Hi everyone,
The Affiliations Committee (AffCom) – the committee responsible for guiding
volunteers in establishing and sustaining Wikimedia chapters, thematic
organizations, and user groups – is seeking new members!
The main role of the AffCom is to guide groups of volunteers that are
interested in forming Wikimedia affiliates. We review applications from new
groups, answer questions and provide advice about the different Wikimedia
affiliation models and processes, review affiliate bylaws for compliance
with requirements and best practices, and update the Wikimedia Foundation
Board of Trustees as well as advise them on issues connected to chapters,
thematic organizations and Wikimedia user groups.
The committee consists of five to fifteen members, selected at least once
every year, to serve two-year terms. As the committee must hold mid-year
elections to replenish its members at this time, those joining the
committee during the current process will serve a slightly extended term
from July 2020 through December 2022.
AffCom continues to closely monitor the Wikimedia 2030 Strategy process
initiated in 2016. While the affiliation models continue to be discussed as
part of the broader strategy discussion, as no decisions have been made to
change the current affiliation models yet, AffCom continues to work in the
same manner with regard to affiliate recognitions and intervention support
for affiliates with issues of non-compliance in 2020. AffCom continues to
process applications for user group and chapter/thematic organization
creation, while we await the strategy next steps and begin to prepare for a
smooth transition of the committee and affiliates ecosystem to any changing
movement structures and systems in 2021.
Being a part of the AffCom requires communication with volunteers all over
the world, negotiating skills, cultural sensitivity, and the ability to
understand legal texts. We look for a mix of different skill sets in our
members.
==Responsibilities==
1.
Availability of up to 5-8 hours per month
2.
Participate in monthly one and two-hour voice/video meetings
3.
Commitment to carry out assigned tasks in a given time.
4.
Facilitate and support communications
5.
Affiliate Support and growth
== Required and Recommended Abilities, Skills, Knowledge for Affiliations
Committee Members ==
Strong interpersonal relationship among members of the committee and also
with the Wikimedia community members. Across all committee members, there
are additional relevant skills as well as requirements which help to
support the committee and its sustainability which include both required
and relevant general skills
===Required===
* Fluency in English
* Availability of up to 5 hours per week, and the time to participate in a
monthly one and two-hour voice/video meetings.
* Willingness to use one's real name in committee activities (including
contacts with current and potential affiliates) when appropriate.
* Strong track record of effective collaboration
* International orientation
===Relevant for all members===
* Public Communications (English writing and speaking skills)
* Skills in other languages are a major plus.
* Understanding of the structure and work of affiliates and the Wikimedia
Foundation.
* Documentation practices
* Interviewing experience
* Experience with, or in, an active affiliate is a major plus.
* Teamwork: Project and people management skills to coordinate and
collaborate with different parties on a shared plan and see it through to
completion.
* Problem-Solving: Ability to evaluate various solutions, consider multiple
interests and points of view, revisit unresolved issues, seek compromise
and work and communicate across languages and cultures.
Given the expectations for maintaining the course in 2020 and preparing for
potential 2021 transitions, it is important that we are also clear about
two different skill sets critical to committee support at this time. The
first skillset is oriented to understanding affiliate dynamics and
organizational development patterns to successfully process affiliate
applications for recognition; the other is oriented to conflict prevention
and intervention support for affiliates in conflict.
=== Relevant to Affiliate Recognitions===
* Administration & Attention to detail
* Readiness to participate in political discussions on the role and future
of affiliates, models of affiliation, and similar topics.
* Awareness of the affiliates ecosystem and models and understanding of
community building, organizational development, and group dynamics
===Relevant to Conflict Prevention & Intervention===
* Communication skills for active listening, clear instruction and
turn-taking.
* Stress Management skills for maintaining patience and positivity
* Emotional intelligence to maintain awareness of emotions of oneself and
others to practice empathy,
impartiality, and mutual respect.
* Facilitation, negotiation, and mediation skills to guide diverse
individuals and groups toward cooperation.
* Ability to work within a team
Do you have relevant skills and an interest to support movement affiliates?
We are looking for people who are excited by the challenge of empowering
volunteers to get organized and form communities that further our mission
around the world. In exchange, committee members selected will gain the
experience of supporting their world-wide colleagues to develop their
communities as well as personal development in guiding organizational
development, facilitating affiliate partnerships, and professional
communications.
==Selection process==
As a reflection of our commitment to openness, transparency, and bilateral
engagement with the Wikimedia community, the 2020 member selection process
will include a public review and comment period. Along with this, in order
to facilitate the process of nomination peruse, we are introducing a self
assessment survey for candidates to share about their skills and their
experience. This self assessment information will help the committee to
identify the skill sets relevant and supportive to our affiliate support
processes. We invite you to apply for membership to the committee and join
us in supporting the affiliates. The data shared in the self assessment
will be only be made available to the committee and the relevant staff
support The nomination,candidate Q&A, and endorsementswill still take place
posted on Meta for public review at
https://meta.wikimedia.org/wiki/Affiliations_Committee/Candidates/June_2020.
Here the global community is welcome to provide comments and feedback about
each candidate.
Once the nomination window closes June 30, 2020, the sitting members who
are not candidates for re-election in this cycle, will deliberate and then
vote, taking into account all inputs from the meta page, self assessment,
advisors, Wikimedia Foundation staff and board liaisons, and committee
member discussion.
A final decision will be made in late-July 2020, with new members to be
notified for onboarding in August.
Respectfully,
Rosie Stephenson-Goodknight (she/her)
Chair, Affiliations Committee