Talk:Wikimedians of the Levant/Archive 1

Term Levant

Is it really appropriate to use such a colonialistic-sounding term? Nemo 09:44, 26 May 2016 (UTC)

Notification of User Group Expiration

Greetings,

Your organization is currently past due on its required annual reporting and has expired. Wikimedia User Groups are required to submit an annual activity report covering the entire 12-month agreement period in order to prompt review for a renewal. Reports must be written in English, posted to meta, and linked on the Meta Reports page.

This page is used to track how organizations and groups are meeting the reporting requirements described in their agreements with the Wikimedia Foundation (e.g. chapter agreements, thematic organization agreements, user group agreements). It is the central place where affiliates can add reports about their activities, share their plans, and even news or social media channels with the wider movement. When new reports are available, organizations and groups should add them to this page to keep their columns up to date.

As noted on the meta Reports page, your organization’s annual reporting became past due May 2016 and your user group agreement is expired. If you wish to reapply for your user group status please be sure to:

1. Post your annual reporting to the meta Reports page as soon as possible to return to compliance with your chapter agreement.
2. Check that your groups page is also up to date with past report links for historical record-keeping, and
3. Please send an email to Wikimedia-l in order to share with a movement-wide audience.

If we do not hear from you or receive this reporting on the reports page within the next 30 days, your group's name and logo will be removed from the affiliates page and your information and page link will be migrated to the Formerly Active Affiliates page rather.

If you have any questions or need any further guidance, please don’t hesitate to reach out to User:JAnstee (WMF). Best regards, Abittaker (WMF) (talk) 22:30, 3 October 2016 (UTC)

De-Recognition of Affiliates with Long-standing Non-Compliance

This is an update from the Wikimedia Affiliations Committee. Translations are available.

Recognition as a Wikimedia affiliate - a chapter, thematic organization, or user group - is a privilege that allows an independent group to officially use the Wikimedia name to further the Wikimedia mission. While most Wikimedia affiliates adhere to the basic compliance standards set forth in their agreements with the Wikimedia Foundation, a protocol has been developed to address the exceptional cases when a Wikimedia affiliate does not meet basic compliance standards and their continued recognition as a Wikimedia affiliate presents a risk to the Wikimedia movement.

In the past year, the Affiliations Committee - with support from Wikimedia Foundation staff - has made a concerted effort to address a handful of chapters with long-standing issues of non-compliance. As a result, in the coming days and months, a small number of chapters that have been unable to return to compliance through their efforts in the past year will not have their chapter agreements renewed. As a consequence, these organizations will no longer have the additional rights to use the Wikimedia trademarks, including the Wikimedia name, that had been granted under those agreements.

If you have questions about what this means for community members in the affected affiliates’ region or language areas, we have put together a basic FAQ. The FAQ talk page is available for additional questions and comments, and the Affiliations Committee is happy to answer questions directly.

Posted by MediaWiki message delivery on behalf of the Affiliations Committee, 15:55, 13 February 2017 (UTC) • Please help translate to your language • Get help • Subscribe or unsubscribe.

Review of initial updates on Wikimedia movement strategy process

Note: Apologies for cross-posting and sending in English. Message is available for translation on Meta-Wiki.

The Wikimedia movement is beginning a movement-wide strategy discussion, a process which will run throughout 2017. For 15 years, Wikimedians have worked together to build the largest free knowledge resource in human history. During this time, we've grown from a small group of editors to a diverse network of editors, developers, affiliates, readers, donors, and partners. Today, we are more than a group of websites. We are a movement rooted in values and a powerful vision: all knowledge for all people. As a movement, we have an opportunity to decide where we go from here.

This movement strategy discussion will focus on the future of our movement: where we want to go together, and what we want to achieve. We hope to design an inclusive process that makes space for everyone: editors, community leaders, affiliates, developers, readers, donors, technology platforms, institutional partners, and people we have yet to reach. There will be multiple ways to participate including on-wiki, in private spaces, and in-person meetings. You are warmly invited to join and make your voice heard.

The immediate goal is to have a strategic direction by Wikimania 2017 to help frame a discussion on how we work together toward that strategic direction.

Regular updates are being sent to the Wikimedia-l mailing list, and posted on Meta-Wiki. Beginning with this message, monthly reviews of these updates will be sent to this page as well. Sign up to receive future announcements and monthly highlights of strategy updates on your user talk page.

Here is a review of the updates that have been sent so far:

• Update 1 on Wikimedia movement strategy process (15 December 2016)
  • Introduction to process and information about budget spending resolution to support it
• Update 2 on Wikimedia movement strategy process (23 December 2016)
  • Start of search for Lead Architect for movement strategy process
• Update 3 on Wikimedia movement strategy process (8 January 2017)
  • Plans for strategy sessions at upcoming Wikimedia Conference 2017
• Update 4 on Wikimedia movement strategy process (11 January 2017)
  • Introduction of williamsworks
• Update 5 on Wikimedia movement strategy process (2 February 2017)
  • The core movement strategy team, team tracks being developed, introduction of the Community Process Steering Committee, discussions at WikiIndaba conference 2017 and the Wikimedia movement affiliates executive directors gathering in Switzerland
• Update 6 on Wikimedia movement strategy process (10 February 2017)
  • Tracks A & B process prototypes and providing feedback, updates on development of all four Tracks

More information about the movement strategy is available on the Meta-Wiki 2017 Wikimedia movement strategy portal.

Posted by MediaWiki message delivery on behalf of the Wikimedia Foundation, 20:27, 15 February 2017 (UTC) • Please help translate to your language • Get help

Overview #2 of updates on Wikimedia movement strategy process

Note: Apologies for cross-posting and sending in English. This message is available for translation on Meta-Wiki.

As we mentioned last month, the Wikimedia movement is beginning a movement-wide strategy discussion, a process which will run throughout 2017. This movement strategy discussion will focus on the future of our movement: where we want to go together, and what we want to achieve.

Regular updates are being sent to the Wikimedia-l mailing list, and posted on Meta-Wiki. Each month, we are sending overviews of these updates to this page as well. Sign up to receive future announcements and monthly highlights of strategy updates on your user talk page.

Here is a overview of the updates that have been sent since our message last month:

• Update 7 on Wikimedia movement strategy process (16 February 2017)
  • Development of documentation for Tracks A & B
• Update 8 on Wikimedia movement strategy process (24 February 2017)
  • Introduction of Track Leads for all four audience tracks
• Update 9 on Wikimedia movement strategy process (2 March 2017)
  • Seeking feedback on documents being used to help facilitate upcoming community discussions

More information about the movement strategy is available on the Meta-Wiki 2017 Wikimedia movement strategy portal.

Posted by MediaWiki message delivery on behalf of the Wikimedia Foundation, 19:42, 9 March 2017 (UTC) • Please help translate to your language • Get help

We invite you to join the movement strategy conversation (now through April 15)

This message, "We invite you to join the movement strategy conversation (now through April 15)", was sent through multiple channels by Gregory Varnum on 15 and 16 of March 2017 to village pumps, affiliate talk pages, movement mailing lists, and MassMessage groups. A similar message was sent by Nicole Ebber to organized groups and their mailing lists on 15 of March 2017. This version of the message is available for translation and documentation purposes

Dear Wikimedians/Wikipedians:

Today we are starting a broad discussion to define Wikimedia's future role in the world and develop a collaborative strategy to fulfill that role. You are warmly invited to join the conversation.

There are many ways to participate, by joining an existing conversation or starting your own:

Track A (organized groups): Discussions with your affiliate, committee or other organized group (these are groups that support the Wikimedia movement).

Track B (individual contributors): On Meta or your local language or project wiki.

This is the first of three conversations, and it will run between now and April 15. The purpose of cycle 1 is to discuss the future of the movement and generate major themes around potential directions. What do we want to build or achieve together over the next 15 years?

We welcome you, as we create this conversation together, and look forward to broad and diverse participation from all parts of our movement.

• Find out more about the movement strategy process
• Learn more about volunteering to be a Discussion Coordinator

Sincerely,

Nicole Ebber (Track A Lead), Jaime Anstee (Track B Lead), & the engagement support teams

05:00, 18 March 2017 (UTC)

Start of the 2017 Wikimedia Foundation Board of Trustees elections

Please accept our apologies for cross-posting this message. This message is available for translation on Meta-Wiki.

On behalf of the Wikimedia Foundation Elections Committee, I am pleased to announce that self-nominations are being accepted for the 2017 Wikimedia Foundation Board of Trustees Elections.

The Board of Trustees (Board) is the decision-making body that is ultimately responsible for the long-term sustainability of the Wikimedia Foundation, so we value wide input into its selection. More information about this role can be found on Meta-Wiki. Please read the letter from the Board of Trustees calling for candidates.

The candidacy submission phase will last from April 7 (00:00 UTC) to April 20 (23:59 UTC).

We will also be accepting questions to ask the candidates from April 7 to April 20. You can submit your questions on Meta-Wiki.

Once the questions submission period has ended on April 20, the Elections Committee will then collate the questions for the candidates to respond to beginning on April 21.

The goal of this process is to fill the three community-selected seats on the Wikimedia Foundation Board of Trustees. The election results will be used by the Board itself to select its new members.

The full schedule for the Board elections is as follows. All dates are inclusive, that is, from the beginning of the first day (UTC) to the end of the last.

• April 7 (00:00 UTC) – April 20 (23:59 UTC) – Board nominations
• April 7 – April 20 – Board candidates questions submission period
• April 21 – April 30 – Board candidates answer questions
• May 1 – May 14 – Board voting period
• May 15–19 – Board vote checking
• May 20 – Board result announcement goal

In addition to the Board elections, we will also soon be holding elections for the following roles:

• Funds Dissemination Committee (FDC)
  • There are five positions being filled. More information about this election will be available on Meta-Wiki.

• Funds Dissemination Committee Ombudsperson (Ombuds)
  • One position is being filled. More information about this election will be available on Meta-Wiki.

Please note that this year the Board of Trustees elections will be held before the FDC and Ombuds elections. Candidates who are not elected to the Board are explicitly permitted and encouraged to submit themselves as candidates to the FDC or Ombuds positions after the results of the Board elections are announced.

More information on this year's elections can be found on Meta-Wiki. Any questions related to the election can be posted on the election talk page on Meta-Wiki, or sent to the election committee's mailing list, board-electionswikimedia.org.

On behalf of the Election Committee,
Katie Chan, Chair, Wikimedia Foundation Elections Committee
Joe Sutherland, Community Advocate, Wikimedia Foundation

Posted by MediaWiki message delivery on behalf of the Wikimedia Foundation Elections Committee, 03:35, 7 April 2017 (UTC) • Please help translate to your language • Get help

Where is Israel in this page?

I see Israel in this map. Or maybe I imagine it?

I did not know that Israel is not part of the Levant. To open such a page and ignoring the Arab citizens of Israel is discrimination and it against the spirit of Wikipedia. Hanay (talk) 05:19, 2 May 2017 (UTC)

Voting has begun in 2017 Wikimedia Foundation Board of Trustees elections

This is a message from the Wikimedia Foundation Elections Committee. Translations are available.

Voting has begun for eligible voters in the 2017 elections for the Wikimedia Foundation Board of Trustees.

The Wikimedia Foundation Board of Trustees is the ultimate governing authority of the Wikimedia Foundation, a 501(c)(3) non-profit organization registered in the United States. The Wikimedia Foundation manages many diverse projects such as Wikipedia and Commons.

The voting phase lasts from 00:00 UTC May 1 to 23:59 UTC May 14. Click here to vote. More information on the candidates and the elections can be found on the 2017 Board of Trustees election page on Meta-Wiki.

