Hi everyone,
I'm pleased to announce that the Wikimedia Foundation's Annual Plan is now
on Meta.[1]
This year we are continuing to adhere to the three strategic priorities
laid out in the 2016-2018 interim strategic plan: reach, communities, and
knowledge.
Across the organization, we've introduced cross-departmental programs and
planning, with a holistic approach to program support that draws on our
community, technical, and other capacities. We feel that this new approach
creates stronger and better outcomes for programs, and is also clearer as
to what the Foundation is prioritizing. Some examples of these
cross-departmental programs include New Readers, Structured Data, and
Community Health, which have been discussed on this list and on wiki
throughout the past year.
Throughout the rest of the organization and department programs, we're
continuing to invest in the areas we identified through the 2016-2018
interim strategic plan, as well as core work such as operational
improvements, deepening diversity and inclusion, improving privacy and
security, and funding the Wikimedia endowment.
Thank you all for your support over the past year. Your participation in
the movement strategy process launched this year is deeply appreciated, and
it is remarkable to think that next year's plan will begin to incorporate
the directions we design together.
In the meanwhile, I'm looking forward to your feedback on this year's
proposed plan during this open comment period.
Yours,
Katherine
[1] https://meta.wikimedia.org/wiki/Wikimedia_Foundation_Annual_
Plan/2017-2018/Draft
--
Katherine Maher
Wikimedia Foundation
149 New Montgomery Street
San Francisco, CA 94105
+1 (415) 839-6885 ext. 6635
+1 (415) 712 4873
kmaher(a)wikimedia.org
REMINDER: This meeting starts in 30 minutes.
*Update/change to Movement update:* As noted in the March meeting invite,
we are changing the movement update section of the metrics meeting. For the
April meeting, we will be having a lightning talk-inspired movement update
where Wikimedia community member(s) will share a brief summary of a recent
community project, story, or other activity. More details about other
community stories, projects, and initiatives in the movement will be
available in the appendix of the metrics meeting deck.
On Thu, Apr 20, 2017 at 3:12 PM, Lena Traer <ltraer(a)wikimedia.org> wrote:
> Hello everyone,
>
> The next Wikimedia Foundation metrics and activities meeting will take
> place on Thursday, April 27, 2017 at 6:00 PM UTC (11 AM PDT). The IRC
> channel is #wikimedia-office on irc.freenode.net, and the meeting will be
> broadcast as a live YouTube stream.
>
> The theme of the April meeting is: “Wikimedia for the world” (part 2) –
> understanding how we can better serve and include people around the world
> in the Wikimedia movement. Because we had so many timely and relevant
> stories from around the movement related to this theme, we chose to use
> this theme for the April meeting as well.
>
> Meeting agenda:
>
> * Welcomes, theme introduction
> * Movement update
> * New Readers update
> * Exploring the world of Wikipedia in indigenous languages of Latin America
> * Movement strategy update
> * Questions and discussion
> * Wikilove
>
> Please review
> https://meta.wikimedia.org/wiki/Wikimedia_Foundation_
> metrics_and_activities_meetings
> for further information about the meeting and how to participate.
>
> We’ll post the video recording publicly after the meeting.
>
> Thank you,
> Lena
>
> Lena Traer
> Project Assistant // Communications // Advancement
> Wikimedia Foundation
>
*April 27, 2017 metrics meeting -- Movement update Appendix *
Wikipedia for Peace
* A camp where Wikipedians come together for 10 days, share food and a
space to live, and edit Wikipedia on topics related to Pacifism.
* 3 years of trajectory, started in 2015 by Wikimedia Österreich, in
partnership with Service Civil International.
* Average of 15 participants in both camps; in 2016: 1.5x more languages,
6x more articles created, 2.5x more media added.
* In 2017, there was a training in March, and the next camps are expected
to take place in July in Berlin and Austria.
* More information: https://meta.wikimedia.org/wiki/Wikipedia_for_Peace
WikiFundi
* A software that provides an offline editing environment that mimics the
Wikipedia environment.
* WikiFundi allows for training and contribution when technology, access
and electricity outages fail or are not available at all.
* Launched in the second half of 2016, outreach to schools, distributing
the software, and launch of writing contest.
* Distributed via WikiPack Africa project.
* More information: https://meta.wikimedia.org/wiki/WikiFundi/en
Hi all,
I am writing to share some news about the leadership of our Legal
department at the Wikimedia Foundation. Over the last eight months, we’ve
worked to identify a permanent General Counsel for the Wikimedia
Foundation. I am delighted to share that we have found a new General
Counsel, Eileen Hershenov. I am sad to say that our respected colleague
and friend Michelle Paulson has decided this is a good time to move on to
something new.
