[Wikimedia-l] Re: Update from the Wikimedia Foundation Board chair

[Jan-Bart de Vreede]

Hi Maria

I would like to join all the others in thanking you for volunteering your time 
in challenging times for our movement. 8 years is a long time to serve on the 
board, not even taking into account all the topics that have been on the agenda 
over the past years. 

Hopefully you will be around in another capacity in the coming years to see the 
the Movement Strategy Process come to fruition. But first: wishing you a 
relaxing Wikibreak enjoying family time!

Thank so much!

Jan-Bart




> On 3 Jun 2021, at 21:39, María Sefidari  wrote:
> 
> Dear All,
> 
> There is one last bit of news I would like to share following the Board 
> meeting update.
> 
> After ~ 8 years on the Board of Trustees at the Wikimedia Foundation - a long 
> time! - I have notified the Board that I am stepping down as Chair and 
> trustee, effective end of day today. 
> 
> As all of you know, the community-selected seats were due to expire last year 
> and were extended at the request of the Board to see through these difficult 
> and unprecedented times. Now, after chairing the last meeting of the fiscal 
> year and having the call for candidates for the upcoming elections approved, 
> it is the least disruptive moment for me to step down. The Foundation has 
> asked me to consider an advisory role to support Movement Strategy and the 
> onboarding of new trustees and the new CEO/ED, to help support leadership and 
> this strategic transition. Nataliia Tymkiv, currently Vice Chair, will act as 
> Chair until a new one is elected by the Board ensuring continuity.  
> 
> Hopefully this news will not come as too much of a surprise. I am grateful to 
> the community members who lent me their trust and support to become a trustee 
> on two different occasions, to the staff, and to the trustees for their 
> confidence in me in the different leadership positions I have held within the 
> Board - first as committee chair, then two terms as Vice Chair, and two terms 
> as Chair. 
> 
> Together we have accomplished many things during this time, but if I had to 
> single out only a few they would be the following: launching the Movement 
> Strategy process, engaging in the most ambitious governance reform in the 
> history of the Board, and working to ensure the stability and sustainability 
> of the Foundation. It has been a time of change, of discussing strategy and 
> our future, and deciding together what the path forward should be. 
> 
> Of course, the work is never finished - it will be the task of the Board to 
> continue what has been done and face the newer and complex challenges that 
> will no doubt arise. I hope that we will see many of the women of the 
> movement and people from the Global South as candidates in the upcoming 
> community elections - I know there are many qualified people ready to step 
> into these important roles. I look forward to supporting an increasingly 
> capable and diverse Board.
> 
> Be safe and well everyone. 
> 
> Tupananchiskama,
> 
> María
> 
> -- 
> 
> 
> María Sefidari Huici 
> Chair of the Board 
> Wikimedia Foundation  
> ___
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> https://meta.wikimedia.org/wiki/Mailing_lists/Guidelines and 
> https://meta.wikimedia.org/wiki/Wikimedia-l
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[Wikimedia-l] Re: Update from the Wikimedia Foundation Board chair

[Itzik - Wikimedia Israel]

Maria,

I can only join the other kind words about your huge contribution to the
movement and to the board in general. Thank you for raising the
affiliations and the community voice within those discussions over the
years.

Thank you <3



*Itzik Edri*
Chairperson (volunteer)
it...@wikimedia.org.il
+972-54-5878078



On Thu, Jun 3, 2021 at 10:40 PM María Sefidari 
wrote:

> Dear All,
>
> There is one last bit of news I would like to share following the Board
> meeting update.
>
> After ~ 8 years on the Board of Trustees at the Wikimedia Foundation - a
> long time! - I have notified the Board that I am stepping down as Chair and
> trustee, effective end of day today.
>
> As all of you know, the community-selected seats were due to expire last
> year and were extended at the request of the Board to see through these
> difficult and unprecedented times. Now, after chairing the last meeting of
> the fiscal year and having the call for candidates for the upcoming
> elections approved, it is the least disruptive moment for me to step down.
> The Foundation has asked me to consider an advisory role to support
> Movement Strategy and the onboarding of new trustees and the new CEO/ED, to
> help support leadership and this strategic transition. Nataliia Tymkiv,
> currently Vice Chair, will act as Chair until a new one is elected by the
> Board ensuring continuity.
>
> Hopefully this news will not come as too much of a surprise. I am grateful
> to the community members who lent me their trust and support to become a
> trustee on two different occasions, to the staff, and to the trustees for
> their confidence in me in the different leadership positions I have held
> within the Board - first as committee chair, then two terms as Vice Chair,
> and two terms as Chair.
>
> Together we have accomplished many things during this time, but if I had
> to single out only a few they would be the following: launching the
> Movement Strategy process, engaging in the most ambitious governance reform
> in the history of the Board, and working to ensure the stability and
> sustainability of the Foundation. It has been a time of change, of
> discussing strategy and our future, and deciding together what the path
> forward should be.
>
> Of course, the work is never finished - it will be the task of the Board
> to continue what has been done and face the newer and complex challenges
> that will no doubt arise. I hope that we will see many of the women of the
> movement and people from the Global South as candidates in the upcoming
> community elections - I know there are many qualified people ready to step
> into these important roles. I look forward to supporting an increasingly
> capable and diverse Board.
>
> Be safe and well everyone.
>
> Tupananchiskama,
>
> María
>
> --
>
> María Sefidari Huici
>
> Chair of the Board
>
> Wikimedia Foundation 
> ___
> Wikimedia-l mailing list -- wikimedia-l@lists.wikimedia.org, guidelines
> at: https://meta.wikimedia.org/wiki/Mailing_lists/Guidelines and
> https://meta.wikimedia.org/wiki/Wikimedia-l
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[Wikimedia-l] Re: Update from the Wikimedia Foundation Board chair

