Re: [Wikimediauk-l] New blog post: Shaping the future of Wikimedia UK
The charity status will be resolved in time, I am sure. I have been involved in a number of educational charities, and it is just a matter of patience. On funding, there is plenty to do, let us not be desperate to dispose of funds that we may well need later on. For example I am trying to get more involved in the (possibly doomed) attempt to save Stamford Museum, and one thing that has come to my mind is that mirroring the museum on line would be a worthwhile effort. This could be done either by throwing money at it, or by selectively working with a mixture of volunteer and paid effort, and building a procedure that would allow the process to be replicated elsewhere. I prefer the latter. One a project like this blossoms, though, the costs multiply.The same would apply to, for example, schools out-reach. If we pilot a programme in year one, say one or two volunteers visiting a dozen schools each, with expenses of maybe £100 per visit, then £2,400 will hardly dent the coffers. But year two we might have twenty or thirty volunteers, and be running the program at £36,000 pa. ___ Wikimedia UK mailing list wikimediau...@wikimedia.org http://mail.wikimedia.org/mailman/listinfo/wikimediauk-l WMUK: http://uk.wikimedia.org
Re: [Wikimediauk-l] New blog post: Shaping the future of Wikimedia UK
On 24 June 2011 11:38, Richard Farmbrough rich...@farmbrough.co.uk wrote: The charity status will be resolved in time, I am sure. I have been involved in a number of educational charities, and it is just a matter of patience. I agree, but the membership should still be kept up-to-date on where things stand. On funding, there is plenty to do, let us not be desperate to dispose of funds that we may well need later on. We can expect revenue to increase substantially over the next few years, so we really don't need to save money to spend in those years. It's also not sustainable - if we use this years money to fund extra projects (particularly long-term projects like the one you mention) next year, what will we do the year after? Apart from a prudent reserve, the general principle that funds should be spend promptly is a good one. It's not immutable, certainly, but there should be a very good reason for deviating from it. ___ Wikimedia UK mailing list wikimediau...@wikimedia.org http://mail.wikimedia.org/mailman/listinfo/wikimediauk-l WMUK: http://uk.wikimedia.org
Re: [Wikimediauk-l] We need to talk to the public catalogue foundation
On 23 June 2011 21:05, Andy Mabbett a...@pigsonthewing.org.uk wrote: With respect, no. We need to persuade our legislators to change copyright law so this doesn't happen. Do we? Where does the law actually stand on things like this? My understanding is that it is still unclear. A test-case in court might be useful, even if it does go against us. Once the current law is clarified, we can campaign for a change in the law (or not, if it isn't needed). ___ Wikimedia UK mailing list wikimediau...@wikimedia.org http://mail.wikimedia.org/mailman/listinfo/wikimediauk-l WMUK: http://uk.wikimedia.org
Re: [Wikimediauk-l] We need to talk to the public catalogue foundation
On 24 June 2011 12:30, Thomas Dalton thomas.dal...@gmail.com wrote: On 23 June 2011 21:05, Andy Mabbett a...@pigsonthewing.org.uk wrote: With respect, no. We need to persuade our legislators to change copyright law so this doesn't happen. Do we? Where does the law actually stand on things like this? My understanding is that it is still unclear. A test-case in court might be useful, even if it does go against us. Once the current law is clarified, we can campaign for a change in the law (or not, if it isn't needed). I wouldn't be so quick to resolve things in law before we need to, while we can still slant the situation on the ground. - d. ___ Wikimedia UK mailing list wikimediau...@wikimedia.org http://mail.wikimedia.org/mailman/listinfo/wikimediauk-l WMUK: http://uk.wikimedia.org
Re: [Wikimediauk-l] New blog post: Shaping the future of Wikimedia UK
I agree, but the membership should still be kept up-to-date on where things stand. I quite agree On funding, there is plenty to do, let us not be desperate to dispose of funds that we may well need later on. We can expect revenue to increase substantially over the next few years, so we really don't need to save money to spend in those years. It's also not sustainable - if we use this years money to fund extra projects (particularly long-term projects like the one you mention) next year, what will we do the year after? Apart from a prudent reserve, the general principle that funds should be spend promptly is a good one. It's not immutable, certainly, but there should be a very good reason for deviating from it. I agree with this as well, but observe that a big plan to spend lots of money over the long term is something that takes time to develop if it is to be effective. ___ Wikimedia UK mailing list wikimediau...@wikimedia.org http://mail.wikimedia.org/mailman/listinfo/wikimediauk-l WMUK: http://uk.wikimedia.org
Re: [Wikimediauk-l] New blog post: Shaping the future of Wikimedia UK
On 24 June 2011 13:09, Chris Keating chriskeatingw...@gmail.com wrote: I agree with this as well, but observe that a big plan to spend lots of money over the long term is something that takes time to develop if it is to be effective. Sure, but if the plan isn't going to be ready until next year, then pay for it out of next year's budget. There is no need to keep this year's budget back for it. ___ Wikimedia UK mailing list wikimediau...@wikimedia.org http://mail.wikimedia.org/mailman/listinfo/wikimediauk-l WMUK: http://uk.wikimedia.org
