Let me echo the call for more frequent, substantive updates from the board. Articles about the controversy are on Ars Techinca http://arstechnica.com/tech-policy/2016/01/editors-demand-ouster-of-wikimedia-board-member-involved-in-no-poach-deal and the BBC http://www.bbc.com/news/technology-35411208, and have made it to the front page of Reddit https://www.reddit.com/r/technology/comments/42r7t3/wikipedia_editors_revolt_vote_no_confidence_in/. This has gone beyond diminishing the staff's and community's trust in the board and is now damaging the image of the entire movement. The idea that "Wikipedia is something special" where integrity and transparency are priorities has attracted editors, donors, and employees. Let's not lose that.
-Elliott
On Tue, Jan 26, 2016 at 12:28 PM, Lodewijk lodewijk@effeietsanders.org wrote:
Hi Alice,
thanks for the update. It's been quite a while - and you don't seem to give a clear time table for further updates. The silence is damaging, and I hope it goes away quickly, allowing some honest conversation. I can understand that you want full information, but please also note that the conversation in the community continues, with or without the board (whether we like it or not) - and I'd prefer your voices of reason to be part of that. Could you at least check back every few days to confirm you're still discussing it, that there's still investigation going on, etc? For us, it is hard to differentiate between nothing going on, or busy discussions in a backroom.
After this all is over, maybe it is good to sit back, and consider some kind of protocol or standard approach for a next time - because there always will be a next time.
Best, Lodewijk
On Tue, Jan 26, 2016 at 9:14 PM, Alice Wiegand awiegand@wikimedia.org wrote:
Dear all, the Board has read your messages and is discussing the concerns you have raised about Arnnon Geshuri’s appointment. We need to consider all information and we have conversations among ourselves. Arnnon and the
board
are listening to your worries and talking with community members, considering people's opinions and his own next steps.
In the recent round of appointments, the Board identified that we needed support and expertise in two areas: financial oversight and planning, and human resources. Kelly and Arnnon were identified through the process, reviewed alongside other nominees, and selected as finalists based on
their
expertise and backgrounds. We all agreed they were excellent candidates
and
people, and supported their progress as finalists.
We understand this conversation will continue, and we will continue to monitor it. However, we want to be clear that the Board approved Arnnon unanimously and still believes he is a valuable member of the team.
Please see this as a brief update. We owe you a more detailed response,
and
we plan to come back to you with more information soon.
Alice.
-- Alice Wiegand Board of Trustees Wikimedia Foundation
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