Talk:Wiki Cemeteries User Group
Cultural sensitivities
I am an overall fan of this project, but we should be prepared for the cultural sensitivities around capturing information (photos in particular) around the deceased, as different locales will have different standards of acceptability for what this project has in mind. So it may be useful very early on to lay down some "prime directives" as to how to steer the activities of the project. -- Fuzheado (talk) 02:00, 6 August 2019 (UTC)
Some interesting additional reading related to this [1] - "The fact is that restrictions on photography in cemeteries are extremely common." -- Fuzheado (talk) 02:35, 6 August 2019 (UTC)
- Thank you, this is a very important point. Maybe it's easier to start from some countries or cemeteries which have detailed information about individual tombs. I recently spent several hours taking photos of commons:Category:Graves at Gamla kyrkogården, Malmö and commons:Category:Gravestones at the Oulu Cemetery but I only put in Commons the oldest ones (e.g. people born in the 18th or 19th century). However, the Malmö (and also Stockholm) cemetery seemed to have identifiers for each tomb, and maybe that database is public knowledge. Nemo 07:35, 30 August 2019 (UTC)
- Thanks, @Nemo bis:! --Rosiestep (talk) 18:13, 29 September 2019 (UTC)
- I took a lot of photos of gravestones in Verano cemetery (Rome) this weekend, but this info about restrictions in base of property rights made me some doubts. So, I need to check in this case if I can upload them in Commons. --Camelia (talk) 08:41, 30 September 2019 (UTC)
- Thanks, @Nemo bis:! --Rosiestep (talk) 18:13, 29 September 2019 (UTC)
The Affiliations Committee (AffCom) – the committee responsible for guiding volunteers in establishing Wikimedia chapters, thematic organizations, and user groups – is looking for new members!
The main role of the Affiliations Committee is to guide groups of volunteers that are interested in forming Wikimedia affiliates. We review applications from new groups, answer questions and provide advice about the different Wikimedia affiliation models and processes, review affiliate bylaws for compliance with requirements and best practices, and update the Wikimedia Foundation Board of Trustees as well as advise them on issues connected to chapters, thematic organizations and Wikimedia user groups.
The committee consists of fourteen members, selected every twelve months for staggered two-year terms. Those joining the committee during the current process will serve a two-year term ending in December 2021.
AffCom continues to closely monitor the Wikimedia 2030 Strategy process that was initiated in 2016. While the affiliation models continue to be discussed as part of the broader strategy discussion, as no decisions have been made to change the current affiliation models yet, AffCom will continue to work in the same manner with regard to affiliate recognitions and intervention support for affiliates with issues of non-compliance in 2020. Specifically, AffCom will continue to process applications for user group and chapter/thematic organization creation, while we await the strategy next steps and begin to prepare for a smooth transition of the committee and affiliates ecosystem to any changing movement structures and systems in 2021.
Being a part of the Affiliations Committee requires communication with volunteers all over the world, negotiating skills, cultural sensitivity, and the ability to understand legal texts. We look for a healthy mix of different skill sets in our members.
Required and Recommended Skills for Affiliations Committee Members
Across all committee members there are additional relevant skills as well as requirements which help to support the committee and its sustainability which include both required and relevant general skills
Required Skills
- Fluency in English
- Availability of up to 5 hours per week, and the time to participate in a monthly one and two-hour voice/video meetings.
- Willingness to use one's real name in committee activities (including contacts with current and potential affiliates) when appropriate.
- Strong track record of effective collaboration
- International orientation
Relevant Skills
- Skills in other languages are a major plus.
- Public Communications (English writing and speaking skills)
- Strong understanding of the structure and work of affiliates and the Wikimedia Foundation.
- Documentation practices
- Interviewing experience
- Knowledge of different legal systems and experience in community building and organizing are a plus
- Experience with, or in, an active affiliate is a major plus.
- Teamwork
- Focusing on shared goals instead of disagreements
- Focusing on the conflict at hand and not past ones
- Ensuring each member of the team has a clearly defined role, which can help reduce disagreements over areas of responsibility
- Project and people management to coordinate different parties on a shared plan and seeing it through to completion.
- Problem-Solving
- Ability to evaluate various solutions
- Ability to consider multiple interests and points of view
- Willingness to revisit unresolved issues
- The capacity to recognize and respond to important matters
- The ability to seek compromise and avoid punishing
- Ability to work and communicate with other languages and cultures.
Given the expectations for maintaining course in 2020 and preparing for potential 2021 transitions, it is important that we are also clear about two different skill sets critical to committee support at this time. The first skillset is oriented to understanding affiliate dynamics and organizational development patterns to successfully process affiliate applications for recognition; the other is oriented to conflict prevention and intervention support for affiliates in conflict.
Affiliate Recognitions Relevant Skills
- Administration
- Willingness to process applications through a set, perhaps bureaucratic process.
