https://wikimedia.org.au/w/api.php?action=feedcontributions&user=VirtualSteve&feedformat=atomWikimedia Australia - User contributions [en]2024-03-28T10:36:29ZUser contributionsMediaWiki 1.40.1https://wikimedia.org.au/w/index.php?title=2010-2011_AGM/Minutes&diff=34272010-2011 AGM/Minutes2010-11-10T20:39:04Z<p>VirtualSteve: /* Ordinary members */ fix spelling of surname</p>
<hr />
<div>Date: 19th of September, 2010 Wikimedia Australia Inc. Annual General Meeting<br />
<br />
Start: 2:55 PM AEST<br />
<br />
End: 4:05 PM AEST<br />
<br />
Minutes: John Vandenberg<br />
<br />
==Attendance==<br />
;Apologies:<br />
:Brianna Laugher, President (November 2009-May 2010)<br />
:Steve Peters, President (May 2010-September 2010)<br />
<br />
;Melbourne<br />
:Stephen Bain<br />
:Michael Billington<br />
:Sarah Ewart<br />
:Brian Salter-Duke<br />
<br />
;Brisbane<br />
:Craig Franklin<br />
:John Vandenberg<br />
<br />
;IRC<br />
:Charles Gregory (in Tasmania)<br />
:Laura Hale (in Canberra - observer only)<br />
:Mark Hurd (in Adelaide)<br />
:Adam Jenkins (in Broken Hill)<br />
:Peter Jeremy (in NSW)<br />
:Peter Markham (in Sydney)<br />
:Robert Myers (in Wagga Wagga)<br />
:Lloyd Nguyen (in Brisbane)<br />
:Andrew Owens (in Perth)<br />
:Alex Sims (in Adelaide)<br />
:Angela Starling (in Central Coast, New South Wales)<br />
<br />
;Phone links:<br />
:Pru Mitchell (via phone link to Sarah Ewart in Melbourne)<br />
:Liam Wyatt (via phone link to Stephen Bain in Melbourne)<br />
<br />
;Proxies<br />
:None<br />
<br />
;Members in attendance: 18<br />
;Observers in attendance: 1<br />
<br />
== Meeting start ==<br />
The meeting was scheduled to start at 2:00 PM AEST, with a teleconference to be established by the president Steve Peters to a list of pre-arranged members. Steve Peters informed the members before the meeting started that he was stuck in a traffic jam. As a result, the members who were to be present via teleconference were present via IRC except for Pru Mitchell and Liam Wyatt, who were connected via normal phone links. Michael Billington relayed proceedings from Melbourne to the members connected via IRC.<br />
<br />
With the absence of the President Steve Peters and a teleconference, Vice-president Liam Wyatt ceded the chair. Treasurer Brian Salter-Duke was given the chair without dissent from the members.<br />
<br />
The meeting started at 2:55 PM AEST.<br />
<br />
== 2009 AGM minutes ==<br />
:([[2009-2010_AGM/Minutes|attached]])<br />
;Resolution: That the minutes of the last AGM be confirmed.<br />
:;Moved: Andrew Owens<br />
:;Seconded: Adam Jenkins<br />
<br />
CWD.<br />
<br />
== Committee reports ==<br />
<br />
=== Treasurer's report ===<br />
:([[../Financial_Report|attached]])<br />
<br />
;Question: Who wrote the report section "Some notes on the above statement"? (from Lloyd Nguyen)<br />
;Answer: The Treasurer<br />
<br />
;Question: Is it worth moving some of the funds into an interest bearing account? (from Peter Jeremy)<br />
;Answer: This will be something for the new Treasurer [to consider].<br />
<br />
;Resolution: That the Treasurer's report be accepted.<br />
:;Moved: Sarah Ewart<br />
:;Seconded: Stephen Bain<br />
<br />
CWD.<br />
<br />
=== Secretary's report ===<br />
:([[../Secretary%27s_Report|attached]])<br />
<br />
;Resolution: That the Secretary's report be accepted.<br />
:;Moved: Angela Starling<br />
:;Seconded: Andrew Owens<br />
<br />
CWD.<br />
<br />
Many members of the organisation noted their appreciation for the detail in the report.<br />
<br />
=== President's report ===<br />
:([[../President%27s_Report|attached]])<br />
<br />
;Question: Can we discuss this in the absence of the president? (from Michael Billington)<br />
;Answer: Yes (from Stephen Bain)<br />
<br />
;Discussion<br />
* Angela Starling: noted the related comments on the public website. ([[Talk:2010-2011_AGM/President%27s_Report]])<br />
* Peter Markham: appreciated that Steve raising concerns, and reads the report as an honest appraisal, noting it may be interpreted as a bit rude. The organisation needs to consider reducing the workload of the Secretary.<br />
* Andrew Owens: indicate he has long held the view that the organisation should have a membership officer, noting this is the case on other committees he has dealt with.<br />
* Mark Hurd: agreed with Andrew Owens.<br />
* Andrew Owens: noted that Sarah has done a fantastic job as Secretary, and that this position (probably?) has the biggest administrative workload of any single position on the organisation committee.<br />
* Lloyd Nguyen: concerned that the President's report may not reflect the progress of the entire year.<br />
* Stephen Bain: noted that Brianna Laugher is no longer a member of the organisation.<br />
<br />
;Resolution: That the President's report be accepted, noting that it has not covered the entire year.<br />
:;Moved: Stephen Bain<br />
:;Seconded: Liam Wyatt<br />
<br />
CWD.<br />
<br />
== Election of committee members ==<br />
* John Vandenberg has been appointed president unopposed.<br />
* Adam Jenkins has been appointed vice president unopposed.<br />
* Sarah Ewart has been reappointed secretary unopposed.<br />
* Craig Franklin has been appointed treasurer unopposed.<br />
<br />
=== Ordinary members ===<br />
<br />
;Discussion<br />
* John Vandenberg: requested that the chair postpones the appointment of ordinary members due to President Steve Peters casting yet to be substantiated aspersions against one of the candidates (Andrew Owens) on the public website in the final 24 hours of the voting period, and stating his intention to reveal all after the annual general meeting. ([[Talk:2010-2011_AGM/President%27s_Report]])<br />
* Andrew Owens: objects<br />
* Sarah Ewart, Stephen Bain, Brian Salter-Duke and Mike Billington: also object and wish to proceed<br />
* Brian and Sarah discuss it further in Melbourne and Brian decides as chair to proceed.<br />
<br />
The two ordinary members elected are Charles Gregory and Andrew Owens.<br />
<br />
Brian Salter-Duke gives commiserations to Stephen Bain for missing out again.<br />
<br />
== Rules ==<br />
<br />
;Discussion:<br />
:John Vandenberg: proposes that the Rule amendments are discussed over the next few months, and we hold a special general meeting once the members have agreed upon a set of well defined amendments, in order to seek appoval from Consumer Affairs Victoria once only.<br />
:Peter Markham: would also like discussion ahead of changes.<br />
:Mike Billington: postponing the amendments might be sensible as a membership officer, suggested the earlier in this meeting, would require another rule change<br />
:Brian: apologies for these amendments not being discussed more widely in the membership earlier in the year.<br />
:Angela, Mark Hurd, and Sarah Ewart: requested the vote on the tabled Rule amendments proceed.<br />
:Brian Salter-Duke: decided to proceed, noting that members who want to postpone the Rule changes can oppose them at this time.<br />
:John Vandenberg: noted that if any amendments pass, the organisation must submit the amendments to CAV within 28 days.<br />
:Mike or Brian: noted that if rules pass at this AGM, further rule changes will mean we need to pay CAV twice.<br />
<br />
=== Committee nominations ===<br />
<br />
;Discussion:<br />
:Peter Jeremy: moved that this rule change be postponed to an SGM.<br />
::''There were no seconders to this motion.''<br />
<br />
;Special resolution: that the Rules be amended as follows:<br />
:#Replace 23 (2) by: A candidate may nominate for one only of the offices and/or as an ordinary member of the committee, but may only be elected to one position.<br />
:# Add at the end of 23(6): save that the ballot will be conducted in the order of offices as specified in 21(1) followed by the ordinary members of the committee, with any successful candidate for an office withdrawing, if nominated, from the ballot for ordinary membership of the committee. <br />
<br />
:;Moved: Brian Salter-Duke<br />
:;Seconded: not recorded<br />
<br />
:;Support: Alex Sims, Angela Starling, Robert Myers, Charles Gregory, Adam Jenkins, Andrew Owens, Mark Hurd, Lloyd Nguyen, Pru Mitchell, Liam Wyatt, & one person at Melbourne<br />
:;Oppose: John Vandenberg, Peter Jeremy, & one person at Melbourne<br />
:;Abstain: Craig Franklin, Peter Markham, & one person at Melbourne<br />
:Total: 11/14 (11 support, 3 oppose and 3 abstain)<br />
<br />
The chair declared the special resolution as carried.<br />
<br />
=== Corporate members ===<br />
;Special resolution: that the Rules be amended as follows:<br />
:# Add a new clause 4(13): Corporations and other bodies may become affiliates of the association by resolution of the management committee. Affiliates will pay such fees as determined by the management committee. Affiliates may send representatives as observers to General Meetings but they can not vote. <br />
<br />
:;Question: Would corporate affiliates be entitled to make comments at General Meetings? (from Lloyd Nguyen)<br />
:;Answer: Yes<br />
:;Question: Has the committee received any requests for this sort of affiliation? (from Peter Jeremy)<br />
:;Answer: No.<br />
<br />
:;Discussion:<br />
:* Liam Wyatt: noted some example kinds of organisations for which this is designed<br />
:* Pru Mitchell, Craig Franklin and John Vandenberg: noted that organisations can already attend general meetings<br />
:* Sarah Ewart: This rule amendment allows the formalisation of the relationship<br />
<br />
:;Moved: Sarah Ewart<br />
:;Seconded: Liam Wyatt<br />
<br />
:;Support: Angela Starling, Charles Gregory, Andrew Owens, Peter Jeremy, Mark Hurd, Pru Mitchell, Liam Wyatt, & three people at Melbourne<br />
:;Oppose: Alex Sims, Craig Franklin, John Vandenberg, Peter Markham, Lloyd Nguyen<br />
:;Abstain: Robert Myers<br />
:;Absent: Adam Jenkins<br />
<br />
:Total: 10/15 (10 support, 5 oppose, 1 abstain, 1 absent)<br />
<br />
;Discussion:<br />
:Peter Jeremy: noted that special resolutions require a 75% majority.<br />
<br />
;Resolution: that the total of this special resolution is accepted, and decision is deferred until the Rules and Act are consulted.<br />
:;Moved: Michael Billington<br />
:;Seconded: Craig Franklin<br />
<br />
CWD.<br />
<br />
After the meeting the chair declared this special resolution as not carried.<br />
<br />
== End of meeting ==<br />
<br />
Sarah Ewart thanked:<br />
