[Foundation-l] Notice of the results of the WMF Board ofTrustees election

[Sue Reed]

----- Original Message ----
From: Florence Devouard Anthere9 at yahoo.com

Please, if you blame, provide suggestions of how things can be improved 
next time. As a board member, I would consider totally excluded that I 
learn arabic to provide translation. I would also consider totally 
excluded that I go to EACH language in turn to beg for translation. 
Already overworked, I am not sure it is making the best use of my time. 
I also think that if the board makes the decision to hire translators, 
there will be a HUGE uproar of complaints, because we indeed have the 
resources internally.

ant

>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>

But, obviously we don't have the resources internally because it didn't get done. I feel that the Board and/or Election Committee should make a list of languages that notices, candidate statements, etc. should be translated into. The Election Committee should then try to recruit volunteers to do those translations and have volunteers that can do things with both long turnaround times and "we need this translated in the next hour" turnaround times. If volunteers do not step forward to do the translations in specific languages, like Arabic, than the Board should use Foundation resources to make sure that those translations get done. We might have a huge population that speaks both Chinese and English and has the ability to do the translation, but it might not be something that they are interested in doing. In the same way that you can't force an editor to work on a specific article or an admin to work on a specific task, you can't force a volunteer to do the translation just
 because they have the ability. 

And, I don't think it's an issue of begging. I think it's an issue of recognizing where there is a deficiency of resources and filling those gaps. Personally, I can name 3-5 agencies here in the SF Bay Area that can do translations in both Arabic or Chinese. Some of those agencies might even be willing to donate a couple of hours of time if they are approached early enough in the process. 

I also want to add my approval to the thought process that the Election Committee should be formed a lot sooner. I for one am willing to volunteer today to serve on that committee for next year's election. Of course, you're going to have people that come in and out, but having a specific committee chair in place now to start talking about these issues and working on solutions will greatly enhance the transparency and reliability of the process. 

Sue Anne