- Attention to detail
- Monitoring & Strategic Development
- Readiness to participate in political discussions on the role and future of affiliates, models of affiliation, and similar topics.
- Organizational Awareness
- Understanding of and community building and organizational development
- Understanding of group dynamics
- Awareness of the affiliates ecosystem and models
Conflict Prevention & Intervention Relevant Skills
- Communication
- Active listening
- Reading nonverbal cues
- Knowing when to interrupt and when to stay quiet
- Being culturally sensitive at the same time remaining clear and concise when explaining a concept or opinion
- Stress Management
- Patience
- Positivity
- Ability to inject a dose of humor to dilute anger and frustration when needed
- Taking well-timed breaks that can bring calm in the midst of flared tempers
- Ability to manage stress while remaining alert and calm
- Emotional Intelligence
- Being emotionally aware,
- Ability to control emotions and behaviors,
- Ability to practice empathy,
- Impartiality,
- Don’t take anything personally,
- Being aware of and respectful of differences.
- Facilitation skills
- Meeting facilitation experience
- Peer or community mediation training
- Peer or community mediation experience
Do you have any of these skill sets and an interest to support movement affiliates?
We are looking for people who are excited by the challenge of empowering volunteers to get organized and form communities that further our mission around the world. In exchange, committee members selected will gain the experience of supporting their world-wide colleagues to develop their communities as well as personal development in guiding organizational development, facilitating affiliate partnerships, and professional communications.
Selection process
As a reflection of our commitment to openness, transparency, and bilateral engagement with the Wikimedia community, the 2019 member selection process will include a public review and comment period. We invite you to share with us you applications, specifying your focus area you’re interested in. All applications received by the committee will be posted on Meta, and the community will be invited to provide comments and feedback about each candidate.
At the end of the public comment period, the applications will be voted on by the members of the committee who are not seeking re-election, taking into account comments put forward by the committee's members, advisors, Wikimedia Foundation staff and board liaisons, and the community. A final decision will be made by mid-January 2020, with new members expected to join later that month.
How to apply
If you are interested in joining the committee, please post your application on the nomination page and send an email announcing your application to AffCom
lists.wikimedia.org by 10 January 2020. Your application must include the following information:
- Your full name and Wikimedia username
- A statement describing your relevant experience, skills, and motivation for joining the committee.
- Answers to the following questions:
- How do you think affiliates work best together to partner on effective projects and initiatives?
- What do you see as the role of affiliates in the Wikimedia movement in the next three years?
- What do you feel you will bring to the committee that makes you uniquely qualified?
- Which subcommittee are you most interested in serving on: Recognitions OR Conflict Prevention & Intervention?
If you have any questions, please don't hesitate to contact me and/or the committee as a whole. We are happy to chat or have a phone call with anyone about our work if this helps them decide to apply. Please distribute this call among your networks, and do apply if you are interested!
On behalf of the committee,
Camelia Boban, AffCom member
Wiki Loves Cemeteries/Graves
Hi, in Tuscany because of Wiki Loves Monuments we are starting to insert graves and cemeteries in the lists. Who is interested in highlighting this content? Maybe a future edition.--Alexmar983 (talk) 01:55, 18 February 2020 (UTC)
Invitation to participate in Wikipedia Pages Wanting Photos
Dear Wikimedia Affiliate Community,
We are inviting you to participate in Wikipedia Pages Wanting Photos (WPWP), a new global contest scheduled to run from July through August 2020:
Participants will choose among Wikipedia pages without photo images, then add a suitable file from among the many thousands of photos in the Wikimedia Commons, especially those uploaded from thematic contests (Wiki Loves Africa, Wiki Loves Earth, Wiki Loves Folklore, etc.) over the years.
WPWP offers a focused task for guiding new editors through the steps of adding content to existing pages. It can be used to organize editing workshops and edit-a-thons.
The organizing team is looking for a contact person at the Chapter, Thematic group & Wikimedia User Group level (geographically or thematically), or for a language WP, to coordinate the project locally. We’d be glad for you to sign up directly at WPWP Participating Communities
Thank you,
Deborah Schwartz Jacobs
On behalf of Wikipedia Pages Wanting Photos Organizing Team - 21:19, 9 May 2020 (UTC)
Hi everyone,
The Affiliations Committee (AffCom) – the committee responsible for guiding volunteers in establishing and sustaining Wikimedia chapters, thematic organizations, and user groups – is seeking new members!
The main role of the AffCom is to guide groups of volunteers that are interested in forming Wikimedia affiliates. We review applications from new groups, answer questions and provide advice about the different Wikimedia affiliation models and processes, review affiliate bylaws for compliance with requirements and best practices, and update the Wikimedia Foundation Board of Trustees as well as advise them on issues connected to chapters, thematic organizations and Wikimedia user groups.