* the outgoing committee members Liam Wyatt, Brian Salter-Duke and Steve Peters.<br />
* Liam Wyatt for all of his work with galleries and GLAM.<br />
* Brianna Laugher for her work earlier in the year.<br />
* Brian Salter-Duke for all his work as Treasurer and Public Officer, helping to establish the chapter, and chairing this annual general meeting.<br />
* Liam Wyatt noted that he is happy to assist the incoming committee with the fundraiser, as he will be working at San Francisco at the start of the fundraiser.<br />
<br />
Peter Jeremy moved a vote of thanks to the outgoing committee.<br />
<br />
;Seconded:Mark Hurd<br />
;Abstain: Liam Wyatt<br />
<br />
CWD.<br />
<br />
The chair declared the meeting closed at 4:05 PM AEST.</div>VirtualStevehttps://wikimedia.org.au/w/index.php?title=2010-2011_AGM/President%27s_Report&diff=32352010-2011 AGM/President's Report2010-09-18T22:08:40Z<p>VirtualSteve: /* Special thanks to Sarah plus a suggestion for the future */ add bold markup</p>
<hr />
<div>It falls within my duties as the current President of Wikimedia Australia to provide an overview style report with regards the Chapter's progress over the period of the incumbent board. I do so as an outgoing executive who has not nominated for any future office bearer position.<br />
<br />
==2009 - 2010==<br />
2009 - 2010 has been a year which I would describe as both tumultuous and somewhat stagnant.<br />
<br />
==Tumultuous==<br />
Tumultuous insofar that during this term a number of impactive changes and developments have occurred. Some of these include the completion of most of the preparations towards allowing the Chapter to become an official fundraising organisation; increased representation by members of the board in attending international gatherings of the various parts of the Wikimedia foundation; the resignation of our inaugural President Brianna Laugher and a requirement to shuffle positions within the board to meet that vacancy; and in coming days a change of at least two thirds of the board, as long time stalwarts including Liam Wyatt and Brian Salter-Duke stand aside to allow others to take their place within the committee. Importantly I must note that despite adjustments of positions mid term, and the effect of such sudden change, a reasonable number of matters decided at the boards face to face meeting in January this year were either achieved or have been solidly commenced.<br />
<br />
==Somewhat stagnant==<br />
Somewhat stagnant, at least in my observation, due to an arrival by the Chapter at the stage parents would describe as the "terrible twos". The terrible twos can be a time of increased frustration for parents and custodians, and similarly for the board, as custodians of the growing WMAU child, we were confronted by a number of difficulties that hampered all of our good intentions. First and foremost we spent a good part of the year under-supported in the area of Information Technology. That lack of support placed considerable additional strain on our ability to receive and send communication, particularly with regards the role of secretary. I am very happy to note that this problem has now been mainly overcome.<br />
<br />
Second the board, as all boards do at times, struggled to attain a sense of cohesion, and at times there was open hostile argument between various individuals and sub-groups. I know that Brianna when she was President had to deal with such occasions, and in my own case too a good deal of time was spent receiving communications that required both quiet support and bold direct comment towards a more professional outlook. It is of course a fact that a change in most of the executive will adjust some of the intra-focus of the board but I am certain there will still be work for the incoming President in this area.<br />
<br />
All in all though the board managed to achieve a considerable amount and certainly to make it's presence felt on the international stage. Towards those achievements I congratulate my fellow board members and thank them for the pleasure of their company and the success that came when true commitment was given. <br />
<br />
==Special thanks to Liam==<br />
I also particularly wish to make mention of Liam who as an inaugural committee member will be reverting to financial membership only. Liam has been confronted by a number of direct questions and requests over the past year; indeed I have been the instigator of many of them - however I wish to stand on record that from my perspective Liam has overcome any and all of those issues in an extraordinarily professional manner. His presence on the board will be sorely missed and I pass on my personal best wishes towards him and his future endeavours.<br />
<br />
==Special thanks to Sarah plus a suggestion for the future==<br />
Finally, I wish to make comment and suggestion in relation to the position of Secretary. I note in general the extraordinary commitment and devotion by Sarah to this role. I note that she stands unopposed again for the position and I wish her well with regards her duties over the coming year. However, in my view, given the nature of how we must communicate and deal with both financial members as well as between the board; that it is the position of Secretary that presents the Chapter with biggest potential and actual bottleneck of activity slowdown. '''This is not to say that Sarah was defunct in any of her duties.''' It is to note that the position is far too large for any single volunteer and thus places too great a demand on that person. Indeed at times the sheer demand of work upon the Secretary has forced all other board members to slow down or delay further work whilst she has attempted to cope with what is already on her to do list.<br />
<br />
It is my suggestion then that the incoming board look to adjusting the duties of the Secretary so that another position takes on a good part of those responsibilities - and perhaps if the situation arises takes on the position of assistant or under-study. Of course that is only my view and the incoming board may consign as much or as little worth as they like upon my perspective.<br />
<br />
==Onwards==<br />
Onwards then for WMAU. I trust and hope for a bright and continuing future - and I look forward as a continuing financial member to watching that progress occur.<br />
<br />
I will see or speak to many of you at the AGM. Thank you for the opportunity to serve.<br />
<br><br />
<br />
Steve Peters<br><br />
Outgoing President<br><br />
WMAU - 2009-2010<br></div>VirtualStevehttps://wikimedia.org.au/w/index.php?title=Talk:2010-2011_AGM/President%27s_Report&diff=3233Talk:2010-2011 AGM/President's Report2010-09-18T22:06:01Z<p>VirtualSteve: adjust slightly, fix one typo</p>
<hr />
<div>I absolutely and completely reject the claim: "Indeed at times the sheer demand of work upon the Secretary has forced all other board members to slow down or delay further work whilst she has attempted to cope with what is already on her to do list." and frankly find it deeply, extraordinarily and personally offensive. Yes, it is a heavy-workload role but I have always worked extremely hard to keep on top of it and I completely reject the idea that the committee has ever had to slow down or stop working because of me or that other committee members have had to stop their own work while they wait for me. I am the one that has constantly been wanting to move forward, make progress and keep working and has written emails to the committee expressing my extreme frustration with our lack of progress. I am deeply offended by these claims and I completely reject them. [[User:Sarah|Sarah]] 13:07, 18 September 2010 (EST)<br />
<br />
: I'd agree, as an interim committee member in her second term and a full member in her third, with Sarah's statement above - she's been a hardworking and effective Secretary and I can't remember a single occasion where anything's been delayed on account of her. She's been consistent and progressive in the role and has dealt effectively with challenges created by the lack of systems in place which other organisations take for granted. [[User:Orderinchaos|Orderinchaos]] 16:38, 18 September 2010 (EST)<br />
<br />
::I agree with both Sarah and Andrew. Steve, I think you need to modify your report. --[[User:Bduke|Bduke]] 19:00, 18 September 2010 (EST)<br />
<br />
:::[EC] Sarah, you are taking offence at a comment that was in support of you during a difficult year where you had (at times) very little very support across issues of information technology. My comment was not aimed at you but aimed at the frustration of your situation and the extraordinary amount of work that you have - for you which you have so little support. Whilst I appreciate you cannot at this stage understand the level of support I have had for you - I hope that my further comments below will shed some early light. More will follow.<br />
<br />
:::Andrew, To be clear again, I do not say at any time that Sarah has not been hard-working; I do not say at any time that she has been the cause of the delay. Indeed I say exactly the opposite as I have been much admiring of her continued attack upon a role that is quite frankly too big for one person. <br />
<br />
:::More importantly Andrew I abhor your type of dis-ingenuity and it is one of the main reasons that I have chosen to depart from all areas of Wiki. You are coming here politicking and it stands out. You should remember carefully the many times you have spoken to me and sent me emails, and indeed even photographs expressing your personal view as to the situation of Sarah and her roles; and other matters. Indeed I will go further and state that I can not recall a single time in the many emails you have sent me in the past few months where you said a single thing in her favour. In many (costly) telephone calls from me where I spent time trying to dissuade you from such views you repeated those comments in detail. To now make comments in the opposite vein in favour of Sarah in the hope you will be looked upon favourably by the members is crazy on your part. As you know I had to date declined to present material on these matters, but your cowardly actions today leave me only with the option of defending my position - if only at the very least to Sarah my oldest friend on Wiki.<br />
<br />