[Victoria Coleman]

Maria,

You personify the movement. It has been an incredible privilege to get to know 
you and work with you. Thank you for being a free knowledge warrior!

Best regards,

Victoria Coleman

> On Jun 4, 2021, at 2:06 PM, rnarise...@wikimedia.org wrote:
> 
> Was a privilege to work with María Sefidari on the Wikimedia board these 
> past four years. Thank you Maria for your work and service to Wiki 
> communities globally, and so happy that you agreed for a one year-extension 
> given Covid last year, and are able to find time to help WMF staff on 
> Movement Strategy projects in coming months. Glad your knowledge and 
> expertise will remain close to the Movement. Raju Narisetti
> ___
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[Wikimedia-l] Re: Update from the Wikimedia Foundation Board chair

[Lukas Mezger]

Dear María,

At the end of the working week, I would like to join in to thank you for
your years of service to the Wikimedia Movement. In addition to what others
have already said on this list and elsewhere, I want to emphasise your
great leadership in helping us grow to be more open and inclusive, bringing
us closer to our strategic goals.
Kind regards, and hoping to see you around,

Lukas


--

Dr. Lukas Mezger
Vorsitzender des Präsidiums / chair of the Supervisory Board

Wikimedia Deutschland e.V. | Tempelhofer Ufer 23-24 | 10963 Berlin
Tel. (030) 219 158 260 – (0151) 268 63 931
http://wikimedia.de

Bleiben Sie auf dem neuesten Stand! Aktuelle Nachrichten und spannende
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Körperschaften I Berlin, Steuernummer 27/029/42207


Am Fr., 4. Juni 2021 um 20:07 Uhr schrieb María Sefidari <
raystor...@gmail.com>:

> Thank you all!
>
> El vie, 4 jun 2021 a las 9:57, Olushola Olaniyan (<
> olaniyanshol...@gmail.com>) escribió:
>
>> Dear Maria,
>>
>> Yeah! Eight years seem to be a very long time but considering your
>> achievements and the excellent works that you've done as the Chair of the
>> Board of Trustees at the Wikimedia Foundation, it was like yesterday that
>> you were made the Chair of the Board.
>>
>> Sincerely, I am proud of you!
>>
>> I pray that you will continue to break the glass ceiling in all your
>> future endeavours.
>>
>> Gracia.
>>
>> Olushola
>>
>>
>>
>> On Thu, Jun 3, 2021, 8:40 PM María Sefidari 
>> wrote:
>>
>>> Dear All,
>>>
>>> There is one last bit of news I would like to share following the Board
>>> meeting update.
>>>
>>> After ~ 8 years on the Board of Trustees at the Wikimedia Foundation - a
>>> long time! - I have notified the Board that I am stepping down as Chair and
>>> trustee, effective end of day today.
>>>
>>> As all of you know, the community-selected seats were due to expire last
>>> year and were extended at the request of the Board to see through these
>>> difficult and unprecedented times. Now, after chairing the last meeting of
>>> the fiscal year and having the call for candidates for the upcoming
>>> elections approved, it is the least disruptive moment for me to step down.
>>> The Foundation has asked me to consider an advisory role to support
>>> Movement Strategy and the onboarding of new trustees and the new CEO/ED, to
>>> help support leadership and this strategic transition. Nataliia Tymkiv,
>>> currently Vice Chair, will act as Chair until a new one is elected by the
>>> Board ensuring continuity.
>>>
>>> Hopefully this news will not come as too much of a surprise. I am
>>> grateful to the community members who lent me their trust and support to
>>> become a trustee on two different occasions, to the staff, and to the
>>> trustees for their confidence in me in the different leadership positions I
>>> have held within the Board - first as committee chair, then two terms as
>>> Vice Chair, and two terms as Chair.
>>>
>>> Together we have accomplished many things during this time, but if I had
>>> to single out only a few they would be the following: launching the
>>> Movement Strategy process, engaging in the most ambitious governance reform
>>> in the history of the Board, and working to ensure the stability and
>>> sustainability of the Foundation. It has been a time of change, of
>>> discussing strategy and our future, and deciding together what the path
>>> forward should be.
>>>
>>> Of course, the work is never finished - it will be the task of the Board
>>> to continue what has been done and face the newer and complex challenges
>>> that will no doubt arise. I hope that we will see many of the women of the
>>> movement and people from the Global South as candidates in the upcoming
>>> community elections - I know there are many qualified people ready to step
>>> into these important roles. I look forward to supporting an increasingly
>>> capable and diverse Board.
>>>
>>> Be safe and well everyone.
>>>
>>> Tupananchiskama,
>>>
>>> María
>>>
>>> --
>>>
>>> María Sefidari Huici
>>>
>>> Chair of the Board
>>>
>>> Wikimedia Foundation 
>>> ___
>>> Wikimedia-l mailing list -- wikimedia-l@lists.wikimedia.org, guidelines
>>> at: https://meta.wikimedia.org/wiki/Mailing_lists/Guidelines and
>>> https://meta.wikimedia.org/wiki/Wikimedia-l
>>> To unsubscribe send an email to wikimedia-l-le...@lists.wikimedia.org
>>
>> ___
>> Wikimedia-l mailing list -- wikimed

