[Foundation-l] Provisional Volunteer Council - proposal sent to the Board

Tue Apr 1 19:52:12 UTC 2008

Wiktionary too. But Wikiversity doesn't ever get enough love anywhere.

-Dan
On Apr 1, 2008, at 9:17 AM, Gerard Meijssen wrote:

> Hoi,
> Why Wikiversity ? Why not Wiktionary ?
> Thanks,
>     GerardM
>
> On Tue, Apr 1, 2008 at 3:11 PM, Dan Rosenthal <swatjester at gmail.com>  
> wrote:
>
>> Could I make one more suggestion then? Please try to get someone from
>> Wikiversity on that council?
>>
>> -Dan
>> On Apr 1, 2008, at 9:07 AM, effe iets anders wrote:
>>
>>> Hi Dan, all,
>>>
>>> thanks for the feedback. First of all, let me make clear that this  
>>> is
>>> for me not the *final* list or something, the Board still has to
>>> decide over the resolution at all, including the list of candidates.
>>> After that, the PVC has the opportunity to fill some gaps, such as
>>> South America, Africa, Asia and developers, to improve the  
>>> spectrum of
>>> volunteers.
>>>
>>> I never claimed, and will not claim that this is a perfect
>>> representation, nor that it is ideal with respect to size. This
>>> because this is a matter of opinion, and people disagree on sizes  
>>> etc.
>>> Please note that it is much easier to increase the size afterwards
>>> (especially if you believe all those emails you get all the time)  
>>> then
>>> to decrease. I think the current list ensures a workable provisional
>>> council, that can come up with a broad carried advice. Not because
>>> every language or continent is represented, but because many  
>>> opinions
>>> on this respect are represented. The mentioned main projects are, as
>>> michael mentioned correctly, intended to show from which corner  
>>> people
>>> are coming. How they were "raised" in the community, so to speak.
>>>
>>> With kind regards,
>>>
>>> Lodewijk
>>>
>>> 2008/4/1, Dan Rosenthal <swatjester at gmail.com>:
>>>> I disagree, I think that this council (the provisional one)  
>>>> should be
>>>> larger, regardless of whether the final council's size is  
>>>> adjusted or
>>>> not.
>>>>
>>>>
>>>> -Dan
>>>>
>>>> On Apr 1, 2008, at 3:57 AM, Gerard Meijssen wrote:
>>>>
>>>>> Hoi,
>>>>> Our dear friend Danny Wool pontificated that I would oppose this
>>>>> proposal (
>>>>>
>> http://allswool.blogspot.com/2008/03/it-seems-that-effeietsanders-has.html
>> )
>>>>> .
>>>>> It is for this reason only that I do not want to disappoint him  
>>>>> and
>>>>> give
>>>>> a reaction.
>>>>>
>>>>> What is on the table is that a group of self appointed bosses are
>>>>> going to
>>>>> investigate if and how a wiki coucil can be started. This group is
>>>>> likely to
>>>>> come to the conclusion that it would be a good thing. As long as
>>>>> there is
>>>>> nothing to see, there is not much for me to comment on. The fact
>>>>> that they
>>>>> take the initiative is the best reason why they may succeed.
>>>>>
>>>>> I have not been invited in this group of self appointed bosses,  
>>>>> this
>>>>> is a
>>>>> good thing as I am busy enough as it is. I have written in the  
>>>>> past
>>>>> extensively on the subject, I spoke with some of the bosses so my
>>>>> view is
>>>>> known. With Milos and Pathoschild part of this effort, I am sure
>>>>> that the
>>>>> relevance of linguistic and cultural diversity will get some
>>>>> attention (one
>>>>> of my hot buttons)
>>>>>
>>>>> From my perspective, this group is large enough to still be
>>>>> effective, a
>>>>> shame that they are likely to come with the suggestion to have a
>>>>> council
>>>>> that is many times this size and destroying its effectiveness in  
>>>>> the
>>>>> process.
