[Foundation-l] Accepting airline miles as donations

[Brianna Laugher]

On 05/03/2008, Dan Rosenthal <swatjester at gmail.com> wrote:
> Some would contest whether that's a smart idea.

Some being who, Dan - you? If you then why not just say that.

Do we want WMF to be the "Red Cross for information"? Or just the
glorified web-host? It seems to me the community has implicitly
accepted the Red Cross route, because the Foundation has massively
expanded and professionalised (not to mention moved across the
country) without uproarious complaint. The glorified web-host wouldn't
need to do these things.

To say of Wikimedia "this is an internet site" is a big disservice to
volunteers. "An internet site" is only the beginning of what it is.

If you disagree that there are huge benefits from face-to-face
meetings, that have no virtual substite, then I suppose nothing would
convince you on that point.... but it is utterly remarkable and
worthwhile and necessary. Not every month. But from time to time.

I am grateful and pleased that the Foundation takes its commitment to
being a worldwide organisation seriously. It really shows respect for
the community. That's necessarily going to mean more travel than other
not for profits that don't have such a global angle.

And while the Foundation has a big travel budget, it's still a small
fraction of the total budget, which is dominated by Acceptable Tech
Stuff.

Brianna

-- 
They've just been waiting in a mountain for the right moment:
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