Two distinct issues, I think: 1) about improving community representation in power structures, I think we have to think more about what representation we want and what structures would accomplish it. I have no answers but think we should consider looking beyond WMF alone:
https://lists.wikimedia.org/pipermail/wikimedia-l/2016-February/082703.html 2) about support for volunteers to get stuff done effectively: I'll have mostly tech-focused thoughts on that because that's where my expertise is, so you need to hear from other people who interact with a wider set of volunteers than patch contributors and the people who manage to figure out our feedback systems. :) whether that should be funded by / staffed within WMF or our other movement orgs or both is an open question. -- brion On Feb 28, 2016 11:51 AM, "David Cuenca Tudela" <[email protected]> wrote: > Brion, > so far in the discussions I have seen more weight to the idea of the WMF as > a tech provider for the community, and not so much conversation about other > roles that the organization could fulfill besides of tech / grant making. > So when you see that we are agreeing, do you mean that there should be more > power transferred to the communities and that there should be a greater > focus in empowering volunteers? > How would you increase the participation of volunteers in the direction of > the movement? And how to offer volunteers the opportunity to become more > dedicated without paying them directly? > > Cheers > Micru > > On Sun, Feb 28, 2016 at 8:10 PM, Brion Vibber <[email protected]> > wrote: > > > David, you appear to be agreeing strongly with me, not disagreeing. :) > > > > -- brion > > > > On Sunday, February 28, 2016, David Cuenca Tudela <[email protected]> > > wrote: > > > > > I am starting a new thread because I disagree with the idea that the > WMF > > > should be a high-tech organization as the other thread by Brion seemed > to > > > suggest. Yes, technology is a tool that we use in our mission to gather > > and > > > process all forms of human knowledge, but in the end the driving force > is > > > volunteership. > > > > > > Without volunteers there wouldn't be any movement and there wouldn't be > > any > > > need for tools, or any donations whatsoever. It is the concept of > working > > > for free for the common good that allows us to exist and fulfill our > > > mission. The WMF is instrumental in providing the tools for it to > happen, > > > but those tools are not only technological, they are also legal, > > > educational, and social, however when talking through computer screens > we > > > seem to forget that. > > > > > > A hi-tech tool can work for a given task or not, but there are more > > > important topics like trust, commitment, empowerment, motivation, and > joy > > > that cannot be assessed so easily, and that are at least as crucial as > > any > > > software. What is the point of having a perfect tool Z if I don't enjoy > > > working with my fellows on a common mission? > > > > > > The role of nurturing volunteers is not exclusive of affiliate > > > organizations, the WMF offer grants to volunteers and organizes several > > > gatherings. Is that enough to strengthen the volunteer community? Then > I > > > look at organizations like WOOF or workaway that thrive with full-time > > > volunteers and I wonder if more opportunities could be opened for our > > > volunteers. > > > Is there anything holding us back to try new things besides old > patterns > > of > > > participation? > > > > > > It is a challenge to do more for the volunteer community without > > resorting > > > to grants or payment, but that is the key to succeed as a volunteer > > > organization, to provide an ecosystem where personal growth is > possible. > > > > > > I am interested in hearing what others have to say about it. Maybe it > is > > > possible to gather ideas or even a team of people who wants to research > > > more information about the topic. > > > > > > Cheers, > > > Micru > > > _______________________________________________ > > > Wikimedia-l mailing list, guidelines at: > > > https://meta.wikimedia.org/wiki/Mailing_lists/Guidelines > > > New messages to: [email protected] <javascript:;> > > > Unsubscribe: https://lists.wikimedia.org/mailman/listinfo/wikimedia-l, > > > <mailto:[email protected] <javascript:;> > > > ?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> > > > > > > -- > Etiamsi omnes, ego non > _______________________________________________ > 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>
