Talk:Global Council

Money 🤑 Interim Global Council 💰 request for WMF transparency

A Wikimedia Foundation representative presented plans for developing this council to the Wikimedia Community at the Strategic Wikimedia Affiliates Network. At that meeting I requested the WMF budget for this and the representative agreed to share financial information within a month. Now after the meeting I posted the request on the talk page there. Check back there for follow up. Blue Rasberry (talk) 13:35, 11 January 2021 (UTC)

Council powers and its separation

I would like to put forward this proposal to address the concern about "separation of powers" between different foras of our Movement. dwf² ✉ 10:53, 1 February 2021 (UTC)

Please mark for Translation

Please mark the "front page" for Translation. Thank you in advance! --Christoph Jackel (WMDE) 11:08, 10 April 2021 (UTC)

What is this?

I don't understand what this is supposed to be. The page doesn't really explain anything.

For instance:

The recommendation states that "Any decision affecting our communities has to involve those communities to prevent imbalanced outcomes", and describes the Council as "providing representation of communities" and "ensur[ing] shared responsibility and accountability".

What does that mean? Why do the communities need a council to represent them? Can't they represent themselves?

This seems over-complicated to me. DesertPipeline (talk) 06:14, 2 July 2021 (UTC)

This just feels so wrong

I think community should represent itself through RFCs, mass polls and discussions. The consensus achieved through these should be the voice of the community. Every affiliate, every user group, every global group, functionaries or individuals should only represent themselves. I think this is against one of our core values and we are losing our greatest assets through this. I have no idea why WMF even entertains these ideas, but community has evolved with time and it will continue to change on it's own, and any external attempt to influence these changes often results in conflict between the actual editing community and those forcing changes on it. Good luck! BRP ^ever 12:21, 7 March 2023 (UTC)

@BRPever: please help me understand, what core value would this be conflicting with? Ciell (talk) 12:45, 7 March 2023 (UTC)

Our community is our biggest asset. BRP ^ever 12:46, 7 March 2023 (UTC)

@BRPever Thank you for elaborating and linking. Decisions need to be taken at the lowest level possible, I completely agree. But in our general governance structure the communities actually have little direct say in the global and long-term and strategic decisions, apart from the community elected seats on the BoT. The GC is the proposed solution to better balance this, through assigning certain responsibilities that now solely lie with the WMF Board. This does not sound contradictory to me: the Movement Charter (disclosure: I am on the Committee tasked with drafting this) will start with the values and principles of the movement (link to current draft, though this text is now being revised after community input). These are the starting point for all the rest of the Charter that will explain the distribution of tasks, responsibilities and 'power' (or whatever you'd like to call it) between the GC and the WMF, with the goal of creating more equity in decisions at the highest level possible. Would this make sense to you? Ciell (talk) 13:11, 8 March 2023 (UTC)

I think we disagree on a very fundamental level here. I am just saying the group here should only represent itself if community allows it to take on those responsibilities and 'power' through a global consensus. I disagree on making it so that it 'represents communities' as our communities are much bigger than just affiliates or those that show interest in these things.

Based on what you described, it just sounds like increased bureaucracy (division of 'power') with little to no need. If you think the board lacks input of the community, maybe a change there might be a better solution. I don't know why the easiest solution ends up being creation of another similar group with 'power'.-- BRP ^ever 14:06, 8 March 2023 (UTC)

New draft chapters out for review

Hi everyone,

We are excited to share with you important new draft chapters of the Wikimedia Movement Charter. As a diverse committee of contributors from around the world, we have worked collaboratively to create these documents, and now we need your feedback. Help us improve the drafts on wiki until August 31 and join us on calls or for informative sessions at various events. Learn more on Diff, talk to us on Meta, and join an upcoming conversation to share your thoughts.

The first set of draft chapter that we are sharing today focuses on the Global Council, with Hubs coming later in July. We would greatly appreciate your thoughts and suggestions in particular on funds dissemination, Global Council structure and membership, and for other key open questions. Additionally, drafts for chapters on Decision-Making, Roles and Responsibilities, and a glossary document are being developed.

You can share your feedback on the wiki, during calls, or at upcoming virtual and in-person community events. We value your participation and look forward to working together.

Best regards, The Wikimedia Movement Charter Drafting Committee -- Anass Sedrati (talk) 17:17, 13 July 2023 (UTC)