I am more than a little disappointed with the way the board’s handled all of this. It was abundantly clear from the outset that the correct response was to lean on Ashley to resign, in the expectation that he would stand again at the next AGM and probably be re-elected, once all of this had blown over.

 

All I see from the board is a terribly worded blog post, and a load of nit picking about the press articles. It is almost completely irrelevant how accurate they are, or whether you like the news organisation or not, if the trustees of a charity become the news story, they have done something very wrong.

 

Now Ashley is sure to face a confidence motion at an EGM, which will do even more damage to the charity’s reputation. Honestly, at this point my confidence in the whole board is wavering, aside from any thoughts I may have about the appropriateness or otherwise of having Ashley as the chair.

 

This has gone on too long already. Please end it now, before more damage is done to our reputation.

 

Tom

 

From: wikimediauk-l-bounces@lists.wikimedia.org [mailto:wikimediauk-l-bounces@lists.wikimedia.org] On Behalf Of WereSpielChequers
Sent: 01 August 2012 18:56
To: UK Wikimedia mailing list
Subject: Re: [Wikimediauk-l] [WMUK Board] Statement regarding Ashley Van Haeften, Chair of Wikimedia UK

 

Fox are part of News International aren't they?

So a sister company to Page3.com is getting on a high horse re porn and directing people to a homophobic website.

Not as bad as http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/News_International_phone_hacking_scandal#Milly_Dowler.27s_voicemail

Or the coundown clock the Sun once had marking the days to a 16 year old girl's birthday http://www.guardian.co.uk/media/interactive/2011/nov/28/charlotte-church-witness-statement-leveson-inquiry

But not impressive.

WSC