[Wikimedia-l] Re: Update from the Wikimedia Foundation Board chair

[María Sefidari]

Thank you all!

El vie, 4 jun 2021 a las 9:57, Olushola Olaniyan ()
escribió:

> Dear Maria,
>
> Yeah! Eight years seem to be a very long time but considering your
> achievements and the excellent works that you've done as the Chair of the
> Board of Trustees at the Wikimedia Foundation, it was like yesterday that
> you were made the Chair of the Board.
>
> Sincerely, I am proud of you!
>
> I pray that you will continue to break the glass ceiling in all your
> future endeavours.
>
> Gracia.
>
> Olushola
>
>
>
> On Thu, Jun 3, 2021, 8:40 PM María Sefidari 
> wrote:
>
>> Dear All,
>>
>> There is one last bit of news I would like to share following the Board
>> meeting update.
>>
>> After ~ 8 years on the Board of Trustees at the Wikimedia Foundation - a
>> long time! - I have notified the Board that I am stepping down as Chair and
>> trustee, effective end of day today.
>>
>> As all of you know, the community-selected seats were due to expire last
>> year and were extended at the request of the Board to see through these
>> difficult and unprecedented times. Now, after chairing the last meeting of
>> the fiscal year and having the call for candidates for the upcoming
>> elections approved, it is the least disruptive moment for me to step down.
>> The Foundation has asked me to consider an advisory role to support
>> Movement Strategy and the onboarding of new trustees and the new CEO/ED, to
>> help support leadership and this strategic transition. Nataliia Tymkiv,
>> currently Vice Chair, will act as Chair until a new one is elected by the
>> Board ensuring continuity.
>>
>> Hopefully this news will not come as too much of a surprise. I am
>> grateful to the community members who lent me their trust and support to
>> become a trustee on two different occasions, to the staff, and to the
>> trustees for their confidence in me in the different leadership positions I
>> have held within the Board - first as committee chair, then two terms as
>> Vice Chair, and two terms as Chair.
>>
>> Together we have accomplished many things during this time, but if I had
>> to single out only a few they would be the following: launching the
>> Movement Strategy process, engaging in the most ambitious governance reform
>> in the history of the Board, and working to ensure the stability and
>> sustainability of the Foundation. It has been a time of change, of
>> discussing strategy and our future, and deciding together what the path
>> forward should be.
>>
>> Of course, the work is never finished - it will be the task of the Board
>> to continue what has been done and face the newer and complex challenges
>> that will no doubt arise. I hope that we will see many of the women of the
>> movement and people from the Global South as candidates in the upcoming
>> community elections - I know there are many qualified people ready to step
>> into these important roles. I look forward to supporting an increasingly
>> capable and diverse Board.
>>
>> Be safe and well everyone.
>>
>> Tupananchiskama,
>>
>> María
>>
>> --
>>
>> María Sefidari Huici
>>
>> Chair of the Board
>>
>> Wikimedia Foundation 
>> ___
>> Wikimedia-l mailing list -- wikimedia-l@lists.wikimedia.org, guidelines
>> at: https://meta.wikimedia.org/wiki/Mailing_lists/Guidelines and
>> https://meta.wikimedia.org/wiki/Wikimedia-l
>> To unsubscribe send an email to wikimedia-l-le...@lists.wikimedia.org
>
> ___
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> at: https://meta.wikimedia.org/wiki/Mailing_lists/Guidelines and
> https://meta.wikimedia.org/wiki/Wikimedia-l
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[Wikimedia-l] Re: Update from the Wikimedia Foundation Board chair

