[Foundation-l] Board-announcement: Board Restructuring
Anthony
wikimail at inbox.org
Mon Apr 28 22:02:37 UTC 2008
On Mon, Apr 28, 2008 at 12:52 PM, Brad Patrick <bradp.wmf at gmail.com> wrote:
> It would be best for those critical of the Board (and feeling that the
> community is the most important ideal) to remember that whether you like it
> or not, agree with it or not, or would have selected an alternative reality
> or not, it is still the case that the Board is that which governs the
> Wikimedia Foundation, a US corporation, and is responsible for the ownership
> of its assets (servers, etc.) and has a legal, fiduciary obligation to act
> in its best interests. The Board members are themselves obligated under the
> law to act in the best interests of the Foundation. That as a matter of
> convention means giving due regard to "the community" whatever that term
> means, but the fact that the Board allows elections to put people up for
> Board positions in no way whatsoever gives "the community" an *entitlement*
> to that process or results. As is oft-repeated, WMF is not a membership
> organization.
>
> Within the spirit of civil discourse, to those who are feeling frustrated
> and demanding action, I submit - "so what are you going to do about it?" I
> suggest you be pragmatic. You do not have any means of grabbing the reins
> of power from the Board, and you don't have any entitlement to anything
> except your ability to participate in a project, if you choose, a chapter,
> if you choose, or to speak up in some forum. You don't have a "right" to
> vote on anything, and the Board could just as easily have a contest than an
> election to fill Board seats.
>
Florence, I believe this post goes a long way toward addressing your
surprise at the relative lack of reaction to this proposal.
Remember back when membership was taken away, and the line was that
membership was only a formality that didn't matter? How quickly the
tune has changed.
I wonder, is Brad speaking here on behalf of the Foundation? If not,
and the foundation intends to maintain its "common voice", I suggest
you get Brad put on moderation and/or ask him to refrain from such
insulting comments in the future.
Or am I the only one insulted by this rant?
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