The creation of one or more learning patterns could be good here. Please see https://meta.wikimedia.org/wiki/Learning_patterns.
Pine On Sun, Jun 25, 2017 at 11:07 AM, Ellie Young <[email protected]> wrote: > I think the centralized place on meta is a great idea so we could put > tips, samples, and maybe even an 'advice line' for people who might be able > to help someone in a particular region. If someone wants to start this > I'd be happy to add, edit, etc. > > Ellie > > > On Sat, Jun 24, 2017 at 5:47 AM, Amir Ladsgroup <[email protected]> > wrote: > >> As a person who missed three events because of rejection of visa (one >> Wikimania, one Wikimedia Hackathon, one WikiArabia) and missed two other >> because couldn't event get an appointment with the embassy (DevSummits) I >> want to share my experience here. There is three parties involved in this >> case: >> >> - Participants: >> -- If you are going to another country that has strict visa rules, you >> should be prepared and know what can go wrong. Usually make a group of >> people who are more experienced in Wikimedia events and ask them for help. >> This helped me in some events to get visa without trouble. One case I >> remember was when the invitation letter was from WMF and not the local >> chapter. It caused rejection of visa before me and once I knew it, I fixed >> it. >> -- Be prepared for other options. For example, for Esino Lario one of my >> friends missed the event because he couldn't get appointment with the >> embassy, when I knew this is a problem, I tried the German embassy and got >> the visa ready in time. (Per Schengen laws, you need to make requests to >> the country you will stay the most, so I stayed in Germany for 11 days and >> Italy for 8 days to make things legal) >> -- If you have an interview to justify your visa, definitely mention >> Wikipedia. People don't know what WMF is but all know Wikipedia and have >> positive feelings. >> -- I know it's hard but let go sometimes: I decided not to go at this >> year's Wikimania just because the visa process is horrible and I need to >> travel to Turkey at least twice. Even though I know I miss a great event >> but let's hope to meet them soon. >> >> -WMF: >> -- I know WMF is busy but I mentioned this several times to legal, >> support and safety and some other teams. People like me have problem going >> to events and there should be support for them. Two things were always said >> and I don't know why it's not being done, 1- Prepare a centralized place >> (probably in meta) so people share experience to help newbies to get visa >> documents right. I have seen lots of problems in the documents my friends >> need to prepare for the visa and helped them to get it right before it gets >> rejected but I had to meet them in person and it's an exclusive club of >> people I know. I want to open this knowledge to others. >> -- The other option I always mentioning is support for getting one >> multiple entries visa instead of getting one visa for each event, This is >> very true for European events. This would make life of lots of people way >> easier. >> >> Local chapters: >> -- When there is a Wikimania, a local chapter will be handling process >> of visa for lots of countries with different issues. Sometimes they handle >> it perfectly and other problems might be the reason for rejection but >> sometimes I need to come back to them and ask for more documents which >> increases the chance of rejection or visa not being issued in time. They >> usually consult with an immigration lawyer before the process, this needs >> to be increased and WMF needs to make sure these consults happen. >> >> Sorry for the long email. I hope this would be helpful for you. >> >> Best >> >> >> On Sat, Jun 24, 2017 at 1:51 PM Ilario valdelli < >> [email protected]> wrote: >> >>> On 24/06/2017 02:00, Ellie Young wrote: >>> >>> >>> >>> On Fri, Jun 23, 2017 at 2:10 PM, Gabriel Thullen <[email protected]> >>> wrote: >>> >>>> I have a few comments: >>>> 1) >>>> We do not know how the Montreal venue was selected for Wikimania. >>>> Jean-Philippe said: >>>> "A "Wikimania Montreal Committee", now defunct, was behind the request >>>> to WMF to have Wikimania in Montreal and they did not coordinate with the >>>> chapter in doing this." >>>> The situation there is obviously more complicated than what is being >>>> said so I will not dwell on that. What disturbs me is that the Montreal bid >>>> was accepted in absence of the local chapter support. That is not >>>> acceptable. Looking back on the success of the Esino Lario event, I believe >>>> that strong local chapter and volunteer support is vital for a Wikimania >>>> event. >>>> >>> >>> Let us just say that there was confusion and communication issues with >>> the original proposers to host. The Steering Committee (including yours >>> truly) thought that Wikimedia Canada was involved. I think everyone can >>> agree how important it is for having the local chapters involved--- most >>> recently Esino Lario and Mexico City and of course South Africa coming up. >>> >>> >>> Hi Ellie, >>> This is an interesting point. I know that recently there has been a >>> decision to have Wikimania's organization notified two years in advance, >>> but this model can only work if there is a "local group" with a mature >>> organization. Two years are too many for a local "extemporary" >>> committee. >>> >>> A chapter (with at least a small staff) is something that can assure a >>> commitment for two years and can support efficiently a local group (and >>> perhaps to save the organization in case of withdrawal). >>> >>> Basically the two year model cannot be disconnected from a *mature* >>> local organization as a chapter, otherwise the model will not work. >>> >>> But at this point is also interesting to know how big may be the impact >>> on a chapter. The organization of an event like Wikimania is something >>> fascinating, but at the same time it's more than a "stress test" for a >>> chapter. >>> >>> Kind regards >>> >>> -- >>> Ilario Valdelli >>> Wikimedia CH >>> Verein zur Förderung Freien Wissens >>> Association pour l’avancement des connaissances libre >>> Associazione per il sostegno alla conoscenza libera >>> Switzerland - 8008 Zürich >>> Tel: +41764821371 <+41%2076%20482%2013%2071>http://www.wikimedia.ch >>> >>> >>> >>> <https://www.avast.com/sig-email?utm_medium=email&utm_source=link&utm_campaign=sig-email&utm_content=emailclient> >>> Mail >>> priva di virus. www.avast.com >>> <https://www.avast.com/sig-email?utm_medium=email&utm_source=link&utm_campaign=sig-email&utm_content=emailclient> >>> <#m_6880580939877686418_m_-1851108117246999399_m_3850020966839007458_m_-2762511510589227394_DAB4FAD8-2DD7-40BB-A1B8-4E2AA1F9FDF2> >>> _______________________________________________ >>> Wikimania-l mailing list >>> [email protected] >>> https://lists.wikimedia.org/mailman/listinfo/wikimania-l >>> >> > > > -- > Ellie Young > Events Manager > Wikimedia Foundation > [email protected] > c. 510 701 8649 <(510)%20701-8649> > > _______________________________________________ > Wikimania-l mailing list > [email protected] > https://lists.wikimedia.org/mailman/listinfo/wikimania-l > >
_______________________________________________ Wikimania-l mailing list [email protected] https://lists.wikimedia.org/mailman/listinfo/wikimania-l