The committee consists of five to fifteen members, selected at least once every year, to serve two-year terms. As the committee must hold mid-year elections to replenish its members at this time, those joining the committee during the current process will serve a slightly extended term from July 2020 through December 2022.
AffCom continues to closely monitor the Wikimedia 2030 Strategy process initiated in 2016. While the affiliation models continue to be discussed as part of the broader strategy discussion, as no decisions have been made to change the current affiliation models yet, AffCom continues to work in the same manner with regard to affiliate recognitions and intervention support for affiliates with issues of non-compliance in 2020. AffCom continues to process applications for user group and chapter/thematic organization creation, while we await the strategy next steps and begin to prepare for a smooth transition of the committee and affiliates ecosystem to any changing movement structures and systems in 2021.
Being a part of the AffCom requires communication with volunteers all over the world, negotiating skills, cultural sensitivity, and the ability to understand legal texts. We look for a mix of different skill sets in our members.
Click here for further details.
James Heilman on behalf of AffCom
Affiliations Committee elections announcement June 2020
Hi everyone,
This is a friendly reminder that the Affiliations Committee (AffCom) – the committee responsible for guiding volunteers in establishing and sustaining Wikimedia chapters, thematic organizations, and user groups – is seeking new members! The deadline to post your application on the nomination page is 30 June 2020.
- Application process: Considering the anticipated changes following the Strategy recommendations, we had a limited scope to introduce changes in the process. We have made a small but impactful addition to the application process by introducing the Self Assessment survey form which will help the committee know more about your engagement as endorsements are not consistently shared, may not be representative, and often do not speak to the specific skills needed.
- Selection process: No change; see: Membership.
If you have any questions, please contact me and/or the committee as a whole. We are happy to answer questions about our work if this helps people decide to apply. Please distribute this announcement among your networks. Good luck to all the candidates!
On behalf of the committee,
--Rosiestep (talk) 00:49, 19 June 2020 (UTC) via MassMessaging
June 21 All-Affiliates Brand Meeting
All Wikimedia affiliates are invited to join an urgent All-Affiliates Brand Meeting in two sessions on Sunday June 21, regarding the most recent developments.-- Pharos (talk) 19:59, 19 June 2020 (UTC)
Feedback on movement names
There are a lot of conversations happening about the future of our movement names. We hope that you are part of these discussions and that your community is represented.
Since 16 June, the Foundation Brand Team has been running a survey in 7 languages about 3 naming options. There are also community members sharing concerns about renaming in a Community Open Letter.
You should have received a separate affiliate survey via email. If you have not, feel free to email brandproject wikimedia.org.
Our goal in this call for feedback is to hear from across the community, so we encourage you to participate in the survey, the open letter, or both. The survey will go through 7 July in all timezones. Input from the survey and discussions will be analyzed and published on Meta-Wiki.
Thanks for thinking about the future of the movement --The Brand Project team, 13:37, 2 July 2020 (UTC)
Note: The survey is conducted via a third-party service, which may subject it to additional terms. For more information on privacy and data-handling, see the survey privacy statement.
Announcing a new wiki project! Welcome, Abstract Wikipedia
Hello everyone. I am posting the announcement below, which you may have missed elsewhere, and in the hope that you can share it with your local communities. Please note that it may be available in your language at m:Special:MyLanguage/Abstract Wikipedia/July 2020 announcement. Thanks for your attention! m:User:Elitre (WMF)
Hi all,
It is my honor to introduce Abstract Wikipedia, a new project that has been unanimously approved by the Wikimedia Foundation Board of Trustees. Abstract Wikipedia proposes a new way to generate baseline encyclopedic content in a multilingual fashion, allowing more contributors and more readers to share more knowledge in more languages. It is an approach that aims to make cross-lingual cooperation easier on our projects, increase the sustainability of our movement through expanding access to participation, improve the user experience for readers of all languages, and innovate in free knowledge by connecting some of the strengths of our movement to create something new.
This is our first new project in over seven years. Abstract Wikipedia was submitted as a project proposal by Denny Vrandečić in May 2020 [1] after years of preparation and research, leading to a detailed plan and lively discussions in the Wikimedia communities. We know that the energy and the creativity of the community often runs up against language barriers, and information that is available in one language may not make it to other language Wikipedias. Abstract Wikipedia intends to look and feel like a Wikipedia, but build on the powerful, language-independent conceptual models of Wikidata, with the goal of letting volunteers create and maintain Wikipedia articles across our polyglot Wikimedia world.
The project will allow volunteers to assemble the fundamentals of an article using words and entities from Wikidata. Because Wikidata uses conceptual models that are meant to be universal across languages, it should be possible to use and extend these building blocks of knowledge to create models for articles that also have universal value. Using code, volunteers will be able to translate these abstract “articles” into their own languages. If successful, this could eventually allow everyone to read about any topic in Wikidata in their own language.
