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[Wikimedia-l] Board visitors resolution passed

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phoebe.wiki at gmail

Jun 27, 2012, 3:58 PM

Post #1 of 6 (220 views)
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[Wikimedia-l] Board visitors resolution passed

All,
FYI

The Board of Trustees passed a resolution extending and making
permanent the Board Visitors visitors program, which we tried out for
a one-year trial in 2011.
http://wikimediafoundation.org/wiki/Resolution:Board_Visitors_%282012%29

The language is the same as that in the resolution establishing the
trial program:
http://wikimediafoundation.org/wiki/Resolution:Board_visitors

The resolution allows for having up to two visitors per year, who
would attend one meeting apiece. Board visitors sit in on the meeting
they attend for most items, but do not participate in voting or the
board email list.

The intent is that by having visitors the board can learn from
significant contributors and related institutions, while at the same
time related projects and institutions as well as individuals can
learn more about the WMF. The number of visitors and the amount they
can participate is deliberately limited to avoid becoming a
distraction.

Suggestions of potential visitors are welcome and should be made
directly to the board (via me or another trustee).

best,
phoebe

--
* I use this address for lists; send personal messages to phoebe.ayers
<at> gmail.com *

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thomas.dalton at gmail

Jun 27, 2012, 4:03 PM

Post #2 of 6 (216 views)
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Re: [Wikimedia-l] Board visitors resolution passed [In reply to]

In what sense do these visitors have a "one-year term" when they are
actually just attending one meeting?

And why doesn't the board just allow anyone that wants to come along
to observe their meetings?

On 27 June 2012 23:58, phoebe ayers <phoebe.wiki [at] gmail> wrote:
> All,
> FYI
>
> The Board of Trustees passed a resolution extending and making
> permanent the Board Visitors visitors program, which we tried out for
> a one-year trial in 2011.
> http://wikimediafoundation.org/wiki/Resolution:Board_Visitors_%282012%29
>
> The language is the same as that in the resolution establishing the
> trial program:
> http://wikimediafoundation.org/wiki/Resolution:Board_visitors
>
> The resolution allows for having up to two visitors per year, who
> would attend one meeting apiece. Board visitors sit in on the meeting
> they attend for most items, but do not participate in voting or the
> board email list.
>
> The intent is that by having visitors the board can learn from
> significant contributors and related institutions, while at the same
> time related projects and institutions as well as individuals can
> learn more about the WMF. The number of visitors and the amount they
> can participate is deliberately limited to avoid becoming a
> distraction.
>
> Suggestions of potential visitors are welcome and should be made
> directly to the board (via me or another trustee).
>
> best,
> phoebe
>
> --
> * I use this address for lists; send personal messages to phoebe.ayers
> <at> gmail.com *
>
> _______________________________________________
> Wikimedia-l mailing list
> Wikimedia-l [at] lists
> Unsubscribe: https://lists.wikimedia.org/mailman/listinfo/wikimedia-l

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phoebe.wiki at gmail

Jun 27, 2012, 4:14 PM

Post #3 of 6 (219 views)
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Re: [Wikimedia-l] Board visitors resolution passed [In reply to]

On Wed, Jun 27, 2012 at 4:03 PM, Thomas Dalton <thomas.dalton [at] gmail> wrote:
> In what sense do these visitors have a "one-year term" when they are
> actually just attending one meeting?

In the sense that someone could attend any of the meetings happening
within that year, as agreed on by the board and the visitor. So if
someone is a visitor for 2011-12 they might attend any one of the 3-4
in-person meetings that will happen during that year. We probably
could have phrased that better but that is the intention.

> And why doesn't the board just allow anyone that wants to come along
> to observe their meetings?

When we discussed the visitors program last year some of the arguments
against opening the meetings to all were, IIRC: maintaining
confidentiality, the potential distraction of having observers,
preserving the ability of the trustees to feel like they are able to
speak their minds, and logistics.

-- phoebe

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michael.peel at wikimedia

Jun 27, 2012, 4:15 PM

Post #4 of 6 (217 views)
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Re: [Wikimedia-l] Board visitors resolution passed [In reply to]

On 28 Jun 2012, at 00:03, Thomas Dalton wrote:

> In what sense do these visitors have a "one-year term" when they are
> actually just attending one meeting?
>
> And why doesn't the board just allow anyone that wants to come along
> to observe their meetings?

