Hello, +1 for discretion in discussing board matters. All wiki user group organizers get anxious about keeping to the schedule so there is nothing unusual about that. The WMF asks indiscriminately and without much consideration for volunteers for a lot more than they actually accept as sufficient, and it can be intimidating to look at groups with large budgets and imagine that the same expectations apply to groups with no paid staff. While Wiki Cascadia does not meet the administrative standards of organizations with paid staff, the this team performs well by wiki or small nonprofit standards.
@Peaceray - the reporting which the WMF requires is at <https://meta.wikimedia.org/wiki/Reports> The expectations change year to year, but the norm that I perceive is that they do require a year end financial statement, and they want a few sentences summarizing chapter activities with a sign off from the board. When wiki groups do more, the next level of report development is creating a list of events and programs. The step beyond that is making items in that list into links which give event reports. Anyone who sets up an event announcement page and gets people to sign their names there to register is already doing beyond the norm for a team on Wiki Cascadia's budget. To report to the Washington Secretary of State the report is the financial again and also a confirmation of board members and their addresses. If the board is the same and the financials are reported to the WMF then this could take 15 minutes online - I have done this and found it easy. @llywrch - Wiki Cascadia has to get the report in. There is not talk of missing it, even if it is on a flexible schedule. I would join Wiki Cascadia strategy discussions with you, Pete, Jason, anyone. The reasons you list for having a user group matter to me also. Personally, I get a lot out of my affiliation with Wiki Cascadia. Wiki NYC struggles with administration also. I could offer that if anyone in Wiki Cascadia wants to collaborate, one possible path could be to join the Wiki NYC slack channel. Some discussions might not be relevant, but Wiki NYC is big enough to be forming committees. For example, the partnership committee discusses best practices for partnerships with institutions, and the membership committee discusses how to track and keep members engaged. Many of these problems might be too big for any one chapter or user group, and maybe interested people around the US could join these conversations together and collectively take credit for all outcomes. Anyone wanting to do this would have to float it by Wiki NYC but for now the slack channel is at https://wikinyc.slack.com/. I cannot scale up to support everyone but I know everyone who has posted here and I am happy to talk 1:1 with any of you by video, phone, email, etc. I also would join any group chats. Thanks, On Wed, Mar 14, 2018 at 9:23 PM, Raymond Leonard < [email protected]> wrote: > Of course, it was just a few minutes after I sent my email that I saw that > what we posted for 2014-2015 > <https://meta.wikimedia.org/wiki/Cascadia_Wikimedians/4Q_ > 2014_and_CY_2015_report#Finance_report> > . > > Peaceray > > On Wed, Mar 14, 2018 at 6:17 PM, Raymond Leonard < > [email protected]> wrote: > > > Folks, > > > > First I apologize for the delay in the financial report. I have sent to > > the Cascadia Wikimedians board a spreadsheet detailing the activity on > our > > three BECU accounts & a balance sheet. It requires some tweaking. There > are > > some two deposits for $210 & a check for $20 for which I was unable to > > glean their source / destination. I am hoping our Treasurer can fill the > > board in on those items on that email thread. If anyone wants to see the > > spreadsheet, let me know & I can forward it to them as well. > > > > I am somewhat flummoxed that an internal matter to the board & the > > Cascadia Wikimedians membership has been discussed on this much broader > > list. I am all for transparency, but I think a delayed report got far > more > > attention than was warranted. It is certainly absurd to contemplate the > > dissolution of the organization because of it. > > > > As far as the comment that I "lack the time and interest to continue with > > the Cascadia organization", I would point to my recent activities on > behalf > > of Cascadia Wikimedians: my presence at the Art+Feminism edit-a-thon at > the > > Jacob Lawrence Gallery & my attendance at a UW class that Amanda Menking > > teaches, both in late February, plus online attendance & support earlier > > this month at the Portland Art+Feminism edit-a-thon concentrating on > Jewish > > women artists (although I ended up helping other edit-a-thons; it was > > International Women's Day, after all). I am also attending the Wikimedia > > Conference 2018 in Berlin as one of the two Cascadia Wikimedians > > representatives. > > > > I may have different view as to the criteria & priorities about how a > user > > group functions than some, & am certainly flexible about adjusting those > in > > concert with anyone who is part of the team actively supporting Cascadia > > Wikimedians. > > > > Now, I need some help in determining where to put the report when finally > > finished. I do not see where Wikimedia NYC puts their financial reports > (I > > don't think it is on meta). I see that Wikimedia DC had put some on meta > > several years back. What repositories are other user groups using for > > spreadsheets? I am thinking that it would be appropriate to place a more > > general balance sheet on meta. > > > > Yours, > > Peaceray > > > > On Wed, Mar 14, 2018 at 2:25 PM, <[email protected]> wrote: > > > >> I'm familiar with user groups that operate on $0 funding levels. Here in > >> Portland there is the Portland Linux/UNIX Group (aka PLUG), which has > >> operated for years with no real source of money -- just volunteer labor > & > >> donated server resources & using public spaces to meet in. For years it > was > >> vital to more than the few of us interested in Linux & UNIX, because it > was > >> one of the venues people interested in technology could meet & exchange > >> ideas. PLUG was one reason O'Reilly held their Open Source Conferences > in > >> Portland for several years. (One restaurant in downtown Portland liked > to > >> host our meetings because it brought in more customers than their Monday > >> Night Football specials.) Nevertheless, the man who led PLUG, David > >> Mandell, was well informed about how important being an incorporated > >> non-profit was, & had ownership of the incorporation papers for another, > >> now defunct, non-profit for the time it made sense that PLUG become a > more > >> formal organization. > >> > >> My concern in my previous email was that all of the labor & money to > >> become a non-profit was about to be wasted because someone had decided > to > >> drop out without completing the paperwork to keep the Cascadia UG in > good > >> standing, both with the Foundation & the State of Washington. Maybe at > the > >> moment the Cascadia UG doesn't need to be a formal group; that's fine. > >> However, there are certain benefits to being a formal organization. > Saying > >> that one is a member of a formal group opens certain doors that saying, > >> "I'm a Wikimedian & I make edits to this Wiki" doesn't. Another benefit > is > >> that if one needs money to do something, having a formal organization to > >> handle the grants or contributions makes life much less complex. > >> > >> Lane, so if missing a report this year isn't going to sabotage the > >> Cascadia UG, that relieves a lot of worry on everyone's part. Although I > >> believe it would be good for all in the long run if someone from the > >> Foundation were to explain to the person involved that while a volunteer > >> can walk away from any of the projects at any time with very little > effort, > >> there are certain responsibilities in life that when assumed one cannot > >> just walk away from before they are done. And the financial reporting is > >> one of them. Especially when, in your words, it requires a couple of > hours > >> a year of work. > >> > >> One reason I want a Cascadia UG -- or a US Wikimedia Chapter, or some > >> kind of formal group in North America -- is that it provides a sense of > >> community that an online Wiki fails to provide. For one thing, it's been > >> documented that a healthy online community flourishes when there are a > lot > >> of off-line back-channels. Another is that IMHO a lot of Wikipedians > would > >> be more interested in advocacy or partnering with outside groups if they > >> knew of similar work being done near them; not everyone is eager to be a > >> solo pioneer setting off into unexplored territory with no one to > support > >> or even be aware of their work. Sometimes we simply want to share one of > >> the minor successes in making a contribution to Wikipedia (or a similar > >> Wikimedia project). The other week I shared with my wife a success in > >> getting one of my articles on Roman consuls figured out, only to have > her > >> blandly reply, "So?" And there's a large amount of unwritten knowledge > >> around the Wikimedia projects that either is not documented online, or > will > >> never be documented online, that each of us knows; sharing it would only > >> benefit us all. > >> > >> I'd also like to hear more about what my fellow Wikimedians are doing. > >> Even if it's unrelated to outreach or advocacy. Boast a little on this > >> mailing list. Especially since there's no good place on any of the > Wikis to > >> do this, & we all need to brag a little once in a while. IMHO, doing > that > >> can inspire others to take on tasks