As you can imagine, this work will require a lot of software development, and a lot of cooperation among Wikimedians. In order to make this effort possible, Denny will join the Foundation as a staff member in July and lead this initiative. You may know Denny as the creator of Wikidata, a long-time community member, a former staff member at Wikimedia Deutschland, and a former Trustee at the Wikimedia Foundation [2]. We are very excited that Denny will bring his skills and expertise to work on this project alongside the Foundation’s product, technology, and community liaison teams.
It is important to acknowledge that this is an experimental project, and that every Wikipedia community has different needs. This project may offer some communities great advantages. Other communities may engage less. Every language Wikipedia community will be free to choose and moderate whether or how they would use content from this project.
We are excited that this new wiki-project has the possibility to advance knowledge equity through increased access to knowledge. It also invites us to consider and engage with critical questions about how and by whom knowledge is constructed. We look forward to working in cooperation with the communities to think through these important questions.
There is much to do as we begin designing a plan for Abstract Wikipedia in close collaboration with our communities. I encourage you to get involved by going to the project page and joining the new mailing list [3]. We recognize that Abstract Wikipedia is ambitious, but we also recognize its potential. We invite you all to join us on a new, unexplored path.
Yours,
Katherine Maher (Executive Director, Wikimedia Foundation) -16:51, 10 July 2020 (UTC)
Sunday August 23: Strategic Wikimedia Affiliates Network meeting
.jpg)
The Strategic Wikimedia Affiliates Network (SWAN) is a proposed forum for all Wikimedia movement affiliates to share ideas on the Wikimedia 2030 strategy process. It expands on the model of the All-Affiliates Brand Meeting to help lay some of the groundwork for a future Global Council.
The idea is to follow up on the All-Affiliates Brand Meeting and other strategic and outreach topics of mutual concern to all affiliates, and you are all invited to RSVP here.--Pharos (talk) 21:40, 20 August 2020 (UTC)
Sunday September 20 Strategic Wikimedia Affiliates Network meeting
.jpg)
The Strategic Wikimedia Affiliates Network (SWAN) is a developing forum for all Wikimedia movement affiliates to share ideas on the Wikimedia 2030 strategy process. It expands on the model of the All-Affiliates Brand Meeting to help lay some of the groundwork for a future Global Council.
Following up on the August SWAN meeting and June's All-Affiliates Brand Meeting, as well as strategic and outreach topics of mutual concern to all affiliates, this month we are meeting on Sunday September 20, and you are all invited to RSVP here.--Pharos (talk) 01:39, 18 September 2020 (UTC)
Movement Strategy - What Are Your Choices For Implementation
Hello Wiki Cemeteries User Group,
The time has come to put Strategy into work and everyone's invited to participate.
The Movement Strategy Design Group and Support Team are inviting you to organize virtual meetings with your community and colleagues before the end of October. The aim is for you to decide what ideas from the Movement Strategy recommendations respond to your needs and will have an impact in the movement. The recommendations are available in different formats and in many languages. There are 10 awesome recommendations and close to 50 recommended changes and actions or initiatives. Not everything will be implemented. The aim of prioritization is to create an 18-month implementation plan to take some of the initiatives forward starting in 2021.
Prioritization is at the level of your group, affiliate, and community. Think local and relevant! Regional and thematic platforms are great ways to prepare and share ideas. Afterwards, we will come together in November to co-create the implementation plan. More information about November’s global events will be shared soon. For now and until the end of October, organize locally and share your priorities with us.
You can find guidance for the events, the simple reporting template, and other supporting materials here on Meta. You can share your results directly on Meta, by email, or by filling out this survey. Please don’t hesitate to get in touch with us if you have any questions or comments, strategy2030 wikimedia.org
We will be hosting office hours to answer any questions you might have, Thursday October 1 at 14.00 UTC (Google Meet).
Sunday October 25 Strategic Wikimedia Affiliates Network meeting
.jpg)
The Strategic Wikimedia Affiliates Network (SWAN) is a developing forum for all Wikimedia movement affiliates to share ideas on the Wikimedia 2030 strategy process. It expands on the model of the All-Affiliates Brand Meeting to help lay some of the groundwork for a future Global Council.
Following up on the September and August SWAN meetings, and June's All-Affiliates Brand Meeting, as well as strategic and outreach topics of mutual concern to all affiliates including the recent proposed changes to the Wikimedia Foundation Bylaws, this month we are meeting on Sunday October 25, and you are all invited to RSVP here.--Pharos (talk) 17:44, 20 October 2020 (UTC)
Movement Strategy Priorities for the Wiki Cemeteries UG - IMPENDING DEADLINE
I have not seen any discussion of our User Group Priorities as related to the Movement Strategy, and the date for our UG to submit something is within only a couple days. As this is an opportunitit of value that may help us develop internal capacity, I do not think we should miss this. Here is the [of Initiatives] we need to align with for this to be considered.
