Wikimedia Foundation elections/Board elections/2013/Candidates: Difference between revisions
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thanks a lot, johnbod, for this unholy idea |
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Off-wiki, I chair the technical committee for the Digital Public Library of America. |
Off-wiki, I chair the technical committee for the Digital Public Library of America. |
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I was Director of Content at One Laptop per Child, where we sent WP and WikiJunior snapshots to 2 million children in the developing world. Before that, I studied physics at Harvard, and worked on software and education projects. |
I was Director of Content at One Laptop per Child, where we sent WP and WikiJunior snapshots to 2 million children in the developing world. Before that, I studied physics at Harvard, and worked on software and education projects. |
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{{WMF elections 2013 candidate |
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| name = Michel Aaij |
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| username = Drmies |
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| image = Edit wikipedia.JPG |
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| image caption = In my brand-new T-shirt |
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| age = 44 |
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| location = Montgomery, Alabama |
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| languages = English, Dutch, English, German |
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| wikimedian since = 2007 |
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| active wikis = Mostly English wiki |
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| statement = You'll have to forgive me if my platform seems more like a haphazardly drawn-up list of bullet points: I only got talked into submitting an application a few minutes ago. In addition, I am not, in general, much of a bureaucrat, and on Wikipedia I do more as an editor than as an administrator. I learned Robert's Rules a long time ago in the SGA and have forgotten all of it, though I will on occasion yell out "second" when a motion to adjourn is announced. |
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I've been active mostly as an editor on the English wiki; English is my second language. Originally Dutch, I came to the US in 1995 to get a graduate degree in English; I got my Ph.D. and am now a tenured professor (with a supposed specialization in Medieval literature) at a four-year institution in the Deep South. I was drawn into Wikipedia pretty quickly and have found that collaborative article writing is a lot of fun. I have a nice little list of DYK articles, and a few Good Articles. I've been a Campus Ambassador and received my training at LSU (a difficult thing to do for an Alabama grad), and as a professor ran a Wikipedia project for a freshman composition class (under an ArbCom-approved alternate account). I was elected administrator in 2011<!--Wikipedia:Requests for adminship/Drmies maybe some kind soul can link this?--> and prefer to talk rather than block. Most recently, fellow editors spoke out loud and clear in appreciation, and that's how I got the T-shirt (I had to buy the beer myself). Attending Wikimania last year was enormously fun, and so was attending the Education conference in Boston a couple of years ago. On both occasions I found that I wanted to be a bit more involved with the organization as a whole, and I suppose this is what I'm doing now. My interests in general are education, governance, retention, and article improvement--some of those I hope to further as a Board member. |
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Some bullet points: |
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*Editor retention appears to be one of the biggest problems facing the English wiki, and I have noticed (but this is anecdotal evidence) a certain stasis on the Dutch and German wikis as well. I am interested to see what the WMF could do to counter this problem--WikiLove is great and I spread it gladly, but barnstars and notification systems alone will not stem what seems to be a tide. It is ''possible'' that this is a problem that can only be addressed within the specific wiki, but it is a matter that the Foundation has shown interest in, and I would like to be involved with that. |
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*It is imperative that the WMF continue to strengthen relationships between the various wikis; from where I'm standing, for instance, the English wiki and Commons are frequently at odds and it needn't be that way. |
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*I've been involved, so far mostly sideways, with the Education Working Group, which is made up of some good people with their heart in the right place; as a member of the Board I would continue to pledge the Foundation's support to education and to do what I could to support Education Programs worldwide. |
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Revision as of 18:51, 16 May 2013
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The election ended 22 June 2013. No more votes will be accepted. The results were announced on 24 June 2013. |
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| Board elections |
| FDC elections |
| FDC Ombudsperson elections |
| Organization |
| History |
Past elections
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Leigh Ann Thelmadatter (Thelmadatter)
Thelmadatter (talk • meta edits • global user summary • CA)
| Candidate details | 
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| Statement | I submit my candidacy for the Board of Trustees because my experience with Wikimedia has been a bit different from many and as such I can bring a different perspective. I began editing in 2007 not only to add information about topics that concern me (e.g. those related to Mexico) but also as a way to develop my Spanish language skills. Shortly after I began involving Wikipedia into my advanced English language classes as “authentic communication” even before there was a Wikipedia Education Program. While my focus has been on education, my experience also includes involvement in the various programs of Wikimedia such as GLAM and Wikimedia México. In fact, I have mixed aspects of GLAM and chapter work involving my campus in projects such as photography contests, cultural outreach, participation in chapter events and even photo donations from campus archives, things done at few, if any, other educational institutions. Educational institutions are extremely important to Wikimedia, and it is important to have someone on the board who is both a Wikipedian and an educational professional who understands both the needs of educational institutions and the needs and culture of the Wiki community. As board member I would work to help the three branches of the movement I am most familiar with (education, GLAM and chapters/thematic organizations) learn from each other as all three have made significant contributions and have faced challenges. |
Milos Rancic (Millosh)
Millosh (talk • meta edits • global user summary • CA)
| Candidate details | 
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| Statement | I am a steward and member of LangCom. I have been a member of other Wikimedia bodies as well. I'm actively committed to working on various issues with the purpose of improving Wikimedia's capabilities.
