Strategy/Wikimedia movement/2018-20/Transition/Global Conversations/FAQ

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Here are a couple of questions (and our answers) regarding these online events. For questions and answers regarding the transition process in general, please see this page with more general FAQs.

Questions related to content and program

What are we going to do in these “Global Conversations”? What do you expect me to do at the event?

Participants are invited to share their experiences about the movement governance and the Interim Global Council in small group discussions with Wikimedians from around the world. No particular expertise is required. Listen, share, connect, and help identify priorities that we should work on in 2021. Participants do not need to represent any particular group/community/organization in these discussions.

Who can participate in these events?

Anyone with interest in helping to create an implementation plan for Movement Strategy is welcome. Anyone who has registered via our registration form and has agreed to our Friendly Space Policy can participate in these events. Registration is open until 22 January, sign up now!

Do I need to do anything before I come to the events?

Although no specific past expertise is required, it is strongly advised that those who would like to attend should familiarize themselves with the Movement Strategy recommendations beforehand. The recommendations will be the major topic of conversation. Ideally, participants would have attended a preparation or prioritization meeting prior to the events, so that they are aware of the priorities put forward by communities.

We understand that this may be a large ask for some participants, but we believe that advanced preparation will enable more effective decision making and ensure that all participants are starting with the context needed to engage in discussions.

Is there any social aspect planned?

We recognize that these events will be the first opportunity for many of us to see each other and reconnect as in-person meetings did not take place in 2020. While these events have a focus to create an implementation plan for Movement Strategy, we will create space for socializing and connecting. After the events, we will leave 10 breakout rooms open for one hour participants who want to hang out with others. Additionally, you can join our Telegram group or the Wikimedia Chat (on Mattermost) to familiarize yourself with the other participants, ask questions if you have any, or simply chat.

How can I communicate with other attendees?

We have set up a few social channels where participants can communicate with each other in a quick manner. Feel free to join us on Telegram, Wikimedia Chat, or both. You can also use the events talk page to communicate, raise requests or suggestions, etc.

How can I communicate with the event organizers?

Ping us on Telegram / Wikimedia Chat (mentioned above) or by email, at: strategy2030

wikimedia.org.

Who organizes these events?

The outline of events and the approach to holding virtual global conversations for the movement was created by the Transition Design Group through an open design process. The events will be organized by the Movement Strategy Support Team of the Wikimedia Foundation, in partnership with InsightPact, an external vendor based in Thailand specialized in online events and facilitations. The Support Team works with the vendor in creating the detaileddesign of the events based on the Design Group outline (based on a volunteer-created outline). During the events the Support Team provides guidance and ensures the information is captured and appropriately shared on Wikimedia projects while InsightPact is responsible for facilitating and running the events.

Questions related to languages & participation

In which language will these events be held?

While the language used in presentations and group sessions is English, we are offering language support with live translation and language-dedicated discussion groups.

At least the following languages will have a live translation during the events: French, Russian and Spanish. If you would like to arrange for a live translation option in another language, kindly get in touch with the Support Team.

Additionally, the event organizers will be pairing participants in discussions groups according to their preferred language choices, whenever possible. For this purpose, kindly let us know your language preference in the allocated section of the registration form!

Are there other ways to participate in these Global Conversations?

There is a dedicated discussion space on Meta for those who would prefer a written over a verbal conversation or for those unable to attend the virtual meetings. The space has ten sections, one for each recommendation, where users can engage in discussing their priorities. We will keep this space updated with information from the calls and make sure content is connected. As an output of these events, participant groups will also be providing reports on their priorities and discussions. These reports will be posted on Meta as soon as possible and will be available for review and feedback from the community. Keep an eye for the updates!

What does “Participation support” mean? How can I sign up for it?

We can provide support to overcome barriers to participation, such as accessing a reliable internet connection, data packages, and childcare costs during the events. To apply, please notify us of your interest in the event registration form and we will follow up with you via email.

Questions related to Zoom

Why do you use Zoom for these events? Isn’t there a free/open alternative to it?

Having talked with many organizers within the Free and Open movement and beyond, we decided to use Zoom. We use Zoom because it is the most stable tool to hold large group meetings and offers the possibility of break out rooms. At the moment, no other tool, free or not free, provides these two key features. Many community members are already familiar with Zoom and it has been used widely in preparation and prioritization events for these conversations, as well as for other events (CEE 2020 Online Meeting, e.g.).

From what we know, Zoom is not unsafe to use and the company has worked on fixing security issues since early 2020. Unless you're discussing state or corporate secrets, or disclosing personal health information to a patient, Zoom works fine. Given the nature of these events, combined with the features the tool provides, we think it is a low risk to take to use Zoom. There is no tool that provides hundred percent security.

If you are concerned about using Zoom, please let us know and we will find a solution to include your input in the conversations (e.g. via our discussion space or by delegating your input to someone else).

Do I have to install Zoom?

We strongly encourage you to download the free desktop application for your computer. It is available for a huge variety of operating systems, including different Linux distributions (see Zoom's system requirements). Also for mobile devices, you can download the Zoom app from Google’s and Apple’s app stores. Using the software / app, your connection will be more stable, from what we know. Even if you have Zoom installed already, check that you have the latest version of it. If you have the latest version, it allows you to choose the breakout room (e.g. for the social time during the event) by yourself.

Do I have to create a Zoom account?

No, for joining these events (and any other event on Zoom) you do not need to create a Zoom account. However, if you are using the web client of Zoom (means, you don’t download the software), you have to create a Zoom account.