[Foundation-l] WMF Chapter Development Director job posting

Sun Aug 22 22:50:14 UTC 2010

If I remember my reading from the recent strategy documents, the Foundation
wants to create more awareness amongst the less internet prevalent
countries.  Here in the USA, you could poll several dozen random people on
the street, and likely not find a single person that doesn't know about
Wikipedia (maybe 1, depending on your location and luck).

In fact, it is so prevalent here than anything with the world "Wiki" in it,
is presumed to be Wikipedia.  I know I'm not the only one recently who has
had family/friends ask about WikiLeaks relation to Wikipedia (due to the
major media blitz about their document release).  So, if the Foundation
needs to do something in the USA, it is a PR campaign to clarify such
misunderstandings - but this thread isn't about that.

According to Meta [1] "Wikimedia  chapters are independent organizations
founded to support and promote the Wikimedia projects within a specified
geographical region (country)."  Since the Foundation is USA based, and a
majority of editors speak English... promotion in a country in which most of
the population are already aware of what Wikipedia is... doesn't seem
terribly high priority (At least to me).  Chapters are supposed to
support/promote in their areas because they'll have a MUCH better
understanding of the cultures, and that really is the critical component.
If you can get local people

Also, as someone involved with the proposed Wikimedia California [2]
chapter, there is an issue of Geography.  We (volunteers) in Northern Cali
have had trouble working with SoCal simply because of size (amongst other
reasons).  SoCal is less interested in what we are up to when it is an 8
hour drive for them to attend.  California the state is larger than the
entire country Germany (by about 20% more).  Granted California is one of
the larger states, but my point is that a USA chapter formed just like every
other countries...may not work.  If proper state level groups were
established first, then it would have a much better chance.

Not saying it isn't possible, just a lot of work for currently little return
(as I see it).

[1] http://meta.wikimedia.org/wiki/Wikimedia_chapters

[2] http://meta.wikimedia.org/wiki/Wikimedia_California
-Jon

On Sun, Aug 22, 2010 at 14:51, Steven Walling <steven.walling at gmail.com>wrote:

