[Foundation-l] Notice of the results of the WMF Board ofTrustees election

[Aphaia]

Hello,
first, for the record, I'll take a wikibreak ... in the next week a
full break, so this is also your reminder for my leave.
/me is lazy principle

On 7/13/07, Florence Devouard <Anthere9 at yahoo.com> wrote:
> Brianna Laugher wrote:
> > Philippe, my message was about the Board (WMF) and the not the
> > Election Committee, which I think did a very good job in difficult
> > circumstances.
> >
> > cheers
> > Brianna
>
> So, if I read you well, you consider that the fact the notices were not
> translated in languages such as arabic and chinese, should be blamed on
> the board.

For the record, not quoted though, Brianna mentioned to Arabic and
Turkish, not Chinese. And Chinese team did a great job. In Chinese,
almost the whole set of documents issued by the Eleccom is available.
I'd thank Hillgentleman and Yuyu as well as Theodoranian who let us
lend his Wikimania team for this purpose.

The question if lack of translation affects participation has been
unanswered. Now I think it depends. Actually turnout of Turkish and
Arabic is not so bad. It may be a factor but not adequate condition,
hopefully.

Rather I would point out that there were complaints about the lack of
translation/information in their languages from the community which
had actually all relevant document in their own languages. For
example, French, German and Japanese. We would find here a serious
mind-set against "anglo-centrism of WMF" which I doubt if it is so bad
as imagined, and also a possibility of improvement, as well as a
mind-set around approval voting (it is discouraging, many people seem
to be confused it with "voting for three and only" scheme, while it is
repeatedly said "you can vote as many as you wish").

> What do you suggest that the board does in the future ?

Not only the board, but also community including committees, each
individual or even third party including chapters as sister
organization will be able to do in the future for the better
representation of the community - it is a worthy question to think, I
think.

> That the board pays translators ?

Very seriously saying, I think it would be a possible option as well
as other possible opinions like "call for external volunteering
translators with a promise of [official] certificate from the
Communications Committee / WMF". We need to solve some relevant
problems to do so, though. I contacted Sabine for seeking the
possibility for recruitment in the latter way, but unluckily she
seemed to be on a wikibreak at that time. But anyway seeking for other
solutions will be great for improving our current situation, even as a
brainstorming.

So see you again in weeks,
Cheers,

-- 
KIZU Naoko
  Wikiquote: http://wikiquote.org
  * habent enim emolumentum in labore suo *