*Michelle moving on*
Michelle Paulson, who has been serving as interim General Counsel, has
decided that after nine years it is time to move on from the Wikimedia
Foundation. Michelle has made her mark here: she served as interim General
Counsel twice; created our legal fellowship program, pushed to make key
policies more user-friendly and aligned with our core values; protected the
office, organization, and volunteers from threats; helped built a new
Foundation public policy program; vigorously and passionately defended the
privacy and security of our users; advocated for truly inclusive policies
and recruiting practices; and acted as a steadfast voice and advocate for
the values which make our movement possible.
Michelle’s brilliance, humor, professionalism, and determination have
fundamentally shaped our organization and movement. We will miss her
immensely, and I look forward to seeing what she will achieve in the name
of justice, equity, openness, and opportunity.
*Eileen Hershenov joining our movement*
Today I would like to introduce you to Eileen Hershenov, who will join us
as General Counsel on May 8th.
Eileen has nearly 30 years of experience in media and intellectual property
law, as well as in civil rights and civil liberties law, not-for-profit law
and governance, and privacy and cyber-security. She is passionately
committed to values that make our movement possible: free expression,
access to knowledge, freedom of association and an internet that embodies
the open-source movement and that resists censorship and surveillance.
Throughout her career, she has applied these values to her work with a
unique focus on grassroots organizing and advocacy.
Previously, Eileen served as Vice President and General Counsel for
Consumers Union, the not-for-profit publisher of Consumer Reports magazine
and ConsumerReports.org, for 10 years. In that role, she worked with tens
of thousands of volunteers in the organization’s advocacy programs. Before
Consumer Reports she spent 11 years at the Open Society Foundations, where
she served as the General Counsel to the global foundation network,
overseeing the legal work of the foundations in close to 40 countries
across the globe.
Eileen was also the founding general counsel for the Central European
University,[1] the first U.S.-accredited liberal arts university located in
a former Communist country. She has worked for the American Civil Liberties
Union and the NOW Legal Defense Fund. Most recently, she has been working
at Miller Korzenik Sommers Rayman LLP, a media law firm, and serving on the
boards of a number of public interest justice organizations.
*Next steps*
Eileen is based in New York City, and will relocate to San Francisco with
her family this summer. Until then, she will be commuting to the office
starting in May to begin work with the Legal team.
Transitions can feel uncertain, but I know that this movement is one that
is welcoming and appreciative of what new colleagues bring to our efforts.
We had hoped Michelle would stay with us as Deputy General Counsel, but
after nine years I think we all can appreciate the desire for a wikibreak
(and rumors of a new puppy!). In the meantime, Eileen and Michelle are
working together to ensure that we have a smooth transition and no balls
get dropped. I am so grateful to Michelle for her generosity of time,
attention, and care in working to make sure this transition supports the
Legal team, the Foundation, and the movement.
We will publish a formal public announcement closer to Eileen’s first day.
Until then, please join me in welcoming Eileen and thanking Michelle for
her years of commitment to our movement.
Yours,
Katherine
--
Katherine Maher
Wikimedia Foundation
149 New Montgomery Street
San Francisco, CA 94105
+1 (415) 839-6885 ext. 6635
+1 (415) 712 4873
kmaher(a)wikimedia.org
[Sorry for crossposting]
Hi,
Last Saturday Wikimedia Chile held their Annual General Assembly where a
new Board was elected. I'm glad to announce you the brand new board of our
Chapter, composed of 6 members, of which 3 are new.
- Marco Correa, President.
- Rocío Consales, Vicepresident.
- Carlos Figueroa, Secretary.
- Osmar Valdebenito, Treasurer.
- Dennis Tobar, Member.
- Claudio Loader, Member.
Our former Board members Sarah Chambers, Juan David Ruiz and Eduardo
Testart were not running for a new term. We are very grateful for their
service these years, specially of Juan David and Eduardo, both Board
members since the beginning of our Chapter.
Sincerely,
*Marco Correa Pérez*
President - Wikimedia Chile
http://www.wikimediachile.cl
Hello everyone,
The next Wikimedia Foundation metrics and activities meeting will take
place on Thursday, April 27, 2017 at 6:00 PM UTC (11 AM PDT). The IRC
channel is #wikimedia-office on irc.freenode.net, and the meeting will be
broadcast as a live YouTube stream.
The theme of the April meeting is: “Wikimedia for the world” (part 2) –
understanding how we can better serve and include people around the world
in the Wikimedia movement. Because we had so many timely and relevant
stories from around the movement related to this theme, we chose to use
this theme for the April meeting as well.