>>>>> Thanks,
>>>>>    GerardM
>>>>>
>>>>> On Tue, Apr 1, 2008 at 1:46 AM, effe iets anders <
>> effeietsanders at gmail.com
>>>>>>
>>>>> wrote:
>>>>>
>>>>>> Dear all,
>>>>>>
>>>>>> I am very glad that the proposal for establishing a provisional
>>>>>> volunteer council received such a lot support both on this list
>>>>>> as in
>>>>>> private conversations.
>>>>>>
>>>>>> Since the request for candidates for the Provisional Volunteer
>>>>>> Council, I received quite some nominations. However,
>>>>>> unfortunately I
>>>>>> have to admit that there were no (willing) candidates from some
>>>>>> important regions amongst these. As I have to work with the
>>>>>> candidates
>>>>>> that were nominated, I was therefore unable to candidate someone
>>>>>> from
>>>>>> these regions.
>>>>>>
>>>>>> I did try however, to get at least a few projects represented,  
>>>>>> and
>>>>>> also a more technical person (from the developers side of the
>>>>>> volunteer spectrum). Please find my final suggestion list below  
>>>>>> in
>>>>>> the
>>>>>> proposal (attached again for reference - only one minor spelling
>>>>>> and
>>>>>> layout changes).
>>>>>>
>>>>>> Please note that this is a *proposed* resolution, and not yet
>>>>>> accepted.
>>>>>>
>>>>>> I know this list is not very long. And some area's are still
>>>>>> missing
>>>>>> in representation. However, I trust this group wholehearely, and
>>>>>> suppose that they will make sure as a first thing to get at least
>>>>>> one
>>>>>> or more projects better represented (such as Wikinews or
>>>>>> Wikiversity
>>>>>> which have a very different character).
>>>>>>
>>>>>> If you have major concerns with respect to this list of  
>>>>>> candidates,
>>>>>> please send them to this list or communicate them to the Board (I
>>>>>> am
>>>>>> not sure which route is the best for that though). I will make no
>>>>>> changes any more myself, but the Board is of course able to
>>>>>> determine
>>>>>> the list as it likes.
>>>>>>
>>>>>>
>>>>>> With kind regards,
>>>>>>
>>>>>> Lodewijk Gelauff
>>>>>>
>>>>>>
>>>>>> --------------------------------------------------------------
>>>>>>
>>>>>> Whereas the Board,
>>>>>>
>>>>>> * recognizes the value of volunteers in Wikimedia projects and  
>>>>>> that
>>>>>> their work is the very reason of their success,
>>>>>> * values the volunteers' opinions and takes them into serious
>>>>>> consideration when discussing issues involving the volunteers,
>>>>>> * is of the opinion that these volunteers should have a strong
>>>>>> say in
>>>>>> changes in the articles of incorporation and the bylaws of the
>>>>>> Wikimedia Foundation,
>>>>>> * considers a Volunteer Council a valuable intermediary between
>>>>>> volunteers and the Foundation, and as a good instrument to hear  
>>>>>> the
>>>>>> voice of the volunteers:
>>>>>>
>>>>>> it is hereby resolved that:
>>>>>>
>>>>>> 1. The Board of Trustees hereby creates a Volunteer Council, to
>>>>>> serve
>>>>>> as a valuable complement to the Staff, Advisory Board and Board  
>>>>>> of
>>>>>> Trustees.
>>>>>> 2. Without restricting the generality of this provision the
>>>>>> purposes
>>>>>> of the Volunteer Council shall include:
>>>>>>
>>>>>> 1) Offering advice and support on issues relevant to the  
>>>>>> Wikimedia
>>>>>> Volunteers,
>>>>>> 2) Recommanding the opening or closure of Wikimedia projects,
>>>>>> 3) Approving changes to the articles of incorporation or bylaws  
>>>>>> of
>>>>>> the Wikimedia Foundation and
>>>>>> 4) Assist in establishing a clear separation between the legal
>>>>>> responsibilities of the Wikimedia Foundation as an Internet  
>>>>>> Service
>>>>>> Provider and the community decisions for the Wikimedia Projects.
>>>>>>
>>>>>> 3. The members from the Volunteer Council must be volunteers  
>>>>>> within
>>>>>> Wikimedia.