I propose we prioritize these two initiative for our User Group, with the aim of increasing knowledge, articles, images, and Wikidata points related to how cemeteries work and are used across global cultures, something that is not well understood and can be used as an inclusive, global approach to better understanding and representing issues of various cultures. It will be intended to engage more participation globally.
- 7. Manage Internal Knowledge (Why do we need this? In part, this does not exist in any form, and as all cultures celebrate or mark death and buriel systems, lacking a central way of sharing how these are done leaves a missed opportunity to be culturally inclusive. All cultures and peoples eventually have to handle this common need after death, and seeking to share a common approach and documentation for these needs can help to bridge divides and include all audiences across the Movement in this manner).
- 34 Facilitate a culture of documentation
- 35 Establish a movement wide knowledge base
- 8. Identify Topics for Impact (Why do we need this? All cultures have some form of remembrance and marking of cemetary usage, yet these are very inconsistent across Wikimedia projects and Wikipedia in general, and as such we are missing many cultural contributions that can help expand our work and include many voices who are otherwise being missed).
- 36 Identify the impact of Wikimedia projects & content
- 37 Bridging content gaps
- 38 Content initiatives in underrepresented communities
What do you think about this Maor Malul, Rosie Stephenson-Goodknight, Jackie Koerner, and Mervat? I am happy to get this submitted, but would hate for our new User Group to miss out on this. --FULBERT (talk) 17:58, 12 November 2020 (UTC)
- Thanks for taking the initiative, FULBERT. What you suggest seems fine with me. --Rosiestep (talk) 18:02, 12 November 2020 (UTC)
- Thanks Rosiestep. Pending any feedback or thoughts from Maor X, Jackiekoerner, and Mervat (listing specifically as UG founders), will you Rosiestep submit this to the Strategy Folks or can I help with this in any way? --FULBERT (talk) 18:20, 12 November 2020 (UTC)
- FULBERT, FYI, while I was a co-founder, I'm just a member of this UG now as I lack bandwidth to fully participate. Hoping Maor, Jackie, or Mervat respond to your questions, but if not, its okay to BE BOLD! P.S. You might also consider pinging the other UG members as they may have thoughts... --Rosiestep (talk) 20:58, 12 November 2020 (UTC)
- Thanks Rosiestep. Pending any feedback or thoughts from Maor X, Jackiekoerner, and Mervat (listing specifically as UG founders), will you Rosiestep submit this to the Strategy Folks or can I help with this in any way? --FULBERT (talk) 18:20, 12 November 2020 (UTC)
- Even I too agree with the two recommendations. Rajeeb (talk) 19:15, 12 November 2020 (UTC)
I am pinging everybody who is listed as interested in this User Group. What are your thoughts on my proposal here and who is the rep who can submit this? If no responses, I will submit this as listed above, as at least we had two of our members provide feedback. Thoughts? Achim Raschka Frank Schulenburg Fuzheado Pyb - Darwin Camelia Yamen (talk) Emna アンタナナ Reda Kerbouche Rajeeb 
(talk!) Edjoerv Alexmar983 Rodhullandemu WereSpielChequers Красныйwanna talk? Ciell Lionel Allorge Maria zaos Nassima Chahboun - FULBERT (talk) 01:26, 13 November 2020 (UTC)
Support As a keen documenter of cemeteries in Liverpool and north Cheshire, such a move would be useful. Rodhullandemu (talk) 08:41, 13 November 2020 (UTC)- I'm happy with this. I'd also like to see us work with Wiki Loves Monuments, maybe suggesting that cemeteries be automatically added as targets for photography. I'd also like to see something about the need not just to cover cemeteries as architecture, but also as primary sources, and that means photos sufficiently close up to record inscriptions. WereSpielChequers (talk) 09:54, 13 November 2020 (UTC)
- Support Thanks for the initiative. Pyb (talk) 11:32, 13 November 2020 (UTC)
- Support Thanks for your work. User:Maria zaos
- Support Seems ok for me. Thank you. Красныйwanna talk? 15:04, 13 November 2020 (UTC)
- Supportbut cemeteries cannot be "added automatically" to WLM everywhere. In Tuscany we target cemeteries since 2018 but the national law is very rigid;
- I agree completely Alexmar983, and do not think we should automate anything like that. Some resource help in managing this and outreach through an important area across cultures about this effort itself would be helpful and is more in the thinking about this. Thanks! --FULBERT (talk) 15:57, 16 November 2020 (UTC)
Thanks, all! I submitted this on behalf of our User Group today. Phew! --FULBERT (talk) 21:53, 16 November 2020 (UTC)
- Thanks for taking this on FULBERT! Jackiekoerner (talk) 22:15, 18 November 2020 (UTC)
Join the Global Conversations on November 21 and 22
Hola, こんにちは, E kaabo, Ciao, ਸਤਿ ਸ਼੍ਰੀ, Hello, سلام, Halo, Salut, 你好, Nnọọ, হ্যালো, Hallo, สวัสดี, Dzień dobry, Gyebale ko, வணக்கம், Mi Kwabo, ନମସ୍କାର, приветствие, שלום, Mholo, नमस्ते, γεια, Ahoj, ഹലോ, 여보세요, مرحبا, Բարեւ Ձեզ, Xin chào, Hallå, ಹಲೋ, Sawubona, નમસ્તે, Здраво, Merhaba, Talofa, హలో, Olá, ನಮಸ್ಕಾರ
Wiki Cemeteries User Group, we would love to see you at the upcoming Movement Strategy Global Conversations. It’s been a while.