I am professionally a system administrator, educated in linguistics, an owner of a small company and a co-founder of Hacklab Belgrade. If elected, I will focus on the following:
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Phoebe Ayers (phoebe)
phoebe (talk • meta edits • global user summary • CA)
| Candidate details | 
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| Statement | During the past ten years, I have edited, taught, spoken on and written about Wikipedia. I've helped run Wikimania for many years and have been involved with the research, education and GLAM communities. I have also reported for the Signpost, planned local events, and worked on strategy. I served on the Board of Trustees from 2010-12. During the day, I am a science and engineering librarian at the University of California, Davis.
The next Board will have much to do. The Board must hire and guide the next executive director; develop both annual and long-term strategic plans; decide whether to pursue an endowment; and evaluate the FDC. The Board must also assess the WMF's overall direction, and, with the community and staff, decide whether WMF activities are effective in keeping the projects and their communities healthy and growing. I believe the Board's most important role is ensuring the long-term future of Wikimedia's projects and mission. We can achieve this through forward-looking financial and technical planning, and with open internal processes that aid in developing community leadership. I can help keep the Board on track. I'm familiar with how the Board, WMF, and community work, and can organize and lead discussions, build consensus, and communicate decisions. I can help manage the limited time of the Board effectively, and if elected, will do so to get the Board to tackle the hardest issues well. |
Francis Kaswahili Kaguna (Francis Kaswahili)
Francis Kaswahili (talk • meta edits • global user summary • CA)
| Candidate details | 
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| Statement | My name is Francis Kaswahili Kaguna, speaking English, Swahili and Sukuma languages. Basically from Tanzania I submit my candidacy for the Board of Trustees of the Wikimedia Foundation, I am optimistic that the link between the world and Africa need a someone and that someone is Francis Kaswahili Kaguna, I'm quite sure that the contribution of Africa is very important in the Wikimedia Community. I promise that if elected my focus will be on the following:
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Jeromy-Yu Chan (Yuyu)
Yuyu (talk • meta edits • global user summary • CA)
| Candidate details | 
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| Statement | The message behind my candidacy is really simple: WMF shall remain open and humane.
I have been volunteering for Wikimedia for years, as a normal editor, a head of a local chapter, in ChapCom & ComCom, and as conference organizer of Wikimania 2013. I work as an editor of a local media company in Hong Kong. WMF must remain open, rather than a "centralized traditional charity". We should empower the local affiliates to professionalize and stabilize their structures as needed, and nurture diversity. WMF shall also improve communication with different parties, where my background as a Journalism student may help. Sometimes just a few more words, and a few more people listening, can change a lot. I would also like to continue my work on Wikimedia's development in Asia. I believe my presence on the board will empower me to speak for them. I hope I can be a helpful bridge between different parties within the movement, whether or not I'm elected. I look forward to hearing from you about how WMF should be, as I'm actually better in listening than talking. I believe honest sharing itself is crucial to the future of the board and WMF. |
Samuel Klein (Sj)
Sj (talk • meta edits • global user summary • CA)
| Candidate details | 
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| Statement | Our movement is at a turning point, technically and socially.
This is a good time to experiment and plan together for the future. Yet we are distracted by internal tension. The WMF should provide stability to the movement. It can reduce tension and surprise, and invest in local capacity. It can facilitate shared roadmaps, and provide tools for cross-project and multilingual discussion. The Board should help make this so. In the next two years, the WMF Board will also choose and support a new ED, review funding models and projects, and set a new strategy process. Each is a challenge faced by many movement groups. We should take the chance to learn from one another and grow closer.
I was born in the US, and have lived in Germany and Kenya. I fell in love with Wikipedia and its sister projects 10 years ago. Since then I have contributed as an editor, translator, columnist, and steward. I ran Wikimania 2006, and the Kiswahili WP Challenge. I have served on the Board since 2009, working on transparency, strategy, and the Audit Committee. Off-wiki, I chair the technical committee for the Digital Public Library of America. I was Director of Content at One Laptop per Child, where we sent WP and WikiJunior snapshots to 2 million children in the developing world. Before that, I studied physics at Harvard, and worked on software and education projects. |
Michel Aaij (Drmies)
Drmies (talk • meta edits • global user summary • CA)
| Candidate details | 
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|---|---|
| Statement | You'll have to forgive me if my platform seems more like a haphazardly drawn-up list of bullet points: I only got talked into submitting an application a few minutes ago. In addition, I am not, in general, much of a bureaucrat, and on Wikipedia I do more as an editor than as an administrator. I learned Robert's Rules a long time ago in the SGA and have forgotten all of it, though I will on occasion yell out "second" when a motion to adjourn is announced.
I've been active mostly as an editor on the English wiki; English is my second language. Originally Dutch, I came to the US in 1995 to get a graduate degree in English; I got my Ph.D. and am now a tenured professor (with a supposed specialization in Medieval literature) at a four-year institution in the Deep South. I was drawn into Wikipedia pretty quickly and have found that collaborative article writing is a lot of fun. I have a nice little list of DYK articles, and a few Good Articles. I've been a Campus Ambassador and received my training at LSU (a difficult thing to do for an Alabama grad), and as a professor ran a Wikipedia project for a freshman composition class (under an ArbCom-approved alternate account). I was elected administrator in 2011 and prefer to talk rather than block. Most recently, fellow editors spoke out loud and clear in appreciation, and that's how I got the T-shirt (I had to buy the beer myself). Attending Wikimania last year was enormously fun, and so was attending the Education conference in Boston a couple of years ago. On both occasions I found that I wanted to be a bit more involved with the organization as a whole, and I suppose this is what I'm doing now. My interests in general are education, governance, retention, and article improvement--some of those I hope to further as a Board member. Some bullet points:
|