R. Stuart Geiger has a great blog post out on our recent Wiki-Conference New York.
He really gets all the weird and wonderful things we tried to do, which is amazing.
And good luck to WikiConference Bay Area!
Saturday, September 12, 2009
Saturday, August 1, 2009
Jimmy Wales Video at Wiki-Conference New York
A big thanks to the 100 or so attendees who joined us at Wiki-Conference New York, which we organized recently with Wikimedia New York City and Free Culture @ NYU at NYU Law School.
Our first video out is of Jimmy Wales' Keynote, where he touched on the general state of Wikipedia and the other Wikimedia projects, as well as the Biographies of Living Persons problem and Ann Coulter's surprising concerns, and also fielded several interesting questions from the audience.
Many more videos of the other presentations should be on the way, including our other Keynote, which went further into the BLP issue.
See the Opening Remarks and Keynote here:
Video of Jimmy Wales Keynote at Wiki-Conference New York
Our first video out is of Jimmy Wales' Keynote, where he touched on the general state of Wikipedia and the other Wikimedia projects, as well as the Biographies of Living Persons problem and Ann Coulter's surprising concerns, and also fielded several interesting questions from the audience.
Many more videos of the other presentations should be on the way, including our other Keynote, which went further into the BLP issue.
See the Opening Remarks and Keynote here:
Video of Jimmy Wales Keynote at Wiki-Conference New York
Friday, July 31, 2009
Organizers in China
Chapcom has just received word this morning that some interested volunteers are starting to organize a new chapter in China. This is very exciting news and I hope sincerely that this group is successful in their attempts and will be able to submit an application soon.
Information is slim at the moment, I will post more as I learn it
Information is slim at the moment, I will post more as I learn it
Thursday, July 23, 2009
Wikimedia Finland
This morning the ChapCom has received an official application from a group of organizers in Finland. I haven't had a chance to read over the bylaws just yet, but if everything goes well we could have a WMF Finland chapter by the end of the year.
Saturday, July 4, 2009
WM Ukraine, Denmark, Portugal
There hasn't been a lot of chapcom-related news recently because there hasn't been a lot of chapcom-related activity.
However, we've received word this morning that the WMF Board has approved applications from WM Ukraine, WM Portugal, and WM Denmark. Three new chapters, quite exciting!
The application from WM Macedonia is still slowly making it's way through the pipeline, and I'll try to get news about that as soon as there is anything to report.
However, we've received word this morning that the WMF Board has approved applications from WM Ukraine, WM Portugal, and WM Denmark. Three new chapters, quite exciting!
The application from WM Macedonia is still slowly making it's way through the pipeline, and I'll try to get news about that as soon as there is anything to report.
Saturday, June 27, 2009
Wiki-Conference New York in July
The 1st Wiki-Conference New York will be held over the weekend of July 25-26 2009 (confirmed!) at New York University, and hosted by Free Culture @ NYU and Wikimedia New York City.
Wikipedia founder Jimmy Wales will be giving a keynote, and we will also have a second keynote speaker TBA.
Since this is an unconference, participants are encouraged to give your own ideas for topic sessions!
This is also a great opportunity for people who aren't so wiki-savvy to get a fun introduction. All are most certainly welcome.
Oh yeah, and we're having the Central Park picnic again too!
Register here:
http://bit.ly/wikiny
Wikipedia founder Jimmy Wales will be giving a keynote, and we will also have a second keynote speaker TBA.
Since this is an unconference, participants are encouraged to give your own ideas for topic sessions!
This is also a great opportunity for people who aren't so wiki-savvy to get a fun introduction. All are most certainly welcome.
Oh yeah, and we're having the Central Park picnic again too!
Register here:
http://bit.ly/wikiny
Thursday, June 4, 2009
Wiki-Conference New York
The folks at WM NYC are planning a mini-conference this summer, Wiki-Conference New York. Similar in spirit, but smaller in scale then Wikimania, it will serve as a great alternative for people like myself who can't make the trip to Buenos Aires, and can't take a whole week off for a big conference. Dates aren't set yet, but the planning is going ahead at full steam.
I'll post more details as they get nailed down, but if you're going to be in the New York area this summer, it would be a cool event to attend. I hope to see a lot of other Wikimedians there.
I'll post more details as they get nailed down, but if you're going to be in the New York area this summer, it would be a cool event to attend. I hope to see a lot of other Wikimedians there.
Monday, June 1, 2009
Wikimedia Canada Bylaws
The first draft of the Canada group's bylaws have been posted on meta. This is a pretty big step, and I am sincerely hopeful that we will see a Canadian chapter formed and approved sometime in 2009.
Sunday, May 31, 2009
Wikimedia Ukraine
Short update today. The chapcom has received notification today that that group in Ukraine has had their first general meeting and elected a board of directors.
As a short disclaimer, the Ukraine group has not yet been approved as a chapter by the WMF board and has not signed the chapters agreement, so they are not yet a "chapter". When and if that status changes, I will write about it here.
As a short disclaimer, the Ukraine group has not yet been approved as a chapter by the WMF board and has not signed the chapters agreement, so they are not yet a "chapter". When and if that status changes, I will write about it here.
Tuesday, May 12, 2009
Wikimedia Macedonia
I've just received word that the organizers from Macedonia have completed their bylaws and submitted them to the Chapters Committee for approval. Assuming the Chapcom approves the bylaws as-is, we could end up with a Macedonia chapter in the not-too-distant future.