On behalf of the Elections Committee,
Katie Chan, Chair, Wikimedia Foundation Elections Committee
Joe Sutherland, Community Advocate, Wikimedia Foundation

Posted by the MediaWiki message delivery • Translate • Get help

19:02, 3 May 2017 (UTC)

Join the next cycle of Wikimedia movement strategy discussions (underway until June 12)

Message is available for translation on Meta-Wiki

The Wikimedia movement strategy core team and working groups have completed reviewing the more than 1800 thematic statements we received from the first discussion. They have identified 5 themes that were consistent across all the conversations - each with their own set of sub-themes. These are not the final themes, just an initial working draft of the core concepts.

You are invited to join the online and offline discussions taking place on these 5 themes. This round of discussions will take place between now and June 12th. You can discuss as many as you like; we ask you to participate in the ones that are most (or least) important to you.

Here are the five themes, each has a page on Meta-Wiki with more information about the theme and how to participate in that theme's discussion:

• Healthy, Inclusive Communities
• The Augmented Age
• A Truly Global Movement
• The Most Respected Source of Knowledge
• Engaging in the Knowledge Ecosystem

On the movement strategy portal on Meta-Wiki, you can find more information about each of these themes, their discussions, and how to participate.

Posted by MediaWiki message delivery on behalf of the Wikimedia Foundation • Please help translate to your language • Get help

19:24, 16 May 2017 (UTC)

Start of the 2017 Wikimedia Foundation Funds Dissemination Committee elections

Translations of this message are available on Meta-Wiki.

On behalf of the Wikimedia Foundation Elections Committee, we are pleased to announce that self-nominations are being accepted for the 2017 Wikimedia Foundation Funds Dissemination Committee and Funds Dissemination Committee Ombudsperson elections. Please read the letter from the Wikimedia Foundation calling for candidates at on the 2017 Wikimedia Foundation elections portal.

Funds Dissemination Committee
The Funds Dissemination Committee (FDC) makes recommendations about how to allocate Wikimedia movement funds to eligible entities. There are five positions being filled. More information about this role can be found at the FDC elections page.

Funds Dissemination Committee Ombudsperson
The Funds Dissemination Committee Ombudsperson receives complaints and feedback about the FDC process, investigates complaints at the request of the Board of Trustees, and summarizes the investigations and feedback for the Board of Trustees on an annual basis. One position is being filled. More information about this role can be found at the FDC Ombudsperson elections page.

The candidacy submission phase will last until May 28 (23:59 UTC).

We will also be accepting questions to ask the candidates until May 28. You can submit your questions on Meta-Wiki. Once the questions submission period has ended on May 28, the Elections Committee will then collate the questions for the candidates to respond to.

The goal of this process is to fill the five community-selected seats on the Wikimedia Foundation Funds Dissemination Committee and the community-selected ombudsperson. The election results will be used by the Board itself to make the appointments.

The full schedule for the FDC elections is as follows. All dates are inclusive, that is, from the beginning of the first day (UTC) to the end of the last.

• May 15 (00:00 UTC) – May 28 (23:59 UTC) – Nominations
• May 15 – May 28 – Candidates questions submission period
• May 29 – June 2 – Candidates answer questions
• June 3 – June 11 – Voting period
• June 12–14 – Vote checking
• June 15 – Goal date for announcing election results

More information on this year's elections can be found at the 2017 Wikimedia Foundation elections portal.

Please feel free to post a note about the election on your project's village pump. Any questions related to the election can be posted on the talk page on Meta-Wiki, or sent to the election committee's mailing list, board-electionswikimedia.org.

On behalf of the Election Committee,
Katie Chan, Chair, Wikimedia Foundation Elections Committee
Joe Sutherland, Community Advocate, Wikimedia Foundation

Posted by the MediaWiki message delivery • Translate • Get help

21:03, 23 May 2017 (UTC)

Learning Quarterly: October 2017

L&E Newsletter / Volume 4 / Issue 14 / October 2017
Learning Quarterly

Frontpage:
#Learning Days
#CEInsightsReport

Stay tuned
blogs, events
& more!

A program in the spotlight:
On-boarding new editors:
The skills-focused approach of WMIL

Leave your mark on Meta!
New AffCom corner, plus learning patterns you can contribute to.

MediaWiki message delivery (talk) 10:50, 3 November 2017 (UTC)

WikiScienceCompetition 2017

Hi. I want to inform you about WSC (#WSC2017, #Wikiscience). Apparently, there is no even coverage between countries with banners, so many countries have zero upload after five days because their users are not informed.

I am doing my best to compensate. I wrote many emails also to institutions in the Arab world, I asked for advice to the only ar-N juror we have. I might ask the local embassy at ar.wiki for a banner at this point like I did in other "national" wikipedia. But in the meantime I would be glad at least if you can tweet something around.

I did my best to produce an international jury with people with scientific background from many places, in my country I have prepared a solid campaign but what's the point of making an international competition if it is only a brutal sum of singular countries? The academia is not like that, and so is not the essence of the wiki, IMHO. I hope that a transnational group you can feel this, and i hope that people from your countries will have a real chance to participate, if you can find a way to inform them.

Also here I am pushing to create a "international" category for all left-over countries. I am not totally comfortable with the global selection of who get a specific upload category and who don't, but at the moment I am happy if we can at least inform people.--Alexmar983 (talk) 14:45, 5 November 2017 (UTC)

Inviting you to participate in the women editing contest "The women you have never met"

Dear Wikimedians of the Levant!

Hope this message finds you all well :) On behalf of Iberocoop network I want to invite you to be part of the women editing contest we are organizing along with many other chapters and user groups in the movement. You are doing an excellent work on your local context and we will be so pleased to have you on board. In this very early stage, we are asking the organizations to add their interest in the following meta page Hope to see you there soon! Hugs----Anna Torres (WMAR) --Anna Torres (WMAR) (talk) 15:31, 25 January 2018 (UTC)

@Mervat Salman, Freedom's Falcon, and عباد ديرانية: --Alaa :)..! 21:23, 25 January 2018 (UTC)

Learning Quarterly: January 2018

L&E Newsletter / Volume 5 / Issue 15 / January 2018
Learning Quarterly

Frontpage:
#LeadershipDevelopment
#CaseStudies

Stay tuned
blogs, events
& more!

A program in the spotlight:
Raising awareness of Wikipedia in Nigeria, one radio program at a time

Leave your mark on Meta!
Inspire New Readers campaign, and AffCom elections

MediaWiki message delivery (talk) 10:45, 3 November 2017 (UTC)

Share your feedback in this global Wikimedia survey

Dear Wikimedia Affiliates,
My name is María Cruz and I work for the Wikimedia Foundation on the Learning and Evaluation team. In one week or so, the Foundation is starting a global survey to learn about the experiences and feedback of Wikimedians. I am writing here, because I wanted to share with you a bit more about the project.
The survey is called "Wikimedia Communities and Contributors" and is conducted annually. We will send the survey to editors across all the Wikimedia projects, as well as Wikimedia affiliates and volunteer developers. This survey is going to be our way of making sure that we can hear feedback from a significant number of users from across the projects. This research supports editors and Wikipedia’s mission. This is our second annual CE Insights survey, and we look forward to improving it every year.
We will be contacting 2 people from each affiliate, based on the primary contact information that we have. Each affiliate will receive an additional third link which they can distribute to any leader in their chapter or user group.
Go to the project page to see the results of last year’s survey, and to see how your feedback helps the Wikimedia Foundation support communities. You can sign up to be notified about the results of the survey, or to learn how you can help with planning the survey next year.
If you have any questions or concerns about this project, please feel free to send them to Edward Galvez's talk page on Meta-Wiki or email him directly at surveyswikimedia · org in any language. You can learn more about this project and read about frequently asked questions. You can also share your feedback on Meta-Wiki.

Thank you for your time supporting this project!
María Cruz

MediaWiki message delivery (talk) 23:42, 19 March 2018 (UTC)

Learning Quarterly: June 2018

L&E Newsletter / Volume 5 / Issue 16 / June 2018
Learning Quarterly

Frontpage:
#WikiWomen
#WikiEduAsia

Stay tuned
blogs, events
& more!

A program in the spotlight:
Karvachar’s WikiClub, when getting knowledge is cool

Leave your mark on Meta!
Inspire New Readers campaign, and AffCom elections

MediaWiki message delivery (talk) 10:45, 3 November 2017 (UTC)

Learning Quarterly: November 2018

L&E Newsletter / Volume 5 / Issue 17 / November 2018
Learning Quarterly

Frontpage:
#CEInsights18
#GenderEquity

Stay tuned
blogs, events
& more!

A program in the spotlight:
Editatona: Writing women back in history

Leave your mark on Meta!
AffCom corner and Wikimania Poster session

MediaWiki message delivery (talk) 01:10, 29 November 2018 (UTC)

2018 Affiliations Committee call for candidates

This is an update from the Wikimedia Affiliations Committee.

The Affiliations Committee – the committee responsible for guiding volunteers in establishing Wikimedia chapters, thematic organizations, and user groups – is looking for new members!

The main role of the Affiliations Committee is to guide groups of volunteers that are interested in forming Wikimedia affiliates. We review applications from new groups, answer questions and provide advice about the different Wikimedia affiliation models and processes, review affiliate bylaws for compliance with requirements and best practices, and advise the Wikimedia Foundation Board of Trustees on issues connected to chapters, thematic organizations and Wikimedia user groups.

The committee can include up to fifteen members, roughly half of whom are selected every twelve months for staggered two-year terms. Those joining the committee during the current process will serve a two-year term ending in December 2020.

Key skills

Being a part of the Affiliations Committee requires communication with volunteers all over the world, negotiating skills, cultural sensitivity, and the ability to understand legal texts. We look for a healthy mix of different skill sets in our members, including the following key skills and experience:

- Willingness to process applications through a set, perhaps bureaucratic process.
- Readiness to participate in political discussions on the role and future of affiliates, models of affiliation, and similar topics.
- Availability of up to 5 hours per week, and the time to participate in a monthly two-hour voice/video meeting.
- International orientation.
- Fluency in English.
- Ability to work and communicate with other languages and cultures.
- Strong understanding of the structure and work of affiliates and the Wikimedia Foundation.
- Knowledge of different legal systems and experience in community building and organizing are a plus.
- Skills in other languages are a major plus.
- Experience with or in an active affiliate is a major plus.
- Strong track record of effective collaboration (such as evidenced skills at facilitation, mediation, negotiation, and so forth) are a major plus.
- Willingness to use one's real name in committee activities (including contacts with current and potential affiliates) when appropriate.

We are looking for people who are excited by the challenge of empowering volunteers to get organized and form communities that further our mission around the world. In exchange, committee members selected will gain the experience of supporting their world-wide colleagues to develop their communities as well as personal development in guiding organizational development, facilitating affiliate partnerships, and professional communications.

Selection process

As a reflection of our commitment to openness, transparency, and bilateral engagement with the Wikimedia community, the 2018 member selection process will include a public review and comment period. All applications received by the committee will be posted on Meta at Affiliations Committee/Candidates/December 2018, and the community will be invited to provide comments and feedback about each candidate.

At the end of the public comment period, the applications will be voted on by the members of the committee who are not seeking re-election, taking into account comments put forward by the committee's members, advisors, Wikimedia Foundation staff and board liaisons, and the community. A final decision will be made by mid-January 2019, with new members expected to join later that month.

How to apply

If you are interested in joining the committee, please post your application on the nomination page and send an email announcing your application to affcom@lists.wikimedia.org by 31 December 2018. Your application must include the following information:
- Your full name and Wikimedia username
- A statement describing your relevant experience, skills, and motivation for joining the committee.
- Answers to the following three questions:

1. How do you think affiliates work best together to partner on effective projects and initiatives?
   
2. What do you see as the role of affiliates in the Wikimedia movement in the next three years?
   
3. What do you feel you will bring to the committee that makes you a uniquely qualified candidate?
   

If you have any questions, please don't hesitate to contact me and/or the committee as a whole. We are happy to chat or have a phone call with anyone about our work if this helps them decide to apply. Please distribute this call among your networks, and do apply if you are interested!

