So will there be a broader discussion about the future of the Wikimedia Conference that's open to people who are not attending?
I could certainly see a group of people in a conference hotel for a weekend deciding that they are a vital forum for important decisions about the future of the movement, but that wouldn't mean that it's a good idea to take that at face value without input from the 10,000 or so people who weren't invited to the conference. :) Chris On Wed, Oct 25, 2017 at 10:38 AM, Cornelius Kibelka <[email protected]> wrote: > Hi Lodewijk, > > One of the goals for the 2018 conference will be to come to an agreement > upon the ultimate goal, structure and set-up for the Wikimedia Conference > in the longer future. The outcomes of these conversations will also depend > on the agreements we achieve during phase 2 of the strategy process, for > example in terms of roles and responsibilities of movement organizations. > By slightly adjusting the 2018 participation criteria (we're talking about > 10 people), we do not mean to change the overall nature of the conference > for the future. It's just a quick fix for the symptoms, not a solution to > the overall. > > Best regards > Cornelius > > On 24 October 2017 at 18:29, Lodewijk <[email protected]> wrote: > >> While it is true that there are now for *some* languages also organizations >> that have it as their specific goal to support those (Amical has been doing >> that for Catalan for a long time, though), this is not the case for most >> major languages. In the whole field of affiliates, including user groups, >> most are tied to a geography, rather than other factors. >> >> Even in an outreach, engagement, communication perspective, we have always >> held off on calling the affiliates 'representative'. In this context it >> would even go a step further: it would make them *politically* >> representative. This could be particularly painful when an editing >> community does not feel represented (for example, because the user group >> that has their language as focus, if any, is the subset of users that likes >> to focus on a subset of topics that is not the focus of most of the >> community. >> >> While lines between focus areas blur, and our movement diversifies, this >> does not necessarily mean the roles changed that much. >> >> If your goal really is to make it representative, then you either have to >> make affiliates more representative, or you have to invite other people. >> >> I'm looking forward to Cornelius' response on what the underlying goal is >> for this change, because I suspect his proposed change of wording is not >> cutting it yet. >> >> Lodewijk >> >> On Tue, Oct 24, 2017 at 4:56 AM, Joseph Seddon <[email protected]> >> wrote: >> >> > The conference was born from the old affiliate model but that is not >> > representative of where we are now and for all its flaws and advantages, >> > the affiliate model has become very different. >> > >> > Affiliates in some cases really do represent, projects, languages and >> > topics to varying degrees. >> > >> > In some cases maybe affiliates really should be their local language >> > representatives. There is a difference though between representative in >> an >> > outreach, engagement or communication role with that of legal >> > representative. >> > >> > The line blurs with each passing year and particularly as affiliates gain >> > in their experience. Maybe the conference should reflect the new roles >> and >> > responsibilities being carved out by the evolving affiliate model. >> > >> > Seddon >> > >> > >> > >> > On Tue, Oct 24, 2017 at 10:45 AM, Michael Maggs <[email protected]> >> > wrote: >> > >> > > Agreed. This would change the conference significantly. Its purpose has >> > > always been to discuss matters of common interest to movement >> > > *organisations*. Organisations attend on their own behalf and not as >> > > representatives for any wider groups such as speakers of a specific >> > > language, or editors of any particular Wikipedia. >> > > >> > > Michael >> > > >> > > > On 23 Oct 2017, at 19:54, Isaac Olatunde <[email protected]> >> > > wrote: >> > > > >> > > > I share Lodewijk's concerns here. My understanding is that local >> > chapters >> > > > have no control/authority over any language community. Unless we want >> > > > language communities to be under the control of local chapters or >> user >> > > > groups, language communities should be allowed to choose their >> > > > representatives if they must be represented. >> > > > >> > > > Regards, >> > > > >> > > > Isaac. >> > > > >> > > > On Oct 23, 2017 7:16 PM, "Lodewijk" <[email protected]> >> > wrote: >> > > > >> > > > That all depends on the goals that the conference sets itself, as >> > always >> > > :) >> > > > >> > > > As I understood it, the conference is intended for structured and >> > > organized >> > > > groups, rather than to be a representative forum for the whole >> > movement. >> > > In >> > > > 2017, I understood there to be mostly two events taking place in the >> > same >> > > > location - with some overlap in program. In that sense, this was >> quite >> > a >> > > > unique situation because of the strategic process. >> > > > >> > > > The first question would be whether you accept each challenge as a >> > goal. >> > > If >> > > > being representative of the whole movement becomes the goal, the >> > > structure >> > > > probably needs to be overhauled much more, and the default invitation >> > for >> > > > all groups may have to be reconsidered. One representative from the >> > > > Japanese community wouldn't cut it, then (for example). >> > > > >> > > > On the other side, I could also imagine a different goal, which would >> > be >> > > to >> > > > fill certain gaps in input diversity from the participants. This >> could >> > be >> > > > input from certain language communities, or from certain cultures >> where >> > > we >> > > > even lack readership. This would make more sense to me - as it would >> > not >> > > > imply a representation as much. In part it would lead to a similar >> > > > consideration and outcome, but it would force you to also consider >> > other >> > > > areas where input is lacking from. For example, allied movements or >> > > project >> > > > communities beyond Wikipedia (for example, the collective of >> developing >> > > > language communities in Africa or communities that are >> > > government-blocked - >> > > > of which I'm uncertain if they are covered by affiliates). This would >> > > also >> > > > send the message to the communities you ask to send a representative >> > what >> > > > you expect of such participant (if that would indeed be your goal). >> > > > >> > > > There could be many other goals of course, that you (plural) could >> have >> > > in >> > > > mind. I'm not sure which applies best. I would suggest not to deviate >> > > from >> > > > the official line that chapters don't represent language communities, >> > > > though. That is, unless this official line has changed. >> > > > >> > > > Warmly, >> > > > Lodewijk >> > > > >> > > > On Mon, Oct 23, 2017 at 10:56 AM, Cornelius Kibelka < >> > > > [email protected]> wrote: >> > > > >> > > >> Hi Lodewijk, hi JP, >> > > >> >> > > >> Over the last years, we received the feedback that the Wikimedia >> > > > Conference >> > > >> would not be as (globally) representative as it could or should be. >> > For >> > > > the >> > > >> Wikimedia Conference 2017, several “Community Leaders” were invited >> to >> > > the >> > > >> conference to be heard for the Movement Strategy process, but the >> > > >> selection/invitation process was not as clear as it could have been. >> > > >> >> > > >> To be more representative on a global scale and to have more >> different >> > > >> people from different regions present at the conference, we needed >> > > clear, >> > > >> transparent and non arbitrary criteria. However, there is no >> solution >> > > that >> > > >> covers every possible challenge. Therefore, we chose to give this >> > > approach >> > > >> – with clear criteria – at least a try for the Wikimedia Conference >> > > 2018. >> > > >> Also, as we expect more changes in the Movement in the upcoming >> year, >> > > this >> > > >> approach is a try for 2018 only, as an overhaul of the whole