Jimbo has stated on Jimbo-talk that this was a removal for cause: https://en.wikipedia.org/w/index.php?title=User_talk:Jimbo_Wales&diff=prev&oldid=697407200
He also mentions on that page that he and others tried to talk Heilman into resigning quietly, but he chose to make the BoT push him: https://en.wikipedia.org/w/index.php?title=User_talk:Jimbo_Wales&diff=prev&oldid=697407110 Given this, it's entirely unsurprising that he didn't see a need to aid the trustees by announcing his departure on a timetable convenient to them. I'm actually a little shocked that Patricio and Jimbo didn't see that coming and seem shocked that it happened. Cheers, Craig On 1 January 2016 at 00:02, John Mark Vandenberg <jay...@gmail.com> wrote: > Can the board please very clearly state whether this removal was for cause, > or not!? > On 1 Jan 2016 12:03 am, "Patricio Lorente" <patricio.lore...@gmail.com> > wrote: > > > Thank you to everyone who responded to my email about the Board’s recent > > decision. We recognize this is the Board's first removal of a sitting > > Trustee, and that has led to questions and perhaps some confusion. > > > > I wanted to provide you with some additional information in response to > the > > discussions on this thread. As many of you know, we did not intend for > the > > decision to become public the way it did. We planned to have a discussion > > and decision in the meeting, but could not be certain of the outcome > ahead > > of the final vote. Since the meeting, we have taken our time to work > > together to make sure the information we share will be accurate, > > respectful, and informative to the greatest extent possible. At the same > > time, there is a limit to what the Board can share. We have fiduciary > > duties, which include Board confidentiality, and we must respect them in > > this decision as we would in others. > > > > I want to be very clear that the Board decision was not about a > difference > > of opinion on a matter of WMF direction or strategy between James and the > > other Trustees. Over the course of the past few months, the Trustees had > > multiple conversations around expectations for Trustee conduct, > > responsibilities, and confidentiality. Ultimately, the majority of the > > Trustees came to the opinion that we were not able to reach a common > > understanding with James on fulfilling those expectations. We have a duty > > as a Board to ensure we all abide by our roles and responsibilities as an > > essential condition for effective governance. I also want to reaffirm > that > > this decision was made internally, by the Board, without any outside > > influence, and according to the process outlined in our Bylaws. > > > > Under the Wikimedia Foundation’s Bylaws, and, in accordance with Florida > > law (where, as a 501(c)(3) charity, the Foundation is registered), > members > > of the Board who are selected through community or affiliate elections > are > > then appointed to the Board by the existing members. Since all members of > > the Board are appointed by the Board itself, the Board retains the > ability > > to manage its composition as necessary to maintain the working > environment > > required to be effective. > > > > As someone who was appointed through a community process, I understand > how > > important it is to have strong voices from the community on our Board. I > > want to be absolutely clear that this decision does not change our > > commitment to engaging with a diverse, talented, opinionated, and > > representative group of leaders to serve on our Board. It also does not > > change our commitment to encouraging and hearing different voices on > > direction and strategy. > > > > We are working with the 2015 Elections Committee to fill this vacancy > with > > a member of the Wikimedia community. This is a top priority. More > > information will be available once the Board has had a chance to confer > > with the 2015 Elections Committee. > > > > From our viewpoint, our actions around the removal are concluded. We > > sincerely hope that James will continue to be an active, constructive > part > > of the Wikimedia movement. I personally look forward to continuing > > collaboration with him. > > > > Thank you, > > > > Patricio > > -- > > _______________________________________________ > > Wikimedia-l mailing list, guidelines at: > > https://meta.wikimedia.org/wiki/Mailing_lists/Guidelines > > New messages to: Wikimedia-l@lists.wikimedia.org > > Unsubscribe: https://lists.wikimedia.org/mailman/listinfo/wikimedia-l, > > <mailto:wikimedia-l-requ...@lists.wikimedia.org?subject=unsubscribe> > _______________________________________________ > Wikimedia-l mailing list, guidelines at: > https://meta.wikimedia.org/wiki/Mailing_lists/Guidelines > New messages to: Wikimedia-l@lists.wikimedia.org > Unsubscribe: https://lists.wikimedia.org/mailman/listinfo/wikimedia-l, > <mailto:wikimedia-l-requ...@lists.wikimedia.org?subject=unsubscribe> > _______________________________________________ Wikimedia-l mailing list, guidelines at: https://meta.wikimedia.org/wiki/Mailing_lists/Guidelines New messages to: Wikimedia-l@lists.wikimedia.org Unsubscribe: https://lists.wikimedia.org/mailman/listinfo/wikimedia-l, <mailto:wikimedia-l-requ...@lists.wikimedia.org?subject=unsubscribe>