Best regards,
Kirill Lokshin
Chair, Affiliations Committee

Posted by MediaWiki message delivery on behalf of the Affiliations Committee, 06:25, 17 December 2018 (UTC)

New Affiliations Committee appointments

AffCom is excited to share with you the news that the Wikimedia Foundation Board has unanimously approved the changes to the Bylaws during the last Board meeting on January 30, 2019.

This change allows the participation of User Groups in the Affiliate-selected Board seats (ASBS) 2019 process.

To read the Board's announcement, please click here

--MediaWiki message delivery (talk) 14:45, 21 February 2019 (UTC)

Help us make Wikipedia talk pages more accessible to more participants

Hello!

Our team at the Wikimedia Foundation is working on a project to improve the ease-of-use and productivity of wiki talk pages. As an affiliate, I can imagine you’ve run into challenges explaining talk pages to first-time participants, or it is an consultation that would interest your members.

We want all contributors to be able to talk to each other on the wikis – to ask questions, to resolve differences, to organize projects and to make decisions. Communication is essential for the depth and quality of our content, and the health of our communities.

We're currently leading a global consultation on how to improve talk pages, and we're looking for groups that can discuss and report on their experiences using (or helping other people to use) wiki talk pages. We'd like to invite you to participate, with the user groups that you belong to. You can learn more about the consultation at Mediawiki.org and if you're interested in hosting a group discussion (on-wiki or off-wiki), you can sign up at the participant sign-up group.

If you’d like to participate or if you have any questions, please contact us and let us know. The more people participate from many horizons, the better the outcome will be.

Thank you! Trizek (WMF) 15:29, 8 March 2019 (UTC)

Call for complementary facilitators and more to get the ASBS 2019 process started!

Hi everyone, hope all is fine with you!

The next weeks will be intense, as affiliates figure out their participation in the process that will soon select 2 people for the Wikimedia Foundation Board of Trustees. Since new Bylaws established that the user groups are for the first time going to be involved in such process, a lot more support than before is certainly going to be necessary, among other things, for big and healthy conversations on the topic. Hence, please encourage members of your group to become a complementary facilitator, or sign up yourself! You can add yourself to the list on Meta or reply to me to flag availability. One person from the facilitators group should soon be selected to liaise with the Foundation Board’s Chair, María Sefidari, on behalf of all affiliates, and it may be wise to also find a deputy for them.

Finally, if you can think of any huge obstacles that would prevent your group from participating to the process (for instance, a language barrier, or lack of good decision-making mechanisms, etc.), please reach out to me directly: it is really important that we hear about them as early as possible. Thank you! Elitre (WMF) 15:23, 12 March 2019 (UTC)

Update on the Affiliate-selected Board seats 2019 process

Hi all,

The Election Facilitators met on Friday, April 5. We finalized the resolution, which is now frozen. The Board of Trustees of the Wikimedia Foundation will be asked to approve the resolution.

We have made two small changes to be more inclusive. We extended the date for compliance with AffCom reporting and being in good standing to May 7 to allow time for as many Affiliates as possible to be current with these requirements. The Election Facilitators adjusted the language in case a quorum is not met during the election.

On the talk page of the resolution one issue was raised. The issue looks like to be about a possible candidate. Affiliates will have ample time to discuss the merits of candidates during nomination time, screening time, and they can cast their votes on candidates. The Election Facilitators didn't see the necessity for this change, and left the resolution on this point unchanged.

The Election Facilitators will be Abhinav Srivastava, Lane Rasberry, Jeffrey Keefer, Ad Huikeshoven, Neal McBurnett and Alessandro Marchetti. We will welcome more volunteers to assist us in this process, to reach out to the diversity in language and gender in our communities, and do so in an advisory role.

The nomination period opens on April 15. We are going to prepare nomination pages on Meta. You can expect a call for nominations. There is a draft call, including a candidates' profile section with non-binding guidelines about experience and characteristics for nominees. You are welcome to add your insights, or discuss on the talk page.

Erica Litrenta (WMF staff) supports us in this process. She will reach out to all affiliates through mail and other channels to make sure we are up to date with (user)name and contact details of your primary contact.

On behalf of the Election Facilitators, Ad Huikeshoven 10:52, 6 April 2019 (UTC)

WikiClassics

Hi, WikiClassics User Group is almost approved and recognized by WMF. Please inform other tr-N users about it if somebody would like to ! join us.--Alexmar983 (talk) 21:19, 13 April 2019 (UTC)

Update about the Affiliate-selected Board seats process 2019

Hello everyone!

• The Resolution has been approved by the Board of Trustees;
• Nominations phase is now open, from April 15 00:00 UTC to April 30 23:59 UTC. See the Call for Candidates and Nominations pages;
  • Community members may ask questions of the candidates;
• Your main representative has just received an email to confirm that they are indeed the primary contact and will perform official actions on behalf of your group (such as endorsing candidates and then voting). Some groups also need to verify their eligibility status in due time, as explained in the email;
• New content is available to spread awareness around the process - the infographic on this page has clickable links and can be translated, and a primer is available, that we hope will be particularly helpful to those new to such a process;
• Finally, you are welcome to help with translations! Pick one page from the ASBS category and, in the next couple of weeks, please consider translating profiles of the candidates in particular.

Thanks for your attention! The Facilitators for ASBS 2019, 07:33, 15 April 2019 (UTC)

Affiliate-selected Board seats 2019 process: your representative

Hello. The name of the only person who will vote on behalf of this group to select the next two Board members is now at m:Affiliate-selected Board seats/2019/Eligible entities. Please contact me directly as soon as possible if you need any kind of corrections there. There's only a few hours left to endorse candidates, and only the official voter can do that. I would also like to take this opportunity to remind you that you can make a difference with the necessary translations.

Appreciate your attention and your support so far! Thank you! Elitre (WMF) and Facilitators of ASBS 2019, 12:15, 29 April 2019 (UTC)

إعلان هام / Important Announcement

مرحباً يا أعضاء ويكيميديا بلاد الشام،

أودّ أن أفتتح هنا نقاشاً جوهرياً بالنسبة لمستقبل المجموعة، وأتمنى أن نرى مشاركة فيه وإدلاءً بالرأي من سائر الأعضاء، سواء بالموافقة أو التعليق أو التغيير أو غيره، حيث أنه سيكون مهماً جداً بالنسبة لعمل المجموعة خلال الفترة القادمة، وكذلك بالنسبة لدورة الانتخابات الثالثة التي ستكون في شهر أغسطس.

منذ فترة وأنا أتحدث مع عددٍ من أعضاء المجموعة بخصوص قضايا مختلفة تخصّ ويكيميديا الشام، مثل نظام العمل وطريقة الإدارة وكيفية تفعيل المجموعة وتنشيطها أكثر. مقارنةً بسائر المجموعات العربية، أصبحت ويكيميديا بلاد الشام -خلال العام الماضي- واحدةً من أنشط المجموعات وأكثرها نجاحاً، إذا لدينا عددٌ كبيرٌ من الأعضاء ونشاطات دورية (لتصفّح أنشطتنا خلال الدورة الحالية).

رغم ذلك، وبسبب فعالياتنا المتزايدة والارتفاع المستمر في عدد الأعضاء، نعتقد أن المجموعة بحاجةٍ إلى تطوير أكثر من حيث طريقة الإدارة، حيث أن الهيئة الإدارية أثبتت قلّة فعاليتها من تجربتنا خلال السنتين الماضيتين، ليس لتقصيرٍ من أحد، ولكن لأمور خارج عن الإرادة. هناك عدّة أسباب، ولعل أهمها -بحسب ما أرى أنا وبعض من تحدثت إليهم- هو أن تقسيم الإدارة على أساسٍ جغرافي، أي من خلال ممثلي الدول، غير فعَّال، وذلك لأن نشاطاتنا وفعالياتنا ليست منتشرةً بصورة متساوية جغرافياً. في الواقع، تحدُث جميع نشاطاتنا -تقريباً- في دولتين من دول الشام الأربعة فقط، وحتى في هاتين الدولتين فإنَّ النشاطات متنوّعة جداً في نوعها وأماكنها لكي يكون ثمة شخص واحدٌ "مسؤول" عنها. بنظري، أصبح هذا التقسيم الإداري عائقاً أمام العمل المشترك في المجموعة، لأنه يصنعُ نوعاً من الانحياز (كلّ دولة لها "فريقها") دون أن يساعد على تنشيط الدول الأخرى، التي تصبحُ مثل المتروك خارجاً.

من جهةٍ أخرى، لا زلنا نواجه أزمة كبيرة في موضوع آخر مهم جداً، وهو كيفية استقطاب الأعضاء الجُدد. ولا أقصد هنا كيفية الدعاية للمجموعة وتعريف الناس بها، فنحنُ نقومُ بذلك بطريقة فعَّالة تماماً من خلال برنامج التعليم وورش التحرير وغيرها من فعالياتنا. وأما المشكلة التي أقصدُها هنا فهي كيفية تشجيع هؤلاء الأشخاص الجُدد على الانخراط بعمل المجموعة وعلى إيجادٍ دور لأنفسهم فيها. بإمكاننا -مثلاً- أن نخبر أيَّ شخصٍ عن ويكيميديا بلاد الشام وأن نقنعه بالانضمام إلينا، ولكن ماذا بعد ذلك؟ ما هي المهام التي بإمكانه أن يساعدنا بها؟ كيف بإمكانه أن يكون شخصاً فاعلاً بالنسبة للمجموعة؟ من الصعب جداً أن يخبره أحدٌ بذلك، لأننا لا نعرفُ أصلاً. ليست لدينا أي طريقة لمساعدة الجدد على أن يصبحوا جزءاً من مجموعتنا، ومعظم الأعضاء الحاليين هم إما من المؤسّسين أو أشخاصٍ يكتبون على ويكيبيديا منذ سنواتٍ طويلة أصلاً.

أخيراً، أشعرُ بأن لدينا نقصاً كبيراً في طرح أنفسنا ضمنَ مجتمع ويكيميديا الموسَّع. الكثير منا، ممَّن يتابعون الأخبار والتحديثات العامَّة على الميتاويكي أو يذهبون إلى مؤتمرات ولقاءات في الخارج، يسمعون عن مجموعات وفروع لويكيميديا مشهورةٍ بما تقومُ به. ويكيميديا أرمينيا، على سبيل المثال، معروفة بنشاط "مخيّمات الويكي" الذي حقَّق نجاحاً باهراً بإشراك طلبة المدارس والأطفال في تطوير ويكيبيديا باللغة الأرمنية، وويكيميديا أوكرانيا مرتبطة باسم مسابقة "الويكي تهوى الأرض" ونجاحها العالمي، وويكيميديا إسرائيل لاستضافها للكثير من المؤتمرات والفعاليات الخاصَّة بالحركة. أظنّ، بالمثل، أن لويكيميديا الشام فرصةً كبيرة لتكون معروفة بنشاطها على المستوى العالمي، ولديَّ أيضاً بعضُ الأفكار بخصوص ذلك، وإحداها هي إعادة الهيكلة الشاملة لصفحات الميتا التي قمتُ بها مع علاء، والتي بإمكانكم أن تروا أمثلة عليها في الصفحات الجديدة عن العضوية والمشاريع.

الغرضُ من هذه المقدمة كلّها هو التمهيد للمقترحات القادمة، والتي عملنا أنا والصديق الرائع علاء وبعض الزملاء الآخرين على صياغتها خلال الأسابيع الماضية. أطمحُ شخصياً بأن نعتمد هذه التغييرات (أو بعضها، على الأقلّ) بدءاً من الدورة الانتخابية القادمة، التي سوف تقام بعد ثلاثة شهور، ولذا فإني أدعوكم للنقاش والتعليق عليها بحسب ما ترون.

