Wikimedia Conference 2015/Programme/3
3: Orientation for Newcomers to the Wikimedia movement
How to move forward
Delphine & Ali presenting
- What was this session about?
The session was mainly an informative talk aka safer space for Wikimedia newcomers to ask everything they are interested in.
- What are the next steps to be taken?
No further steps were intended to be taken.
- Who is the person to reach out to?
Nobody took the official lead for this topic. However, the wish for an “on-boarding handbook” was expressed by one of the speakers. Reach out to Cornelius, the Program and Engagement Coordinator for the Wikimedia Conference, if you’re interested in the topic and would like to further work on it.
- Photos
- Slides
Session Documentation
- Original Description
- Newcomers in the Wikimedia movement would be informed about these issues:
- Key organisational aspects of the Wikimedia movement
- The Wikimedia movement is sustained by Wikimedia affiliates around the world. The affiliates, in their organizational approach, drives and maintains structured growth of the movement. What are the particular issues that impacts such structured organizational movement and what are the aspects for sustainable growth of the movement?
- Critical issues which impact the movement from organisational perspectives
- Wikimedia affiliates need to maintain their own organization for a continuing and sustaining dissemination of the Wikimedia projects. The way chapters are formed and their operations. Roles of the chapters and the WMF in the movement.
- These issues along with relevant topics would be presented by three speakers.
- Desired Outcome
- New Wikimedians attending the WMCON would have a good and overall understanding of the Wikimedia movement and organizational issues. They would be able to better prepare themselves as program organizers or organization leaders of their respective affiliates.
- Audience
- Newcomers to the Wikimedia movement
- Session Format
- Talk and Q&A; 120 min
- Speaker
- Ali Haidar (FDC), Patrick Kenel (WMCH), Delphine Ménard (FDC)
- Summary of the conversation
First, Delphine, Ali and Patrick held a presentation about the history and the structures of the Wikimedia movement (see slides). They expressed that it is important to understand that the Wikipedia was founded before the Wikimedia Foundation itself. Afterwards, the speakers opened the stage for a question and answer round.
Delphine and Ali expressed the idea that there is no perfect way for any Wikimedia affiliate regarding the organisational development. Any affiliate has to choose its own way in its own context, e.g. if it wants to be a legal entity or not. Delphine said, that a community is not bound to existing entities, every community should find their way to achieve what they need the way they think it's the best to do. E.g., there are many ideas communities can follow (Wiki Loves Monuments as an example), most different funds to obtain (WMF Grants as PEG, IEG and APG, e.g.).
Furthermore the question whether it is possible to have several affiliates in one geographical region was raised several times, the speakers explained that it is actually possible. However, affiliates are encouraged to collaborate.
Regarding a question what affiliates needed for their community/ies, Delphine answered that there are no firm rules and the most important thing is to speak up and share ideas. A tool for that can be the IdeaLab on Meta.
Additionally, questions about main contacts regarding specific projects (Wikisource, e.g.) was raised. Delphine explained, that there is no one person to speak for each project, but for some there are user groups to talk to (in this case: Wikisource User Group).
Questions about Wikipedia Zero remained unanswered, as nobody of team was present. For the most different questions, e.g. Volunteer Support, the speakers referred to the Conference programme.