:::Sarah I have every respect for the role that you are doing and how you continue to do it in the face of all adversity. To date I have chosen to be quiet in relation to much of the issues I have been confronted with and certainly have refused to pass them on in to the general committee even when so demanded by others. That said Andrew's lack of intestinal fortitude displaying false support towards you is goes beyond the pale. I will write to you (or speak to you by telephone if you prefer - you have my number call me any time or text me to ask me to call you back) after the elections so as to do you the courtesy of providing you with the facts. At that time, especially depending upon the outcome of the election, you may do what you will with those facts.[[User:VirtualSteve|VirtualSteve]] 19:10, 18 September 2010 (EST)<br />
<br />
::::Steve, you have in the above piece spoken more than I ever could have (and never did until now) for your leadership style and some of the reasons for our lack of focus during the last term, not to mention the unusual pattern of retirements at the end of it, including your own. I think it's been obvious for a while that you don't like me and that this has coloured your judgement of me as a person and what constitutes appropriate conduct towards me over an extended period of time. I also feel you have behaved unprofessionally towards me and towards other committee members and as a result I have not corresponded with you privately in any capacity for over three months. However, our time together on the committee has only hours remaining to run and, letting wiser heads than mine both here and offline prevail, I will not say anything further.<br />
<br />
::::I shall make it absolutely and abundantly clear that I support Sarah as part of the new executive, that we communicate constructively and productively, and that my support is not "false" nor "cowardly" nor "disingenuous". We have had our differences, even major ones, in the past but time eventually heals all wounds. As for my claimed intentions - politics only divides, not unites, in these circumstances and I have no intention of engaging in it here.<br />
<br />
::::I wish you the best into the future, as once the AGM is over so is, from my point of view, any issue between us as, whether I am re-elected or not, we are no longer sharing a space after that date - I hope that you will wish me the same. [[User:Orderinchaos|Orderinchaos]] 22:12, 18 September 2010 (EST)<br />
<br />
:::::On that note, I think we really should leave this here lest it overshadow the AGM tomorrow. I can't pretend to be privy to the full details of what brought this on, but I do feel ideally that private disagreements ought to be settled in a mature fashion in private. I don't see that any of this helps the chapter or its aims. [[User:Lankiveil|Lankiveil]] 22:29, 18 September 2010 (EST).<br />
<br />
::::::Thank you for your comment Craig. Andrew I do not dislike you, and I had never until your untrue comments above said anything about you in public. I'll repeat I do not dislike you, I have never had a personal issue with you or a disagreement with you about anything personal. I have once asked you in relation to issues you had with others to focus on your work and not on your imagined belief and the gossip that you were trying to spread through me. I dislike your dishonesty; but as I said above I will pass on the facts of your own words and pictures to Sarah after the AGM. I am certain she will read immediately the level of pressure that you applied behind the scenes and attempted to have me pass on as President to and on behalf of the committee, and for which in one such set of comments I did because I respected you to have the right to press a specific point, even though I knew to do so would bring ostracism upon me, and I would have to fight at least one disbeliever. It will have to be up to her as to whether for some of those issues she believes that "time has healed" what your thoughts are and actions were. Until then, then.[[User:VirtualSteve|VirtualSteve]] 07:55, 19 September 2010 (EST)</div>VirtualStevehttps://wikimedia.org.au/w/index.php?title=Talk:2010-2011_AGM/President%27s_Report&diff=3231Talk:2010-2011 AGM/President's Report2010-09-18T21:55:14Z<p>VirtualSteve: Until after the AGM as I said before.</p>
<hr />
<div>I absolutely and completely reject the claim: "Indeed at times the sheer demand of work upon the Secretary has forced all other board members to slow down or delay further work whilst she has attempted to cope with what is already on her to do list." and frankly find it deeply, extraordinarily and personally offensive. Yes, it is a heavy-workload role but I have always worked extremely hard to keep on top of it and I completely reject the idea that the committee has ever had to slow down or stop working because of me or that other committee members have had to stop their own work while they wait for me. I am the one that has constantly been wanting to move forward, make progress and keep working and has written emails to the committee expressing my extreme frustration with our lack of progress. I am deeply offended by these claims and I completely reject them. [[User:Sarah|Sarah]] 13:07, 18 September 2010 (EST)<br />
<br />
: I'd agree, as an interim committee member in her second term and a full member in her third, with Sarah's statement above - she's been a hardworking and effective Secretary and I can't remember a single occasion where anything's been delayed on account of her. She's been consistent and progressive in the role and has dealt effectively with challenges created by the lack of systems in place which other organisations take for granted. [[User:Orderinchaos|Orderinchaos]] 16:38, 18 September 2010 (EST)<br />
<br />
::I agree with both Sarah and Andrew. Steve, I think you need to modify your report. --[[User:Bduke|Bduke]] 19:00, 18 September 2010 (EST)<br />
<br />
:::[EC] Sarah, you are taking offence at a comment that was in support of you during a difficult year where you had (at times) very little very support across issues of information technology. My comment was not aimed at you but aimed at the frustration of your situation and the extraordinary amount of work that you have - for you which you have so little support. Whilst I appreciate you cannot at this stage understand the level of support I have had for you - I hope that my further comments below will shed some early light. More will follow.<br />
<br />
:::Andrew, To be clear again, I do not say at any time that Sarah has not been hard-working; I do not say at any time that she has been the cause of the delay. Indeed I say exactly the opposite as I have been much admiring of her continued attack upon a role that is quite frankly too big for one person. <br />
<br />
:::More importantly Andrew I abhor your type of dis-ingenuity and it is one of the main reasons that I have chosen to depart from all areas of Wiki. You are coming here politicking and it stands out. You should remember carefully the many times you have spoken to me and sent me emails, and indeed even photographs expressing your personal view as to the situation of Sarah and her roles; and other matters. Indeed I will go further and state that I can not recall a single time in the many emails you have sent me in the past few months where you said a single thing in her favour. In many (costly) telephone calls from me where I spent time trying to dissuade you from such views you repeated those comments in detail. To now make comments in the opposite vein in favour of Sarah in the hope you will be looked upon favourably by the members is crazy on your part. As you know I had to date declined to present material on these matters, but your cowardly actions today leave me only with the option of defending my position - if only at the very least to Sarah my oldest friend on Wiki.<br />
<br />
:::Sarah I have every respect for the role that you are doing and how you continue to do it in the face of all adversity. To date I have chosen to be quiet in relation to much of the issues I have been confronted with and certainly have refused to pass them on in to the general committee even when so demanded by others. That said Andrew's lack of intestinal fortitude displaying false support towards you is goes beyond the pale. I will write to you (or speak to you by telephone if you prefer - you have my number call me any time or text me to ask me to call you back) after the elections so as to do you the courtesy of providing you with the facts. At that time, especially depending upon the outcome of the election, you may do what you will with those facts.[[User:VirtualSteve|VirtualSteve]] 19:10, 18 September 2010 (EST)<br />
<br />
::::Steve, you have in the above piece spoken more than I ever could have (and never did until now) for your leadership style and some of the reasons for our lack of focus during the last term, not to mention the unusual pattern of retirements at the end of it, including your own. I think it's been obvious for a while that you don't like me and that this has coloured your judgement of me as a person and what constitutes appropriate conduct towards me over an extended period of time. I also feel you have behaved unprofessionally towards me and towards other committee members and as a result I have not corresponded with you privately in any capacity for over three months. However, our time together on the committee has only hours remaining to run and, letting wiser heads than mine both here and offline prevail, I will not say anything further.<br />
<br />
::::I shall make it absolutely and abundantly clear that I support Sarah as part of the new executive, that we communicate constructively and productively, and that my support is not "false" nor "cowardly" nor "disingenuous". We have had our differences, even major ones, in the past but time eventually heals all wounds. As for my claimed intentions - politics only divides, not unites, in these circumstances and I have no intention of engaging in it here.<br />
<br />
::::I wish you the best into the future, as once the AGM is over so is, from my point of view, any issue between us as, whether I am re-elected or not, we are no longer sharing a space after that date - I hope that you will wish me the same. [[User:Orderinchaos|Orderinchaos]] 22:12, 18 September 2010 (EST)<br />
<br />