المقترحات المطروحة

اعتماد نظامٍ للعضوية
عند تنظيم أمورٍ مهمّة مثل الانتخابات والنشاطات أو حتى الحديث على الملأ عن مجموعة ويكيميديا الشام، من الصعب جداً على الدوام أن نجيب عن سؤال: "كم عضواً تضمّ المجموعة؟"، لأن الغالبية العظمى من الأسماء المدرجة على الميتا (في قائمة الأعضاء الوحيدة لدينا) هي لأشخاص خاملين تركوا توقيعاتهم منذ سنوات ولم يعودوا بعدها قطّ. ولكي نستطيع عقد انتخابات منظّمة، مع التوسع الذي تشهده المجموعة، لا بدّ من طريقة أفضل للإشراف على الأعضاء فيها.

نرى -نظراً لهذه الأسباب- ضرورةً لتنظيم العضوية بطريقة أكبر. أولاً، لا بُدَّ من أن تكون لدينا معلومات أكثر عن الأعضاء، فاسم المستخدم لا يكفي -غالباً- للتواصل مع الناس، إذ إن الكثيرين لا يتفقدّون حسابات الويكي بانتظام، كما أنَّنا (كمجموعة مُنظَّمة) يجبُ أن نمتلك بعض المعلومات الأساسية عن أعضائنا، مثل الاسم الحقيقي وبلد الإقامة ورقم الهاتف والبريد الإلكتروني. لهذا الغرض، قام علاء بإعداد نموذجٍ للعضوية على غرار النموذج المعتمد في مجموعة ويكي الطب.

بحسب النظام الجديد، إذا اعتمدناه، سيكون على جميع الأعضاء ملئ هذا النموذج أو تجديده مرة واحدةً سنوياً للتأكّد من أنهم لا زالوا يعملون معنا، وأنهم يرغبون بالمشاركة بنشاطات المجموعة القادمة.

من حيث المبدأ، ليست هناك أي شروطٍ للانضمام إلى المجموعة سوى تعبئة النموذج المرفق أعلاه. ولكن ولضبط عملية الانتخابات، نقترحُ وضع الشروط الآتية للحصول على صلاحية التصويت في انتخابات المجموعة السنوية:

• أن يكون العضو مسجلاً في المجموعة منذ 6 شهور على الأقلّ.
• أن تكون له مشاركة بنشاطات المجموعة أو اجتماعاتها أو نقاشاتها الدورية.
• أن يكون المستخدم قد أكمل بحسابه على مشاريع الويكي ما لا يقلّ عن 100 تعديل، على أن يكون قد أكمل هذا العدد قبل ما لا يقلّ عن 3 شهور من موعد الانتخابات.

إلغاء ممثلي الدول والانتقال إلى --> فرق عمل
خلال السنتين الماضيتين، ثبت أن معظم نشاط المجموعة يحدثُ في دولتين فقط وأن تقسيم المسؤوليات فيها جغرافياً غير عمليّ، لأن التوزيع الجغرافي للأعضاء (والنشطين خصوصاً) غير متكافئ. الأسباب التي أدت إلى هذا الاختلاف -مرَّة أخرى- خارجة عن الإرادة، وليست بسبب تقصير من أحد، ولكنَّ نتيجتها، برأيي، هي أن تقسيم الهيئة الإدارية على أساسٍ جغرافي أصبحَ يعزّز الحواجز الجغرافية ويزيدُها (بدلاً من العكس)، وذلك لأن مسؤوليات الإدارة تنحصرُ لكلّ في دولته.

لحلّ هذا الإشكال، أود أن أقترح إلغاء نظام ممثّلي الدول تماماً واستبداله بنظامٍ إداري جديد يعتمد على فرق العمل (وفي المستقبل، على ما أرجو، مجلس إداري). في هذه الحالة، سوف تنقسمُ المجموعة إلى 4-5 فرقٍ بحسب مجال الاهتمام، حيث يتخصًّصُ كلّ واحدٍ منها بالعمل على مجال ونشاطات من فئة ما، ويكون للفريق رئيسٌ مسؤول عن الإشراف على نشاطات الفريق ومشاريعه ودعمها وتوثيقها، ويكون اختيار قائد الفريق أثناء الانتخابات السنوية. في هذه الحالة، وعند استقطاب الأعضاء الجدد، سيكون من السهل علينا دعوتهم للمجموعة على أساس اختيار فريقٍ للانضمام إليه، بدلاً من تركهم يتساءلون عمّا يجبُ عليهم فعله.

الفرق المقترحة للوقت الحالي هي كالآتي:

• برنامج التعليم: يتخصَّصُ بعقد اتفاقات مع أساتذة الجامعات والمدارس لتدريب طلابهم على كيفية المساهمة بويكيبيديا.
• الفعاليات والشراكات: لتنظيم كافة النشاطات، من محاضرات وورش تحرير وغيرها مع مختلف المؤسسات التي تتشابهُ في أهدافها وعملها مع ويكيميديا الشام. يشملُ عمل هذا الفريق شراكات الـ"غلام" (المكتبات والمتاحف والأراشيف) وتحفيز المؤسسات الخارجية على التبرع بالصور والبيانات الحرّة لويكيبيديا.
• تحرير ويكيبيديا: لإقامة كافة النشاطات الإلكترونية على ويكيبيديا، التي يمكنُ لجميع أعضاء المجموعة المشاركة بها من أيّ مكان، مثل التعاون لكتابة المقالات المختارة والجيدة ولإضافة المقالات البوتية ولتنظيم مسابقات تحرير في ويكيبيديا باسم المجموعة.
• الشبكات الاجتماعية: يعملُ على تفعيل حسابات الشبكات الاجتماعية لويكيميديا الشام والنشر فيها بصورة دورية، وكذلك للإجابة عن رسائل البريد الإلكتروني الرسمية للمجموعة وربّما للمشاركة في إثراء محتوى الموقع الإلكتروني (إذا أطلقناه).

بالإضافة إلى فرق العمل والمنسّق العام وأمين الصندوق، أقترحُ إضافة دور أمينٍ للسرّ. لاحظتُ الحاجة لهذا الدور من خلال التجربة العملية خلال العامين الماضيين، حيث أن النظام الحالي للعمل يوكل جميع المهامّ التي لا تختصّ بمنطقة جغرافية محدّدة (أو بفريق عمل محدد، في النظام الجديد) إلى المنسّق العام، وهو ما يضعُ على كاهله عبئاً كبيراً، بدءاً من تنسيق الاجتماعات إلى كتابة المحاضرة ونشرها والإشراف على عمل الهيئة الإدارية وتوثيق النشاطات في الدول الأربعة وكتابة التقرير السنوي والمشاركة بتنظيم النشاطات والتجاوب مع طلبات الأعضاء وغير ذلك. وهذه كمية من المهام أعتقد أن من الفعّال، على الأمد البعيد، تركها لشخصٍ واحد فقط، فالمجموعة تزدادُ حجماً ونشاطاً كلّ عام وتزداد الأعباء فيها بمرور الوقت، وهو فرقٌ يمكنُ ملاحظته خلال العامين الماضيين. سيكون "أمين السر" بمثابة نائب للمنسّق يتقاسُمُ معه الأعباء المتعلّقة بالتواصل مع الأعضاء والتنسيق معهم، مثل الدعوة للاجتماعات وكتابة محاضرها والإشراف على نظام العضوية الجديد وغير ذلك.

للتلخيص، ستكون الهيئة الإدارية الجديدة كما يأتي:

• المنسّق العام
• أمين السر
• أمين الصندوق
• قادة فرق العمل الأربعة

تجديد صفحات الميتا
هذا ليس تماماً ضمن قائمة "المقترحات"، لأنه مهمّة عملنا عليها أنا وعلاء -سلفاً- خلال الفترة الأخيرة، إذ قمنا بإعادة هيكلة وكتابة وتنظيم لجميع الصفحات المرتبطة بويكيميديا بلاد الشام على الميتا. في البداية، كانت لدينا صفحة واحدة للمجموعة لا تعطي للغرباء عنها أي فكرة حقيقية عمَّا نفعله. وأما الآن فلدينا صفحة مُنظَّمة مع أقسامٍ فرعية مُخصَّصةٍ للعضوية والتقارير والقوانين والإدارة وعن كافة نشاطات المجموعة ومشاريعها السابقة والحالية. نرحّب بسماع أيّ تعليقاتٍ منكم على تنسيق الصفحات وهيكلتها الجديدة.

سامحوني لطول المقترحات. سأكون بانتظار سماع تعليقاتكم ومداخلاتكم عليها خلال الأيام والأسابيع القادمة، وذلك لنقرّر معاً كيف ستكون هيكلة مجموعتنا في المستقبل وفي دوراتها القادمة --Abbad (talk) 13:34, 10 May 2019 (UTC).

تعليقات

• أنا اؤيد بشدة كل هذه التغييرات، كما أخبرتك سابقًا محررّ عبّاد أننا بحاجة للفعل إلى شروط واضحة لمن يرغب بالانضمام معنا، بالإضافة إلى ذلك نحن بحاجة إلى دراسة الأعضاء الحاليين ومدى مطابقتهم للشروط وتصفيتهم.

بالنسبة لممثلي الدول والمجموعات، ما أراه هو أننا بحاجة لنظام جديد يضمن أننا نعمل جميعًا تحت راية واحدة وهي راية بلاد الشّام بدلًا من أن نكون مفرّقين على الدول الأربعة، النظام الذي اقترحته أنت مناسبٌ جدًّا وسيكون من الرائع تطبيقه. --Mohammad Hijjawi (talk) 09:36, 14 May 2019 (UTC)

@Mohammad Hijjawi: شكراً لك صديقي ! هل ترى، من قراءتك للمقترحات أعلاه، أي شيء ربما تغيره أو تقترحه بطريقة مغايرة من وجهة نظرك؟ يهمني رأيك --Abbad (talk) 16:17, 15 May 2019 (UTC).

@عباد ديرانية: مرحبًا عبّاد، نعم، بصراحة أنا أرغب أن يكون هناك شروط للانضمام للمجموعة بالإضافة إلى ذلك أنا مع أن نقوم بفلترة الأعضاء الحاليين، هناك أعضاء في المجموعة من الهند، وهناك أعضاء لم يسجلوا الدخول إلى حسابهم منذ سنوات! أما بالنسبة لنظام الهيئة الإدارية الجديدة فأنا بصراحة ليست لدي أي إضافات عليه، ولكنني أظن أنه سيكون من الرائع أن نحدد فترة تجريبية له فإن كان ناجحًا وأثبت مدى فاعليته نعتمده بشكل مطلق أما إذا لم يعد بالنتائج

المرجوة فعندئدٍ أنا مع فتح نقاش جديد حول الأمر، ولتحديد مدى الفاعلية أنصح بشدة بتحديد حد أدنى من الأهداف التي ننوي إنجازها إن أمكن. --Mohammad Hijjawi (talk) 11:27, 26 May 2019 (UTC)

• اقترح ان يكون هناك جهة شريكة تساعدنا على العمل بشكل مادي ومعنوي بالاضافة الى ان يكون هناك تعريف بالمتطوعين العاميا لمن يرغب.--Justwiki (talk) 07:05, 13 May 2019 (UTC)

شكراً ناجح. هل ترى أن ثمة جزءاً من إعادة الهيكلة -المطروحة أعلاه- بالإمكان توظيفه لخدمة شراكات المجموعة؟ --Abbad (talk) 16:18, 15 May 2019 (UTC).

