[Foundation-l] Fwd: Wikimedia Brasil + WMF

[Ray Saintonge]

I find this all very sad.  Who are the Brazilian volunteers, and how 
effectively do they represent the views of those Brazilians who are 
truly interested in Wikipedia in their country. The simple fact is that 
an agreement entered into by an ad hoc group binds no-one except the 
individuals that sign it.

At one time a chapter was authorized for Brazil, but a refusal to build 
a legal structure led to the withdrawal of the authorization. It may 
seem like so much paperwork and bureaucracy, but there are times when a 
legal structure is essential for moving forward.

I think that developing such a legal entity should be a high priority 
for Brazilian Wikipedians to ensure that Wiki activities in Brazil are 
controlled by Brazilians. At the same time I don't think there is any 
value to having a WMF appointee on your board; such a person would find 
it difficult to function under circumstances of perpetual conflict of 
interest.  No other chapter has such a clause.

Ray


On 08/27/11 12:11 PM, CasteloBranco wrote:
> For your information
>
> The Brazilian community is offering WMF a letter of agreement, which was
> collaboratively written.
> After the Brazilian participants shared their experience on what
> happened in Haifa, the whole community had one week to discuss and edit
> the content, which is now available on Meta.[1]
>
> Castelo
> [[:m:User:Castelobranco]]
> Wikimedia Brasil
>
> [1]
> http://meta.wikimedia.org/wiki/Proposed_letter_of_agreement_between_Wikimedia_Foundation_and_Brazilian_volunteers
>
>
>    Proposed letter of agreement between Wikimedia Foundation and
>    Brazilian volunteers
>
> On August 5, 2011, during Wikimania 2011
> <http://br.wikimedia.org/wiki/Brasil_no_Wikimania/2011>, on Haifa,
> Israel, a meeting between Wikimedia Brasil and Wikimedia Foundation was
> held. The meeting, which was also attended by representatives of
> Wikimedia Portugal and Wikimedia Argentina, provided a discussion about
> the ongoing Wikimedia Projects in Brazil and the interaction between the
> future WMF office in the country and the local chapter.
>
>
> The understanding of Brazilian members along the meeting was that:
>
>   1. Brazil is a strategic priority for Wikimedia Foundation.
>   2. Wikimedia Foundation will set up an office in Brazil in order to
>      stimulate the development of projects to increase the penetration of
>      Wikipedia in Brazil. This process was already launched with the
>      search for locations, hiring lawyers and the search for a
>      professional to manage it.
>   3. Wikimedia Foundation understands that the Brazilian community and,
>      thus, the chapter under formation still doesn't have the capacity to
>      be completely self-managed.
>   4. Wikimedia Foundation aims to develop the existing programs in
>      Brazil, like "Campus Ambassadors", though it still doesn't have a
>      specific development program for Brazil.
>   5. Wikimedia Foundation wants to conduct researches about the lusophone
>      community.
>   6. Wikimedia Foundation already has liaisons with Brazilian
>      organizations, like /"Positivo"/.
>   7. The members of the Brazilian community want to colaborate with
>      Wikimedia Foundation.
>   8. The members of the legal chapter under formation are afraid of
>      losing the legitimacy of the local community among society after the
>      establishment of the WMF office. Wikimedia Brasil has apprehension
>      of not having control over what was raised locally, and of the loss
>      of sources of revenue due to internal competition.
>
>
> Based on this understanding, participant members of the Brazilian
> community decided to:
>
>   1. Support the creation of Wikimedia Foundation office in Brazil which,
>      as explained at the meeting, will have the goal of fostering the
>      realization of partnerships and events with the community and the
>      external audiences, provisionally and until the local chapter have
>      enough structure to develop such activities directly.
>   2. Suggest that the office maintains goals to work for the development
>      of the local community and not only fundraising or the realization
>      of business agreements.
>   3. Recommend to Wikimedia Foundation that its activites in Brazil are
>      achieved with maximum transparency and envolvement of Wikimedia
>      Brasil, allowing the local volunteers to participate at the various
>      stages of ongoing projects and also in those that will be launched
>      at the country.
>   4. Recommend to Wikimedia Foundation that its goals and existing plans
>      to Brazil are shared with Wikimedia Brasil.
>   5. Recommend to Wikimedia Foundation to orientate its projects,
>      partnerships and possible proposals of interested sponsors to the
>      local chapter, giving some opportunity to Wikimedia Brasil.
>   6. Propose the creation of a tatical planning for Brazil, based on
>      Wikimedia's strategic planning, with the participation of WMF office
>      and Wikimedia Brasil for the construction of a development program
>      to Brazil.
>   7. Propose to Wikimedia Foundation to make room available in its WMF
>      office directorship, provided by statue, for a chosen Wikimedia
>      Brasil representative, consequently, chosen by the local community.
>      Or, that the Wikimedia Foundation enjoy the legal chapter structure
>      of Wikimedia Brasil to seek its goals; We want to offer the position
>      of one director on our legal chapter, provided by statue, to
>      Wikimedia Foundation.
>   8. Assist the establishment of the office with the volunteer
>      participation of Wikimedia Brasil in activities of organization and
>      achievement of knowledge inherent to local peculiarities, such as:
>      contracting services, choice of location and understanding of the
>      legislation.
>   9. Assist in the construction of a portfolio of activities and in the
>      resources search to achieve the same.
> 10. Suggest to Wikimedia Foundation to stimulate the existing activites
>      of Wikimedia Brasil and possibly the model of /"Mutirões"/.
>
>
> Wikimedia Brasil
>