecting stamps or or non-profit organisations trying to improve the world. Some of the German Wikipedians are going to found such a "e.V." targeting on making publicity and collecting money for Wikipedia and other Wikimedia projects and - last-but-not-least - having a good time together. Having a "e.V." and drinking beer[*] together on it's meetings is something ritual in germany we do not want to miss.
Jimbo Wales wrote:
What I ask you to do is to *not* go ahead, not so quickly, as there is no particular reason to hurry. We can spend several months exploring options and talking to a lawyer. Possibly my visit to Germany this summer would be a good target date for the launching of such a foundation, and I could be there to give my enthusiastic support.
As far as I can see the discussion on german wikipedia is far to long to avoid founding *anything* in the next 2 month.
Please do not take this too serious. We have a common goal and it's all under GNU FDL. Status of any legal associations will not make the difference.
Greetings, Jakob
[*] We also like wine and non-alcoholic drinks
"J" == Jakob jakob.voss@s1999.tu-chemnitz.de writes:
J> Some of the German Wikipedians are going to found such a "e.V." J> targeting on making publicity and collecting money for J> Wikipedia and other Wikimedia projects and - last-but-not-least J> - having a good time together. Having a "e.V." and drinking J> beer[*] together on it's meetings is something ritual in J> germany we do not want to miss.
So. I think it's a great idea to have this kind of club organization. Wikimedia Editors Groups could be a cool way to enjoy the process. Why not? Sounds like a fun thing to do -- meet up, promote the 'pedias, go to events (book fairs would be cool!), etc. It's worked great for Linux and other Free Software.
But I think trying to extend this idea to create a tax haven and legal shield for the Wikimedia Foundation -- without much of a plan as to how that would happen, nor the consent of the Foundation itself -- is probably ill-advised.
~ESP
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