I am looking into a Working Group to solve some of the issues. I see that a chapter was premature.
----- Original Message ----
From: Sue Gardner <sgardner(a)wikimedia.org>
To: Hank Chapot <hchapot(a)igc.org>
Cc: wikimedia-sf(a)lists.wikimedia.org
Sent: Wednesday, April 2, 2008 7:13:11 PM
Subject: Re: [Wikimedia-SF] California Chapter
Hank Chapot wrote:
> I think there is some validity to your last point. I went to one meetup
> in San Francisco and walked away thinking, what exactly are those folks
> trying to do? We had no real purpose, or maybe I missed it, and maybe
> folks were just looking for social experience. an agenda sounds too
> formal, but what else are we there for? Besides, the insiders who
> seemed to already know each other kind of huddled off from the crowd.
>
> I had two issues relating to my own experience as a wikipedia content
> provider that I wanted to talk about, and one was answered quickly and
> the other never came up. Then the assembled went to a restaurant and I
> hopped on BART somewhat perplexed.
>
> So, if this is a community, some form or shared world-view or
> acknowledged reason for meeting would be helpful, and I've got my
> ideas.
I think some people are happy to have free-form meet-ups, and other
people want events that are more structured. It's all good :-)
Personally, I think there is plenty of room for a Bay Area "chapter-like
entity" and other U.S.-based volunteer groups. (That is distinct from
the question of how such entities would be legally-constructed.) Since
moving to the Bay Area, the staff of the foundation has gotten requests
to participate in outreach-type events (e.g., a street fair) - and IMO,
the entity that's best positioned to do those things would be a chapter
or other volunteer-based group. After all, if there were an outreach
opportunity in Milan or Stockholm, it would be handled by community
members. I don't see why we'd want it to be any different in the Bay Area.
There's lots of stuff to do - public outreach, PR, etc. So I applaud
Geoffrey, Hank and others for exploring the possibilities :-)
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The projects that would be undertaken are included on the Chapter outline. They also will be outlined in great detail on my blog at www.wikiwest.blogspot.com
Right now I can tell you that a legal structure will be needed, because otherwise this will be roundfiled at the school board level. .
----- Original Message ----
From: Brion Vibber <brion(a)wikimedia.org>
Cc: "wikimedia-sf(a)lists.wikimedia.org" <wikimedia-sf(a)lists.wikimedia.org>
Sent: Tuesday, April 1, 2008 11:17:49 AM
Subject: Re: [Wikimedia-SF] Wiki in the classroom
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Geoffrey Plourde wrote:
> I have a chapter outline on Meta at
> http://meta.wikimedia.org/wiki/Wikimedia_California
IMHO this remains wildly premature.
Start by outlining the projects desired and plan how to accomplish them;
if a corporate structure is actually required, that need will be
revealed when you've got some serious planning done on the projects.
Only then will it make sense to start drawing up a todo list for legal
chapter organization.
- -- brion vibber (brion @ wikimedia.org)
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I have a chapter outline on Meta at http://meta.wikimedia.org/wiki/Wikimedia_California
----- Original Message ----
From: Geoffrey Plourde <geo.plrd(a)yahoo.com>
To: Brion Vibber <brion(a)wikimedia.org>; "wikimedia-sf(a)lists.wikimedia.org" <wikimedia-sf(a)lists.wikimedia.org>
Sent: Tuesday, April 1, 2008 10:15:33 AM
Subject: Re: [Wikimedia-SF] Wiki in the classroom
WMF does not have the resources to establish partnerships with every school district in California, a chapter would. A chapter also would be able to open up museum doors and get photographers in.
To put it simply, the chapter would deal with outreach to the people of California.
----- Original Message ----
From: Brion Vibber <brion(a)wikimedia.org>
To: "wikimedia-sf(a)lists.wikimedia.org" <wikimedia-sf(a)lists.wikimedia.org>
Sent: Tuesday, April 1, 2008 9:11:17 AM
Subject: Re: [Wikimedia-SF] Wiki in the classroom
How would a proposed California chapter actually be involved here? What would it do, how would it be structured? What could it do that WMF couldn't?
Proposing a chapter seems premature without a clear idea of its purpose. What need does it fill?
-- brion vibber (brion @ wikimedia.org)
On Mar 31, 2008, at 21:23, Geoffrey Plourde <geo.plrd(a)yahoo.com> wrote:
I have written a blog entry at http://wikiwest.blogspot.com/2008/03/wiki-in-classroom.html
In a nutshell, a California Chapter would partner with schools for mutual benefit. This would be a major area where the Foundation can't fill in.
OMG, Sweet deal for Yahoo! users/friends: Get A Month of Blockbuster Total Access, No Cost. W00t
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Well this is Wikimedia specific and the kind of thing that we need a chapter to do. Wikipedia really doesn't play into it.
----- Original Message ----
From: William Pietri <william(a)scissor.com>
To: "wikimedia-sf(a)lists.wikimedia.org" <wikimedia-sf(a)lists.wikimedia.org>
Sent: Tuesday, April 1, 2008 10:32:44 AM
Subject: Re: [Wikimedia-SF] Wiki in the classroom
Geoffrey Plourde wrote:
WMF does not have the resources to establish partnerships with every school district in California, a chapter would. A chapter also would be able to open up museum doors and get photographers in.
You might consider making a more general project, one less Wikipedia-specific, then. There's a lot of good free culture work beyond Wikipedia and its sister projects, especially here in California. That would give you a wider potential membership base.
Or you could also do something independent and very schools-focused, partnering with the Wikimedia Foundation as needed. A more focused effort like that would be easier to explain to grant-givers, and could give you a better in with foundations focused on California education.
William
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WMF does not have the resources to establish partnerships with every school district in California, a chapter would. A chapter also would be able to open up museum doors and get photographers in.
To put it simply, the chapter would deal with outreach to the people of California.
----- Original Message ----
From: Brion Vibber <brion(a)wikimedia.org>
To: "wikimedia-sf(a)lists.wikimedia.org" <wikimedia-sf(a)lists.wikimedia.org>
Sent: Tuesday, April 1, 2008 9:11:17 AM
Subject: Re: [Wikimedia-SF] Wiki in the classroom
How would a proposed California chapter actually be involved here? What would it do, how would it be structured? What could it do that WMF couldn't?
Proposing a chapter seems premature without a clear idea of its purpose. What need does it fill?
-- brion vibber (brion @ wikimedia.org)
On Mar 31, 2008, at 21:23, Geoffrey Plourde <geo.plrd(a)yahoo.com> wrote:
I have written a blog entry at http://wikiwest.blogspot.com/2008/03/wiki-in-classroom.html
In a nutshell, a California Chapter would partner with schools for mutual benefit. This would be a major area where the Foundation can't fill in.
OMG, Sweet deal for Yahoo! users/friends: Get A Month of Blockbuster Total Access, No Cost. W00t
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____________________________________________________________________________________
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http://tc.deals.yahoo.com/tc/blockbuster/text5.com
I have written a blog entry at http://wikiwest.blogspot.com/2008/03/wiki-in-classroom.html
In a nutshell, a California Chapter would partner with schools for mutual benefit. This would be a major area where the Foundation can't fill in.
____________________________________________________________________________________
You rock. That's why Blockbuster's offering you one month of Blockbuster Total Access, No Cost.
http://tc.deals.yahoo.com/tc/blockbuster/text5.com