The Movement Strategy Global Conversations will take place on Saturday November 21, 11:00 to 15:00 UTC, and Sunday November 22, 17:00 to 21:00 UTC, and you are warmly invited.
The focus will be to look at priorities identified by communities and affiliates, and to begin to create a movement-wide implementation plan for 2021. The main sessions will be in English. Any group interested to support live interpretation in another language may be able to receive a rapid grant. Let us know as soon as possible.
Please register by Nov. 20 so we can share the Zoom login information with you. If you have any questions or comments, don’t hesitate to reach out to the Support Team via Telegram, Wikimedia Chat or by email at strategy2030 wikimedia.org.
Looking forward to seeing you on November 21 or 22.
Call for insights on ways to better communicate the work of the movement
The Movement Strategy recommendations published this year made clear the importance of establishing stronger communications within our movement. To this end, the Foundation wants to gather insights from communities, including affiliates, on ways we all might more consistently communicate about our collective work, and better highlight community contributions from across the movement. Over the coming months, we will be running focus groups and online discussions to collect these insights. We hope your affiliate will decide to share your thoughts by participating in a focus group or joining the discussion on Meta-Wiki.
Sunday November 29 Strategic Wikimedia Affiliates Network meeting
The Strategic Wikimedia Affiliates Network (SWAN) is a developing forum for all Wikimedia movement affiliates to share ideas on the Wikimedia 2030 strategy process. It expands on the model of the All-Affiliates Brand Meeting to help lay some of the groundwork for a future Global Council.
Following up on the August, September, and October SWAN meetings, and June's All-Affiliates Brand Meeting, as well as strategic and outreach topics of mutual concern to all affiliates including the recent proposed changes to the Wikimedia Foundation Bylaws, this month we are meeting on Sunday November 29, and you are all invited to RSVP here.
(Note that the UTC times of and are the same as before, although a number of places have had daylight savings time changes since our last meeting).--Pharos (talk) 18:52, 24 November 2020 (UTC)
Global Conversations continue on December 5 and 6
Hola, こんにちは, Ciao, Hello, سلام, Halo, Salut, 你好, Nnọọ, হ্যালো, Hallo, สวัสดี, Dzień dobry, வணக்கம், приветствие, שלום, Mholo, हैलो, γεια, Ahoj, ഹലോ, 여보세요, مرحبا, Բարեւ Ձեզ, Olá, Xin chào, Hallå, ಹಲೋ, Sawubona, Здраво, Merhaba, Talofa, హలో
Hi Wiki Cemeteries User Group. 250 people participated in virtual Global Conversations that took place on November 21 and 22. The conversation continues on December 5 and 6 and we warmly invite you to take part. Registration is open until December 4. Looking forward to seeing you.
Since September, many groups have shared their local, regional, and thematic priorities for implementing the Movement Strategy recommendations. During the first set of Global Conversations on Nov. 21 and 22, we focused on initiatives that should be globally prioritized and coordinated. We invite you to read the selected global priorities. What do you like about them? What is missing? And what would make you want to play an active role in implementation? Share your thoughts in advance and continue the conversation on December 5 and 6.
Looking forward to seeing you again, or for the first time, on December 5 and 6.
Anybody interested in a Wiki Cemeteries User Group online meetup?