[rnarisetti]

Was a privilege to work with María Sefidari on the Wikimedia board these past 
four years. Thank you Maria for your work and service to Wiki communities 
globally, and so happy that you agreed for a one year-extension given Covid 
last year, and are able to find time to help WMF staff on Movement Strategy 
projects in coming months. Glad your knowledge and expertise will remain close 
to the Movement. Raju Narisetti
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[Wikimedia-l] Re: Update from the Wikimedia Foundation Board chair

[Dariusz Jemielniak]

Dear Maria,

your insight has been super useful on the board, and I am grateful for all
of your contributions.

This is not a farewell, as I'm confident you will stay in the movement in
different roles, be they formal (like the one you're transitioning to) or
informal, like always.

Can't wait to reunite at some in-person event, once we have them back :)

dj "pundit"

On Thu, Jun 3, 2021 at 9:40 PM María Sefidari 
wrote:

> Dear All,
>
> There is one last bit of news I would like to share following the Board
> meeting update.
>
> After ~ 8 years on the Board of Trustees at the Wikimedia Foundation - a
> long time! - I have notified the Board that I am stepping down as Chair and
> trustee, effective end of day today.
>
> As all of you know, the community-selected seats were due to expire last
> year and were extended at the request of the Board to see through these
> difficult and unprecedented times. Now, after chairing the last meeting of
> the fiscal year and having the call for candidates for the upcoming
> elections approved, it is the least disruptive moment for me to step down.
> The Foundation has asked me to consider an advisory role to support
> Movement Strategy and the onboarding of new trustees and the new CEO/ED, to
> help support leadership and this strategic transition. Nataliia Tymkiv,
> currently Vice Chair, will act as Chair until a new one is elected by the
> Board ensuring continuity.
>
> Hopefully this news will not come as too much of a surprise. I am grateful
> to the community members who lent me their trust and support to become a
> trustee on two different occasions, to the staff, and to the trustees for
> their confidence in me in the different leadership positions I have held
> within the Board - first as committee chair, then two terms as Vice Chair,
> and two terms as Chair.
>
> Together we have accomplished many things during this time, but if I had
> to single out only a few they would be the following: launching the
> Movement Strategy process, engaging in the most ambitious governance reform
> in the history of the Board, and working to ensure the stability and
> sustainability of the Foundation. It has been a time of change, of
> discussing strategy and our future, and deciding together what the path
> forward should be.
>
> Of course, the work is never finished - it will be the task of the Board
> to continue what has been done and face the newer and complex challenges
> that will no doubt arise. I hope that we will see many of the women of the
> movement and people from the Global South as candidates in the upcoming
> community elections - I know there are many qualified people ready to step
> into these important roles. I look forward to supporting an increasingly
> capable and diverse Board.
>
> Be safe and well everyone.
>
> Tupananchiskama,
>
> María
>
> --
>
> María Sefidari Huici
>
> Chair of the Board
>
> Wikimedia Foundation 
> ___
> Wikimedia-l mailing list -- wikimedia-l@lists.wikimedia.org, guidelines
> at: https://meta.wikimedia.org/wiki/Mailing_lists/Guidelines and
> https://meta.wikimedia.org/wiki/Wikimedia-l
> To unsubscribe send an email to wikimedia-l-le...@lists.wikimedia.org



-- 



*Please, note, that this email will expire at some point. Bookmark
 dariusz.jemieln...@fulbrightmail.org
 as a more permanent contact
address. *
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[Wikimedia-l] Re: Update from the Wikimedia Foundation Board chair

[Natacha Rault via Wikimedia-l]

Dear Maria, 

Thank you for your engagement and commitment to the movement and good luck in 
your future endeavours. 

