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Florence and the election

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wikipedia at verizon

May 20, 2008, 7:58 AM

Post #1 of 6 (757 views)
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Florence and the election

First of all, let me join the chorus of thanks for Florence and her hard
work serving on the board. I look forward to seeing her at Wikimania and
expressing my appreciation in person. While I regret that she won't be
standing for reelection, I hope we can take advantage of this and let
the open election be a positive experience.

To that end, several people have asked about whether I would run in this
election. Before the restructuring that designated chapter-selected
seats, it was expected that my seat would be up for election as well.
Even after deciding on the restructuring, the board looked long and hard
for a way to have more than one seat open in this election. However,
without requiring others to shorten the terms to which they had already
been elected, this was not feasible, to my disappointment. The board did
discuss the possibility that a sitting board member, appointed in some
other fashion, could vacate their seat and run in an election for a
different seat. (For example, if Jimmy did this, his seat would
disappear, as the bylaws provide; if I did it, my seat would be vacant
until the chapters select a replacement.)

I would not have thought of running against Florence, so this
possibility didn't even arise until she made her decision. After
pondering it, I have decided that I will also not be a candidate in this
election, but will remain in the chapter-selection track for now.
Instead I would like to offer some general observations about this
election (not about any particular candidate).

It will be interesting to again have an election in which there is no
incumbent running. From the reaction, it appears the candidates are
looking forward to that, and I hope we get an abundance of good
candidates. While only one board member will be chosen in this election,
the process has also helped other good people become better known in the
community prior to serving on the board.

I am puzzled by one thing, though. Historically, female candidates have
tended to do quite well in our elections, both for the board and on
various projects, and yet not a single woman is running so far. I can
certainly think of a few I would consider excellent candidates. Now I do
not mean to suggest that because Florence is a woman, she should be
replaced by a woman, or some other quota-like arrangement. But I do want
to strongly encourage more thoughtful people who care about Wikimedia,
whether or not they are female, to take advantage of this opportunity
and make themselves available. (Again, this does not reflect on any of
the current candidates, I simply want as many good options as possible,
and figure the voting system will help us make a strong choice.)

--Michael Snow

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cimonavaro at gmail

May 20, 2008, 10:30 AM

Post #2 of 6 (704 views)
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Re: Florence and the election [In reply to]

Michael Snow wrote:
> First of all, let me join the chorus of thanks for Florence and her hard
> work serving on the board. I look forward to seeing her at Wikimania and
> expressing my appreciation in person. While I regret that she won't be
> standing for reelection, I hope we can take advantage of this and let
> the open election be a positive experience.

Hear, hear!

> To that end, several people have asked about whether I would run in this
> election. Before the restructuring that designated chapter-selected
> seats, it was expected that my seat would be up for election as well.
> Even after deciding on the restructuring, the board looked long and hard
> for a way to have more than one seat open in this election. However,
> without requiring others to shorten the terms to which they had already
> been elected, this was not feasible, to my disappointment. The board did
> discuss the possibility that a sitting board member, appointed in some
> other fashion, could vacate their seat and run in an election for a
> different seat. (For example, if Jimmy did this, his seat would
> disappear, as the bylaws provide; if I did it, my seat would be vacant
> until the chapters select a replacement.)

There are probably very few people who can fully appreciate what
you are going through at the moment, and I certainly admit freely
I am not even close to being one. (How does one grit ones teeth
in grim appreciation of somebody elses ordeal, precisely?)

> I would not have thought of running against Florence, so this
> possibility didn't even arise until she made her decision. After
> pondering it, I have decided that I will also not be a candidate in this
> election, but will remain in the chapter-selection track for now.
> Instead I would like to offer some general observations about this
> election (not about any particular candidate).

I Frankly cannot say the same, in fact, I would feel Florence
herself would be dissapointed in me if I did not run against
her, if she (were such a thing possible) betrayed all she
stood for. I have such high regard for Florence. Personally
I would have stood against Florence in this election, had
she stood in defence of all she was against before. But in
no other circumstance. And as painful as the separation is
for her, I am personally happy I had not a hand in it. Nor a
need for such. Brava!