:::::On that note, I think we really should leave this here lest it overshadow the AGM tomorrow. I can't pretend to be privy to the full details of what brought this on, but I do feel ideally that private disagreements ought to be settled in a mature fashion in private. I don't see that any of this helps the chapter or its aims. [[User:Lankiveil|Lankiveil]] 22:29, 18 September 2010 (EST).<br />
<br />
:::::Thank you for your comment Craig. Andrew I do not dislike you, and I had never until your untrue comments above had said anything about you in public. I'll repeat I do not dislike you, I dislike you dishonesty; but as I said above I will pass on the facts of your own words and pictures to Sarah after the AGM. I am certain she will read immediately the level of pressure that you applied behind the scenes and attempted to have me pass on as President to and on the committee, and for which in one situation I did because I respected you to have the right to press a specific point. It will have to be up to her as to whether for some of those issues she believes that "time has healed" what your thoughts are and actions were. Until then, then.[[User:VirtualSteve|VirtualSteve]] 07:55, 19 September 2010 (EST)</div>VirtualStevehttps://wikimedia.org.au/w/index.php?title=Talk:2010-2011_AGM/President%27s_Report&diff=3201Talk:2010-2011 AGM/President's Report2010-09-18T09:20:22Z<p>VirtualSteve: Response to Sarah, not you the job - Response to Andrew Owens - I will deal with your disingenuous comments at a later date. Grammar adjust</p>
<hr />
<div>I absolutely and completely reject the claim: "Indeed at times the sheer demand of work upon the Secretary has forced all other board members to slow down or delay further work whilst she has attempted to cope with what is already on her to do list." and frankly find it deeply, extraordinarily and personally offensive. Yes, it is a heavy-workload role but I have always worked extremely hard to keep on top of it and I completely reject the idea that the committee has ever had to slow down or stop working because of me or that other committee members have had to stop their own work while they wait for me. I am the one that has constantly been wanting to move forward, make progress and keep working and has written emails to the committee expressing my extreme frustration with our lack of progress. I am deeply offended by these claims and I completely reject them. [[User:Sarah|Sarah]] 13:07, 18 September 2010 (EST)<br />
<br />
: I'd agree, as an interim committee member in her second term and a full member in her third, with Sarah's statement above - she's been a hardworking and effective Secretary and I can't remember a single occasion where anything's been delayed on account of her. She's been consistent and progressive in the role and has dealt effectively with challenges created by the lack of systems in place which other organisations take for granted. [[User:Orderinchaos|Orderinchaos]] 16:38, 18 September 2010 (EST)<br />
<br />
::I agree with both Sarah and Andrew. Steve, I think you need to modify your report. --[[User:Bduke|Bduke]] 19:00, 18 September 2010 (EST)<br />
<br />
:::[EC] Sarah, you are taking offence at a comment that was in support of you during a difficult year where you had (at times) very little very support across issues of information technology. My comment was not aimed at you but aimed at the frustration of your situation and the extraordinary amount of work that you have - for you which you have so little support. Whilst I appreciate you cannot at this stage understand the level of support I have had for you - I hope that my further comments below will shed some early light. More will follow.<br />
<br />
:::Andrew, To be clear again, I do not say at any time that Sarah has not been hard-working; I do not say at any time that she has been the cause of the delay. Indeed I say exactly the opposite as I have been much admiring of her continued attack upon a role that is quite frankly too big for one person. <br />
<br />
:::More importantly Andrew I abhor your type of dis-ingenuity and it is one of the main reasons that I have chosen to depart from all areas of Wiki. You are coming here politicking and it stands out. You should remember carefully the many times you have spoken to me and sent me emails, and indeed even photographs expressing your personal view as to the situation of Sarah and her roles; and other matters. Indeed I will go further and state that I can not recall a single time in the many emails you have sent me in the past few months where you said a single thing in her favour. In many (costly) telephone calls from me where I spent time trying to dissuade you from such views you repeated those comments in detail. To now make comments in the opposite vein in favour of Sarah in the hope you will be looked upon favourably by the members is crazy on your part. As you know I had to date declined to present material on these matters, but your cowardly actions today leave me only with the option of defending my position - if only at the very least to Sarah my oldest friend on Wiki.<br />
<br />
:::Sarah I have every respect for the role that you are doing and how you continue to do it in the face of all adversity. To date I have chosen to be quiet in relation to much of the issues I have been confronted with and certainly have refused to pass them on in to the general committee even when so demanded by others. That said Andrew's lack of intestinal fortitude displaying false support towards you is goes beyond the pale. I will write to you (or speak to you by telephone if you prefer - you have my number call me any time or text me to ask me to call you back) after the elections so as to do you the courtesy of providing you with the facts. At that time, especially depending upon the outcome of the election, you may do what you will with those facts.[[User:VirtualSteve|VirtualSteve]] 19:10, 18 September 2010 (EST)</div>VirtualStevehttps://wikimedia.org.au/w/index.php?title=Talk:2010-2011_AGM/President%27s_Report&diff=3199Talk:2010-2011 AGM/President's Report2010-09-18T09:11:34Z<p>VirtualSteve: Response to Sarah, not you the job - Response to Andrew Owens - I will deal with your disingenuous comments at a later date - step in one step after edit conflict</p>
<hr />
<div>I absolutely and completely reject the claim: "Indeed at times the sheer demand of work upon the Secretary has forced all other board members to slow down or delay further work whilst she has attempted to cope with what is already on her to do list." and frankly find it deeply, extraordinarily and personally offensive. Yes, it is a heavy-workload role but I have always worked extremely hard to keep on top of it and I completely reject the idea that the committee has ever had to slow down or stop working because of me or that other committee members have had to stop their own work while they wait for me. I am the one that has constantly been wanting to move forward, make progress and keep working and has written emails to the committee expressing my extreme frustration with our lack of progress. I am deeply offended by these claims and I completely reject them. [[User:Sarah|Sarah]] 13:07, 18 September 2010 (EST)<br />
<br />
: I'd agree, as an interim committee member in her second term and a full member in her third, with Sarah's statement above - she's been a hardworking and effective Secretary and I can't remember a single occasion where anything's been delayed on account of her. She's been consistent and progressive in the role and has dealt effectively with challenges created by the lack of systems in place which other organisations take for granted. [[User:Orderinchaos|Orderinchaos]] 16:38, 18 September 2010 (EST)<br />
<br />
::I agree with both Sarah and Andrew. Steve, I think you need to modify your report. --[[User:Bduke|Bduke]] 19:00, 18 September 2010 (EST)<br />
<br />
:::[EC] Sarah, you are taking offence at a comment that was in support of you during a difficult year where you had (at times) very little very support across issues of information technology. My comment was not aimed at you but aimed at the frustration of your situation and the extraordinary amount of work that you have - for you which you have so little support. Whilst I appreciate you cannot at this stage understand the level of support I have had for you - I hope that my further comments below will shed some early light. More will follow.<br />
<br />
:::Andrew, To be clear again, I do not say at any time that Sarah has not been hard-working; I do not say at any time that she has been the cause of the delay. Indeed I say exactly the opposite as I have been much admiring of her continued attack upon a role that is quite frankly too big for one person. <br />
<br />
:::More importantly Andrew I abhor your type of dis-ingenuity and it is one of the main reasons that I have chosen to depart from all areas of Wiki. You are coming here politicking and it stands out. You should remember carefully the many times you have spoken to me and sent me emails, and indeed even photographs expressing your personal view as to the situation of Sarah and her roles; and other matters. Indeed I will go further and state that I can not recall a single time in the many emails you have sent me in the past few months where you said a single thing in her favour. In many (costly) telephone calls from me where I spent time trying to dissuade you from such views you repeated those comments in detail. To now make comments in the opposite vein in favour of Sarah in the hope you will be looked upon favourably by the members is crazy on your part. As you know I had to date declined to present material on these matters, but your cowardly actions today leave me only with the option of defending my position - if only at the very least Sarah to my oldest friend on Wiki.<br />
<br />
:::Sarah I have every respect for the role that you are doing and how you continue to do it in the face of all adversity. To date I have chosen to be quiet in relation to much of the issues I have been confronted with and certainly have refused to pass them on in to the general committee even when so demanded by others. That said Andrew's lack of intestinal fortitude displaying false support towards you is goes beyond the pale. I will write to you (or speak to you by telephone if you prefer - you have my number call me any time or text me to ask me to call you back) after the elections so as to do you the courtesy of providing you with the facts. At that time, especially depending upon the outcome of the election, you may do what you will with those facts.[[User:VirtualSteve|VirtualSteve]] 19:10, 18 September 2010 (EST)</div>VirtualStevehttps://wikimedia.org.au/w/index.php?title=Talk:2010-2011_AGM/President%27s_Report&diff=3197Talk:2010-2011 AGM/President's Report2010-09-18T09:10:52Z<p>VirtualSteve: Response to Sarah, not you the job - Response to Andrew Owens - I will deal with your disingenuous comments at a later date</p>
