[Wikimedia-l] AffComs $40,000 Hong Kong junket

[Lodewijk]

I don't think it is trivial either, and having a discussion is fine.
However, the bigger discussion is perhaps more relevant - because AffCom is
simply following WMF policy here, which is in place for many employees,
board members (and others? not sure).

So I think there are two relevant discussions to be had: First of all,
whether there should be an AffCom meeting at all. Fair question of course.
(analogous you could wonder if certain chapters should really send a
representative to Wikimania from their budget, whether certain employees
really should be there and whether all chapters should be present at the
Chapters meeting - all fair discussions to be had in their time, too). The
second relevant question is, in my opinion, whether the WMF travel policy
is good, proportional etc. This policy has mostly received criticism from
two sides - some think it is too elaborate, and WMF should get 'less
luxury' (again fair discussion, but we should then focus on the whole
question) - another criticism is that it should be equalized for all
Wikimedia-sponsored trips, including individual engagement grants, trips to
the chapters meeting etc. When this question was brought up last time, I
believe it was Sue who mentioned that this would simply result in much less
travel and participation. Again, a fair question.

Personally, I feel that WMF Committee (and board) members should not be
treated to a lower standard than staff members, simply because they are not
being paid for their work. But maybe I'm the only one in thát opinion
though...

Lodewijk


2013/5/14 Andrea Zanni <zanni.andrea84 at gmail.com>

> On Tue, May 14, 2013 at 12:30 AM, David Gerard <dgerard at gmail.com> wrote:
>
> > https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Parkinson%27s_law_of_triviality
>
>
> I don't really think this is a triviality.
> Cents and single dollars of chapters are weighted and analyzed,
> FDC and GACs nitpicks and their goal is to assure that donor moneys is not
> wasted.
> We all know that there are issues on that and a lot of chapters had to work
> hard to be able to draw their budget, and receive their money.
>
> 40'000 $ for Wikimania travels are a lot, especially compared to the travel
> budget of chapters. Period.
> I would assume that WMF and the Board budgets should be reasonably
> proportional to chapters ones.
> Maybe I'm the only one, though.
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