> Gerard,
>
> As a Wikimedia from the United States, I think I can speak to concern about
> a lack of a U.S. chapter.
>
> There are many factors that have thus far held back the formation of a
> chapter in my country, some of which are unique because of the history of
> the movement, and some of which we share with other large, developed
> nations
> with high levels of Internet penetration.
>
> I can go into them at length if you like, but suffice it to say that I
> don't
> think the lack of the U.S. chapter in any way devalues Wikimedia's focus on
> chapter development outside the U.S., Barry's work, or the prospective hire
> at the Foundation.
>
> Steven Walling
>
> On Sun, Aug 22, 2010 at 2:13 PM, Gerard Meijssen
> <gerard.meijssen at gmail.com>wrote:
>
> > Hoi,
> > The reality of chapters in the WMF is that the most obvious chapter does
> > not
> > exist. Not only does it not exist the WMF itself confuses the issue by
> > functionaing in effect as both the worldwide organisation and the USA
> > chapter.
> >
> > The consequence is that it is not possible to appreciate when the WMF
> > functions as one or as the other and also it is perfectly possible to
> > accuse
> > the WMF of spending money where it has the least effect. It is equally
> > problematic to learn if and how the WMF actually appreciated the recent
> > Indonesian contest. I do argue that the new USA outreach project will
> spend
> > much more and will not have an equal effect. This may depend on what
> > metrics
> > are chosen, I refer to the metrics chosen for the Indonesian contest.
> >
> > I truly wonder how you can believe in an organisation that relies on
> > chapters without an USA chapter.
> > Thanks,
> >       GerardM
> >
> >
> >
> > On 18 August 2010 21:01, Barry Newstead <bnwikimedia at gmail.com> wrote:
> >
> > > I am pleased to share the position description for the new Chapter
> > > Development Director position [1] with the Wikimedia Foundation. We are
> > now
> > > open for applications and aim to fill this position with an outstanding
> > > candidate by November. Thank you to those who shared perspectives on
> the
> > > Chapter Development role on the Meta page [2] that was set up a few
> weeks
> > > back. The process of defining ways for chapters and WMF to work
> together
> > > effectively is an ongoing one that I look forward to continuing with
> all
> > of
> > > you and with our new staff member. Please do forward on the posting and
> > > suggest candidates. It would be great to find candidates from within
> the
> > > Wikimedia movement.
> > >
> > >  The position description draws from the input received on Meta as well
> > as
> > > informal discussions and input received from various sources. [3] The
> > > description provides a window into how I am thinking about the
> > relationship
> > > between chapters and WMF. Let me share some of my thoughts in the
> > interest
> > > of openness and transparency. These are just preliminary thoughts and I
> > > welcome ongoing feedback about where I'm on point and where I might be
> > > off-base.
> > >
> > >  Let me start by saying that I am very committed to the chapter mission
> > to
> > > "empower and engage people around the world to collect and develop
> > > educational content under a free license or in the public domain, and
> to
> > > disseminate it effectively and globally"[4] In my analysis (and I think
> > > most
> > > share this conclusion), we are still a long way from realizing this
> > > mission,
> > > even in our largest chapters. We, in the Global Development team, are
> > > investing in Chapter Development roles (we plan to add to the team in
> the
> > > future) to support the realization of the mission.
> > >
> > >  For me, success in five years would be to be in a position where 75%
> of
> > > chapters would be rated “effective” and over 50% would be rated “very
> > > effective” based on an objective set of mission-focused metrics I would
> > > like
> > > to develop collaboratively with chapters over the next year. In
> addition,
> > I
> > > would like there to be at least 60 chapters that are reasonably [5]
> > > representative of the global population. It would be great if we
> generate
> > > some shared goals in the coming months.
> > >
> > >  I have designed the WMF role as articulated in the position
> description
> > > with success metrics in mind and with an orientation toward mutual
> > > cooperation and a strong respect for the fact that virtually all of the
> > > chapter participants today are volunteers and that our future strength
> > will
> > > remain in the initiative, commitment and creativity of volunteers, even
> > as
> > > we add staff and spend money in chapters and at WMF. I expect that the
> > WMF
> > > staff (as well as capacity building support on organizational
> > development)
> > > will help make voluntary action easier, more scalable and more
> > sustainable,
> > > particularly for the leaders who have expressed a certain level of
> > fatigue
> > > in carrying the full weight of their chapters.
> > >
> > > It is important to be clear that I see the Foundation and chapters as
> > > independent organizations who are both ultimately accountable to the
> > > Wikimedia movement. In my team's work, I would like to earn our role by
> > > demonstrating our value. We do and should have clear agreements about
> the
> > > work we do together along with our financial relationships. These may
> > > require some trade-offs; however, these should lay out mutual
> > expectations
> > > that encourage positive, productive work that supports the Wikimedia
> > > mission. As such, I would expect that we are able to negotiate and
> abide
> > by
> > > contractual agreements that help us all do our work.
> > >
> > >  A final word on openness. This note is an attempt to be open about how
> > I'm
> > > thinking now. I want my team's (and our) work to be open and
> transparent
> > to
> > > the movement. We should share publicly our thinking, reports on our
> > > activities, evaluations of our successes and failures and a standard
> > report
> > > card of our effectiveness. I don't see this as a mechanism for reward
> or
> > > punishment, but as a way to open us up to the movement at large and
> most
> > > importantly to enable us to be a learning community where we can
> > critically
> > > assess our work and adapt. I hope this note is a reasonable start.
> > >
> > >  I look forward to working with you all, to having your feedback and to
> > > bringing a strong Chapter Development Director on board soon.
> > >
> > >  Barry
> > >
> > >
> > >  [1] See
> > >
> > >
> >
> http://wikimediafoundation.org/wiki/Job_openings/Chapter_Development_Director
> > >
> > > [2] See http://meta.wikimedia.org/wiki/Chapter_development
> > >
> > > [3] Berlin Chapters meeting discussions, strategy project, Wikimania
> > > discussions, generous proactive input from Delphine Menard reflecting
> on
> > > her
> > > prior experience, thoughts provided by Sebastian Moleski and an email
> > > exchange with Bence Domokos
> > >
> > > [4] See http://meta.wikimedia.org/wiki/Wikimedia_chapters
> > >
> > > [5] Added “Reasonably” caveat as we might not be in a position to have
> > > chapters in places such as the People's Republic of China for policy
> > > reasons
> > > _______________________________________________
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> > > foundation-l at lists.wikimedia.org
> > > Unsubscribe: https://lists.wikimedia.org/mailman/listinfo/foundation-l
> > >
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> >
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-- 
Jon
[[User:ShakataGaNai]] / KJ6FNQ
http://snowulf.com/
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