> It will be interesting to again have an election in which there is no
> incumbent running. From the reaction, it appears the candidates are
> looking forward to that, and I hope we get an abundance of good
> candidates. While only one board member will be chosen in this election,
> the process has also helped other good people become better known in the
> community prior to serving on the board.
>
> I am puzzled by one thing, though. Historically, female candidates have
> tended to do quite well in our elections, both for the board and on
> various projects, and yet not a single woman is running so far. I can
> certainly think of a few I would consider excellent candidates. Now I do
> not mean to suggest that because Florence is a woman, she should be
> replaced by a woman, or some other quota-like arrangement. But I do want
> to strongly encourage more thoughtful people who care about Wikimedia,
> whether or not they are female, to take advantage of this opportunity
> and make themselves available. (Again, this does not reflect on any of
> the current candidates, I simply want as many good options as possible,
> and figure the voting system will help us make a strong choice.)

Okay, now you have me really befuzzled. Why didn't you make this obser-
vation directed the other way, when Anthere and Angela were the only
chosen trustees? Or for that matter, why choose to focus on the gender
angle, and ignore for instance the current blatant norte-americano
bias on the board? I honestly don't see you have a point to stand upon...

Yours,

Jussi-Ville Heiskanen

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Anthere9 at yahoo

May 20, 2008, 10:39 AM

Post #3 of 6 (697 views)
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Re: Florence and the election [In reply to]

Jussi-Ville Heiskanen wrote:
>> I would not have thought of running against Florence, so this
>> possibility didn't even arise until she made her decision. After
>> pondering it, I have decided that I will also not be a candidate in this
>> election, but will remain in the chapter-selection track for now.
>> Instead I would like to offer some general observations about this
>> election (not about any particular candidate).
>
> I Frankly cannot say the same, in fact, I would feel Florence
> herself would be dissapointed in me if I did not run against
> her, if she (were such a thing possible) betrayed all she
> stood for. I have such high regard for Florence. Personally
> I would have stood against Florence in this election, had
> she stood in defence of all she was against before. But in
> no other circumstance. And as painful as the separation is
> for her, I am personally happy I had not a hand in it. Nor a
> need for such. Brava!

I remember that, last time, you ran because there would be no thrill of
victory if it were all too easy, wouldn't it ? ;-)

Ant

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phoebe.wiki at gmail

May 20, 2008, 12:25 PM

Post #4 of 6 (735 views)
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Re: Florence and the election [In reply to]

On Tue, May 20, 2008 at 7:58 AM, Michael Snow <wikipedia[at]verizon.net> wrote:
But I do want
> to strongly encourage more thoughtful people who care about Wikimedia,
> whether or not they are female, to take advantage of this opportunity
> and make themselves available. (Again, this does not reflect on any of
> the current candidates, I simply want as many good options as possible,
> and figure the voting system will help us make a strong choice.)

Can I strongly second this? Florence has served as an exemplary model
of a community representative; we will miss her, and she has left a
big role to fill.

But I hope also that her legacy is inspiring to some of the many
people from all sorts of projects (big and small), of any gender, who
have both a thoughtful perspective on what the Foundation could and
should be as a leader for free content and community-driven
governance, and who have a commitment to maintaining an efficient,
long-term mechanism for keeping some of the most amazing projects
around up and running. I hope that those inspired people will run for
the Board of Trustees. It's an incredibly important role, to take up
both the trust and guidance of the community (to be our representative
both personally and through getting as much input as possible), while
also shouldering the responsibility of keeping the projects going.

I'm not running (my goodness, how do you people find the time?!) but I
hope that many of you will.
-- phoebe

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wikipedia at verizon

May 20, 2008, 8:55 PM

Post #5 of 6 (696 views)
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Re: Florence and the election [In reply to]