Warm regards, 

Nattes à chat
> Le 3 juin 2021 à 21:39, María Sefidari  a écrit :
> 
> Dear All,
> 
> There is one last bit of news I would like to share following the Board 
> meeting update.
> 
> After ~ 8 years on the Board of Trustees at the Wikimedia Foundation - a long 
> time! - I have notified the Board that I am stepping down as Chair and 
> trustee, effective end of day today. 
> 
> As all of you know, the community-selected seats were due to expire last year 
> and were extended at the request of the Board to see through these difficult 
> and unprecedented times. Now, after chairing the last meeting of the fiscal 
> year and having the call for candidates for the upcoming elections approved, 
> it is the least disruptive moment for me to step down. The Foundation has 
> asked me to consider an advisory role to support Movement Strategy and the 
> onboarding of new trustees and the new CEO/ED, to help support leadership and 
> this strategic transition. Nataliia Tymkiv, currently Vice Chair, will act as 
> Chair until a new one is elected by the Board ensuring continuity.  
> 
> Hopefully this news will not come as too much of a surprise. I am grateful to 
> the community members who lent me their trust and support to become a trustee 
> on two different occasions, to the staff, and to the trustees for their 
> confidence in me in the different leadership positions I have held within the 
> Board - first as committee chair, then two terms as Vice Chair, and two terms 
> as Chair. 
> 
> Together we have accomplished many things during this time, but if I had to 
> single out only a few they would be the following: launching the Movement 
> Strategy process, engaging in the most ambitious governance reform in the 
> history of the Board, and working to ensure the stability and sustainability 
> of the Foundation. It has been a time of change, of discussing strategy and 
> our future, and deciding together what the path forward should be. 
> 
> Of course, the work is never finished - it will be the task of the Board to 
> continue what has been done and face the newer and complex challenges that 
> will no doubt arise. I hope that we will see many of the women of the 
> movement and people from the Global South as candidates in the upcoming 
> community elections - I know there are many qualified people ready to step 
> into these important roles. I look forward to supporting an increasingly 
> capable and diverse Board.
> 
> Be safe and well everyone. 
> 
> Tupananchiskama,
> 
> María
> 
> -- 
> 
> 
> María Sefidari Huici 
> Chair of the Board 
> Wikimedia Foundation  
> ___
> Wikimedia-l mailing list -- wikimedia-l@lists.wikimedia.org, guidelines at: 
> https://meta.wikimedia.org/wiki/Mailing_lists/Guidelines and 
> https://meta.wikimedia.org/wiki/Wikimedia-l
> To unsubscribe send an email to wikimedia-l-le...@lists.wikimedia.org

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[Wikimedia-l] Re: Update from the Wikimedia Foundation Board chair

[Olushola Olaniyan]

Dear Maria,

Yeah! Eight years seem to be a very long time but considering your
achievements and the excellent works that you've done as the Chair of the
Board of Trustees at the Wikimedia Foundation, it was like yesterday that
you were made the Chair of the Board.

Sincerely, I am proud of you!

I pray that you will continue to break the glass ceiling in all your future
endeavours.

Gracia.

Olushola



On Thu, Jun 3, 2021, 8:40 PM María Sefidari  wrote:

> Dear All,
>
> There is one last bit of news I would like to share following the Board
> meeting update.
>
> After ~ 8 years on the Board of Trustees at the Wikimedia Foundation - a
> long time! - I have notified the Board that I am stepping down as Chair and
> trustee, effective end of day today.
>
> As all of you know, the community-selected seats were due to expire last
> year and were extended at the request of the Board to see through these
> difficult and unprecedented times. Now, after chairing the last meeting of
> the fiscal year and having the call for candidates for the upcoming
> elections approved, it is the least disruptive moment for me to step down.
> The Foundation has asked me to consider an advisory role to support
> Movement Strategy and the onboarding of new trustees and the new CEO/ED, to
> help support leadership and this strategic transition. Nataliia Tymkiv,
> currently Vice Chair, will act as Chair until a new one is elected by the
> Board ensuring continuity.
>
> Hopefully this news will not come as too much of a surprise. I am grateful
> to the community members who lent me their trust and support to become a
> trustee on two different occasions, to the staff, and to the trustees for
> their confidence in me in the different leadership positions I have held
> within the Board - first as committee chair, then two terms as Vice Chair,
> and two terms as Chair.
>
> Together we have accomplished many things during this time, but if I had
> to single out only a few they would be the following: launching the
> Movement Strategy process, engaging in the most ambitious governance reform
> in the history of the Board, and working to ensure the stability and
> sustainability of the Foundation. It has been a time of change, of
> discussing strategy and our future, and deciding together what the path
> forward should be.
>
> Of course, the work is never finished - it will be the task of the Board
> to continue what has been done and face the newer and complex challenges
> that will no doubt arise. I hope that we will see many of the women of the
> movement and people from the Global South as candidates in the upcoming
> community elections - I know there are many qualified people ready to step
> into these important roles. I look forward to supporting an increasingly
> capable and diverse Board.
>
> Be safe and well everyone.
>
> Tupananchiskama,
>
> María
>
> --
>
> María Sefidari Huici
>
> Chair of the Board
>
> Wikimedia Foundation 
> ___
> Wikimedia-l mailing list -- wikimedia-l@lists.wikimedia.org, guidelines
> at: https://meta.wikimedia.org/wiki/Mailing_lists/Guidelines and
> https://meta.wikimedia.org/wiki/Wikimedia-l
> To unsubscribe send an email to wikimedia-l-le...@lists.wikimedia.org
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[Wikimedia-l] Re: Update from the Wikimedia Foundation Board chair

[Camelia Boban]

Thank you for all Maria 💚.

