[Foundation-l] WMF Chapter Development Director job posting

theo10011 de10011 at gmail.com
Sun Aug 22 23:33:59 UTC 2010 

Hi everyone I just wanted to step in and remind everyone of the enormity of
the task thats lying ahead for the Foundation. As Mr. Davis and Horning have
pointed out that US already has a very good representation, its the
Headquarter and the base for the foundation. The point of having chapters is
to present a decentralized structure and proper representation for all the
communities, US I think is well covered in that regard. There could be
Local, State-level organization if there is an interest by the community,
but should the focus be on US states or entire countries or even continents
that have no representation right now.

Now, compare the current situation to lets say India for example- you are
talking about more than a billion people and the size of a sub-continent not
being represented at all (the chapter formation is underway) and even once
completed, a single chapter will represent more than a billion people same
could be argued on different levels for Brazil or the Middle-east for that
matter. The entire country of Russia has just one chapter, not to mention
that there is currently no representation from the entire Continent of South
Africa, a meeting in Johannesburg recently took the first steps towards
changing that but its still a far way from Northern and Southern California
divide. Even in terms of North America, Canada and mexico have no
representation right now even while having large Wikimedian communities
present.

I think that US representation should be the least of the concern for the
foundation, a PR campaign to clarify and promote would always be helpful
especially with all the recent misunderstandings but with all the university
collaborations and outreach projects and research related to Wikipedia going
on in the US, I don't think representation is an issue.

Regards

Salmaan


On Mon, Aug 23, 2010 at 4:20 AM, Jon Davis <wiki at konsoletek.com> wrote:

> 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
> > > > _______________________________________________
> > > > foundation-l mailing list
> > > > foundation-l at lists.wikimedia.org
> > > > Unsubscribe:
> https://lists.wikimedia.org/mailman/listinfo/foundation-l
> > > >
> > > _______________________________________________
> > > foundation-l mailing list
> > > foundation-l at lists.wikimedia.org
> > > Unsubscribe: https://lists.wikimedia.org/mailman/listinfo/foundation-l
> > >
> > _______________________________________________
> > foundation-l mailing list
> > foundation-l at lists.wikimedia.org
> > Unsubscribe: https://lists.wikimedia.org/mailman/listinfo/foundation-l
> >
>
>
>
> --
> Jon
> [[User:ShakataGaNai]] / KJ6FNQ
> http://snowulf.com/
> http://ipv6wiki.net/
> _______________________________________________
> foundation-l mailing list
> foundation-l at lists.wikimedia.org
> Unsubscribe: https://lists.wikimedia.org/mailman/listinfo/foundation-l
>

More information about the foundation-l mailing list