WMUK's treasurer resigns (to treasure hunt)

[Moonage Daydream]

http://blog.wikimedia.org.uk/2013/02/jo ... imedia-uk/

John Byrne stands down as the Treasurer and a trustee of Wikimedia UK
John Byrne has decided to stand down as the Treasurer and a trustee of Wikimedia UK. His resignation coincides with the end of our financial year.

John said: “Today I’m announcing, with regret, my resignation from the Board of Trustees of Wikimedia UK. I hope to pursue Wikimedia-related employment opportunities in the near future, and it is clear that in order to do so I should step down from the Board sooner rather than later.

“It has been a challenging and fascinating period for Wikimedia UK, and I have greatly enjoyed working with the staff, trustees and volunteers. I’m glad to be able to say that financial procedures and reporting are already vastly improved since I took over as (initially) Acting Treasurer last April.

“Wikimedia UK is poised to take things to a new level in the new financial year beginning on 1st February when we will introduce a new chart of accounts that will give us much better analysis and reporting, and a new version of the Sage accounting software. Of course I will continue to be involved as a volunteer in the UK Wikimedia community, and in particular with our GLAM outreach programme.”

The Wikimedia UK Board thanks John for all of his hard work as our Treasurer and we wish him well. We look forward to his continued involvement as a volunteer.

[dogbiscuit]

Fae scratches head and wonders why he still hasn't made his money out of WMUK.

[Vigilant]

The funny part is that he's effectively innoculated himself from ever being asked to join one fo these treasure hunts.

"Oh, You have Ashley van Haeften on your board...I think we'll keep looking for a partner for that project...Thanks."

[tarantino]

Coincidentally, the final report of the wikimedia UK governance review is due any day now.

I suppose this means John no longer be submitting his report at the board meeting next weekend, which would have addressed issues raised in the review.

[eppur si muove]

This won't be the first time that Byrne has attempted to use Wikimedia to make money.

[Silent Editor]

Fae scratches head and wonders why he still hasn't made his money out of WMUK.

On the other hand, it does represent an opportunity for Fae to take a bigger role in the governance of WMUK...

[dogbiscuit]

Fae scratches head and wonders why he still hasn't made his money out of WMUK.

On the other hand, it does represent an opportunity for Fae to take a bigger role in the governance of WMUK...

Now, is that a good or a bad thing?*


*Hasten the day.

[Vigilant]

Ashley is done on wikipedia.

He can gnome around over on commons all he wants, but he crossed the line with the political shenanigans in regard to WMF personnel/ARBCOM.

If you're a chapter, cabal or business interested in getting anything done, you should stay far, far away from van Haeften.

Radioactive is not too strong a word.

[Poetlister]

On the other hand, it does represent an opportunity for Fae to take a bigger role in the governance of WMUK...

Now, is that a good or a bad thing?*


*Hasten the day.

I hate to say this, but "hasten the day" is irrelevant. Whatever WMUK does or doesn't do will have very little effect on Wikipedia unless it does something so crazy that it brings down world-wide condemnation on the WMF.

Though, come to think of it ...

[dogbiscuit]

On the other hand, it does represent an opportunity for Fae to take a bigger role in the governance of WMUK...

Now, is that a good or a bad thing?*


*Hasten the day.

I hate to say this, but "hasten the day" is irrelevant. Whatever WMUK does or doesn't do will have very little effect on Wikipedia unless it does something so crazy that it brings down world-wide condemnation on the WMF.

Though, come to think of it ...

WMUK has already been an embarrassment to the WMF both within and outside Wikipedia. There are features in the set-up of WMUK that leave the wider movement exposed, mainly because they are subject to stricter governance as they have succeeded in their fight to be a charity - something that is gaining them nothing financially given that the WMF do not trust them and have withdrawn fundraising from them.

[HRIP7]

According to Johnbod, the

Compass review will be out shortly, which (sneak preview) has things to say about the composition of the board, which will probably influence the next election.

[dogbiscuit]

According to Johnbod, the

Compass review will be out shortly, which (sneak preview) has things to say about the composition of the board, which will probably influence the next election.

Be interesting to see if they reflect comments I made a year or so ago to the effect of "It's too Wikipedian."