Camelia

On Fri, Jun 4, 2021, 12:43 AM Florence Devouard  wrote:

> Dear Maria,
>
>
> I would like to thank wholeheartedly for all those years of service. You
> provided great leadership and I am very grateful for all what you did.
> Receive many many thanks.
>
> Best - Flo
>
>
> Le 03/06/2021 à 21:39, María Sefidari a écrit :
>
> Dear All,
>
> There is one last bit of news I would like to share following the Board
> meeting update.
>
> After ~ 8 years on the Board of Trustees at the Wikimedia Foundation - a
> long time! - I have notified the Board that I am stepping down as Chair and
> trustee, effective end of day today.
>
> As all of you know, the community-selected seats were due to expire last
> year and were extended at the request of the Board to see through these
> difficult and unprecedented times. Now, after chairing the last meeting of
> the fiscal year and having the call for candidates for the upcoming
> elections approved, it is the least disruptive moment for me to step down.
> The Foundation has asked me to consider an advisory role to support
> Movement Strategy and the onboarding of new trustees and the new CEO/ED, to
> help support leadership and this strategic transition. Nataliia Tymkiv,
> currently Vice Chair, will act as Chair until a new one is elected by the
> Board ensuring continuity.
>
> Hopefully this news will not come as too much of a surprise. I am grateful
> to the community members who lent me their trust and support to become a
> trustee on two different occasions, to the staff, and to the trustees for
> their confidence in me in the different leadership positions I have held
> within the Board - first as committee chair, then two terms as Vice Chair,
> and two terms as Chair.
>
> Together we have accomplished many things during this time, but if I had
> to single out only a few they would be the following: launching the
> Movement Strategy process, engaging in the most ambitious governance reform
> in the history of the Board, and working to ensure the stability and
> sustainability of the Foundation. It has been a time of change, of
> discussing strategy and our future, and deciding together what the path
> forward should be.
>
> Of course, the work is never finished - it will be the task of the Board
> to continue what has been done and face the newer and complex challenges
> that will no doubt arise. I hope that we will see many of the women of the
> movement and people from the Global South as candidates in the upcoming
> community elections - I know there are many qualified people ready to step
> into these important roles. I look forward to supporting an increasingly
> capable and diverse Board.
>
> Be safe and well everyone.
>
> Tupananchiskama,
>
> María
>
> --
>
> María Sefidari Huici
>
> Chair of the Board
>
> Wikimedia Foundation 
>
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[Wikimedia-l] Re: Update from the Wikimedia Foundation Board chair

[Florence Devouard]

Dear Maria,


I would like to thank wholeheartedly for all those years of service. You 
provided great leadership and I am very grateful for all what you did. 
Receive many many thanks.


Best - Flo


Le 03/06/2021 à 21:39, María Sefidari a écrit :

Dear All,

There is one last bit of news I would like to share following the 
Board meeting update.


After ~ 8 years on the Board of Trustees at the Wikimedia Foundation - 
a long time! - I have notified the Board that I am stepping down as 
Chair and trustee, effective end of day today.


As all of you know, the community-selected seats were due to expire 
last year and were extended at the request of the Board to see through 
these difficult and unprecedented times. Now, after chairing the last 
meeting of the fiscal year and having the call for candidates for the 
upcoming elections approved, it is the least disruptive moment for me 
to step down. The Foundation has asked me to consider an advisory role 
to support Movement Strategy and the onboarding of new trustees and 
the new CEO/ED, to help support leadership and this strategic 
transition. Nataliia Tymkiv, currently Vice Chair, will act as Chair 
until a new one is elected by the Board ensuring continuity.


Hopefully this news will not come as too much of a surprise. I am 
grateful to the community members who lent me their trust and support 
to become a trustee on two different occasions, to the staff, and to 
the trustees for their confidence in me in the different leadership 
positions I have held within the Board - first as committee chair, 
then two terms as Vice Chair, and two terms as Chair.