•  Support المقترحات بالكامل، وخصوصًا هذه المقترحات ستساعد في تنظيم عمل المجموعة بشكلٍ أكبر جدًا، وزيادة الاحترافية في العمل، وما سينعكس علينا من آثارٍ لاحقة. بالتوفيق جميعًا --Alaa :)..! 18:05, 24 May 2019 (UTC)
• أتوافق مع ما ورد أعلاه من أفكار، فهي دروس مستفادة كانت نتيجة تفكير جدي بما كان عليه وضع المجموعة سابقاً (وهو لم يكن وضعاً سيئاً أبداً، بل على العكس). Mervat (talk) 20:48, 24 May 2019 (UTC)

الخلاصة: بناءً على النقاش أعلاه، والذي استمرَّ لمدة شهر وبضعة أيام، يسعدني أن أعلنَ عن الاعتماد المبدئي للهيكلة الجديدة للمجموعة المقترحة أعلاه، والتي عدلتُ بناءً عليها قانون المجموعة بصورة أولية. شكراً جزيلاً لكلّ من شارك في النقاش، وبإمكان من يريدُ أن يترك أي تعليقات أو ملاحظات أخرى أدناه. أتطلَّع للدورة القادمة ولتجربة النظام الجديد، على أمل أن يكون فيه تطوير إيجابي آخر لويكيميديا الشام --Abbad (talk) 21:46, 12 June 2019 (UTC).

Introducing Wikimedia Space: A platform for movement news and organizations

Hi Wikimedians of the Levant/Archive 1,
I’m writing to let you know that the Community Engagement department at the Wikimedia Foundation is launching a new platform, Wikimedia Space. Here, you will find stories for and by contributors to the Wikimedia movement, and a space for discussions of different topics.

We know that finding information about Wikimedia activities and processes is very complicated, which makes the learning curve to enter our movement and be successful afterwards, really steep. By centralizing community stories and conversations in one shared space, we believe we are facilitating access and discoverability of topics across the movement, improving, in turn, connections among Wikimedians.

As an affiliated organization to the Wikimedia Foundation, we hope that you can share this platform with your local community, and we count on you to encourage them to add their voices. If you’d like to contribute stories, and overall, participate in the discussion section, please read our blogging guidelines and our code of conduct and join the conversation. Find more information about the project on its page on Meta.

Looking forward to seeing you at Wikimedia Space,
María Cruz, Communications and Outreach Manager, Wikimedia Foundation.
MediaWiki message delivery (talk) 17:53, 25 June 2019 (UTC)

References

Notification of User Group Expiration - Renewal pending submission of reporting

Greetings, @عباد ديرانية: & @Fjmustak:
This is a notification to bring to your attention that your organization is currently past due on its required annual reporting. Wikimedia User Groups are required to submit an annual activity report covering the entirety of the 12-month agreement period in order to prompt review for a renewal. Reports must be written in English, posted to meta, and linked on the meta Reports page. This page is used to track how organizations and groups are meeting reporting requirements described in their agreements with the Wikimedia Foundation (e.g. chapter agreements, thematic organization agreements, user group agreements). It is the central place where affiliates can add reports about their activities, share their plans, and even news or social media channels with the wider movement. When new reports are available, organizations and groups should add them to this page to keep their columns up to date.

As noted on the meta Reports page, your organization’s 2018 annual reporting became past due in May. Please be sure to

1. Post your 2018 annual reporting to the meta Reports page as soon as possible to return to compliance with your user group agreement.
2. Check that your group’s page is also up to date with past report links for historical record-keeping, and
3. Please send an email to Wikimedia-l in order to share with a movement-wide audience.

If you have any questions or need any further guidance, please don’t hesitate to reach out. Best regards, DNdubane (WMF) (talk) 20:55, 7 August 2019 (UTC)

@DNdubane (WMF): Thanks for the notification. We're aware of this but the pressure of the strategy salons and other grant reports forced us to postpone it. The report will be submitted within a few days after Wikimania, hopefully. Apologies for the inconvenience --Abbad (talk) 20:17, 11 August 2019 (UTC).

@DNdubane (WMF): Hey again. Our annual report is now ready and updated on the Reports page. Apologies for being past due on it --Abbad (talk) 19:44, 29 August 2019 (UTC).

Introducing Wikimedia Diary: A memory book (notebook) for all

		Wikimedia Diary
		Hello Wikimedians of the Levant/Archive 1, I wanna share you about Wikimedia Diary, a public memory book (notebook) in which Wikimedians from all over the world are free to write any worth noting event/activities/experiences by them or community in this Wiki world. It is a more casual place to write about what one is up to. As we all know, a diary is a book in which diarist keeps a daily record of events and experiences. Likewise, the basic idea of Wikimedia Diary is that we do many activities here in wiki world which we are proud of, but unfortunately it became only the history anytime. So, It is meant to record those activities on the happened date with a signature (~~~~) which is worth noting, and letting fellow Wikimedians know about what inspirational you've did. It would motivate users from all around the world to keep on cool activities and publish a note. I hope you share your activities with all of us on the page, and please let your friends know about Wikimedia Diary. Also, your feedback is welcome on the discussion page. Thank you! Kind regards, Tulsi Bhagat, Initiator of Wikimedia Diary, Wikimedia movement communications group. MediaWiki message delivery (talk) 08:09, 15 November 2019 (UTC)

Language idea: French

Since there are Francophone Lebanese it may be good to have pages in French as well :) WhisperToMe (talk) 16:53, 7 December 2019 (UTC)

Hello @WhisperToMe: hope if you know any user who can help in French --Alaa :)..! 21:15, 7 December 2019 (UTC)

2019 Affiliations Committee call for candidates

The Affiliations Committee (AffCom) – the committee responsible for guiding volunteers in establishing Wikimedia chapters, thematic organizations, and user groups – is looking for new members!

The main role of the Affiliations Committee is to guide groups of volunteers that are interested in forming Wikimedia affiliates. We review applications from new groups, answer questions and provide advice about the different Wikimedia affiliation models and processes, review affiliate bylaws for compliance with requirements and best practices, and update the Wikimedia Foundation Board of Trustees as well as advise them on issues connected to chapters, thematic organizations and Wikimedia user groups.

The committee consists of fourteen members, selected every twelve months for staggered two-year terms. Those joining the committee during the current process will serve a two-year term ending in December 2021.

AffCom continues to closely monitor the Wikimedia 2030 Strategy process that was initiated in 2016. While the affiliation models continue to be discussed as part of the broader strategy discussion, as no decisions have been made to change the current affiliation models yet, AffCom will continue to work in the same manner with regard to affiliate recognitions and intervention support for affiliates with issues of non-compliance in 2020. Specifically, AffCom will continue to process applications for user group and chapter/thematic organization creation, while we await the strategy next steps and begin to prepare for a smooth transition of the committee and affiliates ecosystem to any changing movement structures and systems in 2021.

Being a part of the Affiliations Committee requires communication with volunteers all over the world, negotiating skills, cultural sensitivity, and the ability to understand legal texts. We look for a healthy mix of different skill sets in our members.

Required and Recommended Skills for Affiliations Committee Members

Across all committee members there are additional relevant skills as well as requirements which help to support the committee and its sustainability which include both required and relevant general skills

Required Skills

• Fluency in English
• Availability of up to 5 hours per week, and the time to participate in a monthly one and two-hour voice/video meetings.
• Willingness to use one's real name in committee activities (including contacts with current and potential affiliates) when appropriate.
• Strong track record of effective collaboration
• International orientation

Relevant Skills

• Skills in other languages are a major plus.
• Public Communications (English writing and speaking skills)
• Strong understanding of the structure and work of affiliates and the Wikimedia Foundation.
• Documentation practices
• Interviewing experience
• Knowledge of different legal systems and experience in community building and organizing are a plus

• Experience with, or in, an active affiliate is a major plus.

• Teamwork
  • Focusing on shared goals instead of disagreements
  • Focusing on the conflict at hand and not past ones
  • Ensuring each member of the team has a clearly defined role, which can help reduce disagreements over areas of responsibility
  • Project and people management to coordinate different parties on a shared plan and seeing it through to completion.

• Problem-Solving
  • Ability to evaluate various solutions
  • Ability to consider multiple interests and points of view
  • Willingness to revisit unresolved issues
  • The capacity to recognize and respond to important matters
  • The ability to seek compromise and avoid punishing
• Ability to work and communicate with other languages and cultures.

Given the expectations for maintaining course in 2020 and preparing for potential 2021 transitions, it is important that we are also clear about two different skill sets critical to committee support at this time. The first skillset is oriented to understanding affiliate dynamics and organizational development patterns to successfully process affiliate applications for recognition; the other is oriented to conflict prevention and intervention support for affiliates in conflict.

Affiliate Recognitions Relevant Skills

• Administration
  • Willingness to process applications through a set, perhaps bureaucratic process.
  • Attention to detail

• Monitoring & Strategic Development
  • Readiness to participate in political discussions on the role and future of affiliates, models of affiliation, and similar topics.

• Organizational Awareness
  • Understanding of and community building and organizational development
  • Understanding of group dynamics
  • Awareness of the affiliates ecosystem and models

Conflict Prevention & Intervention Relevant Skills

• Communication
  • Active listening
  • Reading nonverbal cues
  • Knowing when to interrupt and when to stay quiet
  • Being culturally sensitive at the same time remaining clear and concise when explaining a concept or opinion

• Stress Management
  • Patience
  • Positivity
  • Ability to inject a dose of humor to dilute anger and frustration when needed
  • Taking well-timed breaks that can bring calm in the midst of flared tempers
  • Ability to manage stress while remaining alert and calm

• Emotional Intelligence
  • Being emotionally aware,
  • Ability to control emotions and behaviors,
  • Ability to practice empathy,
  • Impartiality,
  • Don’t take anything personally,
  • Being aware of and respectful of differences.

• Facilitation skills
  • Meeting facilitation experience
  • Peer or community mediation training
  • Peer or community mediation experience

Do you have any of these skill sets and an interest to support movement affiliates?

We are looking for people who are excited by the challenge of empowering volunteers to get organized and form communities that further our mission around the world. In exchange, committee members selected will gain the experience of supporting their world-wide colleagues to develop their communities as well as personal development in guiding organizational development, facilitating affiliate partnerships, and professional communications.

Selection process

As a reflection of our commitment to openness, transparency, and bilateral engagement with the Wikimedia community, the 2019 member selection process will include a public review and comment period. We invite you to share with us you applications, specifying your focus area you’re interested in. All applications received by the committee will be posted on Meta, and the community will be invited to provide comments and feedback about each candidate.

At the end of the public comment period, the applications will be voted on by the members of the committee who are not seeking re-election, taking into account comments put forward by the committee's members, advisors, Wikimedia Foundation staff and board liaisons, and the community. A final decision will be made by mid-January 2020, with new members expected to join later that month.

How to apply

If you are interested in joining the committee, please post your application on the nomination page and send an email announcing your application to AffComlists.wikimedia.org by 10 January 2020. Your application must include the following information:

• Your full name and Wikimedia username
• A statement describing your relevant experience, skills, and motivation for joining the committee.
• Answers to the following questions:

1. How do you think affiliates work best together to partner on effective projects and initiatives?
2. What do you see as the role of affiliates in the Wikimedia movement in the next three years?
3. What do you feel you will bring to the committee that makes you uniquely qualified?
4. Which subcommittee are you most interested in serving on: Recognitions OR Conflict Prevention & Intervention?

If you have any questions, please don't hesitate to contact me and/or the committee as a whole. We are happy to chat or have a phone call with anyone about our work if this helps them decide to apply. Please distribute this call among your networks, and do apply if you are interested!

On behalf of the committee,

Camelia Boban, AffCom member

Invitation to participate in Wikipedia Pages Wanting Photos

Dear Wikimedia Affiliate Community,

We are inviting you to participate in Wikipedia Pages Wanting Photos (WPWP), a new global contest scheduled to run from July through August 2020:

Participants will choose among Wikipedia pages without photo images, then add a suitable file from among the many thousands of photos in the Wikimedia Commons, especially those uploaded from thematic contests (Wiki Loves Africa, Wiki Loves Earth, Wiki Loves Folklore, etc.) over the years.

WPWP offers a focused task for guiding new editors through the steps of adding content to existing pages. It can be used to organize editing workshops and edit-a-thons.

