North American Wikimedians/Hub founding/Agreement draft text

The North American Hub is to be a partnership, a pilot project combining Wikimedia affiliates (chapters, user groups, and thematic groups) and related partner organizations who agree to this statement. The pilot's first year is being launched at WikiConference North America 2024.

The hub would support, but not govern, other entities. We anticipate it will become an ongoing long-term coalition.

Wikimedia affiliates who sign the statement below are agreeing to join the North American Hub and send a representative to its steering committee. We anticipate having a way for other organizations and individuals to sign on and take roles too.

Background

NA hub final report, research phase - Includes the methodology and feedback that led to the creation of the hub
Implementation plan - Includes details on events, activities, services, governance and a proposed timeline.

North American Hub Agreement

The North American Hub expects to:

consist of Wikimedia affiliates, chapters, user groups, and individual members based in North America.
establish a steering committee made up of one representative from each member affiliate, user group or organization.
host events and activities presented under the NA Hub name with the goal of strengthening community and collaboration among members
support the annual WikiConference North America
support and promote members’ own activities, conferences, events, initiatives, and programs.
provide small grants to NA Wikimedians
maintain a Meta page consisting of educational materials, a directory, and a calendar.
host training sessions to increase knowledge and member capacity, i.e. sessions in tax compliance, edit-a-thon facilitation, policy and advocacy training, etc.
assist new and emerging groups with administrative tasks as needed.

Members will be expected to:

join the hub by signing on to this agreement. Hub members can leave whenever deciding to do so by publicly disclaiming the agreement.
support and promote one another's events when possible.
partner and co-present an event, activity, meeting or initiative with at least one other member annually
provide a welcoming and supportive atmosphere for new and emerging affiliates, groups, and other members
formerly acknowledge or credit the hub when appropriate
contribute resources to hub’s repository of materials and directory when possible
act in good faith

Meetings and formal decision making

Steering committee expects to host quarterly meetings with some potential flexibility
Voting is expected to be rare and can occur in person, by email, or on an online platform, as long as all member groups can feasibly respond in time.
These guidelines may be changed by majority vote of the members.
Branding: In exceptional cases a majority vote of the steering committee can decline to associate the "North American Wikimedians" or "Hub" with a project.
Membership: In exceptional cases a majority vote of the member groups can decline to include an organization as a member.