Together we have accomplished many things during this time, but if I 
had to single out only a few they would be the following: launching 
the Movement Strategy process, engaging in the most ambitious 
governance reform in the history of the Board, and working to ensure 
the stability and sustainability of the Foundation. It has been a time 
of change, of discussing strategy and our future, and deciding 
together what the path forward should be.


Of course, the work is never finished - it will be the task of the 
Board to continue what has been done and face the newer and complex 
challenges that will no doubt arise. I hope that we will see many of 
the women of the movement and people from the Global South as 
candidates in the upcoming community elections - I know there are many 
qualified people ready to step into these important roles. I look 
forward to supporting an increasingly capable and diverse Board.


Be safe and well everyone.

Tupananchiskama,

María

--



María Sefidari Huici

Chair of the Board

Wikimedia Foundation 


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[Wikimedia-l] Re: Update from the Wikimedia Foundation Board chair

[Gregory Varnum]

This information is also available (in growing number of languages) on 
Meta-Wiki and Diff:
*  
https://meta.wikimedia.org/wiki/Wikimedia_Foundation_Board_noticeboard/3_June_2021_-_Update_from_the_Wikimedia_Foundation_chair
*  
https://diff.wikimedia.org/2021/06/03/update-from-the-wikimedia-foundation-board-chair/

María - thank you for your leadership and wisdom over the past several years. I 
look forward to seeing how you engage with the movement next! :)
-greg

---
Gregory Varnum
Senior Strategist, Communications
Wikimedia Foundation 
gvar...@wikimedia.org
Pronouns: He/Him/His

> On Jun 3, 2021, at 12:41 PM, Nataliia Tymkiv  wrote:
> 
> Dear María,
> 
> First of all, thank you for all the work you have done over the past 8 years 
> - it is not always easy to be a Trustee and sometimes the work is far from 
> gratifying. I know it was not a quick decision for you to stay on for an 
> additional year to help us see Wikimedia Foundation and the board through 
> some challenging times, and I am personally grateful for your accepting the 
> challenge and putting yourself on the line.
> 
> There was quite a bit of turmoil when I joined the Board - and no one really 
> had time to onboard me back then. And I *needed* onboarding and support. You 
> offered to mentor me if need be, invited me to shoot any questions and 
> concerns at you, any time of the day. Things like that - going above and 
> beyond when needed and really meaning it - are a pattern with you. And I 
> deeply appreciate your dedication to the cause.
> 
> You were in the room when the Board decided to embark on a long journey to 
> support the creation of the Movement strategy, and saw it through all the 
> hardships we had along the way. I do hope that being able to help in 
> implementing it will somehow account for all those mishaps on the way here, 
> and you will seriously consider the advisory role where you can support the 
> Movement Strategy from the trenches, so to say.
> 
> You have been one of the strongest voices for making sure our projects 
> diversify and are more equitable, helping direct the Wikimedia Foundation to 
> a direction of increasing readers and donors and raising editing numbers from 
> when they were declining. Your energy and readiness to participate in 
> hundreds, maybe thousands of conversations on the future of Wikimedia and 
> ensuring its stability and sustainability is really something, and I think 
> this deserves recognition on our part.
> 
> I believe you will remain involved in the movement with the same drive and 
> passion you have always shown. And our paths will cross again even though we 
> do edit different-language Wikipedias, but we still reside in the same 
> Wikiverse :)
> 
> With thanks and appreciation,
> 
> antanana / Nataliia Tymkiv
> Vice Chair, Wikimedia Foundation Board of Trustees
> 
> NOTICE: You may have received this message outside of your normal working 
> hours/days, as I usually can work more as a volunteer during weekend. You 
> should not feel obligated to answer it during your days off. Thank you in 
> advance!
> 
> 
> 
> On Thu, Jun 3, 2021 at 10:40 PM María Sefidari  > wrote:
> Dear All,
> 
> There is one last bit of news I would like to share following the Board 
> meeting update.
> 
> After ~ 8 years on the Board of Trustees at the Wikimedia Foundation - a long 
> time! - I have notified the Board that I am stepping down as Chair and 
> trustee, effective end of day today. 
> 
> As all of you know, the community-selected seats were due to expire last year 
> and were extended at the request of the Board to see through these difficult 
> and unprecedented times. Now, after chairing the last meeting of the fiscal 
> year and having the call for candidates for the upcoming elections approved, 
> it is the least disruptive moment for me to step down. The Foundation has 
> asked me to consider an advisory role to support Movement Strategy and the 
> onboarding of new trustees and the new CEO/ED, to help support leadership and 
> this strategic transition. Nataliia Tymkiv, currently Vice Chair, will act as 
> Chair until a new one is elected by the Board ensuring continuity.  
> 
> Hopefully this news will not come as too much of a surprise. I am grateful to 
> the community members who lent me their trust and support to become a trustee 
> on two different occasions, to the staff, and to the trustees for their 
> confidence in me in the different leadership positions I have held within the 
> Board - first as committee chair, then two terms as Vice Chair, and two terms 
> as Chair. 
> 
> Together we have accomplished many things during this time, but if I had to 
> single out only a few they would be the following: launching the Movement 
> Strategy process, engaging in the most ambitious governance reform in the 
> history of the Board, and working to ensure the stability and sustainability 
> of the Found