The organizing team is looking for a contact person at the Chapter, Thematic group & Wikimedia User Group level (geographically or thematically), or for a language WP, to coordinate the project locally. We’d be glad for you to sign up directly at WPWP Participating Communities

Thank you,

Deborah Schwartz Jacobs

On behalf of Wikipedia Pages Wanting Photos Organizing Team - 21:19, 9 May 2020 (UTC)

صفحات ويكيبيديا تريد صور

صفحات ويكيبيديا تريد صور

أعزاءنا في المجتمعات المنتمية الويكيميدية

هذه دعوة للمشاركة في صفحات ويكيبيديا تريد صور (WPWP) ، وهي مسابقة عالمية جديدة من المقرر أن تقام من يوليو لأغسطس 2020 :

سيختار المشاركون من بين صفحات ويكيبيديا التي لا تحتوي على وسائط صور ، حيث يضيفون ملفا مناسبًا من بين آلاف الصور في ويكيميديا كومنز ، خاصة تلك التي تم تحميلها خلال المسابقات التصويرية (ويكي تهوى إفريقيا، ويكي تهوى الأرض ، ويكي تهوى الفلكلور ، إلخ.) في السنوات الأخيرة. يقدم WPWP إرشادات دقيقة لتوجيه المحررين الجدد في كيفية إضافة المحتوى إلى الصفحات الموجودة. يمكن استخدامه لتنظيم ورش التحرير وإيديتاثونات. يبحث الفريق المنظم عن جهات اتصال على مستوى الفصول ، المجموعات المواضيعية و مجموعات المستخدمين الويكيميديين (الجغرافية أو المواضعية) في أحد لغات ويكيبيديا ، لتنسيق المشروع محلياً. سيكون من دواعي سرورنا أن تقومو بالتسجيل مباشرة في صفحة المجتمعات المشاركة WPWP. شخصيا أ بإسم جهة إنتماءاتكم.

شكرا

--Mohammed Bachounda (talk) 13:48, 10 May 2020 (UTC)

Call for candidates - June 2020

Hi everyone,

The Affiliations Committee (AffCom) – the committee responsible for guiding volunteers in establishing and sustaining Wikimedia chapters, thematic organizations, and user groups – is seeking new members!

The main role of the AffCom is to guide groups of volunteers that are interested in forming Wikimedia affiliates. We review applications from new groups, answer questions and provide advice about the different Wikimedia affiliation models and processes, review affiliate bylaws for compliance with requirements and best practices, and update the Wikimedia Foundation Board of Trustees as well as advise them on issues connected to chapters, thematic organizations and Wikimedia user groups.

The committee consists of five to fifteen members, selected at least once every year, to serve two-year terms. As the committee must hold mid-year elections to replenish its members at this time, those joining the committee during the current process will serve a slightly extended term from July 2020 through December 2022.

AffCom continues to closely monitor the Wikimedia 2030 Strategy process initiated in 2016. While the affiliation models continue to be discussed as part of the broader strategy discussion, as no decisions have been made to change the current affiliation models yet, AffCom continues to work in the same manner with regard to affiliate recognitions and intervention support for affiliates with issues of non-compliance in 2020. AffCom continues to process applications for user group and chapter/thematic organization creation, while we await the strategy next steps and begin to prepare for a smooth transition of the committee and affiliates ecosystem to any changing movement structures and systems in 2021.

Being a part of the AffCom requires communication with volunteers all over the world, negotiating skills, cultural sensitivity, and the ability to understand legal texts. We look for a mix of different skill sets in our members.

Click here for further details.

James Heilman on behalf of AffCom

MediaWiki message delivery (talk) 06:18, 13 June 2020 (UTC)

Affiliations Committee elections announcement June 2020

Hi everyone,

This is a friendly reminder that the Affiliations Committee (AffCom) – the committee responsible for guiding volunteers in establishing and sustaining Wikimedia chapters, thematic organizations, and user groups – is seeking new members! The deadline to post your application on the nomination page is 30 June 2020.

• Application process: Considering the anticipated changes following the Strategy recommendations, we had a limited scope to introduce changes in the process. We have made a small but impactful addition to the application process by introducing the Self Assessment survey form which will help the committee know more about your engagement as endorsements are not consistently shared, may not be representative, and often do not speak to the specific skills needed.
• Selection process: No change; see: Membership.

If you have any questions, please contact me and/or the committee as a whole. We are happy to answer questions about our work if this helps people decide to apply. Please distribute this announcement among your networks. Good luck to all the candidates!

On behalf of the committee,

--Rosiestep (talk) 00:49, 19 June 2020 (UTC) via MassMessaging

شكر خاص لمشاركتكم في تطوير توصيات استراتيجية ويكيميديا 2030

		Wikimedia 2030
		بتنظيم صالون استراتيجي كانت مجموعة مستخدمي ويكيميديا الشام عنصرا مهما في صياغة توصيات ويكيميديا 2030. هذا الوسام المتواضع يعبر على الشكر والإمتنان لكم على مجهودكم ووقتكم ومساهمتكم القيمة --ASedrati (WMF) (talk) 22:21, 27 June 2020 (UTC)

.

Feedback on movement names

There are a lot of conversations happening about the future of our movement names. We hope that you are part of these discussions and that your community is represented.

Since 16 June, the Foundation Brand Team has been running a survey in 7 languages about 3 naming options. There are also community members sharing concerns about renaming in a Community Open Letter.

You should have received a separate affiliate survey via email. If you have not, feel free to email brandprojectwikimedia.org.

Our goal in this call for feedback is to hear from across the community, so we encourage you to participate in the survey, the open letter, or both. The survey will go through 7 July in all timezones. Input from the survey and discussions will be analyzed and published on Meta-Wiki.

Thanks for thinking about the future of the movement --The Brand Project team, 13:37, 2 July 2020 (UTC)

Note: The survey is conducted via a third-party service, which may subject it to additional terms. For more information on privacy and data-handling, see the survey privacy statement.

Announcing a new wiki project! Welcome, Abstract Wikipedia

Hello everyone. I am posting the announcement below, which you may have missed elsewhere, and in the hope that you can share it with your local communities. Please note that it may be available in your language at m:Special:MyLanguage/Abstract Wikipedia/July 2020 announcement. Thanks for your attention! m:User:Elitre (WMF)

Hi all,

It is my honor to introduce Abstract Wikipedia, a new project that has been unanimously approved by the Wikimedia Foundation Board of Trustees. Abstract Wikipedia proposes a new way to generate baseline encyclopedic content in a multilingual fashion, allowing more contributors and more readers to share more knowledge in more languages. It is an approach that aims to make cross-lingual cooperation easier on our projects, increase the sustainability of our movement through expanding access to participation, improve the user experience for readers of all languages, and innovate in free knowledge by connecting some of the strengths of our movement to create something new.

This is our first new project in over seven years. Abstract Wikipedia was submitted as a project proposal by Denny Vrandečić in May 2020 after years of preparation and research, leading to a detailed plan and lively discussions in the Wikimedia communities. We know that the energy and the creativity of the community often runs up against language barriers, and information that is available in one language may not make it to other language Wikipedias. Abstract Wikipedia intends to look and feel like a Wikipedia, but build on the powerful, language-independent conceptual models of Wikidata, with the goal of letting volunteers create and maintain Wikipedia articles across our polyglot Wikimedia world.

The project will allow volunteers to assemble the fundamentals of an article using words and entities from Wikidata. Because Wikidata uses conceptual models that are meant to be universal across languages, it should be possible to use and extend these building blocks of knowledge to create models for articles that also have universal value. Using code, volunteers will be able to translate these abstract “articles” into their own languages. If successful, this could eventually allow everyone to read about any topic in Wikidata in their own language.

As you can imagine, this work will require a lot of software development, and a lot of cooperation among Wikimedians. In order to make this effort possible, Denny will join the Foundation as a staff member in July and lead this initiative. You may know Denny as the creator of Wikidata, a long-time community member, a former staff member at Wikimedia Deutschland, and a former Trustee at the Wikimedia Foundation . We are very excited that Denny will bring his skills and expertise to work on this project alongside the Foundation’s product, technology, and community liaison teams.

It is important to acknowledge that this is an experimental project, and that every Wikipedia community has different needs. This project may offer some communities great advantages. Other communities may engage less. Every language Wikipedia community will be free to choose and moderate whether or how they would use content from this project.

We are excited that this new wiki-project has the possibility to advance knowledge equity through increased access to knowledge. It also invites us to consider and engage with critical questions about how and by whom knowledge is constructed. We look forward to working in cooperation with the communities to think through these important questions.

There is much to do as we begin designing a plan for Abstract Wikipedia in close collaboration with our communities. I encourage you to get involved by going to the project page and joining the new mailing list . We recognize that Abstract Wikipedia is ambitious, but we also recognize its potential. We invite you all to join us on a new, unexplored path.

Yours,

Katherine Maher (Executive Director, Wikimedia Foundation) -16:51, 10 July 2020 (UTC)

تنبيه لنقاش إعادة الهيكلة

تنبيه عن نقاش جار لإعادة هيكلة المجموعة إدارياً --Abbad (talk) 12:15, 3 August 2020 (UTC).

Sunday September 20 Strategic Wikimedia Affiliates Network meeting

Birds of a feather flock together.

The Strategic Wikimedia Affiliates Network (SWAN) is a developing forum for all Wikimedia movement affiliates to share ideas on the Wikimedia 2030 strategy process. It expands on the model of the All-Affiliates Brand Meeting to help lay some of the groundwork for a future Global Council.

Following up on the August SWAN meeting and June's All-Affiliates Brand Meeting, as well as strategic and outreach topics of mutual concern to all affiliates, this month we are meeting on Sunday September 20, and you are all invited to RSVP here.--Pharos (talk) 02:11, 18 September 2020 (UTC)

استراتيجية ويكيميديا 2030 - دعوة لتحديد أولويات المجتمع العربي

استراتيجية ويكيميديا

مرحباً، Wikimedians of the Levant/Archive 1

حان الوقت -أخيراً- لتطبيق خطة ويكيميديا الاستراتيجية على أرض الواقع، ونحن ندعوكم جميعاً للمشاركة! يدعوكم فريق الاستراتيجية في المؤسسة ومجموعة التخطيط التطوعية إلى تنظيم اجتماعات إلكترونية لمجتمعكم قبل نهاية الشهر العاشر أكتوبر القادم، هذه الاجتماعات ضرورية لتحديد مخرجات “التوصيات الاستراتيجية” التي تهمّ المجتمع العربي وتستجيب لحاجاته أو لاحتياجات مجتمعات ومنظمات الويكي العالمية من وجهة نظره.

بإمكانكم الإطلاع على توصيات الاستراتيجية بالعربي أو بلغات أخرى . تتضمن الاستراتيجية 10 توصيات وفي كل منها عدّة مخرجات و تعديلات مقترحة، و العددالإجمالي هو حوالي 50 مخرج، لتطبيق هذا العدد الكبير من المخرجات نحتاج لخطة زمنية واضحة، لن يكون متاحا تطبيقها كلها . لهذا السبب،نحتاج لخطة تنفيذية مدتها 18 شهراً تبدأ في 2021، و عليكم أن تحددو أولوياتكم خلال مرحلة التنفيذ.

يجب أن تحددوا أولوياتكم كمجتمع عربي أو كمجموعات مستخدمين. خلال هذه الفترة فكرو في احتياجاتكم المحلية وبما يلبيها من مخرجات توصيات الاستراتيجية! يمكنكم ملئ استبيان بهذه الأولويات كذلك. سوف ندعوكم في شهر نوفمبر المقبل للانضمام إلى فعالية إلكترونية عالمية لبحث هذه الأولويات ووضعها في إطار خطة للتنفيذ (سوف نخبركم المزيد عن هذه الفعالية قريباً). منذ الآن وحتى نهاية شهر أكتوبر، نتمنى أن تتمكنوا من إبلاغنا بأولويات مجتمعكم.