that need doing. > >> > >> In other words, anyone who spends more than a little time away from the > >> computer working on a Wikimedia project knows that such activity is > >> socially isolating. This UG could address that issue to some degree. And > >> this is why I find watching the Cascadia UG fall apart over a trivial > >> matter discouraging. > >> > >> P.S. To Jason -- Pete Forsyth & I met the other week & were discussing > >> ideas about outreach & how to support Wikimedians in ways the Foundation > >> either won't do, or is unwilling to do. You should join us in our next > >> discussion. One reason I'd like to restart Wikimeetups here in Portland. > >> > >> Geoff Burling > >> en: llywrch > >> > >> > >> On 2018-03-14 09:11, Jonathan Morgan wrote: > >> > >> Agree with Lane and Joe that we should keep this going since it's easy > and > >>> valuable. I know I'm not that active, but as long as we're talking > about > >>> doing what's necessary to keep the organization afloat, rather than > >>> active > >>> program management and administration, I am happy to use my convenient > >>> dual > >>> staff/volunteer role to attempt to expedite any necessary communication > >>> or > >>> coordination stuff between Cascadia and WMF. Let me know. > >>> > >>> - J > >>> > >>> On Wed, Mar 14, 2018 at 8:24 AM, Lane Rasberry <[email protected]> > >>> wrote: > >>> > >>> Hello, > >>> > >>> Pine, I think that you have much higher personal standards for Wiki > >>> Cascadia than the Washington Secretary of State has for organizations > or > >>> than the Wiki Affiliations Committee has for official partner > >>> organizations. When you were on the board you set ambitious goals for > >>> Wiki > >>> Cascadia. Even now with its challenges it ranks favorably against other > >>> registered wiki groups, being easily among the top 50%, likely in the > top > >>> 25%, and perhaps in the top 10%. Most wiki user groups are casual > >>> operations and I feel that Wiki Cascadia already accomplishes beyond > the > >>> norm. I am happy with the ongoing activities of Wiki Cascadia. > >>> > >>> llywrch - typical Cascadia group events are organized by committees of > >>> 2-4 > >>> people. The board does not centrally review programs, and instead > >>> provides > >>> a centralized project space for announcing and reporting any events > which > >>> are aligned with typical wiki community interests. Wiki Cascadia teams > >>> have > >>> done some interesting and innovative projects but nothing that I would > >>> call > >>> radical and in need of thorough oversight. Almost anyone engaged in any > >>> wiki project in the region can affiliate with Wiki Cascadia if they > like. > >>> This governance format is usual for wiki user groups at the ~$0 funding > >>> level. > >>> > >>> If there is any winding down ever, then probably winding down WMF > >>> affiliation would come before disbanding as a nonprofit because the WMF > >>> has > >>> higher standards for reporting than the state government. If Wiki > >>> Cascadia > >>> stays in good standing with the WMF then it can meet the lower > >>> expectations > >>> of the state government. > >>> > >>> The administrative burden for an organization with near 0 budget is > >>> about 2 > >>> hours/year from the perspective of the Washington Secretary of state. > If > >>> there are challenges with this then the answer is to pass the work on > >>> through the network of Wiki Cascadia supporters. While I personally > have > >>> been hands-off for administration, I see a lot of value in the > >>> organization, and am here to help sustain the organization and identify > >>> other board members if there is a crisis and the organization needs > some > >>> support. There are other people like me who care and would support if > >>> asked. > >>> > >>> I anticipate being in Seattle in mid-April and would meet with anyone > to > >>> talk about next steps. My schedule is not yet firm, but to the extent > >>> that > >>> I am able I would show support. There are always ways that I and others > >>> would support remotely. > >>> > >>> Thanks, > >>> > >>> On Tue, Mar 13, 2018 at 3:46 PM, Pine W <[email protected]> wrote: > >>> > >>> Hi Joe, > >>> > >>> I haven't heard anything from Peacray about this in awhile. However, he > >>> appears to be active on English Wikipedia (see > >>> https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Special:Contributions/Peaceray), so I > >>> suggest > >>> that you ask him on his talk page. > >>> > >>> The impression that I get is that he and Brian lack the time and > interest > >>> to continue with the Cascadia organization, and if that is the case and > >>> no one else is interested and willing to keep the organization alive, > then > >>> the organization should be wound down and any remaining assets (like > the > >>> camera and camcorder) should be handled