Meeting agenda:
* Welcomes, theme introduction
* Movement update
* New Readers update
* Strengthening indigenous language Wikipedias in Latin America
* Movement strategy update
* Questions and discussion
* Wikilove
Please review
https://meta.wikimedia.org/wiki/Wikimedia_Foundation_metrics_and_activities…
for further information about the meeting and how to participate.
We’ll post the video recording publicly after the meeting.
Thank you,
Lena
Lena Traer
Project Assistant // Communications // Advancement
Wikimedia Foundation
Please accept our apologies for cross-posting this message.
On behalf of the Wikimedia Foundation Board Elections Committee, I am pleased to announce that self-nominations are now being accepted for the 2017 Wikimedia Foundation Board of Trustees Elections.[1]
The Board of Trustees (Board) is the decision-making body that is ultimately responsible for the long-term sustainability of the Wikimedia Foundation,[2] so we value wide input into its selection. More information about this role can be found at <https://meta.wikimedia.org/wiki/Wikimedia_Foundation_elections/2017/Board_o…>. Please read the letter from the Board of Trustees calling for candidates here: <https://meta.wikimedia.org/wiki/Wikimedia_Foundation_elections/2017/Board_o…>.
The candidacy submission phase will last from April 7 (00:00 UTC) to April 20 (23:59 UTC) and occurring on Meta-Wiki at <https://meta.wikimedia.org/wiki/Wikimedia_Foundation_elections/2017/Board_o…>
We will also be accepting questions to ask the candidates from April 7 to April 20. You can submit your questions on Meta-Wiki at <https://meta.wikimedia.org/wiki/Wikimedia_Foundation_elections/2017/Board_o…>
Once the questions submission period has ended on April 20, the Elections Committee will then collate the questions for the candidates to respond to beginning on April 21.
The goal of this process is to fill the three community-selected seats on the Wikimedia Foundation Board of Trustees. The election results will be used by the Board itself to select its new members.
The full schedule for the Board elections is as follows. All dates are inclusive, that is, from the beginning of the first day (UTC) to the end of the last.
* April 7 (00:00 UTC) - April 20 (23:59 UTC): Board nominations
* April 7 - April 20: Board candidates questions submission period
* April 21 - April 30: Board candidates answer questions
* May 1 - May 14: Board voting period
* May 15-19: Board vote checking
* May 20: Board result announcement goal
In addition to the Board elections, we will also soon be holding elections for the following roles:
* Funds Dissemination Committee (FDC)
** There are five positions being filled. More information about this election can be found at <https://meta.wikimedia.org/wiki/Wikimedia_Foundation_elections/2017/Funds_D…>.
* Funds Dissemination Committee Ombudsperson (Ombuds)
** One position is being filled. More information about this election can be found at <https://meta.wikimedia.org/wiki/Wikimedia_Foundation_elections/2017/Funds_D…>.
Please note that this year the Board of Trustees elections will be held before the FDC and Ombuds elections. Candidates who are not elected to the Board are explicitly permitted and encouraged to submit themselves as candidates to the FDC or Ombuds positions after the results of the Board elections are announced.
More information on this year's elections can be found at <https://meta.wikimedia.org/wiki/Wikimedia_Foundation_elections/2017>.
Please feel free to post a note about the election on your project's village pump. Any questions related to the election can be posted on the talk page on Meta, or sent to the election committee's mailing list, <board-elections AT wikimedia.org>.
On behalf of the Election Committee,
Katie Chan, Chair, Board Election Committee
Joe Sutherland, Community Advocate, Wikimedia Foundation
PS. An on-wiki version of this message is available for translation at: https://meta.wikimedia.org/wiki/Wikimedia_Foundation_elections/2017/Updates…
[1] https://meta.wikimedia.org/wiki/Wikimedia_Foundation_elections/2017/Board_o…
[2] https://meta.wikimedia.org/wiki/Wikimedia_Foundation_Board_of_Trustees
--
Joe Sutherland
Community Advocate
Wikimedia Foundation
Dear all,
We would like to let you know that WMDE has just received the audit of
our financial statement for the fiscal year 2016, which led to no
reservations from the auditing company.
You can find the English version on Commons [1] as well as linked on
the reports page on Meta [2].
Best,
Nicole
[1] https://commons.wikimedia.org/wiki/File:Wikimedia_DE_Audited_Financial_Stat…
[2] https://meta.wikimedia.org/wiki/Reports
--
Nicole Ebber
Adviser International Relations
Movement Strategy Track Lead: Organized Groups
Wikimedia Deutschland - Gesellschaft zur Förderung Freien Wissens e.
V. Eingetragen im Vereinsregister des Amtsgerichts
Berlin-Charlottenburg unter der Nummer 23855 B. Als gemeinnützig
anerkannt durch das Finanzamt für Körperschaften I Berlin,
Steuernummer 27/029/42207.