Risker and Brion: I very much agree with the principles you're stating, and am coming to realize I should have framed my message differently. There has actually been quite a lot of discussion of what the problems are, and I am basing my suggestions on the ones that I've personally seen a lot of attention to. Namely (as I stated, in part, above): * It might take a very long time to get a new ED, which would be bad * We might get an ED who does not effectively absorb information and values from staff and community * Appointing an interim ED in a hurry (one month) might not bring us somebody who's best for the long term * Funders (both institutions and individuals) might be skeptical about giving, due to recent issues * On Point #6, a great deal of work has already been done on identifying problems here, and I look forward to seeing more synthesis etc. on wiki: https://meta.wikimedia.org/wiki/Wikimedia_Foundation_transparency_gap
There is, I agree, much more work to be done in identifying and clarifying further problems we should be looking to address. But from what I've read and heard, there seems to be some pretty strong consensus around the problems I've identified above; and ideally, I would have stated that out in an intro to my message. If there is *disagreement* on those issues, I think it would be good to hear it. Along with you, I welcome further deliberation of what the problems are that should be solved, and if I suggested otherwise I regret giving that impression. I strongly hope and believe, though, that the Board is already working to address the subset of rather obvious problems that is at least similar to what I listed above. Those problems need to be addressed quickly, and I believe it's best if various stakeholders in the Wikimedia vision -- not just the 9 members of the Board -- weigh in on the best way to address them. If there is a consensus that we shouldn't do that here in public, I can take it off this list; but speaking for myself, I'd like to see some public deliberation and consensus-building about more immediate steps, rather than a bunch of individual efforts to lobby the Board. I don't intend any of this to be a total solution. Regarding Keegan's response, of course there is always a seat at the table! But I appreciate your speaking up about it. Still, my list is very much influenced by what I have heard from staff, board, etc. over many months -- so it's not like your seat is getting cold without you. :) -Pete [[User:Peteforsyth]] On Fri, Feb 26, 2016 at 5:27 PM, Brion Vibber <[email protected]> wrote: > Strong +1 to Risker. > > Collecting ideas to work more on as we move forward: YES. Keeping the > constructive attitude and opened comm channels I've seen here and and among > staff internally: YES. > > But let's be deliberate, and considerate. We do have to learn and process > before we implement anything. > > That all said I think I'm approaching my monthly list message quota, so I'm > probably going to quiet down on list for a bit as I talk to people in SF. > :) > > I'll be making public-side notes on meta under my user page. > > -- brion > On Feb 26, 2016 4:59 PM, "Risker" <[email protected]> wrote: > > > I think in fairness that it is not just staff who are feeling this is all > > moving too fast. The overwhelming majority of community members, and in > > particular community members who don't read and speak English fluently, > are > > likely to be pretty overwhelmed right now too. > > > > > > I am concerned that what we are seeing right now are a whole pile of > > solutions when we haven't yet worked out what the actual problems are. > > This is actually quite a bad thing, because it creates a climate where > > people come to a conclusion about what to do before they have worked out > > whether or not it is solving a problem, creating a different problem, > > "fixing" a non-existent problem, or immaterial to the actual problems. > > > > Let's work out what went wrong before we really start pushing what we > think > > will make things right. The foundation is not a wiki where quick and > easy > > corrections are considered the norm; in fact, based on the concerns of > some > > that strategy changed practically on a quarterly basis, some slow > > considered thinking is probably called for. The Wikimedia movement has > not > > had time to catch up with current events and certainly doesn't need > > solutions before it's barely worked out why there's a trainwreck on the > > mailing list. And...perhaps most importantly.... we are talking about > real > > people here. The board and executives, the staff, the community > > members....we're all people. Moving too fast without figuring out what > the > > actual issues are is harmful to the human beings here. > > > > The collective "we" have not had time to understand the problems. Quite a > > few of the "solutions" I've seen on this list in the last 24-48 hours are > > nothing much more than personal wishlists; almost all of them are > proposing > > to solve problems that may or may not even exist. > > > > Let's work more on problem identification first. > > > > > > Risker/Anne > > > > On 26 February 2016 at 19:44, Pete Forsyth <[email protected]> > wrote: > > > > > To Oliver and Keegan -- I hear you guys loud and clear, and I am very > > aware > > > that the trauma of the last few months has taken this kind of toll. > > > Although there is of course much I don't know, I have been talking > with a > > > number of staff, board, etc. for many months now about this. So to > > whatever > > > degree it's possible to empathize without "being there," I do. > > > > > > However, I'm not trying to push things forward at a pace that's > > comfortable > > > *for me*, I'm trying to focus on things that will impact *what it's > > > possible to do*. > > > > > > The prospect of a drawn-out, even multi-year search for the next > > long-term > > > Executive Director is not a good one. The way the organization rebuilds > > > itself and sets expectations will have a huge impact on that. The > impact > > on > > > fund-raising will be felt, as well; high-profile contention around a > > grant > > > is being discussed throughout the philanthropy world, and will impact > the > > > way individual donors respond to banners, as well. > > > > > > I am confident that the Board is already turning its attention to > issues > > > like these. Many things need to be done whenever an executive director > > > leaves an organization, and there are many reasons to attend to them > in a > > > timely fashion -- without rushing through and making bad decisions. > > > > > > Individual Trustees have expressed interest and gratitude for the ideas > > > under discussion, and I appreciate knowing that they are considering > > input. > > > This list may not be the best way to reach the board, but it's a good > > place > > > to see whether there is consensus around certain ideas. > > > > > > That's what I'm trying to do. I know that forging ahead while exhausted > > > sucks, and I am not trying to push anybody faster than they want to go. > > But > > > I also think that this moment for careful deliberation shouldn't be > > missed; > > > some of the opportunities will pass by very quickly if nothing is done. > > > > > > -Pete > > > [[User:Peteforsyth]] > > > _______________________________________________ > > > Wikimedia-l mailing list, guidelines at: > > > https://meta.wikimedia.org/wiki/Mailing_lists/Guidelines > > > New messages to: [email protected] > > > Unsubscribe: https://lists.wikimedia.org/mailman/listinfo/wikimedia-l, > > > <mailto:[email protected]?subject=unsubscribe> > > > > > _______________________________________________ > > Wikimedia-l mailing list, guidelines at: > > https://meta.wikimedia.org/wiki/Mailing_lists/Guidelines > > New messages to: [email protected] > > Unsubscribe: https://lists.wikimedia.org/mailman/listinfo/wikimedia-l, > > <mailto:[email protected]?subject=unsubscribe> > _______________________________________________ > Wikimedia-l mailing list, guidelines at: > https://meta.wikimedia.org/wiki/Mailing_lists/Guidelines > New messages to: [email protected] > Unsubscribe: https://lists.wikimedia.org/mailman/listinfo/wikimedia-l, > <mailto:[email protected]?subject=unsubscribe> > _______________________________________________ Wikimedia-l mailing list, guidelines at: https://meta.wikimedia.org/wiki/Mailing_lists/Guidelines New messages to: [email protected] Unsubscribe: https://lists.wikimedia.org/mailman/listinfo/wikimedia-l, <mailto:[email protected]?subject=unsubscribe>
