Having followed the recent discussions about status of this and that, let
me clarify a few things if I may.
The group of editors which founded the Chapter a few years' ago now
decided on a structure of a registered Company (limited by Guarantee, ie
non profit-making) and that Company - Wiki Educational Resources Ltd -
negotiated an agreement (ie Contract) with the Wikimedia Foundation for
the right to use the Wikimedia/Wikipedia/etc trademarks for
project-related activities in the UK. When WER Ltd was set up it was
envisaged that it would both act as the UK chapter but also be able to do
other charitable activities unconnected with the projects directly. The
legal documents setting up the Company are linked from the WMUK website.
A 'normal' (profit-making) company has shareholders who pay a one-off
charge to buy shares in that company. In our case this doesn't apply as
there are no shares per se, instead <members of the company> sign a
statement to the effect that in the case of the winding-up of the company
they will pay towards that cost. In neither case is there a mechanism for
'pay to play' involved, ie being a <member of the company> cannot be a
chargeable status, either one-off nor recurrent. The form to register as a
<member of the company> is, again, on the WMUK website and has been since
the foundation. I would point out though that I haven't received any
applications for this status in over a year ("Guarantor Member of Wiki
Educational Resources Ltd").
Therefore there is, sortof, a secondary body - Wikimedia UK - which is a
non-incorporated group of people (who will usually happen to be editors!)
which can accept regular payments (such as membership fees) etc. It is
coterminous with the Company (though, strictly, doesn't have to be). The
Constitution of the Chapter is - again - on the WMUK website, as is the
form to become a <member of the Chapter>. As many people will be aware
though, other than payments in cash we haven't been able to accept cheques
and it is probably for that reason we haven't had many applications for
people seeking to become <members of the Chapter> ("Supporting Membership
of Wikimedia UK").
Because of extensive discussions prior to the setting up of all this and
worries about security (cf. Paul) and younger editors wanting to be
involved (one cannot be a Guarantor or a company if you are under 18) then
you will have noted that whilst <members of the company> have to give some
information about themselves this does not include their project handle
because this list is public domain. The list of <members of the Chapter>,
however, is not public at all so does include handle but not necessarily
all the rest. The latter members can be of any age.
The AGM required by Company law is that of Wiki Educational Resources Ltd
and those entitled to attend are, therefore, the registered <members of
the company>. It is, has been, and always will be open to recipients of
this list and others to request to register themselves as such members
and, should people be interested in standing for election to the WER Ltd
Board then they need to be so registered. There is no mechanism in law for
people not so registered to stand for a position.
The AGM / next meeting of the Chapter (ie for <members of the Chapter> who
may or may not be <members of the company>) is a separate thing and we'd
been waiting - as you all have been - for external things to get sorted in
order to get that side of things moving. But they haven't, or at least not
in a way which makes us (or you) happy.
The company AGM will be arranged shortly by the Company Secretary and, I
hope, will be in a location which will enable any newer <members of the
company> to attend and have their voices heard and include elections for
the vacant posts.
On that point, I indicated some months ago that I was minded to stand down
this year, Arkady (as Company Secretary/Secretary) has recently indicated
she also wishes to not stand for re-election, and Paul (as CFO/Treasurer)
was appointed during the year so will need to be elected. David will not
need to stand for election. As such we *need* people to apply to become
members of the Company if this is to move on. If you are interested in
getting involved in this way (and I can tell you that it takes
commitment!) feel free to contact us about what is involved.
Regards
Alison Wheeler
======================================================
Alison Wheeler Chief Executive Officer, Wikimedia UK
Wikimedia UK is the operating name of Wiki Educational
Resources Ltd, company limited by guarantee #05708269
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