[Foundation-l] Contact from Chile

[Mark Williamson]

You are being a bit unreasonable - we don't only have two types of
contributors, those who have been here for 10 years and those who just
got here, we have people at every level in between. I'm sure Alejandro
could help start a local chapter, but I don't think someone so new
could be the driving force.

And AGF applies to everyone, not just Alejandro. Just because you and
I have been here longer doesn't mean we shouldn't assume that the
other is acting in good faith, and apply the doctrine only in our
attitudes towards newcomers.

Mark

On 18/03/2008, Robert Horning <robert_horning at netzero.net> wrote:
> Mark Williamson wrote:
>  > Perhaps you should assume good faith.
>  >
>  > My point was that Alejandro seems to know very little about our
>  > organization, thus he would probably not be the best person to start a
>  > Wikimedia chapter in Chile at this point. You are placing too much of
>  > your hope on his shoulders, it seems.
>  >
>  > Mark
>  >
>
>
> I strongly disagree with this sentiment.  I have seen some outstanding
>  new contributors come out of the woodwork that have additional
>  organizational and leadership skills, and a drive to see something get
>  accomplish.  I have also worked with volunteers with a great many other
>  organizations that depend upon volunteer labor, and whenever a cliquish
>  attitude prevails it tends to drive away any additional volunteers who
>  want to come forward with new ideas.
>
>  How do you suggest that Alejandro learn about Wikimedia and the projects
>  if you never give him a chance to learn about it in the first place, and
>  shoot down his ideas even if he doesn't quite know the terminology?  As
>  far as placing hope on his shoulders.... absolutely I am doing just
>  that.  I place enormous hope upon every new participant to any volunteer
>  organization, as that is ultimately the future of the organization...
>  including Wikimedia projects.  New contributors are the life blood of
>  the projects, and it is incumbent on the part of everybody participating
>  to make it easier, not harder, for these new contributors to add to
>  these projects in the future.  Squashing hopes and dreams is a good way
>  to make an organization like the Wikimedia Foundation become stagnant,
>  irrelevant, and spell the eventual death of the organization even if it
>  is a death by attrition.
>
>  How else do you think a chapter forms, unless there is a spark and a
>  germ of an idea?  Do you think Florance can spontaneously create a whole
>  new Wikimedia chapter out of nothing, and those who should participate
>  only come from those veteran Wikimedia users who have been editing on
>  the projects for more than 10 years?  I am suggesting that combining the
>  efforts of somebody like Alejandro with others who may have a similar
>  vision is precisely the kind of people we need if we are going to
>  promote chapter creation... unless there is an attitude that prevails
>  that we don't need any more chapters.  An organization is either growing
>  or dying.  Which is it for Wikimedia projects?
>
>  BWT, I am trying to assume good faith... on the part of this new
>  contributor.  He appears to have a strong desire to accomplish some
>  projects and tasks that can promote his country, and would like to be a
>  leader to bring people together for creating free content.  Isn't this
>  precisely what Wikimedia projects are about?
>
>
>  -- Robert Horning
>
>  _______________________________________________
>  foundation-l mailing list
>  foundation-l at lists.wikimedia.org
>  Unsubscribe: https://lists.wikimedia.org/mailman/listinfo/foundation-l
>


-- 
Refije dirije lanmè yo paske nou posede pwòp bato.