concept >> > of >> > > > the >> > > >> Wikimedia Conference will be needed anyway. >> > > >> >> > > >> Additionally, I want to highlight this, because this was criticized >> in >> > > the >> > > >> past as well, all regularly eligible affiliates may send at least >> two >> > > >> representatives. >> > > >> >> > > >> I’m aware that this approach implies challenges, though. I’m happy >> to >> > > >> receive suggestions on how to come up with equally clear and >> > transparent >> > > >> criteria. >> > > >> >> > > >> Best regards, >> > > >> >> > > >> Cornelius >> > > >> >> > > >> >> > > >> On 23 October 2017 at 19:37, Jean-Philippe Béland < >> > > [email protected]> >> > > >> wrote: >> > > >> >> > > >>> I share the questions of Lodewijk >> > > >>> >> > > >>> On Mon, Oct 23, 2017, 19:22 Cornelius Kibelka, < >> > > >>> [email protected]> wrote: >> > > >>> >> > > >>>> Of course, I meant: >> > > >>>> >> > > >>>> "The registration process will start on November 24, *2017* and >> will >> > > >> end >> > > >>>> sharply (no exceptions), on January 15, 2018." >> > > >>>> >> > > >>>> Thank you >> > > >>>> Cornelius >> > > >>>> >> > > >>>> -- >> > > >>>> >> > > >>>> Cornelius Kibelka >> > > >>>> >> > > >>>> Program and Engagement Coordinator (PEC) >> > > >>>> for the Wikimedia Conference >> > > >>>> >> > > >>>> >> > > >>>> >> > > >>>> Am 23.10.2017 18:04 schrieb "Cornelius Kibelka" < >> > > >>>> [email protected]>: >> > > >>>> >> > > >>>>> Dear Wikimedians, dear representatives of Wikimedia affiliates, >> > > >>>>> >> > > >>>>> A few weeks ago, we announced that the next Wikimedia Conference >> > > > will >> > > >>>> take >> > > >>>>> place from April 20 to 22, 2018 at the Mercure Hotel in >> > > >> Berlin-Neukölln >> > > >>>>> (same location as in 2017). This email contains information about >> > > > the >> > > >>>>> program themes and the Eligibility Criteria for invited >> affiliates >> > > >>>>> including the relevant reporting deadlines. >> > > >>>>> >> > > >>>>> == Program Themes == >> > > >>>>> >> > > >>>>> As in the previous editions of the conference, the Wikimedia >> > > >> Conference >> > > >>>>> 2018 will again focus on three core themes. >> > > >>>>> >> > > >>>>> - >> > > >>>>> >> > > >>>>> Movement Strategy: In November 2017, phase 2 of the Wikimedia >> > > >>> Movement >> > > >>>>> Strategy Process will start. Its main goal will be to answer >> the >> > > >>>> question >> > > >>>>> "How do we implement the strategic direction", which means >> > > >>>> identifying the >> > > >>>>> roles and resources needed for execution, and the activities it >> > > >>>> involves. >> > > >>>>> In order to ensure participation from the organized part of the >> > > >>>> movement in >> > > >>>>> this next phase, we will again host a three-day track on >> movement >> > > >>>> strategy. >> > > >>>>> This track will be designed together with the Wikimedia >> > > >> Foundation. >> > > >>>>> - >> > > >>>>> >> > > >>>>> Partnerships in the Wikimedia Movement: Wikimedia organizations >> > > >> and >> > > >>>>> groups have a wide variety of experiences and knowledge in >> > > > working >> > > >>>> with >> > > >>>>> partners to achieve our mission. Based on the conversation at >> the >> > > >>> last >> > > >>>>> Wikimedia Conference, Wikimania, and regional Wikimedia >> > > >> conferences, >> > > >>>> we aim >> > > >>>>> to continue to offer a space for conversations, experience >> > > > sharing >> > > >>> and >> > > >>>>> learning around partnerships within and outside the Wikimedia >> > > >>>> movement. >> > > >>>>> This track will be designed together with the Wikimedia >> > > >> Foundation’s >> > > >>>> Global >> > > >>>>> Reach & Partnerships team, WMDE’s Partnerships & Development >> team >> > > >>> and >> > > >>>> the >> > > >>>>> volunteer “Partnerships group”. >> > > >>>>> - >> > > >>>>> >> > > >>>>> Capacity Building & Learning: The Wikimedia Conference >> currently >> > > >> is >> > > >>>>> one of the main spaces for learning and sharing among Wikimedia >> > > >>>> affiliates. >> > > >>>>> Again, we will host a track with sessions that are designed >> > > >>> according >> > > >>>> to >> > > >>>>> the