>>>>>> 4. The Provisional Volunteer Council shall report to the Board no
>>>>>> later than September 1, 2008, which report shall include
>>>>>> recommendations regarding the number and composition of the
>>>>>> Volunteer
>>>>>> Council, and how the members of the Council shall be chosen. Said
>>>>>> report shall also include recommendations regarding the
>>>>>> distribution
>>>>>> of rights and responsibilities between the Board and Council, and
>>>>>> any
>>>>>> changes in the by-laws that may be necessary to implement this.
>>>>>> 5. Except where it pertains to its own procedures, no decision of
>>>>>> the
>>>>>> Provisional Volunteer Council shall bind any person.
>>>>>> 6. On receipt of the said report the Board shall take such  
>>>>>> steps as
>>>>>> it
>>>>>> deems necessary to confirm and empower the Volunteer Council, and
>>>>>> provide for a transition of operations from the Provisional
>>>>>> Volunteer
>>>>>> Council.
>>>>>> 7. Members of the Volunteer Council will not be financially
>>>>>> compensated for their activity. On approval by the Board of
>>>>>> Trustees
>>>>>> expenses of the Provisional Volunteer Council and Volunteer  
>>>>>> Council
>>>>>> in
>>>>>> the fulfillment of their duties may be reimbursed.
>>>>>> 8. The following people are hereby appointed as member of the
>>>>>> Provisional Volunteer Council:
>>>>>>
>>>>>> Michael Bimmler, Mbimmler (Main project: de.wikipedia)
>>>>>> Yaroslav Blanter, Yaroslav Blanter (Main project: ru.wikipedia)
>>>>>> Lise Broer, Durova (Main projects: en.wikipedia and
>>>>>> commons.wikimedia )
>>>>>> Jesse Plamondon-Willard, Pathoschild (Main projects:  
>>>>>> en.wikisource
>>>>>> and meta.wikimedia )
>>>>>> Sydney Poore, FloNight (Main project: en.wikipedia)
>>>>>> Milos Rancic, Millosh (Main project: sr.wikipedia)
>>>>>> Ray Saintonge, Eclecticology (Main project: en.wikisource,
>>>>>> en.wikipedia)
>>>>>> Andrew Whitworth, Whiteknight (Main project: en.wikibooks)
>>>>>> Michal Zlatkovsky, Timichal (Main project: cs.wikipedia)
>>>>>>
>>>>>> 9. The members of the Provisional Volunteer Council may on a 2/3
>>>>>> vote
>>>>>> of all its members add such additional members as they may deem
>>>>>> necessary and useful to their deliberations.
>>>>>>
>>>>>> _______________________________________________
>>>>>> foundation-l mailing list
>>>>>> foundation-l at lists.wikimedia.org
>>>>>> Unsubscribe: https://lists.wikimedia.org/mailman/listinfo/
>>>>>> foundation-l
>>>>>>
>>>>> _______________________________________________
>>>>> foundation-l mailing list
>>>>> foundation-l at lists.wikimedia.org
>>>>> Unsubscribe: https://lists.wikimedia.org/mailman/listinfo/foundation-l
>>>>
>>>>
>>>> _______________________________________________
>>>> foundation-l mailing list
>>>> foundation-l at lists.wikimedia.org
>>>> Unsubscribe: https://lists.wikimedia.org/mailman/listinfo/
>>>> foundation-l
>>>>
>>>
>>> _______________________________________________
>>> foundation-l mailing list
>>> foundation-l at lists.wikimedia.org
>>> Unsubscribe: https://lists.wikimedia.org/mailman/listinfo/foundation-l
>>
>>
>> _______________________________________________
>> foundation-l mailing list
>> foundation-l at lists.wikimedia.org
>> Unsubscribe: https://lists.wikimedia.org/mailman/listinfo/ 
>> foundation-l
>>
> _______________________________________________
> foundation-l mailing list
> foundation-l at lists.wikimedia.org
> Unsubscribe: https://lists.wikimedia.org/mailman/listinfo/foundation-l