Grants talk:Project/Rapid/Erzianj jurnalist/recorder

Comments from I JethroBT (WMF)

Hi Erzianj jurnalist. Thanks for your proposal on recording creative works in the Erzyan language. It's great to see that there is a lot of support for this work from the user group. Here are my questions/comments:

• Given that the project is supporting the user group's goals, is it possible for the equipment to be maintained by the user group and for a system to be developed to document how that equipment will be shared? The reason I ask is because we don't allow individuals to use grant funds to buy personal equipment.
• Uploading media and recordings to Commons is necessary, but an important step is also making sure time is taken to integrate this content into relevant articles. Who will be involved with making sure the content you create is used on Wikisource and Erzya Wikipedia?

Thanks, I JethroBT (WMF) (talk) 20:39, 26 June 2017 (UTC)
Good time!

• Of course, the UG EZY community is open and implementing joint projects. Ready to show by whom and when the equipment is used. Responsible for maintenance and use: Erzianj jurnalist.
• In Wikipedia, in the Erzyan language, apart from me, I will be assisted by: Kaftaj, Oyme and EliasMelteme. In Wikisource, I will be helped by Nigmont.

--Erzianj jurnalist (talk) 06:06, 28 June 2017 (UTC)

@Erzianj jurnalist: Thanks for your responses. Can you describe how this system for sharing the recording equipment with the user group and with members in the community would work? For example, let's say I'm a member in your community. If I wanted to borrow the equipment to record the proceedings from a conference that I'm attending, what would I need to do? Also, how would you let community members know this equipment is available for activities or events that would support contributions to Wikisource or other Wikimedia projects? I JethroBT (WMF) (talk) 19:02, 28 June 2017 (UTC)

I JethroBT (WMF), The logbook registration and use is here. If you want to borrow equipment you must write a request indicating the date.--ZUFAr (talk) 06:46, 30 June 2017 (UTC)

ZUFAr, thanks for the help!!! --Erzianj jurnalist (talk) 06:53, 30 June 2017 (UTC)

@ZUFAr and Erzianj jurnalist: Thanks for preparing the logbook. Could you link to this logbook page on the grant proposal page itself when you are able? Thanks, I JethroBT (WMF) (talk) 08:23, 30 June 2017 (UTC)

I JethroBT (WMF) Done! --ZUFAr (talk) 08:47, 30 June 2017 (UTC)

Change in funding decision based on restrictions

Hi Erzianj jurnalist. Thanks for your work in developing this grant, and for gathering support for it from contributors on Commons, myv.wikipedia, and Wikisource.

Unfortunately, our financial auditing company KPMG has informed us about funding restrictions in Russia and in the US. It may take several weeks to get a response from KPMG with advice on how we could potentially fund this project (and others in Russia). I am sorry to tell you that we do not have enough information about financial transactions to make a funding decision at this time. After we receive guidance from KPMG, we may be able to reopen the request with a new event date and make an appropriate funding decision. For now, I will move this grant to draft until we are able to make a decision.

I do want to be clear that outside of these funding restrictions, we have no programmatic or logistical concerns about this grant proposal to document and record Erzya language documents. I am very sorry for this delay in finding out how to manage the funding for this project to minimize financial risk for you, your community, and the Wikimedia Foundation. Please let me know if you have any questions or concerns. Apologies, I JethroBT (WMF) (talk) 22:45, 13 July 2017 (UTC)

• Hi I JethroBT (WMF). Do you have any news for us? We hope for a positive solution.--ZUFAr (talk) 19:09, 13 August 2017 (UTC)

Maybe we should remove something, such as laptop? --ZUFAr (talk) 10:29, 18 August 2017 (UTC)

Hi ZUFAr. Unfortunately, we do not have any further guidance from KPMG at this time. Currently, as advised by the International Center for Not-for-Profit Law, foreign or international organizations wishing to make tax-exempt grants to Russian citizens or NCOs must be on a list of organizations approved by the Russian Government; access to this list is severely limited. This is not a unique situation, as we are facing this challenge with grantees in other countries where foreign foundations are prohibited from providing resources or funding to individuals or organizations in these regions. We still don't have an answer yet, and are working with other departments to find more clarity on this complex issue. I'm sorry that we're no closer to a solution after last month, but we will be sure to contact you as soon as we have more news. Thank you, Morgan Jue (WMF) (talk) 22:14, 18 August 2017 (UTC)