<hr />
<div>I absolutely and completely reject the claim: "Indeed at times the sheer demand of work upon the Secretary has forced all other board members to slow down or delay further work whilst she has attempted to cope with what is already on her to do list." and frankly find it deeply, extraordinarily and personally offensive. Yes, it is a heavy-workload role but I have always worked extremely hard to keep on top of it and I completely reject the idea that the committee has ever had to slow down or stop working because of me or that other committee members have had to stop their own work while they wait for me. I am the one that has constantly been wanting to move forward, make progress and keep working and has written emails to the committee expressing my extreme frustration with our lack of progress. I am deeply offended by these claims and I completely reject them. [[User:Sarah|Sarah]] 13:07, 18 September 2010 (EST)<br />
<br />
: I'd agree, as an interim committee member in her second term and a full member in her third, with Sarah's statement above - she's been a hardworking and effective Secretary and I can't remember a single occasion where anything's been delayed on account of her. She's been consistent and progressive in the role and has dealt effectively with challenges created by the lack of systems in place which other organisations take for granted. [[User:Orderinchaos|Orderinchaos]] 16:38, 18 September 2010 (EST)<br />
<br />
::I agree with both Sarah and Andrew. Steve, I think you need to modify your report. --[[User:Bduke|Bduke]] 19:00, 18 September 2010 (EST)<br />
<br />
::[EC] Sarah, you are taking offence at a comment that was in support of you during a difficult year where you had (at times) very little very support across issues of information technology. My comment was not aimed at you but aimed at the frustration of your situation and the extraordinary amount of work that you have - for you which you have so little support. Whilst I appreciate you cannot at this stage understand the level of support I have had for you - I hope that my further comments below will shed some early light. More will follow.<br />
<br />
::Andrew, To be clear again, I do not say at any time that Sarah has not been hard-working; I do not say at any time that she has been the cause of the delay. Indeed I say exactly the opposite as I have been much admiring of her continued attack upon a role that is quite frankly too big for one person. <br />
<br />
::More importantly Andrew I abhor your type of dis-ingenuity and it is one of the main reasons that I have chosen to depart from all areas of Wiki. You are coming here politicking and it stands out. You should remember carefully the many times you have spoken to me and sent me emails, and indeed even photographs expressing your personal view as to the situation of Sarah and her roles; and other matters. Indeed I will go further and state that I can not recall a single time in the many emails you have sent me in the past few months where you said a single thing in her favour. In many (costly) telephone calls from me where I spent time trying to dissuade you from such views you repeated those comments in detail. To now make comments in the opposite vein in favour of Sarah in the hope you will be looked upon favourably by the members is crazy on your part. As you know I had to date declined to present material on these matters, but your cowardly actions today leave me only with the option of defending my position - if only at the very least Sarah to my oldest friend on Wiki.<br />
<br />
::Sarah I have every respect for the role that you are doing and how you continue to do it in the face of all adversity. To date I have chosen to be quiet in relation to much of the issues I have been confronted with and certainly have refused to pass them on in to the general committee even when so demanded by others. That said Andrew's lack of intestinal fortitude displaying false support towards you is goes beyond the pale. I will write to you (or speak to you by telephone if you prefer - you have my number call me any time or text me to ask me to call you back) after the elections so as to do you the courtesy of providing you with the facts. At that time, especially depending upon the outcome of the election, you may do what you will with those facts.[[User:VirtualSteve|VirtualSteve]] 19:10, 18 September 2010 (EST)</div>VirtualStevehttps://wikimedia.org.au/w/index.php?title=User_talk:VirtualSteve&diff=3099User talk:VirtualSteve2010-09-15T01:40:04Z<p>VirtualSteve: response</p>
<hr />
<div>== location of President's report ==<br />
<br />
Your report is under the [[2009-2010 AGM]] as opposed to the [[2010-2011 AGM]]. Is that intentional? [[User:Jayvdb|John Vandenberg]] 18:00, 14 September 2010 (EST)<br />
<br />
*I'm happy for you to move as you like - but my thoughts were that my report is based on the 2009-2010 year - presented to the 2010-2011 AGM. However whatever fits in with your plans is fine by me. [[User:VirtualSteve|VirtualSteve]] 18:09, 14 September 2010 (EST)<br />
**Since moved - cheers.[[User:VirtualSteve|VirtualSteve]] 18:10, 14 September 2010 (EST)<br />
<br />
== jus' wondering ==<br />
<br />
if you might be able to help with [[Talk:Small_grants#update.3F|this]] - I'm wondering how the small grants programme worked out :-) Thanks heaps for sticking your hand up to be Prez for the period following Brianna's resignation too - I'm still keen on a sydney meetup as and when you might be passing through - drop a note in here, there's a chance I'll find it :-) - it'd be good to bend your ear in person at some point.... cheers, [[User:Privatemusings|Privatemusings]] 10:33, 15 September 2010 (EST)<br />
*No problems - the detail should come in the next published minutes - however it is no secret that two grants were applied for and accepted by the board. The first to Noodle Snacks and the second to Bidgee. Thank you also for your kind words above. Not sure when I am next in Sydney with time but please feel free to contact me by private email and I will be happy to respond where I can.[[User:VirtualSteve|VirtualSteve]] 11:40, 15 September 2010 (EST)</div>VirtualStevehttps://wikimedia.org.au/w/index.php?title=User_talk:VirtualSteve&diff=3051User talk:VirtualSteve2010-09-14T08:10:54Z<p>VirtualSteve: /* location of President's report */ +</p>
<hr />
<div>== location of President's report ==<br />
<br />
Your report is under the [[2009-2010 AGM]] as opposed to the [[2010-2011 AGM]]. Is that intentional? [[User:Jayvdb|John Vandenberg]] 18:00, 14 September 2010 (EST)<br />
<br />
*I'm happy for you to move as you like - but my thoughts were that my report is based on the 2009-2010 year - presented to the 2010-2011 AGM. However whatever fits in with your plans is fine by me. [[User:VirtualSteve|VirtualSteve]] 18:09, 14 September 2010 (EST)<br />
**Since moved - cheers.[[User:VirtualSteve|VirtualSteve]] 18:10, 14 September 2010 (EST)</div>VirtualStevehttps://wikimedia.org.au/w/index.php?title=2009-2010_AGM/President%27s_Report&diff=30492009-2010 AGM/President's Report2010-09-14T08:10:19Z<p>VirtualSteve: moved 2009-2010 AGM/President's Report to 2010-2011 AGM/President's Report: Moved as per thought process of Jayvdb - with thanks</p>
<hr />
<div>#REDIRECT [[2010-2011 AGM/President's Report]]</div>VirtualStevehttps://wikimedia.org.au/w/index.php?title=2010-2011_AGM/President%27s_Report&diff=30472010-2011 AGM/President's Report2010-09-14T08:10:19Z<p>VirtualSteve: moved 2009-2010 AGM/President's Report to 2010-2011 AGM/President's Report: Moved as per thought process of Jayvdb - with thanks</p>
<hr />
<div>It falls within my duties as the current President of Wikimedia Australia to provide an overview style report with regards the Chapter's progress over the period of the incumbent board. I do so as an outgoing executive who has not nominated for any future office bearer position.<br />
<br />
==2009 - 2010==<br />
2009 - 2010 has been a year which I would describe as both tumultuous and somewhat stagnant.<br />
<br />
==Tumultuous==<br />
Tumultuous insofar that during this term a number of impactive changes and developments have occurred. Some of these include the completion of most of the preparations towards allowing the Chapter to become an official fundraising organisation; increased representation by members of the board in attending international gatherings of the various parts of the Wikimedia foundation; the resignation of our inaugural President Brianna Laugher and a requirement to shuffle positions within the board to meet that vacancy; and in coming days a change of at least two thirds of the board, as long time stalwarts including Liam Wyatt and Brian Salter-Duke stand aside to allow others to take their place within the committee. Importantly I must note that despite adjustments of positions mid term, and the effect of such sudden change, a reasonable number of matters decided at the boards face to face meeting in January this year were either achieved or have been solidly commenced.<br />
<br />
==Somewhat stagnant==<br />
Somewhat stagnant, at least in my observation, due to an arrival by the Chapter at the stage parents would describe as the "terrible twos". The terrible twos can be a time of increased frustration for parents and custodians, and similarly for the board, as custodians of the growing WMAU child, we were confronted by a number of difficulties that hampered all of our good intentions. First and foremost we spent a good part of the year under-supported in the area of Information Technology. That lack of support placed considerable additional strain on our ability to receive and send communication, particularly with regards the role of secretary. I am very happy to note that this problem has now been mainly overcome.<br />
<br />
