Movement roles project/User Groups

Please help improve these draft parameters through edits or suggestions on the talk page.

• Name: Wikimedia User Groups

• Mission: Variable within the overall mission of supporting and promoting the Wikimedia projects

• Territorial range: Variable; assumed to be mostly regional, but could work across national boundaries

• Incorporation: Any – Wikimedia groups can be incorporated or not as they see fit

• Minimum rights:

1. Simplified access to grants
2. Basic use of the Wikimedia trademarks for promotion and organization of projects and events

• Minimum duties:

1. Active work
2. Transparent reporting
3. Good cooperation with other entities

• Trademark use: Basic standard use; more extensive usage possible case-by-case, on permission from WMF

• Origin of funds: Case-by-case WMF/Chapter grants possible or dedicated chapter grants if they exist

• Relationship with overlapping entities: While entities are not in a hierarchy, they need to agree how to coexist in a geography to streamline their communication and avoid duplicate work. Wikimedia groups/associations would be expected to ask other entities for support more than vice-versa.

• Board and membership: Open membership

• Transparency and communication: Full info about organizers (for case-by-case grants and trademark usage)

• Capacity to sign agreements with third parties: Can help with informal negotiations, or minor agreements such as hosting or support for a local event, but WMF or chapter if they exist would sign partnership agreements

• Recognition from: Affiliations Committee, with support from staff: staff will process the original requests, and submit recs to the Committee for approval. [WMF staff would be available to handle any such requests; chapters can also where chapters want to handle this within their geography]

• Minimum requirements for recognition: A very lightweight process, intended for hundreds of groups and consisting of:

1. Listing a group's information in a public place
2. Confirmation of the contact person's identity
3. A clear definition of their focus, motivation and time period for which recognition is requested
4. Plans for offline work? (to distinguish these from online wikiProjects)

• Recognition document: Public listing on meta; email to contact person; identification of the contact to the WMF.

  Groups could request limited recognition – limited in terms of either time or intent.

• Reporting requirements: Regular public updates on wiki page

• Mentoring and support: From chapter, where in existence and only if requested by group

• Change of status possible: Yes

• Withdrawal of recognition: Affiliations Committee, if necessary, by unlisting and informing group

• Examples: WikiProject Tree of Life, Wikibooks Translation Team, Semantic MediaWiki Association

• Other considerations: The existence of associations should make it easier for any group to get started and develop programs.