Talk:Foggy Bottom Agreement

I like this overall,

Sorry for being absent from the meeting this evening (I got pulled into a meeting) but I actually really like this draft though because I think a loose collaboration has always shown to be better for our groups. Smaller, mostly volunteer, chapters and groups do the best work imo (NYC is a perfect example of that) because they can focus on what they know, exactly what the local community needs, and they can do amazing work with the biggest reward. When too much consolidation happens then they focus on "bigger things" and the local, and most effective, out reach happens. My hope would be a loose group of the groups (chapters, non chapters, random wikimedians from the US) who can keep the communication going on what's working, what does well/doesn't do well and can help provide advice to groups or others who want to do this locally. Some of them may want to become chapters, or partner groups, and some may not (and some should not) but they can all help push the movement forward in the best of ways. (Sent this to WALRUS but apparently forgot it was a moderated list.. not sure if it will go through or not :) ) Jamesofur (talk) 08:43, 10 May 2012 (UTC)

The end of 2013 seems quite far away. Since the details are left out, why not set a nearer goal to focus people's energy? –SJ talk  11:20, 11 May 2012 (UTC)

As a purely practical matter, I don't think we'll be able to hold a semi-formal gathering in 2012; the more established groups are going to be too busy with Wikimania, Wiki Loves Monuments, and general strategic planning for the rest of the year, and the newer groups will almost certainly need the a significant period of time to organize to a point where participating in such an event would be useful to them.

It's entirely possible, of course, that we could hold the meeting sometime in the spring of 2013—in fact, given our (Wikimedia DC's) plans to host a US-based conference during that period, that's actually the target date I have in mind. I'm hesitant, however, to reflect a tighter schedule in the agreement; personally, I'd much rather have us reach our goal ahead of a cautious schedule than have us fall behind a more aggressive one. Missing the date we've set for ourselves will, in my opinion, be more detrimental to group morale than a far-off goal. Kirill (talk) 00:19, 12 May 2012 (UTC)

Georgetown?

I'm not sure why we'd call this the Georgetown Agreement; while Wikimania was originally scheduled to take place in Georgetown, the new venue isn't located there. Am I missing something obvious? Kirill ^[talk] 00:32, 26 June 2012 (UTC)

The congress itself won't be at the main venue; it will be in the Georgetown area (probably in Lauinger Library), directly following outreach:Wikipedia Education Program/Wikimania 2012 on Friday.--Pharos (talk) 00:48, 26 June 2012 (UTC)

That's a little surprising; I think the general assumption was that the congress would take place at Wikimania. Have you considered how you're going to transport people from the conference venue to Georgetown? Kirill ^[talk] 00:55, 26 June 2012 (UTC)

Yes, I wish it was possible to hold it at the main venue, but there have been many many vetoes of different blocks of time, and Friday evening is probably our best remaining option. To get there, people would take the Metro with the crowd going to the education meetup, join that largely US-focused social/dinner event (and also indulge in some last minute congress prep), and then walk together to Georgetown Library.--Pharos (talk) 01:06, 26 June 2012 (UTC)

It's not an ideal plan—the closest metro station to the education meetup venue is some distance away, and we're probably looking at hundred-degree heat here by mid-July—but I suppose it's the best we can do if we want to hold the congress after the education meetup. We'll need to make a note of this recommendation more prominently, though; anyone who doesn't realize they should go to the education event first is going to find it somewhat difficult to get over to Georgetown on their own later in the evening. Kirill ^[talk] 01:13, 26 June 2012 (UTC)

Proposed copyedit to agreement

I would like to propose the following copyedit to the agreement. It mostly preserves the same content but I've tried to make improvements to the organization and prose. Antony-22 (talk) 18:02, 11 July 2012 (UTC)

Foggy Bottom Declaration

We, the Wikimedians of the United States, are united in our shared commitment to a world in which every single human being can freely share in the sum of all knowledge, and have adopted the following principles:

• The successful realization of the Wikimedia vision depends on our ability to cater to the needs of Wikimedians and non-Wikimedians alike. This includes recruiting, encouraging, and supporting Wikimedians, both individually and collectively; building lasting collaborative relationships with educational and cultural institutions and movement partners; and educating decision-makers, donors, and the general public about the importance of our mission.

• Fulfilling these needs requires active collaboration, organization, outreach, and support at the national, regional, and local levels, as well as a strong commitment to openness, friendliness, and cooperation at all levels of the Wikimedia movement.

• These goals can most effectively be reached by many independent groups of Wikimedians acting in concert, with the adoption of shared standards for transparency, accountability, and professionalism.

In consideration of these principles, we hereby declare our intent:

• to develop a strong network of Wikimedian groups in the United States, and to assist these groups in forming, growing, and catering to the needs of their local Wikimedian communities;

• to support the gradual establishment of regional Wikimedia chapters across the United States;

• to collectively explore, record, and share best practices; and

• to build collaboration and foster an atmosphere of cooperation and mutual respect to encourage the collective pursuit of shared visions, interests, and programs at all levels of the Wikimedia movement.

In order to realize these intentions, we agree:

• to organize, before the end of 2012, two or more collaborative projects and events, to be conducted by Wikimedians and Wikimedian groups across the United States; and

• to convene, before the end of 2013, a congress of representatives from all Wikimedian groups in the United States, so that they might develop methods for improved collaboration and a shared strategic vision for our collective pursuit of the Wikimedia mission.

By signing this agreement, we declare our support of these principles and goals.

US event, not a congress?

I don't know that a 'congress of representatives' is more important than a public event (covering the same agenda). How about committing to a US wikiconference, more national and inclusive than wikiconf ny has been to date? –SJ talk  01:15, 16 July 2012 (UTC)