Could someone else get this? I'm under the weather.
Nick
---------- Forwarded message ----------
From: Eyeopener Biz & Tech <business(a)theeyeopener.com>
Date: Wed, Jan 27, 2010 at 9:39 PM
Subject: Interview request
To: nicholasmoreau(a)gmail.com
Hello
My name is Lauren and I'm the business and technology editor at The
Eyeopener, a student newspaper at Ryerson University. I found you through
the Wikimedia Foundation's press room listings.
I'm writing a story about Ryerson's Wikipedia page and the ethics of
Ryerson's administration editing the page themselves. I was hoping to talk
to you about corporate tinkering with Wikipedia and the ethics of editing
pages. Sometime on either Friday or Saturday by phone would be best for me.
Please let me know you're availability.
Cheers!
--
Lauren Strapagiel
Business and Technology Editor
The Eyeopener, Ryerson's Independent Student Newspaper
business(a)theeyeopener.com
Office: 416-979-5262 x 2343
Cell: 647-456-1521
After all that discussion, what is it that we have to do before we submit this to the WMF? If we want bylaws that are acceptable to get charitable status in Canada, we have to fill in the red parts in the example bylaws, and then check the final draft against the minimum requirements of the new law (hopefully against an English version rather than a legalese version) and against the WMF's requirements (which I think is done). Is there anything else? If not, I'll try to get some of that done next week, but I'd appreciate some more eyes and keyboards. It might be a good idea to set a final deadline, that can sometimes push people, though my schedule is already close to the breaking point.
The only other thing I can think of is a discussion on how we allow in our bylaws for potential cooperation and member-list-sharing with a future local branch (Wikimedia Quebec has been in the works for a while).
By the way, did you know that the federal government has internal wikis running Mediawiki? The years I spent doing templates and categorization on Wikipedia has earned me a fancy government co-op job! :D
-Jeffery Nichols (Arctic.gnome)
> Your boilerplate is not a complete set of by-laws. Boilerplate generally
> represents a convenient way of avoiding responsibility.
>
> Ray
Here is where we differ in opinion. The boilerplate is a complete set of
by-laws for what we need now in Canada. Full stop.
I'm looking to the Chapters Committee for guidance as to what else is
required for Foundation acceptance right now. Full stop.
As these two are the only standards we must meet *NOW*, they are the
only specifications which should be addressed *NOW*. We can certainly
address other specifications as necessary in the future.
Amgine
McGill student group organizes to raise funding for Wikipedia
Students Supporting Wikipedia receives interim club status
http://media.www.mcgilltribune.com/media/storage/paper234/news/2010/02/02/N…
Mcgill.Student.Group.Organizes.To.Raise.Funding.For.Wikipedia-3862444.shtml
Students Supporting Wikipedia, a new McGill club, officially received
its interim club status on January 21. The group aims to raise money for
the Wikipedia Foundation, and offer contributions to the popular
web-based encyclopaedia.
On Sun, 2010-01-24 at 12:00 +0000,
wikimedia-ca-request(a)lists.wikimedia.org wrote:
> > This should suggest by-laws are not important as a social construct for
> > WMCA. (It doesn't matter what they are - they won't be binding on the
> > group.)
> >
> They're not so much a social construct as they are a legal document. As
> a legal document it will be binding.
>
> > Given that, use the boilerplate as modified by WMF legal counsel (who,
> > btw, are quite willing to offer legal guidance or referral.)
> >
>
> The important feature is that the by-laws conform with Canadian law.
> The boilerplate is based on US law.
>
> Ray
You're quibbling to no purpose, which I suppose is why this is yet not
completed.
http://www.ic.gc.ca/eic/site/cd-dgc.nsf/eng/cs01366.html <- the
boilerplate to which I was referring.
Amgine
> I know I have been an advocate for simplicity and moving forward, but I have
> to object to an IRC AGM and voting. I'm not one for upholding tradition for
> the sake of itself, but I would prefer to stick with the conventional
> methods of voting used by existing corporations. You either attend the AGM
> in person or you complete a proxy by phone, web site or postal mail. These
> votes determine who makes up a board which holds a great deal of power and
> fiduciary responsibility. I consider the Mountain Equipment Co-op to be a
> respected and progressive organization. MEC is holding their 39th AGM at
> Simon Frasier University. While I am not privy to their reasons for
> choosing this traditional format, I personally feel in person meetings keep
> people and the process more honest and legitimate.
>
Feel free to modify it. I was attempting to make all options available -
but requiring a vote to actually be implemented (that includes phones,
by the way; in this set up you cannot use a conference call without a
prior vote approval. At least with IRC members would be required to use
a password to identify.)
Please note: the minimum quorum for a members meeting is 10, the lower
suggested limit from the Chapters Com guideline. Most likely if MW-CA
requires in-person AGMs they will only occur in one city, and MW-CA will
never represent any other portion of Canada. (This is already, to some
extent, the case, and the justification for the Mediawiki Quebec
initiative.)
Amgine
Found additional requirements under the act at
http://www.ic.gc.ca/eic/site/cd-dgc.nsf/eng/cs03440.html#b
* Added to paragraph 2, Membership and voting: "Any member retains
the right to withdraw from membership in Wikimedia Canada by a
public announcement of withdrawal." (as per B.1.b and in the
spirit of Right to vanish
http://meta.wikimedia.org/wiki/Right_to_vanish)
* Insert new paragraph 3, Members meetings: "An annual general
meeting of the membership must be held. A simple majority of
active voting members will be used to determine when and where
such a meeting will be held. The annual general meeting (AGM)
may take place in IRC, with voting recognized by their use of
registered IRC accounts and votes recorded via the secretary
referencing a published log of the proceedings. The AGM place
and time will be announced at least 14 days prior to the event
on at least the Wikimedia-CA e-mail list. (as per B.2.a, B.2.b,
B.2.c, B.2.d)
* Insert new paragraph 4, Members of the board of directors:
"Members of the board of directors: The membership shall elect
at least 3 directors to serve as members of the board for the
Corporation by simple majority at the Annual General Meeting.
The membership may, at any members' meeting, vote on the removal
of any director or ex-officio member of the board, and hold
in-term election of replacement members to fulfill the
requirement of 3 directors if the approved removals or
retirements bring the number of directors below the minimum of
three. Directors shall determine among their number one who will
be responsible for recording and publishing board transactions
in accordance with Canadian law, as well as other officers as
required by the needs of the Corporation. The board of directors
shall have authority to make decisions for and sign documents on
behalf of the Corporation." (as per B.3.a, B.3.b, B.3.d, B.3.e,
B.5.i, B.5.ii, B.5.iii)
* Insert new paragraph 17, Amendment and repeal of by-laws: "The
repeal or amendment of by-laws or the enactment of a new by-law
relating to the requirements of subsection 155(2) of the Canada
Corporations Act shall not be enforced or acted upon until the
approval of the Minister has been obtained, which approval will
not be obtained prior to, or without, membership approval." (as
per B.9.b)
* Insert new paragraph 18, Appointment of Auditor: "At the Annual
General Membership meeting, the members shall appoint an Auditor
in accordance with relevant Canadian and provincial laws whose
duty shall be to audit the accounts of the corporation and make
a report to the members at the annual meeting." (as per B.10.a,
B.10.b)
* Renumbered the other paragraphs as required.
Amgine