[Foundation-l] Chapter-selected Board seats - brainstorming

[daniwo59 at aol.com]

In a message dated 5/1/2008 1:14:55 PM Eastern Daylight Time,  
swatjester at gmail.com writes:

I see.  Well on that note, can I announce the start of a working group  
for  the development of a DC/Baltimore metropolitan area chapter. Both   
Wikimedians from the DC area as well as those with chapters  experience  
are invited to help out.



What is the objective of this chapter? Is it to solicit tax-free donations  
in the US? The WMF is already doing that with a professional, dedicated staff.  
Is it to negotiate with local institutions over the release of content? 
Again,  the WMF is in the same country and is better equipped to do this. Is it to  
provide a membership organization that will assume responsibility for 
content? I  doubt it. Is it to organize meetups and other social events? If so, then 
why go  to the trouble of incorporating just to have a realtime beer with your 
online  friends? Is it just to have a say in determining the chapter seats? 
Seems like a  lot of trouble for that.
 
While I do not oppose a US chapter or even a series of local chapters, it  
would seem prudent to determine first what the purpose of the chapter is.
 
Danny



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