Hi Lodewijk, You're entirely correct in that we don't want to see the situation in Brazil remain as it is, and I think there are many potential ways forward here. Certainly, creating a new user group could be one of them; so could a collaborative network of smaller, more localized groups, or perhaps an entirely different structure that doesn't fit exactly into the current affiliate model.
Having said that, I don't believe it's really our place, as a committee, to tell the Brazilian community how to proceed; that decision is one that the community will need to make after considering the specific needs that this affiliate structure must serve and the degree to which different stakeholders are willing (or not) to set aside their differences in order to build it. The Affiliations Committee can advise the community on how to apply the existing affiliate model -- or even on how to transform it into something new -- but it's ultimately the local community that will need to decide what they can live with. Regards, Kirill On Mon, Apr 9, 2018 at 2:23 AM, Lodewijk <lodew...@effeietsanders.org> wrote: > Hi Kirill, > > Could you clarify what would be a path forward from this situation? For > example, would you encourage someone to set up a new application for a user > group in Brazil, if they have a good proposal (and/or proven commitment) > for how to manage the collaboration with the whole Brazilian community? > > I doubt the intention of AffCom is to leave the situation in Brazil to > remain broken indefinitely. > > Best, > Lodewijk > > On Sun, Apr 8, 2018 at 11:19 AM, Kirill Lokshin <kirill.loks...@gmail.com> > wrote: > >> Hello everyone, >> >> Recognition as a Wikimedia movement affiliate — a chapter, thematic >> organization, or user group — is a privilege that allows an independent >> group to officially use the Wikimedia trademarks to further the Wikimedia >> mission. To receive and maintain their status as recognized Wikimedia >> affiliates, groups are required to comply with certain requirements, which >> are identified in each group's individual chapter, thematic organization, >> or user group agreement. In particular, the terms of the Wikimedia User >> Group Agreement and Code of Conduct prohibit user groups from engaging in >> activity that poses significant risk to other Wikimedia organizations or >> Wikimedia projects. >> >> As many of you doubtlessly know, the two Wikimedia user groups based in >> Brazil — Wikimedia Community User Group Brasil and Wiki Education Brazil — >> have been engaged in a severe and protracted conflict, which has resulted >> in significant harm to past, ongoing, and planned Wikimedia movement >> activities in Brazil. As all reasonable attempts to resolve the conflict >> have failed, the Affiliations Committee is left with no choice but to >> withdraw the groups' recognition as Wikimedia affiliates. >> >> Consequently, the recognition of Wikimedia Community User Group Brasil and >> Wiki Education Brazil as Wikimedia user groups has been revoked, and the >> Wikimedia Foundation's legal department has been requested to formally >> terminate their respective user group agreements as soon as practicable. >> Further, the specific individuals who served as the primary contacts for >> these user groups will be prohibited from serving as primary contacts for >> any user group application or existing user group for a period of one >> year. >> >> The Affiliations Committee recognizes that this is an unprecedented and >> unfortunate development. However, we hope that this step will allow the >> Wikimedia community in Brazil to work towards a new organizational >> structure and model that will better serve the needs of movement >> participants and stakeholders in the country. >> >> Any questions regarding this matter should be addressed directly to the >> Affiliations Committee. >> >> Regards, >> Kirill Lokshin >> Chair, Affiliations Committee >> _______________________________________________ >> Wikimedia-l mailing list, guidelines at: https://meta.wikimedia.org/wik >> i/Mailing_lists/Guidelines and https://meta.wikimedia.org/wik >> i/Wikimedia-l >> 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> > > > > _______________________________________________ > Affiliates mailing list > affilia...@lists.wikimedia.org > https://lists.wikimedia.org/mailman/listinfo/affiliates > > _______________________________________________ Wikimedia-l mailing list, guidelines at: https://meta.wikimedia.org/wiki/Mailing_lists/Guidelines and https://meta.wikimedia.org/wiki/Wikimedia-l 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>