[Silent Editor]

According to Johnbod, the

Compass review will be out shortly, which (sneak preview) has things to say about the composition of the board, which will probably influence the next election.

Be interesting to see if they reflect comments I made a year or so ago to the effect of "It's too Wikipedian."

And indeed the comments made by Garfield Byrd last October:

The potential for conflict of interest or the appearance of conflict of interest will exist as long as the Board of Trustees of Wikimedia UK continue to both attempt to perform a governance role and do program roles within Wikimedia UK. i
It is recommended that Wikimedia UK have volunteers choose between governance roles and program roles and not attempt to do both.

[Malleus]

About this time last year I went to a local Wikipedia meetup. I'd expected to meet other editors from my area, but instead I met representatives from WMUK, who apparently travel the country to every meetup event. I paid for my tram ticket to get there, who paid for their petrol?

[The Joy]

About this time last year I went to a local Wikipedia meetup. I'd expected to meet other editors from my area, but instead I met representatives from WMUK, who apparently travel the country to every meetup event. I paid for my tram ticket to get there, who paid for their petrol?

I would say you and everyone else that ever edited Wikipedia. We gave them our labor uncompensated and they reaped the profits "charitable donations."

[EricBarbour]

About this time last year I went to a local Wikipedia meetup. I'd expected to meet other editors from my area, but instead I met representatives from WMUK, who apparently travel the country to every meetup event. I paid for my tram ticket to get there, who paid for their petrol?

I would say you and everyone else that ever edited Wikipedia. We gave them our labor uncompensated and they reaped the profits "charitable donations."

And so, why aren't you angrier about this, Mally?

[lilburne]

About this time last year I went to a local Wikipedia meetup. I'd expected to meet other editors from my area, but instead I met representatives from WMUK, who apparently travel the country to every meetup event. I paid for my tram ticket to get there, who paid for their petrol?

I would say you and everyone else that ever edited Wikipedia. We gave them our labor uncompensated and they reaped the profits "charitable donations."

And so, why aren't you angrier about this, Mally?

I suspect that they didn't come by car but by first class train.

BTW Mal someone fixed your Chancery Court article. Only took 3 years.

[HRIP7]

About this time last year I went to a local Wikipedia meetup. I'd expected to meet other editors from my area, but instead I met representatives from WMUK, who apparently travel the country to every meetup event. I paid for my tram ticket to get there, who paid for their petrol?

I would say you and everyone else that ever edited Wikipedia. We gave them our labor uncompensated and they reaped the profits "charitable donations."

And so, why aren't you angrier about this, Mally?

I suspect that they didn't come by car but by first class train.

BTW Mal someone fixed your Chancery Court article. Only took 3 years.

That pesky Nikkimaria.

[lilburne]

I suspect that they didn't come by car but by first class train.

BTW Mal someone fixed your Chancery Court article. Only took 3 years.

That pesky Nikkimaria.

And we still don't know whether it was Oliver Keyes that messed up the date, or whether it was the source that screwed up the King. In any event we will remain unsure as to how much else in that article is bullshit.

HINT: I'm not saying - yet.

[Poetlister]

The potential for conflict of interest or the appearance of conflict of interest will exist as long as the Board of Trustees of Wikimedia UK continue to both attempt to perform a governance role and do program roles within Wikimedia UK. i
It is recommended that Wikimedia UK have volunteers choose between governance roles and program roles and not attempt to do both.

Sounds sensible, but why doesn't it apply to admins, Arbcom members, WMF staff and trustees or even (or especially) Jimbo?

[dogbiscuit]

The potential for conflict of interest or the appearance of conflict of interest will exist as long as the Board of Trustees of Wikimedia UK continue to both attempt to perform a governance role and do program roles within Wikimedia UK. i
It is recommended that Wikimedia UK have volunteers choose between governance roles and program roles and not attempt to do both.

Sounds sensible, but why doesn't it apply to admins, Arbcom members, WMF staff and trustees or even (or especially) Jimbo?

Many moons ago, we discussed that Jimbo was the Achille's Heel of WMF, as he broke the isolation that WMF enjoys.

[Malleus]

BTW Mal someone fixed your Chancery Court article. Only took 3 years.

I have no idea what you're on about. I don't have a Chancery Court article.