I do not think we have had a gathering since our User Group (UG) was formed, so perhaps it may be time to plan one? I would love to discuss what others here see as some opportunities for us in 2021. One other thing that I think may be connected here but does not really formally appear so far includes rites of passing (immediately before cemeteries!), and wonder how others see that fitting into our UG focus? So, who is interested in scheduling a live meetup? --FULBERT (talk) 02:47, 15 December 2020 (UTC)
- @FULBERT: If you do one, please ping me.--- Darwin Ahoy! 22:25, 22 January 2021 (UTC)
- @DarwIn: At least there can be two of us! I will create a poll of dates and times, and we will get one scheduled as that can then perhaps attract other members of our User Group. One thing I believe may benefit us would be to connect the work here, which may be a little general but unfocused, with a WikiProject, as it appears there is not one related to cemetaries and death rites. I am happy to create one of these if we get some interest in it. Will get a poll scheduled, as first things first. --- FULBERT (talk) 12:16, 24 January 2021 (UTC)
- Hello! I am also interested in an online meetup! --Edjoerv (talk) 23:25, 24 January 2021 (UTC)
- Thank you for taking the initiative to schedule a meeting, etc. Unfortunately, I am in inactive member at this time as I lack bandwidth, but I remain supportive. --Rosiestep (talk) 06:01, 28 January 2021 (UTC)
- Hello! I am also interested in an online meetup! --Edjoerv (talk) 23:25, 24 January 2021 (UTC)
- @DarwIn: At least there can be two of us! I will create a poll of dates and times, and we will get one scheduled as that can then perhaps attract other members of our User Group. One thing I believe may benefit us would be to connect the work here, which may be a little general but unfocused, with a WikiProject, as it appears there is not one related to cemetaries and death rites. I am happy to create one of these if we get some interest in it. Will get a poll scheduled, as first things first. --- FULBERT (talk) 12:16, 24 January 2021 (UTC)
Here is a poll for our first Meetup! Please complete it by Saturday, January 30. All members of the User Group are welcome! Pinging @DarwIn: @Edjoerv: @Maor X: @Rosiestep: @Jackiekoerner: @Mervat:@WereSpielChequers: @Pyb: @Maria zaos: @Красный: @Alexmar983: --- FULBERT (talk) 02:23, 28 January 2021 (UTC)
I left the poll open a few extra days for anybody else who could add, and the date the majority of members who voted can make it is Tuesday, February 9, at 10:00am EST / 3:00pm UTC. I will begin a new topic to plan for this. Thanks, all! --FULBERT (talk) 00:09, 4 February 2021 (UTC)
- @FULBERT: I missed the pool, but the time of the meeting is perfect to me! :D --- Darwin Ahoy! 18:12, 6 February 2021 (UTC)
Sunday January 10 Strategic Wikimedia Affiliates Network meeting
The Strategic Wikimedia Affiliates Network (SWAN) is a developing forum for all Wikimedia movement affiliates to share ideas on the Wikimedia 2030 strategy process. It expands on the model of the All-Affiliates Brand Meeting to help lay some of the groundwork for a future Global Council.
Following up on the August, September, October, and November SWAN meetings, and June's All-Affiliates Brand Meeting, as well as strategic and outreach topics of mutual concern to all affiliates including SWAN input on Interim Global Council and Movement Charter, this month we are meeting on Sunday January 10, and you are all invited to RSVP here.
| To start the exchange of ideas on the IGC early, and to help prepare before the SWAN calls, we have set up and invite everyone to participate at this etherpad. If you like a more interactive way of discussing, we have also made a jamboard. Check here for more details. |
Project Grant Open Call
This is the announcement for the Project Grants program open call that started on January 11, with the submission deadline of February 10, 2021.
This first open call will be focussed on Community Organizing proposals. A second open call focused on research and software proposals is scheduled from February 15 with a submission deadline of March 16, 2021.
For the Round 1 open call, we invite you to propose grant applications that fall under community development and organizing (offline and online) categories. Project Grant funds are available to support individuals, groups, and organizations to implement new experiments and proven ideas, from organizing a better process on your wiki, coordinating a campaign or editathon series to providing other support for community building. We offer the following resources to help you plan your project and complete a grant proposal:
Weekly proposals clinics via Zoom during the Open Call. Join us for #Upcoming_Proposal_Clinics|real-time discussions with Program Officers and select thematic experts and get live feedback about your Project Grants proposal. We’ll answer questions and help you make your proposal better.
- Video tutorials for writing a strong application
- General planning page for Project Grants
- Program guidelines and criteria
Program officers are also available to offer individualized proposal support upon request. Contact us at projectgrants@wikimedia.org if you would like feedback or more information.
We are excited to see your grant ideas that will support our community and make an impact on the future of Wikimedia projects. Put your idea into motion, and submit your proposal by February 10, 2021!
Please feel free to get in touch with questions about getting started with your grant application, or about serving on the Project Grants Committee. Contact us at projectgrants wikimedia.org.