+1. Compare and contrast with WMUK board meetings, where we regularly have several (different) visitors attending each meeting, and also webcast our board meetings wherever possible. We have 'in-camera' elements as needed to protect the limited amount of confidential discussion we need to have, but otherwise we're striving for as much transparency and openness as possible. We've yet to encounter distractions as a result that haven't been rather constructive in the discussions that were being held.

I think that this visitor's resolution is a great step forward for transparency at the Board level of the WMF, but please consider being BOLD and walking down the rest of the path. :-)

Thanks,
Mike

> On 27 June 2012 23:58, phoebe ayers <phoebe.wiki [at] gmail> wrote:
>> All,
>> FYI
>>
>> The Board of Trustees passed a resolution extending and making
>> permanent the Board Visitors visitors program, which we tried out for
>> a one-year trial in 2011.
>> http://wikimediafoundation.org/wiki/Resolution:Board_Visitors_%282012%29
>>
>> The language is the same as that in the resolution establishing the
>> trial program:
>> http://wikimediafoundation.org/wiki/Resolution:Board_visitors
>>
>> The resolution allows for having up to two visitors per year, who
>> would attend one meeting apiece. Board visitors sit in on the meeting
>> they attend for most items, but do not participate in voting or the
>> board email list.
>>
>> The intent is that by having visitors the board can learn from
>> significant contributors and related institutions, while at the same
>> time related projects and institutions as well as individuals can
>> learn more about the WMF. The number of visitors and the amount they
>> can participate is deliberately limited to avoid becoming a
>> distraction.
>>
>> Suggestions of potential visitors are welcome and should be made
>> directly to the board (via me or another trustee).
>>
>> best,
>> phoebe
>>
>> --
>> * I use this address for lists; send personal messages to phoebe.ayers
>> <at> gmail.com *
>>
>> _______________________________________________
>> Wikimedia-l mailing list
>> Wikimedia-l [at] lists
>> Unsubscribe: https://lists.wikimedia.org/mailman/listinfo/wikimedia-l
>
> _______________________________________________
> Wikimedia-l mailing list
> Wikimedia-l [at] lists
> Unsubscribe: https://lists.wikimedia.org/mailman/listinfo/wikimedia-l

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meta.sj at gmail

Jun 27, 2012, 9:44 PM

Post #5 of 6 (210 views)
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Re: [Wikimedia-l] Board visitors resolution passed [In reply to]

On Thu, Jun 28, 2012 at 12:15 AM, Michael Peel
<michael.peel [at] wikimedia> wrote:
>
> +1. Compare and contrast with WMUK board meetings, where we regularly have several (different) visitors attending each meeting, and also webcast our board meetings wherever
> possible. We have 'in-camera' elements as needed to protect the limited amount of confidential discussion we need to have, but otherwise we're striving for as much
> transparency and openness as possible. We've yet to encounter distractions as a result
that haven't been rather constructive in the discussions that were being held.

How many visitors do you normally have at a meeting, and who are they?
What sorts of interaction do they have / are they voiced? How are
they invited / made aware of the possibility?

> I think that this visitor's resolution is a great step forward for transparency at the Board level of the WMF, but please consider being BOLD and walking down the rest of the path. :-)

I'd like that; and would like to see specific policies that other orgs
implement to this end.

SJ

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michael.peel at wikimedia

Jun 28, 2012, 4:20 AM

Post #6 of 6 (205 views)
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Re: [Wikimedia-l] Board visitors resolution passed [In reply to]

On 28 Jun 2012, at 05:44, Samuel Klein wrote:

> How many visitors do you normally have at a meeting, and who are they?

Typically around 2-4 per meeting. For example, see the 'attendees' list at the top of the agenda for our April board meeting:
http://uk.wikimedia.org/wiki/Agenda_21Apr12
They are typically local, active Wikimedia volunteers.

> What sorts of interaction do they have / are they voiced?

They mostly observe the meeting, but can make comments occasionally (with the chair's permission). Visitors can also give presentations, upon invitation or acceptance of an offer of a presentation.

> How are they invited / made aware of the possibility?

Mostly word of mouth, or by taking a look at our meeting agenda - e.g. our next board meeting is in London this weekend, and there's an open invitation in the 'Attendees' part of the agenda page:
http://uk.wikimedia.org/wiki/Agenda_30Jun12

Thanks,
Mike
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