Second the board, as all boards do at times, struggled to attain a sense of cohesion, and at times there was open hostile argument between various individuals and sub-groups. I know that Brianna when she was President had to deal with such occasions, and in my own case too a good deal of time was spent receiving communications that required both quiet support and bold direct comment towards a more professional outlook. It is of course a fact that a change in most of the executive will adjust some of the intra-focus of the board but I am certain there will still be work for the incoming President in this area.<br />
<br />
All in all though the board managed to achieve a considerable amount and certainly to make it's presence felt on the international stage. Towards those achievements I congratulate my fellow board members and thank them for the pleasure of their company and the success that came when true commitment was given. <br />
<br />
==Special thanks to Liam==<br />
I also particularly wish to make mention of Liam who as an inaugural committee member will be reverting to financial membership only. Liam has been confronted by a number of direct questions and requests over the past year; indeed I have been the instigator of many of them - however I wish to stand on record that from my perspective Liam has overcome any and all of those issues in an extraordinarily professional manner. His presence on the board will be sorely missed and I pass on my personal best wishes towards him and his future endeavours.<br />
<br />
==Special thanks to Sarah plus a suggestion for the future==<br />
Finally, I wish to make comment and suggestion in relation to the position of Secretary. I note in general the extraordinary commitment and devotion by Sarah to this role. I note that she stands unopposed again for the position and I wish her well with regards her duties over the coming year. However, in my view, given the nature of how we must communicate and deal with both financial members as well as between the board; that it is the position of Secretary that presents the Chapter with biggest potential and actual bottleneck of activity slowdown. This is not to say that Sarah was defunct in any of her duties. It is to note that the position is far too large for any single volunteer and thus places too great a demand on that person. Indeed at times the sheer demand of work upon the Secretary has forced all other board members to slow down or delay further work whilst she has attempted to cope with what is already on her to do list.<br />
<br />
It is my suggestion then that the incoming board look to adjusting the duties of the Secretary so that another position takes on a good part of those responsibilities - and perhaps if the situation arises takes on the position of assistant or under-study. Of course that is only my view and the incoming board may consign as much or as little worth as they like upon my perspective.<br />
<br />
==Onwards==<br />
Onwards then for WMAU. I trust and hope for a bright and continuing future - and I look forward as a continuing financial member to watching that progress occur.<br />
<br />
I will see or speak to many of you at the AGM. Thank you for the opportunity to serve.<br />
<br><br />
<br />
Steve Peters<br><br />
Outgoing President<br><br />
WMAU - 2009-2010<br></div>VirtualStevehttps://wikimedia.org.au/w/index.php?title=User_talk:VirtualSteve&diff=3045User talk:VirtualSteve2010-09-14T08:09:01Z<p>VirtualSteve: /* location of President's report */ response</p>
<hr />
<div>== location of President's report ==<br />
<br />
Your report is under the [[2009-2010 AGM]] as opposed to the [[2010-2011 AGM]]. Is that intentional? [[User:Jayvdb|John Vandenberg]] 18:00, 14 September 2010 (EST)<br />
<br />
*I'm happy for you to move as you like - but my thoughts were that my report is based on the 2009-2010 year - presented to the 2010-2011 AGM. However whatever fits in with your plans is fine by me. [[User:VirtualSteve|VirtualSteve]] 18:09, 14 September 2010 (EST)</div>VirtualStevehttps://wikimedia.org.au/w/index.php?title=2010-2011_AGM/President%27s_Report&diff=30192010-2011 AGM/President's Report2010-09-14T07:28:04Z<p>VirtualSteve: /* Special thanks to Sarah plus a suggestion for the future */ another small punctuation adjustment</p>
<hr />
<div>It falls within my duties as the current President of Wikimedia Australia to provide an overview style report with regards the Chapter's progress over the period of the incumbent board. I do so as an outgoing executive who has not nominated for any future office bearer position.<br />
<br />
==2009 - 2010==<br />
2009 - 2010 has been a year which I would describe as both tumultuous and somewhat stagnant.<br />
<br />
==Tumultuous==<br />
Tumultuous insofar that during this term a number of impactive changes and developments have occurred. Some of these include the completion of most of the preparations towards allowing the Chapter to become an official fundraising organisation; increased representation by members of the board in attending international gatherings of the various parts of the Wikimedia foundation; the resignation of our inaugural President Brianna Laugher and a requirement to shuffle positions within the board to meet that vacancy; and in coming days a change of at least two thirds of the board, as long time stalwarts including Liam Wyatt and Brian Salter-Duke stand aside to allow others to take their place within the committee. Importantly I must note that despite adjustments of positions mid term, and the effect of such sudden change, a reasonable number of matters decided at the boards face to face meeting in January this year were either achieved or have been solidly commenced.<br />
<br />
==Somewhat stagnant==<br />
Somewhat stagnant, at least in my observation, due to an arrival by the Chapter at the stage parents would describe as the "terrible twos". The terrible twos can be a time of increased frustration for parents and custodians, and similarly for the board, as custodians of the growing WMAU child, we were confronted by a number of difficulties that hampered all of our good intentions. First and foremost we spent a good part of the year under-supported in the area of Information Technology. That lack of support placed considerable additional strain on our ability to receive and send communication, particularly with regards the role of secretary. I am very happy to note that this problem has now been mainly overcome.<br />
<br />
Second the board, as all boards do at times, struggled to attain a sense of cohesion, and at times there was open hostile argument between various individuals and sub-groups. I know that Brianna when she was President had to deal with such occasions, and in my own case too a good deal of time was spent receiving communications that required both quiet support and bold direct comment towards a more professional outlook. It is of course a fact that a change in most of the executive will adjust some of the intra-focus of the board but I am certain there will still be work for the incoming President in this area.<br />
<br />
All in all though the board managed to achieve a considerable amount and certainly to make it's presence felt on the international stage. Towards those achievements I congratulate my fellow board members and thank them for the pleasure of their company and the success that came when true commitment was given. <br />
<br />
==Special thanks to Liam==<br />
I also particularly wish to make mention of Liam who as an inaugural committee member will be reverting to financial membership only. Liam has been confronted by a number of direct questions and requests over the past year; indeed I have been the instigator of many of them - however I wish to stand on record that from my perspective Liam has overcome any and all of those issues in an extraordinarily professional manner. His presence on the board will be sorely missed and I pass on my personal best wishes towards him and his future endeavours.<br />
<br />
==Special thanks to Sarah plus a suggestion for the future==<br />
Finally, I wish to make comment and suggestion in relation to the position of Secretary. I note in general the extraordinary commitment and devotion by Sarah to this role. I note that she stands unopposed again for the position and I wish her well with regards her duties over the coming year. However, in my view, given the nature of how we must communicate and deal with both financial members as well as between the board; that it is the position of Secretary that presents the Chapter with biggest potential and actual bottleneck of activity slowdown. This is not to say that Sarah was defunct in any of her duties. It is to note that the position is far too large for any single volunteer and thus places too great a demand on that person. Indeed at times the sheer demand of work upon the Secretary has forced all other board members to slow down or delay further work whilst she has attempted to cope with what is already on her to do list.<br />
<br />
It is my suggestion then that the incoming board look to adjusting the duties of the Secretary so that another position takes on a good part of those responsibilities - and perhaps if the situation arises takes on the position of assistant or under-study. Of course that is only my view and the incoming board may consign as much or as little worth as they like upon my perspective.<br />
<br />
==Onwards==<br />
Onwards then for WMAU. I trust and hope for a bright and continuing future - and I look forward as a continuing financial member to watching that progress occur.<br />
<br />
I will see or speak to many of you at the AGM. Thank you for the opportunity to serve.<br />
<br><br />
<br />
Steve Peters<br><br />
Outgoing President<br><br />
WMAU - 2009-2010<br></div>VirtualStevehttps://wikimedia.org.au/w/index.php?title=2010-2011_AGM/President%27s_Report&diff=30172010-2011 AGM/President's Report2010-09-14T07:26:53Z<p>VirtualSteve: /* Special thanks to Liam */ another small typo</p>
<hr />
<div>It falls within my duties as the current President of Wikimedia Australia to provide an overview style report with regards the Chapter's progress over the period of the incumbent board. I do so as an outgoing executive who has not nominated for any future office bearer position.<br />
<br />
==2009 - 2010==<br />
2009 - 2010 has been a year which I would describe as both tumultuous and somewhat stagnant.<br />
<br />
==Tumultuous==<br />