بإمكانكم الضغط هنا لمعرفة المزيد عن كيفية تنظيم اجتماعاتكم وكيفية إبلاغ فريق الاستراتيجية بالأولويات التي تتوصلون إليها (المعلومات بالإنكليزية فقط). يمكنكم بعد انعقاد الاجتماع أن تبلغونا بنتائج إما بملئ تقرير على الميتا أو بملئ الاستبيان من هنا أو بمراسلتنا على الإيميل. نرجو أن لا تترددوا بطرح أي أسئلة أو تعليقات لديكم هنا أو عبر الإيميل: strategy2030wikimedia.org

سوف ننظم -كذلك- لقاءا سريعاً للإجابة عن أي أسئلة لديكم بخصوص كل ما ورد أعلاه (اللقاء بالإنكليزية)، يمكنكم الانضمام إليه في يوم الخميس القادم 1 أكتوبر بتمام الساعة 2 ظهراً بالتوقيت العالمي (رابط الانضمام).

شكرا

عن فريق الإستراتيجية --Mohammed Bachounda (talk) 20:13, 28 September 2020 (UTC)

Sunday October 25 Strategic Wikimedia Affiliates Network meeting

Friendship is a movement value.

The Strategic Wikimedia Affiliates Network (SWAN) is a developing forum for all Wikimedia movement affiliates to share ideas on the Wikimedia 2030 strategy process. It expands on the model of the All-Affiliates Brand Meeting to help lay some of the groundwork for a future Global Council.

Following up on the September and August SWAN meetings, and June's All-Affiliates Brand Meeting, as well as strategic and outreach topics of mutual concern to all affiliates including the recent proposed changes to the Wikimedia Foundation Bylaws, this month we are meeting on Sunday October 25, and you are all invited to RSVP here.--Pharos (talk) 17:29, 20 October 2020 (UTC)

Call for insights on ways to better communicate the work of the movement

The Movement Strategy recommendations published this year made clear the importance of establishing stronger communications within our movement. To this end, the Foundation wants to gather insights from communities, including affiliates, on ways we all might more consistently communicate about our collective work, and better highlight community contributions from across the movement. Over the coming months, we will be running focus groups and online discussions to collect these insights. We hope your affiliate will decide to share your thoughts by participating in a focus group or joining the discussion on Meta-Wiki.

ELappen (WMF) (talk) 18:54, 18 November 2020 (UTC)

Sunday November 29 Strategic Wikimedia Affiliates Network meeting

Take flight with us.

The Strategic Wikimedia Affiliates Network (SWAN) is a developing forum for all Wikimedia movement affiliates to share ideas on the Wikimedia 2030 strategy process. It expands on the model of the All-Affiliates Brand Meeting to help lay some of the groundwork for a future Global Council.

Following up on the August, September, and October SWAN meetings, and June's All-Affiliates Brand Meeting, as well as strategic and outreach topics of mutual concern to all affiliates including the recent proposed changes to the Wikimedia Foundation Bylaws, this month we are meeting on Sunday November 29, and you are all invited to RSVP here.

(Note that the UTC times of 03:00 UTC and 19:00 UTC are the same as before, although a number of places have had daylight savings time changes since our last meeting).--Pharos (talk) 18:48, 24 November 2020 (UTC)

Sunday January 10 Strategic Wikimedia Affiliates Network meeting

Into the blue.

The Strategic Wikimedia Affiliates Network (SWAN) is a developing forum for all Wikimedia movement affiliates to share ideas on the Wikimedia 2030 strategy process. It expands on the model of the All-Affiliates Brand Meeting to help lay some of the groundwork for a future Global Council.

Following up on the August, September, October, and November SWAN meetings, and June's All-Affiliates Brand Meeting, as well as strategic and outreach topics of mutual concern to all affiliates including SWAN input on Interim Global Council and Movement Charter, this month we are meeting on Sunday January 10, and you are all invited to RSVP here.

To start the exchange of ideas on the IGC early, and to help prepare before the SWAN calls, we have set up and invite everyone to participate at this etherpad. If you like a more interactive way of discussing, we have also made a jamboard. Check here for more details.

--Pharos (talk) 18:39, 1 January 2021 (UTC)

Project Grant Open Call

This is the announcement for the Project Grants program open call that started on January 11, with the submission deadline of February 10, 2021.
This first open call will be focussed on Community Organizing proposals. A second open call focused on research and software proposals is scheduled from February 15 with a submission deadline of March 16, 2021.

For the Round 1 open call, we invite you to propose grant applications that fall under community development and organizing (offline and online) categories. Project Grant funds are available to support individuals, groups, and organizations to implement new experiments and proven ideas, from organizing a better process on your wiki, coordinating a campaign or editathon series to providing other support for community building. We offer the following resources to help you plan your project and complete a grant proposal:

Weekly proposals clinics via Zoom during the Open Call. Join us for #Upcoming_Proposal_Clinics|real-time discussions with Program Officers and select thematic experts and get live feedback about your Project Grants proposal. We’ll answer questions and help you make your proposal better.

• Video tutorials for writing a strong application
  
• General planning page for Project Grants
  
• Program guidelines and criteria
  

Program officers are also available to offer individualized proposal support upon request. Contact us at projectgrants@wikimedia.org if you would like feedback or more information.

We are excited to see your grant ideas that will support our community and make an impact on the future of Wikimedia projects. Put your idea into motion, and submit your proposal by February 10, 2021!

Please feel free to get in touch with questions about getting started with your grant application, or about serving on the Project Grants Committee. Contact us at projectgrantswikimedia.org.
RSharma (WMF)MediaWiki message delivery (talk) 07:56, 28 January 2021 (UTC)

Sunday February 21 Strategic Wikimedia Affiliates Network meeting

We are a mosiac.

The Strategic Wikimedia Affiliates Network (SWAN) is a developing forum for all Wikimedia movement affiliates to share ideas on the Wikimedia 2030 strategy process. It expands on the model of the All-Affiliates Brand Meeting to help lay some of the groundwork for a future Global Council.

Following up on the August, September, October, November, and January SWAN meetings and June's All-Affiliates Brand Meeting, as well as strategic and outreach topics of mutual concern to all affiliates, this month we are meeting on Sunday February 21, and you are all invited to RSVP here.

To help set priorities for the SWAN agenda, and also to help manage which global conversations should be a focus in general, we have set up and invite everyone to participate at this SWAN priorities form. Possible topics include Community Board seats, Interim Global Council, Strategy prioritization follow-up events, Branding, Universal Code of Conduct, Grant strategy, and WMF CEO search. That is a lot of things, which are most important to cover in our upcoming SWAN meeting?

--Pharos (talk) 18:49, 15 February 2021 (UTC)

Sunday March 21 Strategic Wikimedia Affiliates Network meeting

Community as a hand-carved gem.

The Strategic Wikimedia Affiliates Network (SWAN) is a developing forum for all Wikimedia movement affiliates to share ideas on the Wikimedia 2030 strategy process. It expands on the model of the All-Affiliates Brand Meeting to help lay some of the groundwork for a future Global Council.

Following up on the August, September, October, November, January, and February SWAN meetings and June's All-Affiliates Brand Meeting, as well as strategic and outreach topics of mutual concern to all affiliates including Grants relaunch and Community Board seats, this month we are meeting on Sunday March 21, and you are all invited to RSVP here.

(Note that the UTC times of 03:00 UTC and 19:00 UTC are the same as before, although some places have had daylight savings time changes since our last meeting).--Pharos (talk) 04:13, 17 March 2021 (UTC)

Sunday April 25 Strategic Wikimedia Affiliates Network meeting

Swanlings grow up together.

The Strategic Wikimedia Affiliates Network (SWAN) is a developing forum for all Wikimedia movement affiliates to share ideas on the Wikimedia 2030 strategy process. It expands on the model of the All-Affiliates Brand Meeting to help lay some of the groundwork for a future Global Council.

Following up on the August, September, October, November, January, February, and March SWAN meetings and June's All-Affiliates Brand Meeting, as well as strategic and outreach topics of mutual concern to all affiliates including Interim Global Council + Movement Charter, WMF Resolution about the upcoming Board elections, Community Resilience and Sustainability role in Movement Strategy coordination, Grants Strategy Relaunch, Wikimedia Enterprise / OKAPI, and WMF Executive Transition

This month we are meeting on Sunday April 25, and you are all invited to RSVP here.

(Note that the UTC times of 03:00 UTC and 19:00 UTC are the same as before, although some places may have had daylight savings time changes since our last meeting).--Pharos (talk) 18:48, 21 April 2021 (UTC)

Invitation for Wikipedia Pages Wanting Photos 2021

Hello there,

We are inviting you to participate in Wikipedia Pages Wanting Photos 2021, a global contest scheduled to run from July through August 2021.

Participants will choose among Wikipedia pages without photo images, then add a suitable file from among the many thousands of photos in the Wikimedia Commons, especially those uploaded from thematic contests (Wiki Loves Africa, Wiki Loves Earth, Wiki Loves Folklore, etc.) over the years.

In its first year (2020), 36 Wikimedia communities in 27 countries joined the campaign. Events relating to the campaign included training organized by at least 18 Wikimedia communities in 14 countries.

The campaign resulted in the addition of media files (photos, audios and videos) to more than 90,000 Wikipedia articles in 272 languages.

Wikipedia Pages Wanting Photos (WPWP) offers an ideal task for recruiting and guiding new editors through the steps of adding content to existing pages. Besides individual participation, the WPWP campaign can be used by user groups and chapters to organize editing workshops and edit-a-thons.

The organizing team is looking for a contact person to coordinate WPWP participation at the Wikimedia user group or chapter level (geographically or thematically) or for a language WP. We’d be glad for you to reply to this message, or sign up directly at WPWP Participating Communities.

Please feel free to contact Organizing Team if you have any query.

Kind regards,
Tulsi Bhagat
Communication Manager
Wikipedia Pages Wanting Photos Campaign
Message delivered by MediaWiki message delivery (talk) 04:48, 3 May 2021 (UTC)

Affiliations Committee Call for Candidates - June 2021

This is an update from the Wikimedia Affiliations Committee. Translations are available.

The Affiliations Committee – the committee responsible for guiding volunteers in establishing Wikimedia chapters, thematic organizations, and user groups – is looking for new members!

The main role of the AffCom is to guide groups of volunteers that are interested in forming Wikimedia affiliates. We review applications from new groups, answer questions and provide advice about the different Wikimedia affiliation models and processes, review affiliate bylaws for compliance with requirements and best practices, and update the Wikimedia Foundation Board of Trustees as well as advise them on issues connected to chapters, thematic organizations and Wikimedia user groups.

The committee consists of five to fifteen members, selected at least once every year, to serve two-year terms.

Being a part of the AffCom requires communication with volunteers all over the world, negotiating skills, cultural sensitivity, and the ability to understand legal texts. We look for a mix of different skill sets in our members.

Responsibilities

• Availability of up to 5-8 hours per month

• Participate in monthly one and two-hour voice/video meetings

• Commitment to carry out assigned tasks in a given time.

• Facilitate and support communications

• Affiliate Support and growth

Required and Recommended Abilities, Skills, Knowledge for Affiliations Committee Members

Strong interpersonal relationship among members of the committee and also with the Wikimedia community members. Across all committee members, there are additional relevant skills as well as requirements which help to support the committee and its sustainability which include both required and relevant general skills

Required

• Fluency in English
• Availability of up to 5 hours per week, and the time to participate in a monthly one and two-hour voice/video meetings.
• Willingness to use one's real name in committee activities (including contacts with current and potential affiliates) when appropriate.
• Strong track record of effective collaboration
• International orientation

Relevant for all members

• Public Communications (English writing and speaking skills)
• Skills in other languages are a major plus.
• Understanding of the structure and work of affiliates and the Wikimedia Foundation.
• Documentation practices
• Interviewing experience
• Experience with, or in, an active affiliate is a major plus.
• Teamwork: Project and people management skills to coordinate and collaborate with different parties on a shared plan and see it through to completion.
• Problem-Solving: Ability to evaluate various solutions, consider multiple interests and points of view, revisit unresolved issues, seek compromise and work and communicate across languages and cultures.

