[Foundation-l] What are the assets of the Foundation, anyway?

Thu Apr 19 16:08:36 UTC 2007

Florence Devouard wrote:

>Mark Ryan wrote:
>  
>
>>On 19/04/07, Florence Devouard <Anthere9 at yahoo.com> wrote:
>>    
>>
>>>In short, claiming that we are not taking responsability, Danny, is
>>>plain bullshit.
>>>      
>>>
>>On 19/04/07, Erik Moeller <erik at wikimedia.org> wrote:
>>    
>>
>>>I respect your opinion, but your
>>>brain seems to be pretty well programmed for fear and aggression.
>>>      
>>>
>>These are not appropriate ways for members of the Board of Trustees to
>>react to criticism in public. I suggest you peruse WP:CIVIL, which
>>will help you to respond more appropriately for a person holding your
>>office.
>>
>>~Mark Ryan
>>    
>>
>
>
>I do not think so Mark. I think you have not been reading all emails to 
>say such a thing.
>
>What Danny and Kelly say are not only "criticism", they are personnal 
>attacks and insults. When Danny says we are not taking responsability, 
>it is something else. It is somehow accusing us on the legal ground. 
>What will happen next ? Accusations of fraud ? Accusation of theft ? Or 
>what ? Is there a limit ? And all we should do is smile and accept to go 
>on being kicked ?
>
>I have not seen you make any comment on that. Did you call for 
>moderation in the words they were using ? Did you tell Danny to tone 
>down ? Did you ask Kelly to apology ? Don't you feel a responsability ?
>
>In any cases, I guess public discussion is closed for me for a while.
>
>Game over guys.
>
>Ant
>
>
>  
>
Just to clean the table and set the record straight, Florence, YES, 
there have been and continue to be
allegations floated to your financial contributors of financial 
mismangement, lack of business competence,
and misuse of Wikimedia assets by current board members. These 
allegations are being made and propogated
by Wikipedia's detractors. I have even heard rumors of WMF being moved 
to France and the local offices
shut down. These rumors are very damaging and serious, and you need to 
take them this way and correct
the perceptions and/or make whatever changes to fix it. I would advise 
being proactive rather than reactive
to most of this, i.e. do not respond to these rumors directly, but 
spearhead some initatives to show growth
and movement and PRO-AMERICAN support of projects. A few real press 
releases sent out over
PR Newswire with new projects would really help a lot of this.

Jeff