Tumultuous insofar that during this term a number of impactive changes and developments have occurred. Some of these include the completion of most of the preparations towards allowing the Chapter to become an official fundraising organisation; increased representation by members of the board in attending international gatherings of the various parts of the Wikimedia foundation; the resignation of our inaugural President Brianna Laugher and a requirement to shuffle positions within the board to meet that vacancy; and in coming days a change of at least two thirds of the board, as long time stalwarts including Liam Wyatt and Brian Salter-Duke stand aside to allow others to take their place within the committee. Importantly I must note that despite adjustments of positions mid term, and the effect of such sudden change, a reasonable number of matters decided at the boards face to face meeting in January this year were either achieved or have been solidly commenced.<br />
<br />
==Somewhat stagnant==<br />
Somewhat stagnant, at least in my observation, due to an arrival by the Chapter at the stage parents would describe as the "terrible twos". The terrible twos can be a time of increased frustration for parents and custodians, and similarly for the board, as custodians of the growing WMAU child, we were confronted by a number of difficulties that hampered all of our good intentions. First and foremost we spent a good part of the year under-supported in the area of Information Technology. That lack of support placed considerable additional strain on our ability to receive and send communication, particularly with regards the role of secretary. I am very happy to note that this problem has now been mainly overcome.<br />
<br />
Second the board, as all boards do at times, struggled to attain a sense of cohesion, and at times there was open hostile argument between various individuals and sub-groups. I know that Brianna when she was President had to deal with such occasions, and in my own case too a good deal of time was spent receiving communications that required both quiet support and bold direct comment towards a more professional outlook. It is of course a fact that a change in most of the executive will adjust some of the intra-focus of the board but I am certain there will still be work for the incoming President in this area.<br />
<br />
All in all though the board managed to achieve a considerable amount and certainly to make it's presence felt on the international stage. Towards those achievements I congratulate my fellow board members and thank them for the pleasure of their company and the success that came when true commitment was given. <br />
<br />
==Special thanks to Liam==<br />
I also particularly wish to make mention of Liam who as an inaugural committee member will be reverting to financial membership only. Liam has been confronted by a number of direct questions and requests over the past year; indeed I have been the instigator of many of them - however I wish to stand on record that from my perspective Liam has overcome any and all of those issues in an extraordinarily professional manner. His presence on the board will be sorely missed and I pass on my personal best wishes towards him and his future endeavours.<br />
<br />
==Special thanks to Sarah plus a suggestion for the future==<br />
Finally, I wish to make comment and suggestion in relation to the position of Secretary. I note in general the extraordinary commitment and devotion by Sarah to this role. I note that she stands unopposed again for the position and I wish her well with regards her duties over the coming year. However, in my view, given the nature of how we must communicate and deal with both financial members as well as between the board; that it is the position of Secretary that presents the Chapter with biggest potential and actual bottleneck of activity slowdown. this is not to say that Sarah was defunct in any of her duties. It is to note that the position is far too large for any single volunteer and thus places too great a demand on that person. Indeed at times the sheer demand of work upon the Secretary has forced all other board members to slow down or delay further work whilst she has attempted to cope with what is already on her to do list.<br />
<br />
It is my suggestion then that the incoming board look to adjusting the duties of the Secretary so that another position takes on a good part of those responsibilities - and perhaps if the situation arises takes on the position of assistant or under-study. Of course that is only my view and the incoming board may consign as much or as little worth as they like upon my perspective.<br />
<br />
==Onwards==<br />
Onwards then for WMAU. I trust and hope for a bright and continuing future - and I look forward as a continuing financial member to watching that progress occur.<br />
<br />
I will see or speak to many of you at the AGM. Thank you for the opportunity to serve.<br />
<br><br />
<br />
Steve Peters<br><br />
Outgoing President<br><br />
WMAU - 2009-2010<br></div>VirtualStevehttps://wikimedia.org.au/w/index.php?title=2010-2011_AGM/President%27s_Report&diff=30152010-2011 AGM/President's Report2010-09-14T07:25:19Z<p>VirtualSteve: fix my typo</p>
<hr />
<div>It falls within my duties as the current President of Wikimedia Australia to provide an overview style report with regards the Chapter's progress over the period of the incumbent board. I do so as an outgoing executive who has not nominated for any future office bearer position.<br />
<br />
==2009 - 2010==<br />
2009 - 2010 has been a year which I would describe as both tumultuous and somewhat stagnant.<br />
<br />
==Tumultuous==<br />
Tumultuous insofar that during this term a number of impactive changes and developments have occurred. Some of these include the completion of most of the preparations towards allowing the Chapter to become an official fundraising organisation; increased representation by members of the board in attending international gatherings of the various parts of the Wikimedia foundation; the resignation of our inaugural President Brianna Laugher and a requirement to shuffle positions within the board to meet that vacancy; and in coming days a change of at least two thirds of the board, as long time stalwarts including Liam Wyatt and Brian Salter-Duke stand aside to allow others to take their place within the committee. Importantly I must note that despite adjustments of positions mid term, and the effect of such sudden change, a reasonable number of matters decided at the boards face to face meeting in January this year were either achieved or have been solidly commenced.<br />
<br />
==Somewhat stagnant==<br />
Somewhat stagnant, at least in my observation, due to an arrival by the Chapter at the stage parents would describe as the "terrible twos". The terrible twos can be a time of increased frustration for parents and custodians, and similarly for the board, as custodians of the growing WMAU child, we were confronted by a number of difficulties that hampered all of our good intentions. First and foremost we spent a good part of the year under-supported in the area of Information Technology. That lack of support placed considerable additional strain on our ability to receive and send communication, particularly with regards the role of secretary. I am very happy to note that this problem has now been mainly overcome.<br />
<br />
Second the board, as all boards do at times, struggled to attain a sense of cohesion, and at times there was open hostile argument between various individuals and sub-groups. I know that Brianna when she was President had to deal with such occasions, and in my own case too a good deal of time was spent receiving communications that required both quiet support and bold direct comment towards a more professional outlook. It is of course a fact that a change in most of the executive will adjust some of the intra-focus of the board but I am certain there will still be work for the incoming President in this area.<br />
<br />
All in all though the board managed to achieve a considerable amount and certainly to make it's presence felt on the international stage. Towards those achievements I congratulate my fellow board members and thank them for the pleasure of their company and the success that came when true commitment was given. <br />
<br />
==Special thanks to Liam==<br />
I also particularly which to make mention of Liam who as an inaugural committee member will be reverting to financial membership only. Liam has been confronted by a number of direct questions and requests over the past year; indeed I have been the instigator of many of them - however I wish to stand on record that from my perspective Liam has overcome any and all of those issues in an extraordinarily professional manner. His presence on the board will be sorely missed and I pass on my personal best wishes towards him and his future endeavours.<br />
<br />
==Special thanks to Sarah plus a suggestion for the future==<br />
Finally, I wish to make comment and suggestion in relation to the position of Secretary. I note in general the extraordinary commitment and devotion by Sarah to this role. I note that she stands unopposed again for the position and I wish her well with regards her duties over the coming year. However, in my view, given the nature of how we must communicate and deal with both financial members as well as between the board; that it is the position of Secretary that presents the Chapter with biggest potential and actual bottleneck of activity slowdown. this is not to say that Sarah was defunct in any of her duties. It is to note that the position is far too large for any single volunteer and thus places too great a demand on that person. Indeed at times the sheer demand of work upon the Secretary has forced all other board members to slow down or delay further work whilst she has attempted to cope with what is already on her to do list.<br />
<br />
It is my suggestion then that the incoming board look to adjusting the duties of the Secretary so that another position takes on a good part of those responsibilities - and perhaps if the situation arises takes on the position of assistant or under-study. Of course that is only my view and the incoming board may consign as much or as little worth as they like upon my perspective.<br />
<br />
==Onwards==<br />
Onwards then for WMAU. I trust and hope for a bright and continuing future - and I look forward as a continuing financial member to watching that progress occur.<br />
<br />