in the manner that's specified > in > >>> the > >>> bylaws: > >>> > >>> "ARTICLE XIV - DISSOLUTION > >>> "Vote Required. The Corporation may be dissolved by a two-thirds vote > of > >>> the Board. > >>> "Donation of Remaining Assets. Upon the termination, dissolution or > final > >>> liquidation of the Corporation in any manner or for any reason, its > >>> assets, if any, remaining after payment (or provision for payment) of > all > >>> liabilities of the Corporation, shall be distributed to, and only to, > one > >>> or more organizations organized and operated exclusively for charitable > >>> or educational purposes as shall at the time qualify as an exempt > >>> organization or organizations under Section 501(c)(3) of the Code as > the > >>> Board shall > >>> determine by majority vote. Such distribution of assets shall be > >>> calculated to carry out the objectives and purposes stated in the > Articles > >>> of > >>> Incorporation. In no event shall any of such assets or property be > >>> distributed to any member, Director or Officer, or any private > >>> individual." > >>> I wish that I had better news. :( > >>> > >>> Pine > >>> ( https://meta.wikimedia.org/wiki/User:Pine ) > >>> > >>> On Sun, Mar 11, 2018 at 10:14 AM, Joe Mabel <[email protected]> > >>> wrote: > >>> It's mid-March. Has something been filed without the Board having a > >>> chance to review? Or has nothing been filed? > >>> > >>> JM > >>> > >>> On 1/30/2018 8:16 AM, Joe Mabel wrote: > >>> > >>> Is anything happening on this? > >>> > >>> JM > >>> > >>> On 12/29/2017 9:40 AM, Raymond Leonard wrote: > >>> > >>> Joe & all, > >>> > >>> I am still working on this. Right now I have a $16.49 discrepancy > >>> > >> that > >> > >> I need to figure out before it will balance. > >>> > >>> Yours, > >>> Peaceray > >>> -- > >>> [email protected] > >>> > >>> On Wed, Dec 27, 2017 at 11:34 AM, Raymond Leonard < > >>> [email protected]> wrote: > >>> > >>> Joe & all, > >>> I've been preoccupied with holiday activities w/family & friends > >>> > >> since > >> > >> the annual meeting, & I am currently in Portland. I will be > >>> > >> returning > >> > >> to Seattle this afternoon & will work on this, hoping to complete by > >>> tomorrow > >>> morning at the latest. > >>> > >>> Peaceray > >>> -- > >>> > >>> [email protected] > >>> > >>> On Tue, Dec 26, 2017 at 9:56 PM Joe Mabel <[email protected]> > >>> > >> wrote: > >> > >> At the annual meeting we were told that the financial statement > >>> > >> would > >> > >> be available in time for Board members to review it before the end of > >>> > >> the > >> > >> year and sign off. I realize we are just coming out of a holiday, > >>> > >> but > >> > >> there are only 5 days remaining in the year, 2 of which are another > >>> holiday weekend. If the report has been posted, I don't see where. > >>> https://meta.wikimedia.org/wiki/Cascadia_Wikimedians/2017_report > >>> > >> still > >> > >> says "To be posted." > >>> > >>> JM > >>> > >>> _______________________________________________ > >>> Wikimedia-Cascadia mailing list > >>> [email protected] > >>> https://lists.wikimedia.org/mailman/listinfo/wikimedia-cascadia > >>> > >>> -- Sent from Gmail Mobile > >>> > >>> _______________________________________________ > >>> > >> Wikimedia-Cascadia mailing list > >> [email protected] > >> https://lists.wikimedia.org/mailman/listinfo/wikimedia-cascadia > >> > >> _______________________________________________ > >> Wikimedia-Cascadia mailing list > >> [email protected] > >> https://lists.wikimedia.org/mailman/listinfo/wikimedia-cascadia > >> > >> _______________________________________________ > >> Wikimedia-Cascadia mailing list > >> [email protected] > >> https://lists.wikimedia.org/mailman/listinfo/wikimedia-cascadia > >> > >> -- > >> Lane Rasberry > >> user:bluerasberry on Wikipedia > >> 206.801.0814 > >> [email protected] > >> _______________________________________________ > >> Wikimedia-Cascadia mailing list > >> [email protected] > >> https://lists.wikimedia.org/mailman/listinfo/wikimedia-cascadia > >> > >> _______________________________________________ > >> Wikimedia-Cascadia mailing list > >> [email protected] > >> https://lists.wikimedia.org/mailman/listinfo/wikimedia-cascadia > >> > >> _______________________________________________ > >> Wikimedia-Cascadia mailing list > >> [email protected] > >> https://lists.wikimedia.org/mailman/listinfo/wikimedia-cascadia > >> > > > > > _______________________________________________ > Wikimedia-Cascadia mailing list > [email protected] > https://lists.wikimedia.org/mailman/listinfo/wikimedia-cascadia > -- Lane Rasberry user:bluerasberry on Wikipedia 206.801.0814 [email protected] _______________________________________________ Wikimedia-Cascadia mailing list [email protected] https://lists.wikimedia.org/mailman/listinfo/wikimedia-cascadia