participants’ needs, wishes and experiences. This track >> will >> > > >> be >> > > >>>>> designed in close consultation with WMF’s Learning & Evaluation >> > > >>> team, >> > > >>>> and >> > > >>>>> will complement the pre-conference Learning Days. >> > > >>>>> >> > > >>>>> >> > > >>>>> == Eligibility Criteria == >> > > >>>>> >> > > >>>>> The eligibility criteria for participating in the Wikimedia >> > > >> Conference >> > > >>>>> 2018 are aligned to the Affiliates’ Agreements with the Wikimedia >> > > >>>>> Foundation. >> > > >>>>> >> > > >>>>> Chapters, Thematic Organizations and User Groups must have shown >> > > >> signs >> > > >>> of >> > > >>>>> recent activity (within the last six months) and be up-to-date on >> > > >> their >> > > >>>>> reporting by the eligibility deadline (December 15, 2017). >> > Moreover, >> > > >>>>> affiliates need to have been officially recognized by the >> Wikimedia >> > > >>>>> Foundation before April 19, 2017. >> > > >>>>> >> > > >>>>> == Participant number regulation == >> > > >>>>> >> > > >>>>> - >> > > >>>>> >> > > >>>>> Chapters, Thematic Organizations and User Groups may send two >> > > >>>>> delegates. Chapters and Thematic Organizations which employ at >> > > >> least >> > > >>>> 0.5 >> > > >>>>> FTE by Sep 1, 2017, may send one additional delegate who is a >> > > > paid >> > > >>>> staff >> > > >>>>> member. >> > > >>>>> - >> > > >>>>> >> > > >>>>> Allied organizations may send two delegates. >> > > >>>>> - >> > > >>>>> >> > > >>>>> The biggest ten language/project communities (by numbers of >> > > > active >> > > >>>>> editors [>5 edits/month]) that are not represented by any >> > > >> affiliate, >> > > >>>> or >> > > >>>>> have an affiliate, which is not eligible because it was >> > > > recognized >> > > >>>> after >> > > >>>>> April 19, 2017, may send one delegate. >> > > >>>>> - >> > > >>>>> >> > > >>>>> As per September 2017, the biggest communities without an >> > > >>>>> (eligible) affiliate representation are the Japanese, >> > > >> Vietnamese, >> > > >>>> Tamil, >> > > >>>>> Bengali, Slovak, Croatian, Hindi and Malay, Wikimedia >> Commons >> > > >> and >> > > >>>>> Wikivoyage communities. >> > > >>>>> - >> > > >>>>> >> > > >>>>> The user groups West Bengal Wikimedians User Group (for the >> > > >>> Bengali >> > > >>>>> community), Hindi Wikimedians User Group (for the Hindi >> > > >>>> community), Wikimedia >> > > >>>>> Community User Group Malaysia (for the Malay community), as >> > > >> well >> > > >>> as >> > > >>>>> the Commons Photographers User Group (for the Wikimedia >> > > > Commons >> > > >>>>> community) and the Wikivoyage Association (for the >> Wikivoyage >> > > >>>>> communities) may send one delegate. For the language >> > > >> communities >> > > >>>> (Japanese, >> > > >>>>> Vietnamese, Tamil, Slovak, Croatian), decision finding and >> > > >> making >> > > >>>> process >> > > >>>>> on who will be the one person sent to the conference, need >> to >> > > >> be >> > > >>>> made in >> > > >>>>> the public (on-wiki). >> > > >>>>> >> > > >>>>> >> > > >>>>> == Registration timeline == >> > > >>>>> >> > > >>>>> The registration process will start on November 24, 2018 and will >> > > > end >> > > >>>>> sharply (no exceptions), on January 15, 2018. The link will be >> > > >> provided >> > > >>>> on >> > > >>>>> Meta.[1] >> > > >>>>> >> > > >>>>> If you have any questions regarding the registration process or >> the >> > > >>>>> Wikimedia Conference, please >> > > >>>> <https://maps.google.com/?q=Conference,+please&entry= >> gmail&source=g >> > > >> > > >> do >> > > >>>> not hesitate to send us an e-mail to >> > > >>>>> [email protected]. >> > > >>>>> >> > > >>>>> Warm regards, >> > > >>>>> >> > > >>>>> Daniela Gentner & Cornelius Kibelka >> > > >>>>> >> > > >>>>> Wikimedia Conference team >> > > >>>>> >> > > >>>>> [1] https://meta.wikimedia.org/wiki/Wikimedia_Conference_2018 >> > > >>>>> >> > > >>>>> >> > > >>>>> -- >> > > >>>>> Cornelius Kibelka >> > > >>>>> Program and Engagement Coordinator (PEC) >> > > >>>>> for the Wikimedia Conference >> > > >>>>> >> > > >>>>> Wikimedia Deutschland e.V. | Tempelhofer Ufer 23-24 | 10963 >> Berlin >> > > >>>>> Tel. (030) 219 158 26-0 >> > > >>>>> http://wikimedia.de >> > > >>>>> >> > > >>>>> Stellen Sie sich eine Welt vor, in der jeder Mensch an der Menge >> > > >> allen >> > > >>>>> Wissens frei teilhaben kann. Helfen Sie uns dabei! >> > > >>>>> http://spenden.wikimedia.de/ >> > > >>>>> >> > > >>>>> 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 >> > > >>>>> >> > > >>>> _______________________________________________ >> > > >>>> Wikimedia-l mailing list, guidelines at: >> > > >>>> https://meta.wikimedia.org/wiki/Mailing_lists/Guidelines and >> > > >>>> https://meta.wikimedia.org/wiki/Wikimedia-l >> > > >>>> New messages to: [email protected] >> > > >>>> Unsubscribe: https://lists.wikimedia.org/ma >> > ilman/listinfo/wikimedia-l >> > > , >> > > >>>> <mailto:[email protected]?subject=unsu >> > bscribe> >> > > >>> _______________________________________________ >> > > >>> Wikimedia-l mailing list, guidelines at: >> https://meta.wikimedia.org/ >> > > >>> wiki/Mailing_lists/Guidelines and https://meta.wikimedia.org/ >> > > >>> wiki/Wikimedia-l >> > > >>> New messages to: [email protected] >> > > >>> Unsubscribe: https://lists.wikimedia.org/ma >> > ilman/listinfo/wikimedia-l, >> > > >>> <mailto:[email protected]?subject= >> unsubscribe> >> > > >>> >> > > >> >> > > >> >> > > >> >> > > >> -- >> > > >> Cornelius Kibelka >> > > >> Program and Engagement Coordinator (PEC) >> > > >> for the Wikimedia Conference >> > > >> >> > > >> Wikimedia Deutschland e.V. | Tempelhofer Ufer 23-24 | 10963 Berlin >> > > >> Tel. (030) 219 158 26-0 >> > > >> http://wikimedia.de >> > > >> >> > > >> Stellen Sie sich eine Welt vor, in der jeder Mensch an der Menge >> allen >> > > >> Wissens frei teilhaben kann. Helfen Sie uns dabei! >> > > >> http://spenden.wikimedia.de/ >> > > >> >> > > >> 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 >> > > >> _______________________________________________ >> > > >> Wikimedia-l mailing list, guidelines at: >> https://meta.wikimedia.org/ >> > > >> wiki/Mailing_lists/Guidelines and https://meta.wikimedia.org/ >> > > >> wiki/Wikimedia-l >> > > >> 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 and https://meta.wikimedia.org/ >> > > > wiki/Wikimedia-l >> > > > 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 and https://meta.wikimedia.org/ >> > > wiki/Wikimedia-l >> > > > 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 and https://meta.wikimedia.org/ >> > > wiki/Wikimedia-l >> > > New messages to: [email protected] >> > > Unsubscribe: https://lists.wikimedia.org/mailman/listinfo/wikimedia-l, >> > > <mailto:[email protected]?subject=unsubscribe> >> > > >> > >> > >> > >> > -- >> > Seddon >> > >> > *Advancement Associate (Community Engagement)* >> > *Wikimedia Foundation* >> > _______________________________________________ >> > Wikimedia-l mailing list, guidelines at: https://meta.wikimedia.org/wik >> > i/Mailing_lists/Guidelines and https://meta.wikimedia.org/ >> wiki/Wikimedia-l >> > 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 and https://meta.wikimedia.org/ >> wiki/Wikimedia-l >> New messages to: [email protected] >> Unsubscribe: https://lists.wikimedia.org/mailman/listinfo/wikimedia-l, >> <mailto:[email protected]?subject=unsubscribe> >> > > > > -- > Cornelius Kibelka > Program and Engagement Coordinator (PEC) > for the Wikimedia Conference > > Wikimedia Deutschland e.V. | Tempelhofer Ufer 23-24 | 10963 Berlin > Tel. (030) 219 158 26-0 > http://wikimedia.de > > Stellen Sie sich eine Welt vor, in der jeder Mensch an der Menge allen > Wissens frei teilhaben kann. Helfen Sie uns dabei! > http://spenden.wikimedia.de/ > > 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 > _______________________________________________ > Wikimedia-l mailing list, guidelines at: > https://meta.wikimedia.org/wiki/Mailing_lists/Guidelines and > https://meta.wikimedia.org/wiki/Wikimedia-l > 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 and https://meta.wikimedia.org/wiki/Wikimedia-l New messages to: [email protected] Unsubscribe: https://lists.wikimedia.org/mailman/listinfo/wikimedia-l, <mailto:[email protected]?subject=unsubscribe>