[Wikimedia-l] Re: Update from the Wikimedia Foundation Board chair

[Nataliia Tymkiv]

Dear María,

First of all, thank you for all the work you have done over the past 8
years - it is not always easy to be a Trustee and sometimes the work is far
from gratifying. I know it was not a quick decision for you to stay on for
an additional year to help us see Wikimedia Foundation and the board
through some challenging times, and I am personally grateful for your
accepting the challenge and putting yourself on the line.

There was quite a bit of turmoil when I joined the Board - and no one
really had time to onboard me back then. And I *needed* onboarding and
support. You offered to mentor me if need be, invited me to shoot any
questions and concerns at you, any time of the day. Things like that -
going above and beyond when needed and really meaning it - are a pattern
with you. And I deeply appreciate your dedication to the cause.

You were in the room when the Board decided to embark on a long journey to
support the creation of the Movement strategy, and saw it through all the
hardships we had along the way. I do hope that being able to help in
implementing it will somehow account for all those mishaps on the way here,
and you will seriously consider the advisory role where you can support the
Movement Strategy from the trenches, so to say.

You have been one of the strongest voices for making sure our projects
diversify and are more equitable, helping direct the Wikimedia Foundation
to a direction of increasing readers and donors and raising editing numbers
from when they were declining. Your energy and readiness to participate in
hundreds, maybe thousands of conversations on the future of Wikimedia and
ensuring its stability and sustainability is really something, and I think
this deserves recognition on our part.

I believe you will remain involved in the movement with the same drive and
passion you have always shown. And our paths will cross again even though
we do edit different-language Wikipedias, but we still reside in the same
Wikiverse :)

With thanks and appreciation,

antanana / Nataliia Tymkiv
Vice Chair, Wikimedia Foundation Board of Trustees

*NOTICE: You may have received this message outside of your normal working
hours/days, as I usually can work more as a volunteer during weekend. You
should not feel obligated to answer it during your days off. Thank you in
advance!*



On Thu, Jun 3, 2021 at 10:40 PM María Sefidari 
wrote:

> Dear All,
>
> There is one last bit of news I would like to share following the Board
> meeting update.
>
> After ~ 8 years on the Board of Trustees at the Wikimedia Foundation - a
> long time! - I have notified the Board that I am stepping down as Chair and
> trustee, effective end of day today.
>
> As all of you know, the community-selected seats were due to expire last
> year and were extended at the request of the Board to see through these
> difficult and unprecedented times. Now, after chairing the last meeting of
> the fiscal year and having the call for candidates for the upcoming
> elections approved, it is the least disruptive moment for me to step down.
> The Foundation has asked me to consider an advisory role to support
> Movement Strategy and the onboarding of new trustees and the new CEO/ED, to
> help support leadership and this strategic transition. Nataliia Tymkiv,
> currently Vice Chair, will act as Chair until a new one is elected by the
> Board ensuring continuity.
>
> Hopefully this news will not come as too much of a surprise. I am grateful
> to the community members who lent me their trust and support to become a
> trustee on two different occasions, to the staff, and to the trustees for
> their confidence in me in the different leadership positions I have held
> within the Board - first as committee chair, then two terms as Vice Chair,
> and two terms as Chair.
>
> Together we have accomplished many things during this time, but if I had
> to single out only a few they would be the following: launching the
> Movement Strategy process, engaging in the most ambitious governance reform
> in the history of the Board, and working to ensure the stability and
> sustainability of the Foundation. It has been a time of change, of
> discussing strategy and our future, and deciding together what the path
> forward should be.
>
> Of course, the work is never finished - it will be the task of the Board
> to continue what has been done and face the newer and complex challenges
> that will no doubt arise. I hope that we will see many of the women of the
> movement and people from the Global South as candidates in the upcoming
> community elections - I know there are many qualified people ready to step
> into these important roles. I look forward to supporting an increasingly
> capable and diverse Board.
>
> Be safe and well everyone.
>
> Tupananchiskama,
>
> María
>
> --
>
> María Sefidari Huici
>
> Chair of the Board
>
> Wikimedia Foundation 
> ___
> Wikimedia-l mailing