RSharma (WMF)MediaWiki message delivery (talk) 07:56, 28 January 2021 (UTC)
Wiki Cemeteries User Group Meetup - 9 February 10:00am EST / 3:00pm UTC
Thanks to all who voted for our first meetup (via Zoom!). I will create a meetup page for us with a spot for an agenda, though want people to block the day and time - 9 February 2021 10:00am EST! Here is a time converter to help see it in your timezone. More in a day or two, though think about agenda items! --FULBERT (talk) 00:13, 4 February 2021 (UTC)
- @FULBERT: Is there a Telegram channel or group where that meeting will be announced? --- Darwin Ahoy! 18:09, 6 February 2021 (UTC)
- @DarwIn: Not that I know of beyond this thread here. --- FULBERT (talk) 21:07, 7 February 2021 (UTC)
Here is an agenda page and Zoom information for first User Group meeting on 9 February. Please add agenda items! Looking forward to our meeting today, beginning in a little over an hour. All are welcome! --FULBERT (talk) 13:57, 9 February 2021 (UTC)
Telegram channel
Yes, there is one. If you have a Telegram account, please indicate if you'd like to be added. --Rosiestep (talk) 20:50, 12 February 2021 (UTC)
- If you'd like to be added to the Telegram group, please click here
Notification of User Group Expiration - Renewal pending submission of reporting
Greetings @Rosiestep: & @Maor X:, This is a notification to bring to your attention that your organization is currently past due on its required annual reporting. Wikimedia Affiliates are required to submit an annual activity report covering the entirety of the 12-month agreement period in order to prompt review for a renewal. Reports must be written in English, posted to meta via the Wikimedia Affiliates Data Portal. This page is used to track how organizations and groups are meeting reporting requirements described in their agreements with the Wikimedia Foundation (e.g. chapter agreements, thematic organization agreements, user group agreements). It is the central place where affiliates can add reports about their activities, share their plans, and even news or social media channels with the wider movement. When new reports are available, organizations and groups should add them to this page to keep their columns up to date. As noted on the meta Reports page, your organization’s 2020 annual reporting became past due in December. Please be sure to :
- Post your 2020 annual reporting to the meta via the Wikimedia Affiliates Data Portal as soon as possible to return to compliance with your user group agreement.
- Check that your group’s page is also up to date with past report links for historical record-keeping, and
- Please send an email to Wikimedia-l in order to share with a movement-wide audience.
If you have any questions or need any further guidance, please don’t hesitate to reach out.
Best regards,
MKaur (WMF) (talk) 20:14, 12 February 2021 (UTC)
Sunday February 21 Strategic Wikimedia Affiliates Network meeting
The Strategic Wikimedia Affiliates Network (SWAN) is a developing forum for all Wikimedia movement affiliates to share ideas on the Wikimedia 2030 strategy process. It expands on the model of the All-Affiliates Brand Meeting to help lay some of the groundwork for a future Global Council.
Following up on the August, September, October, November, and January SWAN meetings and June's All-Affiliates Brand Meeting, as well as strategic and outreach topics of mutual concern to all affiliates, this month we are meeting on Sunday February 21, and you are all invited to RSVP here.
| To help set priorities for the SWAN agenda, and also to help manage which global conversations should be a focus in general, we have set up and invite everyone to participate at this SWAN priorities form.
Possible topics include Community Board seats, Interim Global Council, Strategy prioritization follow-up events, Branding, Universal Code of Conduct, Grant strategy, and WMF CEO search. That is a lot of things, which are most important to cover in our upcoming SWAN meeting? |
Sunday March 21 Strategic Wikimedia Affiliates Network meeting
The Strategic Wikimedia Affiliates Network (SWAN) is a developing forum for all Wikimedia movement affiliates to share ideas on the Wikimedia 2030 strategy process. It expands on the model of the All-Affiliates Brand Meeting to help lay some of the groundwork for a future Global Council.
Following up on the August, September, October, November, January, and February SWAN meetings and June's All-Affiliates Brand Meeting, as well as strategic and outreach topics of mutual concern to all affiliates including Grants relaunch and Community Board seats, this month we are meeting on Sunday March 21, and you are all invited to RSVP here.
(Note that the UTC times of and are the same as before, although some places have had daylight savings time changes since our last meeting).--Pharos (talk) 04:17, 17 March 2021 (UTC)
Sunday April 25 Strategic Wikimedia Affiliates Network meeting
.jpg)
The Strategic Wikimedia Affiliates Network (SWAN) is a developing forum for all Wikimedia movement affiliates to share ideas on the Wikimedia 2030 strategy process. It expands on the model of the All-Affiliates Brand Meeting to help lay some of the groundwork for a future Global Council.
Following up on the August, September, October, November, January, February, and March SWAN meetings and June's All-Affiliates Brand Meeting, as well as strategic and outreach topics of mutual concern to all affiliates including Interim Global Council + Movement Charter, WMF Resolution about the upcoming Board elections, Community Resilience and Sustainability role in Movement Strategy coordination, Grants Strategy Relaunch, Wikimedia Enterprise / OKAPI, and WMF Executive Transition
This month we are meeting on Sunday April 25, and you are all invited to RSVP here.
(Note that the UTC times of and are the same as before, although some places may have had daylight savings time changes since our last meeting).--Pharos (talk) 18:52, 21 April 2021 (UTC)