Monday, May 11, 2009
Wikimedia UK Board Meeting
The next WM UK online board meeting will held tomorrow on IRC. Here's the announcement from the mailing list:
As they have done in previous meetings, they will be hosting two channels: One that is for board members only and one that will be open for all community members to participate. I think this is a particularly good system so that the board can get business done in an open and timely manner, and the community still has a forum to voice their opinions/concerns.
The next board meeting is tomorrow evening; Tuesday 12 May 2009,
8.30-10.30BST, in the #wikimedia-uk-board channel on
irc.freenode.net, with discussion in #wikimedia-uk. The draft agenda
is at:
http://uk.wikimedia.org/wiki/Meetings/2009-05-12/Agenda
Board members: please confirm whether you'll be present or not on the agenda page.
As they have done in previous meetings, they will be hosting two channels: One that is for board members only and one that will be open for all community members to participate. I think this is a particularly good system so that the board can get business done in an open and timely manner, and the community still has a forum to voice their opinions/concerns.
Trip to Norfolk VA
I'm taking a trip down to Norfolk Virgina to meet some people that I'm doing some Wikimedia-related work with. I'll be in town on May 30th and 31st, although we will be doing some planning work for most of the time. Are there any Wikimedians in the area that would be interested in meeting up while I'm in town?
Monday, May 4, 2009
Wikimedia India Planning Meeting
Just got the first news back this morning about the Wikimedia India Planning meeting. Apparently it was a good success, and the team looks like they have a solid plan in place going forward.
Information is scarce right now, and I'll report more as I have it.
I want to post a big "Thank You" to Achal Prabhala for organizing this whole thing in person, something the ChapCom could probably not have done by itself. I also want to thank the rest of the WMF staff members who have been making an Indian chapter such a high priority.
Here's hoping that all this good momentum finally produces a strong and active Indian Chapter!
Information is scarce right now, and I'll report more as I have it.
I want to post a big "Thank You" to Achal Prabhala for organizing this whole thing in person, something the ChapCom could probably not have done by itself. I also want to thank the rest of the WMF staff members who have been making an Indian chapter such a high priority.
Here's hoping that all this good momentum finally produces a strong and active Indian Chapter!
Thursday, April 30, 2009
Wikimedia Chapters Agreement
We've received word today from Mike Godwin, chief legal council of the WMF, that the first draft of the new Wikimedia Chapters agreement is nearing completion, and parts have been posted on the internal wiki to solicit feedback from the existing chapters.
I haven't read the new agreement yet myself (I will soon) and I probably don't feel comfortable talking about the details until we get closer to an "official" version of it, but I can say that from what I've heard it's going to be a huge step forward in the way the WMF and the chapters interact. I hear tell that the document is longer and more legally precise, which is going to help immensely with many of the common questions and uncertaintys that were present in the old "classic" chapters agreement.
I don't currently know how the new agreement is to be rolled out, whether existing chapters will have to sign the new agreement or not. Again, I haven't read it and probably won't give out any details till it's time.
So things are moving forward in the world of WMF chapters, and that's always a good thing.
I haven't read the new agreement yet myself (I will soon) and I probably don't feel comfortable talking about the details until we get closer to an "official" version of it, but I can say that from what I've heard it's going to be a huge step forward in the way the WMF and the chapters interact. I hear tell that the document is longer and more legally precise, which is going to help immensely with many of the common questions and uncertaintys that were present in the old "classic" chapters agreement.
I don't currently know how the new agreement is to be rolled out, whether existing chapters will have to sign the new agreement or not. Again, I haven't read it and probably won't give out any details till it's time.
So things are moving forward in the world of WMF chapters, and that's always a good thing.
Monday, April 27, 2009
Wikimedia UK Pictures
Short update to my post from yesterday about WM UK. Apparently some pictures of the meeting have been posted on Flickr. Very cool stuff, and it's good to see so many people getting involved.
As a general note: If you have chapters-related news that you want me to post here on this blog, please send it to me and I'll be happy to post it.
As a general note: If you have chapters-related news that you want me to post here on this blog, please send it to me and I'll be happy to post it.
Sunday, April 26, 2009
Wikimedia UK in 2009
Just received word that Wikimedia UK has elected a new board of directors:
- Zeyi He
- Thomas Holden
- Michael Peel
- Joseph Seddon
- Andrew Turvey
- Steve Virgin
- Paul Williams
Saturday, April 25, 2009
Wikipedia Invades La Plata Natural History Museum
Heard a press release today about Wikimedia Argentina participating in a photo scavenger hunt, similar to the "Wiki Loves Art" event that WM NYC has done in the past. More evidence that the activity is really a great idea, and there is so much potential for Wikimedia chapters to get involved with local museums to benefit the open-content movement.
Wikimedia Argentina is the same group that's working hard to organize Wikimania 2009, so they're a busy little group. I'm looking forward to seeing what kinds of events and activities they organize in the future.
Wikimedia Argentina is the same group that's working hard to organize Wikimania 2009, so they're a busy little group. I'm looking forward to seeing what kinds of events and activities they organize in the future.
Sunday, April 19, 2009
Wikimedia Portugal
We've received notice today that Wikimedia Portugal has posted an English-language translation of their new bylaws on Meta, and have submitted them to Chapcom for initial review. I'll post more information about this as the situation progresses.
Tuesday, April 14, 2009
WM Denmark
Earlier today the Chapcom received bylaws from a new group in Denmark. Check out their bylaws on Meta. We're waiting on some more information from them before we start a formal review. I'll post more information as we have it.
Monday, April 6, 2009
Wikimedia Ukraine
I've just received word that a new group from Ukraine has posted their bylaws on Meta. The Chapcom has just gotten them, so I can't say what the committee will say, but it's possible that we could have a new WM Ukraine chapter in 2009.
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