Given the expectations for maintaining the course in 2021 and preparing for potential 2021 transitions as part of the Movement Strategy implementation process, it is important that we are also clear about two different skill sets critical to committee support at this time. The first skillset is oriented to understanding affiliate dynamics and organizational development patterns to successfully process affiliate applications for recognition; the other is oriented to conflict prevention and intervention support for affiliates in conflict.

Relevant to Affiliate Recognitions

• Administration & Attention to detail
• Readiness to participate in political discussions on the role and future of affiliates, models of affiliation, and similar topics.
• Awareness of the affiliates ecosystem and models and understanding of community building, organizational development, and group dynamics

Relevant to Conflict Prevention & Intervention

• Communication skills for active listening, clear instruction and turn-taking.
• Stress Management skills for maintaining patience and positivity
• Emotional intelligence to maintain awareness of emotions of oneself and others to practice empathy, impartiality, and mutual respect.
• Facilitation, negotiation, and mediation skills to guide diverse individuals and groups toward cooperation.
• Ability to work within a team

Do you have relevant skills and interest to support movement affiliates?

We are looking for people who are excited by the challenge of empowering volunteers to get organized and form communities that further our mission around the world. In exchange, committee members will gain the experience of supporting their world-wide colleagues to develop their communities as well as personal development in guiding organizational development, facilitating affiliate partnerships, and professional communications.

Selection process

As a reflection of our commitment to openness, transparency, and bilateral engagement with the Wikimedia community, the 2021 member selection process will include a public review and comment period and a self-assessment survey for candidates to share their skills and experience. This self-assessment information will help the committee to identify the skill sets relevant to our affiliate support processes. We invite you to apply for membership to the committee and join us in supporting the affiliates. The data shared in the self-assessment will only be made available to the committee and the relevant staff support. The nomination, candidate Q&A, and endorsements will be posted on Meta for public review at https://meta.wikimedia.org/wiki/Affiliations_Committee/Candidates/June_2021. Here the global community is welcome to provide comments and feedback about each candidate.

Once the nomination window closes June 30, 2021, the sitting members who are not candidates for re-election in this cycle will deliberate and then vote, taking into account all inputs from the meta page, self-assessment, advisors, Wikimedia Foundation staff and board liaisons, and committee member discussion.

A final decision will be made in late-July 2021, with new members to be notified for onboarding in August.

How to apply

If you are interested in joining the committee, please:

Step 1. Post your application on the nomination page by 30 June 2021. Your application must include the following information:

1. Your full name and Wikimedia username
2. A statement describing your relevant education, experience, abilities, skills, knowledge, availability, and motivation for joining the committee.

Step 2. Complete the self-assessment survey between June 01, 2021 and June 30, 2021.

• The privacy statement that applies to the survey can be found here.
• NOTE: The survey will take 15 mins. Please do not close your browser. If you need a break, you are advised to keep the browser open. In case of losing the link, please reach out to mkaur-ctrwikimedia.org
• This survey must be completed before Steps 3 & 4, as it will provide more background as to the type of work and expectations of members of AffCom.

Step 3. Answers the following questions:

• NOTE: Questions 1-3 are required for all candidates.

• Question 4 & 5 should be answered by those interested in joining the Recognitions subcommittee.
• Question 6 & 7 should be answered by those interested in joining the Conflicts Intervention subcommittee.
• If you are willing to nominate yourself for both subcommittees, answer all questions.

1. What roles have you served across any Wikimedia projects and affiliates that you think have prepared you for this role?
2. AffCom members need to manage time, confidentiality, conflicts of interest, and diverse situations across the global movement. How do you envision managing these?
3. Members of AffCom serve on one of two subcommittees: Recognitions OR Conflicts Intervention. Which one of these are you most interested in serving on?
4. If you are interested in serving on the Recognitions subcommittee, what do you think makes a group of Wikimedians ready to function together as an affiliate?
5. If you are interested in serving on the Recognitions subcommittee, what do you think are the benefits and responsibilities of functioning as formal affiliates?
6. If you are interested in serving on the Conflicts Intervention subcommittee, please describe your experience working with conflicts resolution.
7. If you are interested in serving on the Conflicts Intervention subcommittee, please describe how you have helped build consensus and support diversity.

Step 4. Once you have completed the above, send an email announcing your application to affcomwikimedia.org before the application deadline.

If you have any questions, please don't hesitate to contact me and/or the committee as a whole. We are happy to chat or have a phone call with anyone about our work if this helps them decide to apply. Please distribute this call among your networks, and do apply if you are interested!

On behalf of the committee,

-- FULBERT (talk) 15:30, 15 May 2021 (UTC) via MassMessaging

Join the new Regional Committees for Grants

Dear all,

We hope this email finds you well and safe. The COVID 19 situation continues to affect many of us across the globe and our thoughts are with everyone affected. We are also aware that there are several processes currently in progress that demand volunteer time and we do not want to add more work to anyone's plate.

We do want to draw your attention to our new Regional Committees for Grants though as they are an opportunity for you to have an active say in the future of our Movement!

📣 So today, we invite you to join our new Regional Committees for Grants! 📣

We encourage Wikimedians and Free Knowledge advocates to be part of the new Regional Committees that the WMF Community Resources team is setting up as part of the grants strategy relaunch [1]. You will be a key strategic thought partner to help understand the complexities of any region, provide knowledge and expertise to applicants, to support successful movement activities, and make funding decisions for grant applications in the region.

👉Find out more on meta [2].

Regional Committees will be established for the following regions:

• Middle East and Africa
• SAARC [3] region (Includes Afghanistan, Bangladesh, Bhutan, India, the Maldives, Nepal, Pakistan and Sri Lanka)
• East, Southeast Asia, and Pacific (ESEAP) region
• Latin America (LATAM) and The Caribbean
• United States and Canada
• Northern and Western Europe
• Central and Eastern Europe (CEE)

👉All details about the Committees and how to apply can be found on meta [4]. Applications have to be submitted by June 4, 2021!

If you have any questions or comments, please use the meta discussion page [5].

Please do share this announcement widely with your Network.

Best wishes,

JBrungs (WMF) (talk) 06:41, 21 May 2021 (UTC) on behalf of the Community Resources Team JBrungs (WMF) (talk) 06:41, 21 May 2021 (UTC)

UCoC Affiliates consultation report

Hello,

We are pleased to announce the completion of the Universal Code of Conduct Affiliates consultation process early this month. The summary report of the direct consultations and survey is now available at this Meta page: https://w.wiki/3Pew.

Should you have any questions or concerns, please do not hesitate to leave a message on the talk page of the report, or contact Mervat (msalman-ctr@wikimediaorg) and Ramzy (ramzym-ctr@wikimediaorg).

Regards,
UCoC Team, Wikimedia Foundation
MediaWiki message delivery (talk) 08:51, 27 May 2021 (UTC)

Sunday June 6 Strategic Wikimedia Affiliates Network meeting

Swan of healing.

The Strategic Wikimedia Affiliates Network (SWAN) is a developing forum for all Wikimedia movement affiliates to share ideas on the Wikimedia 2030 strategy process. It expands on the model of the All-Affiliates Brand Meeting to help lay some of the groundwork for a future Global Council.

Following up on the August, September, October, November, January, February, March, and April SWAN meetings, as well as last June's All-Affiliates Brand Meeting, as well as strategic and outreach topics of mutual concern to all affiliates including Movement Charter + Movement Strategy/Events, WMF Board elections, Wikimania 2021, and Grants Regional Committees.

This month we are meeting on Sunday June 6, and you are all invited to RSVP here.

(UTC meeting times are 03:00 UTC and 18:00 UTC – *Note that we have shifted the second call an hour earlier in UTC time due to popular demand and to accomodate daylight savings*.)--Pharos (talk) 20:18, 3 June 2021 (UTC)

Wikimania 2021: Affiliate Program Submissions and Scholarships

Dear Wikimedia Affiliates,

Wikimania 2021 will be hosted virtually for the first time in the event's 15-year history. Since there is no in-person host, the event is being organized by a diverse group of Wikimedia volunteers that form the Core Organizing Team for Wikimania 2021.

Event Program - The program design of this Wikimania accommodates affiliates for them to curate a portion of the program. Wikimedia affiliates have an opportunity to host a series of their own sessions.

Below are some links to guide you through;

• Program Submissions
• Session Submission Guidelines
• FAQ

Please note that the deadline for submission is 18th June 2021.

Affiliate Scholarships - Scholarships are available to all Wikimedia movement affiliates to support practical access to and participation in Wikimania 2021 in their communities. Please read more about it in the Affiliate Announcement section here.

Office Hour - If you are left with questions, the COT will be hosting some office hours (in multiple languages), in multiple time-zones, to answer any programming questions that you might have. Details can be found here.

Best regards,

MediaWiki message delivery (talk) 13:22, 15 June 2021 (UTC)

On behalf of Wikimania 2021 Core Organizing Team

Final Call for Candidates for AffCom - June 2021

Want to help translate? Translate the missing messages.

Affiliations Committee (AffCom) logo

This is an update from the Wikimedia Affiliations Committee. Translations are available.

This is a final Call for Candidates for the June 2021 Affiliations Committee election.

If you are interested in running, please post your application and follow all four steps on the nomination page by 30 June 2021.

If you know somebody you think may be interested, please share this with them and encourage them to consider it. If you have any questions about this process or the requirements, please email affcom@wikimedia.org before the application deadline or reach out to any of the current members.

On behalf of the AffCom elections committee,

--- FULBERT (talk) 14:15, 20 June 2021 (UTC) via MassMessaging [[Category:AffCom Elections June 2021|]]

Notification of Affiliate Expiration

Greetings,

This is a notification to bring to your attention that your organization is currently past due on its required annual reporting. Wikimedia Affiliates are required to submit an annual activity report covering the entirety of the 12-month agreement period in order to prompt review for a renewal. Reports must be written in English, posted to meta via the Wikimedia Affiliates Data Portal.

This page is used to track how organizations and groups are meeting reporting requirements described in their agreements with the Wikimedia Foundation (e.g. chapter agreements, thematic organization agreements, user group agreements). It is the central place where affiliates can add reports about their activities, share their plans, and even news or social media channels with the wider movement. When new reports are available, organizations and groups should add them to this page to keep their columns up to date.

As noted on the meta Reports page, your organization’s 2020 annual reporting became past due in May. Please be sure to :

1. Post your 2020 annual reporting to the meta via the Wikimedia Affiliates Data Portal as soon as possible to return to compliance with your user group agreement.
2. Check that your group’s page is also up to date with past report links for historical record-keeping, and
3. Please send an email to Wikimedia-l in order to share with a movement-wide audience.

If you have any questions or need any further guidance, please don’t hesitate to reach out.
Best regards,
MKaur (WMF) (talk) 21:11, 15 July 2021 (UTC)

Sunday July 25 Strategic Wikimedia Affiliates Network meeting

The swan or the egg?

The Strategic Wikimedia Affiliates Network (SWAN) is a developing forum for all Wikimedia movement affiliates to share ideas on the Wikimedia 2030 strategy process. It expands on the model of the All-Affiliates Brand Meeting to help lay some of the groundwork for a future Global Council.

Following up on the August, September, October, November, January, February, March, April, and June SWAN meetings, as well as last June's All-Affiliates Brand Meeting, as well as strategic and outreach topics of mutual concern to all affiliates including Movement Charter + Drafting Committee, WMF Board elections, Wikimania 2021, and Grants Regional Committees.

This month we are meeting on Sunday July 25, and you are all invited to RSVP here.

(UTC meeting times are 03:00 UTC and 18:00 UTC – *Note that we have shifted the second call an hour earlier in UTC time due to popular demand and to accomodate daylight savings*.)--Pharos (talk) 14:47, 22 July 2021 (UTC)