[Foundation-l] "officials"

[Anthere]

This is a thought from two personal experience
feedback, as well as Mav and Erik experiences.

I several times contacted external people or
organisations, either for press release, or other PR
activity, or for trying to negociate content release.
Usually, I used my real name, though not always. Twice
at least, I think there was no consideration given to
my proposition, because I was just a community member
and in no way had an official position. I suppose
other editors trying to reach the outside met similar
situation. 

When one contact an important media group, or a
charitable organisation to ask for donations, or a
legal entity, one is expected to show some
"credentials". In particular as soon as money is
involved :-)

I think this type of activity, with "external" contact
will become more and more frequent and required. And
though this will be a lot the work of the Fundation
itself, I somehow doubt 3 members can manage it all.
Some regular participants will necessarily become more
and more invested in Foundation activities, without
being Board members.

I would be happy that we begin thinking of how we
could "give" these "official titles" to participants,
so that they can fully help according to their
abilities and wilingness.

Basically, it requires 3 steps

-------

* setting up a list of "official titles", with
associated description of what this encompasses

Example : Wikimedia treasurer : someone to keep track
of donations or other funding, and keep track of how
money is spent

Example : Public relations : someone who organise
press releases, give interviews, etc. Trying to find
funding probably comes in here.

We should set this list all together. There is already
some stuff written about this on meta, but it was more
planned for a board. Since the board will be very
small, we should expand this to wikimedia (full) or
foundation (those who paid the fee) participants.

The list could be approved by the Board.

-------

* Enlisting people for each role.

Several if necessary.
We obviously need only one treasurer for now; But
definitly several public relation officials. Given
Wikipedia concept, I don't think we need a head for
PR, the community is the head, but we definitly do
need at least a dozen people as PR officials.

I view this as fairly loose. Let's have a page on
meta. People interested list themselves there. The
community then approve or does not approve to give
this "official" title. Finally, the board approve or
not.

------

* Last, on Wikimedia Foundation web site, we maintain
a list of these official representative. Something
very official looking, so that an "official
representative" can point a potential partner this
page to "prove" he is trusted by his peers for
negociation.

-------

What do you think ?

Anthere


	
		
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