[Foundation-l] Announcement: Chapter Selected Board Seats

[Jan-Bart de Vreede]

Hello Everyone,

As  you may recall the board was restructured last year around this  
time. At that time we asked the chapters to select two board members  
for the board. This would happen in the even-numbered years. The three  
community seats would be elected in the odd-numbered years.

As was to be expected it took the chapters a while to come to a  
procedure and selection the first time around. Unfortunately this  
could have had the result that 2009 would have been the year in which  
both the elected board members and the chapter selected board members  
were changed/added to the board. In the interest of continuity the  
board asked the chapters to consider selecting one current board  
member for one of the two chapter selected seats this time around. I  
am happy to inform you that not only did they agree to this, they have  
also found an excellent addition to the board for the other seat.

The chapters have provided the board with the following statement and  
the board has been happy to approve their selections.

“Chapters Statement

In April 2008, the Wikimedia Foundation gave the chapters a role in  
the board member selection process, by asking them to select  
candidates to fill two of the Trustees seats.
The Wikimedia chapters have selected Arne Klempert as a new candidate.  
In agreement with the board, they have decided to propose Michael Snow  
as their second candidate, with the intent of confirming his position  
on the Board of Trustees as occupying one of the chapters selected  
Board seats. The chapters are glad that both candidates have accepted  
their selection and hope that the Board of Trustees of the Wikimedia  
Foundation will be able to formalize this as soon as possible. The  
selection of those candidates comes after many heated but fruitful  
discussions and represents the chapters' will to introduce novelty and  
ensure continuity in the board of the Wikimedia Foundation.

Arne Klempert is Head of Digital Communications at IFOK, a German  
consulting firm. He is one of the founders of the German chapter. He  
was involved in the development of Wikimedia Deutschland first as vice- 
chair and then as Executive Director, until September 2008.

Michael Snow has served on the Board of the Wikimedia Foundation since  
December 2007, and was chosen in July 2008 to be its chair. Michael is  
a lawyer and has been involved in Wikimedia for many years as Head of  
the Wikimedia Communications Committee and creator of the Wikipedia  
Signpost, amongst other roles.

The chapters are confident that this selection brings quality,  
diversity and stability to the board of the Wikimedia Foundation, and  
that both candidates will capably handle the responsibilities of being  
Trustees. Both candidates are selected to fill a term that ends in  
July 2010.
”

Please join me in welcoming Arne to the board and congratulating  
Michael on his re-appointment. On behalf of the board I would like to  
thank all those involved in facilitating the process and making these  
appointments possible.



Jan-Bart de Vreede

Vice Chair Wikimedia Foundation Board of Trustees