Jussi-Ville Heiskanen wrote:
> Michael Snow wrote:
>
>> It will be interesting to again have an election in which there is no
>> incumbent running. From the reaction, it appears the candidates are
>> looking forward to that, and I hope we get an abundance of good
>> candidates. While only one board member will be chosen in this election,
>> the process has also helped other good people become better known in the
>> community prior to serving on the board.
>>
>> I am puzzled by one thing, though. Historically, female candidates have
>> tended to do quite well in our elections, both for the board and on
>> various projects, and yet not a single woman is running so far. I can
>> certainly think of a few I would consider excellent candidates. Now I do
>> not mean to suggest that because Florence is a woman, she should be
>> replaced by a woman, or some other quota-like arrangement. But I do want
>> to strongly encourage more thoughtful people who care about Wikimedia,
>> whether or not they are female, to take advantage of this opportunity
>> and make themselves available. (Again, this does not reflect on any of
>> the current candidates, I simply want as many good options as possible,
>> and figure the voting system will help us make a strong choice.)
>>
> Okay, now you have me really befuzzled. Why didn't you make this obser-
> vation directed the other way, when Anthere and Angela were the only
> chosen trustees?
Because the observation is about the pool of candidates, not about the
ultimate selections. I fully expect that people will vote their
preferences based on the individual merits of the candidates, not gender
(or national origin, ethnicity, whatever). But when the available group
is 11-0 male so far, though I can quickly think of women I'd be happy to
see run, it causes me to wonder. Aside from the time issue Phoebe
mentioned, what is holding back a broader group of good candidates, male
or female, from participating in community elections?
> Or for that matter, why choose to focus on the gender
> angle, and ignore for instance the current blatant norte-americano
> bias on the board? I honestly don't see you have a point to stand upon...
>
I'm not sure I understand what you're getting at here. Going based on
country of residence, the current board has four North Americans and
four Europeans. What makes that a blatant North American bias? And as I
said, my question is more about the candidate pool from which the
community will choose. The candidates in this election are fairly mixed
in this regard, also including one from the Middle East and two
transplants (from Asia and to Oceania). Looking at the candidates,
clearly the gender disparity is more striking.

--Michael Snow

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aphaia at gmail

May 20, 2008, 9:19 PM

Post #6 of 6 (693 views)
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Re: Florence and the election [In reply to]

On Wed, May 21, 2008 at 4:25 AM, phoebe ayers <phoebe.wiki[at]gmail.com> wrote:
> On Tue, May 20, 2008 at 7:58 AM, Michael Snow <wikipedia[at]verizon.net> wrote:
> But I do want
>> to strongly encourage more thoughtful people who care about Wikimedia,
>> whether or not they are female, to take advantage of this opportunity
>> and make themselves available. (Again, this does not reflect on any of
>> the current candidates, I simply want as many good options as possible,
>> and figure the voting system will help us make a strong choice.)
>
> Can I strongly second this? Florence has served as an exemplary model
> of a community representative; we will miss her, and she has left a
> big role to fill.

Hear hear.

However I would like to state, despite of my previous saying, I will
not run for this election. This Sunday I completed the burial of my
husband in a Buddhist temple in Osaka. You may be surprised since he
passed away in 2001, and even in Japan, it is uncommon to delay the
completion of burial so long (the customary term is 100 days after
funeral / born burning). And of course I've been overwhelmed before
that, and that is the reason of my recent inactivity.

I though I'd run this Monday or Tuesday, but now I'm being convinced I
need to develop my private life more extensive. Honestly, I confess my
dedication to the project has been partly an attempt not to think
about my private life: a life of young widow with a man in a suicidal
death. In the other hand I was intentionally remote from the previous
friends - common friends with my deceased ex-husband.

I am rather surprised how I love this project: both its mission and
its community, people who I met and have worked together. But I think
I need to pay attention it has been not the whole of my life and
world. Last year, for the cause of project, I reconnected some old
friends who are active on FLOSS movement. And I think I rather want to
reconnect them, renew mutual relations to them and meet new people.

Now I feel I am reconciling the world, but it is not complete. I think
I still need a break: to say wholeheartedly "life is beautiful". To
re-estabilish my own life, both online and offline. And in this stage
managing an international organization seems beyond my hands.

So I won't run to this election, I think I am not fully ready to get
involved in public life. My relief is now we have Wing as a candidate
who is active in Chinese projects and I have enjoyed working with for
many years. But still, let me say, I'd also love to see female
candidates ;)

Cheers,

--
KIZU Naoko
http://d.hatena.ne.jp/Britty (in Japanese)
Quote of the Day (English): http://en.wikiquote.org/wiki/WQ:QOTD

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