Wikimedia Europe/Governance
This early draft served as a basis for discussion in our workshop on February 18th and is currently being reviewed as we move towards the next steps of project implementation.
Questions for the workshop participants[edit]
- What place should Wikimedia communities take when talking about the governance of Wikimedia Europe, i.e. where should they be integrated?
- Who can become a member of Wikimedia Europe? (only affiliates with a legal basis, all affiliates, affiliates and individuals…)
- Should the Board of Wikimedia Europe be a political body (a board with elections on candidacies and programs) or simply a technical body (monitoring of the main files and daily management) and strategic discussions referred to the GA ?
Examples of governance structures[edit]
Following the exchanges of January 20 and to respond to the desire of many European affiliates to move forward towards the constitution of a European Wikimedia “hub” bringing together a certain number of activities where a broader reach and thus return can be expected through the joining of forces and thus facilitating cooperation between affiliates, several models of governance have been considered. These models are summarized in this document.
Governance model A[edit]
Who can join Wikimedia Europe?
- All Wikimedia affiliates without any criteria
Three distinct membership statuses:
- Nationally and legally recognized European Wikimedia affiliates, which would:
- Appoint a permanent representative at Wikimedia Europe level holding voting or decision-making rights (potentially 18 Chapters )
- Contribute to the financial resources of Wikimedia Europe
- Work on, approve and ensure the implementation of a strategic direction and subsequent programmatic actions of Wikimedia Europe
- Ensure KPIs are met
- Have the right to participate in the Board of Wikimedia Europe
- Approve the admission of new potential members based on a set of criteria still to be developed
- Participate in the General Assembly having voting rights.
- Actively participate in working meetings 2. Other affiliates of the Wikimedia movement whose activities have their focus on Europe, which would:
- Follow and be kept informed about topics and activities covered by Wikimedia Europe
- Be consulted and involved in Wikimedia Europe projects, if wished so
- Have the right to hand in ideas, projects etc. that Wikimedia Europe should focus on in future
- Benefit from several forms of support (i.e. financial, training, consulting, exchange, participation and invitation to European exchange meetings etc.)
- Participate in the General Assembly without having voting rights.
- Actively participate - if holding a particular expertise - in working meetings where this very topic of expertise would be required 3. Observers (could be any other affiliates or external organizations), who would:
- Follow and be kept informed about topics and activities covered by Wikimedia Europe
- Participate in the General Assembly without having voting rights.
- Participate as an observer in working meetings if interested in the topic
Governance and Decision structure:
Wikimedia Europe will be constituted of a Board, which is:
- Composed of a maximum of 10 members (Executive Director level or a representative)
- In place for 2 years whereby mandatory members stay in place (possibly only the person representing could be replaced) and the other members are drawn in by rotation (at least 5 of the 10 members)
- Composed mandatorily of members which contribute more than 25% to the annual budget
- Composed mandatorily of one (1) representative of the WMF
Idea: A seat could be opened to a friendly organization (Creative Commons ...)
Decisions are voted by the Board using a simple majority. To begin with, the Board could ensure the operational management by hiring adequate staff for project/programme implementation. If the structure proves successful, a salaried management could be put in place.
Governance model B[edit]
Who can join Wikimedia Europe?
- All affiliates based in Europe (TBD what “Europe” means)
Two distinct membership statuses?
- Members in Europe, which would:
- Appoint a permanent representative at Wikimedia Europe level holding voting or decision-making rights
- Contribute to the financial resources of Wikimedia Europe
- Work on, approve and ensure the implementation of a strategic direction and subsequent programmatic actions of Wikimedia Europe
- Ensure KPIs are met
- Have the right to participate in the Executive Council of Wikimedia Europe
- Approve the admission of new potential members based on a set of criteria still to be developed
- Participate in the General Assembly having voting rights.
- Actively participate in working meetings 2. Observers (affiliates from the rest of the world), which would:
- Follow and be kept informed about topics and activities covered by Wikimedia Europe
- Participate in the General Assembly without having voting rights.
- Participate as an observer in working meetings if interested in the topic
Governance and Decision structure:
Wikimedia Europe is composed of:
- General Assembly: Members will designate a representative who will represent them at the General Assembly. The General Assembly meets once a year to vote on Wikimedia Europe's budget and to give it a strategic orientation. It is composed by all members of Wikimedia Europe.
- Executive Council: An Executive Council, composed of the Executive directors of the European affiliates, ensures a permanent liaison with the Wikimedia Europe staff. It can act on decisions and orientations. The executive council meets every months.
Idea: The WMF is invited to be part of the Executive Council.