I will see or speak to many of you at the AGM. Thank you for the opportunity to serve.<br />
<br><br />
<br />
Steve Peters<br><br />
Outgoing President<br><br />
WMAU - 2009-2010<br></div>VirtualStevehttps://wikimedia.org.au/w/index.php?title=2010-2011_AGM/President%27s_Report&diff=30132010-2011 AGM/President's Report2010-09-14T07:24:35Z<p>VirtualSteve: post my president's report</p>
<hr />
<div>It falls within my duties as the current President of Wikimedia Australia to provide an overview style report with regards the Chapter's progress over the period of the incumbent board. I do so as an outgoing executive who has not nominated for any future office bearer position.<br />
<br />
==2009 - 2010==<br />
2009 - 2010 has been a year which I would describe as both tumultuous and somewhat stagnant.<br />
<br />
==Tumultuous==<br />
Tumultuous insofar that during this term a number of impactive changes and developments have occurred. Some of these include the completion of most of the preparations towards allowing the Chapter to become an official fundraising organisation; increased representation by members of the board in attending international gatherings of the various parts of the Wikimedia foundation; the resignation of our inaugural President Brianna Laugher and a requirement to shuffle positions within the board to meet that vacancy; and in coming days a change of at least two thirds of the board, as long time stalwarts including Liam Wyatt and Brian Salter-Duke stand aside to allow others to take their place within the committee. Importantly I must note that despite adjustments of positions mid term, and the effect of such sudden change, a reasonable number of matters decided at the boards face to face meeting in January this year were either achieved or have been solidly commenced.<br />
<br />
==Somewhat stagnant==<br />
Somewhat stagnant, at least in my observation, due to an arrival by the Chapter at the stage parents would describe as the "terrible twos". The terrible twos can be a time of increased frustration for parents and custodians, and similarly for the board, as custodians of the growing WMAU child, we were confronted by a number of difficulties that hampered all of our good intentions. First and foremost we spent a good part of the year under-supported in the area of Information Technology. That lack of support placed considerable additional strain on our ability to receive and send communication, particularly with regards the role of secretary. I am very happy to note that this problem has now been mainly overcome.<br />
<br />
Second the board, as all boards do at times, struggled to attain a sense of cohesion, and at times there was open hostile argument between various individuals and sub-groups. I know that Brianna when she was President had to deal with such occasions, and in my own case too a good deal of time was spent receiving communications that required both quiet support and bold direct comment towards a more professional outlook. It is of course a fact that a change in most of the executive will adjust some of the intra-focus of the board but I am certain there will still be work for the incoming President in this area.<br />
<br />
All in all though the board managed to achieve a considerable amount and certainly to make it's presence felt on the international stage. Towards those achievements I congratulate my fellow board members and thank them for the pleasure of their company and the success that came when true commitment was given. <br />
<br />
==Special thanks to Liam==<br />
I also particularly which to make mention of Liam who as an inaugural committee member will be reverting to financial membership only. Liam has been confronted by a number of direct questions and requests over the past year; indeed I have been the instigator of many of them - however I wish to stand on record that from my persecutive Liam has overcome any and all of those issues in an extraordinarily professional manner. His presence on the board will be sorely missed and I pass on my personal best wishes towards him and his future endeavours.<br />
<br />
==Special thanks to Sarah plus a suggestion for the future==<br />
Finally, I wish to make comment and suggestion in relation to the position of Secretary. I note in general the extraordinary commitment and devotion by Sarah to this role. I note that she stands unopposed again for the position and I wish her well with regards her duties over the coming year. However, in my view, given the nature of how we must communicate and deal with both financial members as well as between the board; that it is the position of Secretary that presents the Chapter with biggest potential and actual bottleneck of activity slowdown. this is not to say that Sarah was defunct in any of her duties. It is to note that the position is far too large for any single volunteer and thus places too great a demand on that person. Indeed at times the sheer demand of work upon the Secretary has forced all other board members to slow down or delay further work whilst she has attempted to cope with what is already on her to do list.<br />
<br />
It is my suggestion then that the incoming board look to adjusting the duties of the Secretary so that another position takes on a good part of those responsibilities - and perhaps if the situation arises takes on the position of assistant or under-study. Of course that is only my view and the incoming board may consign as much or as little worth as they like upon my perspective.<br />
<br />
==Onwards==<br />
Onwards then for WMAU. I trust and hope for a bright and continuing future - and I look forward as a continuing financial member to watching that progress occur.<br />
<br />
I will see or speak to many of you at the AGM. Thank you for the opportunity to serve.<br />
<br><br />
<br />
Steve Peters<br><br />
Outgoing President<br><br />
WMAU - 2009-2010<br></div>VirtualStevehttps://wikimedia.org.au/w/index.php?title=Talk:2010-2011_AGM/Candidates/Craig_Franklin&diff=2955Talk:2010-2011 AGM/Candidates/Craig Franklin2010-09-13T10:22:35Z<p>VirtualSteve: Statement of support</p>
<hr />
<div>Hi Craig,<br />
<br />
I am very impressed with your candidate statement and I agree with your point that all potential office-bearers - whether the position is contested or not - should provide a statement for the perusal of members. I see that action as a courtesy and a sign of respect.<br />
<br />
There are many comments that I could make about the content of your statement but in brief I note that you have a good grasp of many of the issues to face the chapter - particularly with regards the role you are about to undertake - and yes the chapter should move forward to a more robust way of accounting.<br />
<br />
I also note in particular your comment that the chapter should ''have the election conducted by a suitably impartial individual, rather than the Secretary.'' I say this in full agreement with you as to the great job that Sarah has done in the past. Indeed I count Sarah as one of my oldest friends on wikipedia - but the chapter will do well in the future to remove any possible appearance of conflict of interest especially now that more money is likely to come into the chapters coffers. I will be very interested (as a financial member) to see if that change can be accomplished before the 2011-2012 AGM.<br />
<br />
My best wishes to you in your future role.[[User:VirtualSteve|VirtualSteve]] 20:22, 13 September 2010 (EST)</div>VirtualStevehttps://wikimedia.org.au/w/index.php?title=Talk:2010-2011_AGM/Candidates/Andrew_Owens&diff=2951Talk:2010-2011 AGM/Candidates/Andrew Owens2010-09-13T09:51:27Z<p>VirtualSteve: further comment</p>
<hr />
<div>Hello Andrew - I'm assuming you will accept questions and have posted them here but if you want me to put them on the candidature page please let me know.<br />
<br />
Firstly, well done posting your statement with as much time as possible for all financial members to consider your intentions etc. I am hopeful that every candidate, whether a vote or not is required puts their position up clearly for all to see.<br />
<br />
I have two questions - they may be related. <br />
<br />
*Question 1 - I (and I'd say others) were fully expecting to see you apply for a more senior position on the committee than a general member - can you tell us why you have decided not to put your application in for those positions? <br />
<br />
*Question 2 - which may be related to an answer to question 1 - During this current year of committee work you were at times inundated by real life commitments and you found this to impact to varying degrees upon your achievement of goals which you had set. Given that your stated goals this year are perhaps even more ambitious, what can you tell us about your ability to remain with your 'hands on the wheel' so to speak?<br />
<br />
I look forward to all financial members being able to read your answers.[[User:VirtualSteve|VirtualSteve]] 18:19, 13 September 2010 (EST)<br />
<br />
: Hi Steve, and thank you for your questions.<br />
: In answer to (1), I had intended to run for a more senior position, and others had encouraged me to do so. It came down to - others beat me to the nomination, and it seemed senseless to try and knock one of them off simply to get into a position myself and present members with an "either/or" choice, especially when there's such a shortage of candidates. (I would have run for such had the constitutional amendment currently on the table been passed.) John, Adam and Craig all bring things to the table from entirely different fields that I think we desperately need on board, and I particularly like the idea that we can break out of this "Australia is NSW/VIC" mindset that has pervaded the chapter since its foundation. A committee member in every state - now that's something I could never have imagined just 10 months ago.<br />
: I think that (2) is based on a misconception that time and real life commitments were the only factors which limited my effectiveness and ability to contribute during the term, particularly with getting the information pack moving. The entire committee has seen the plans and the first few completed components but I am yet to receive a single comment or serious offer of help on it. As for the last part of your question, I have both the time and the ability to see through the commitments I have laid out in this statement.<br />
: Our term was not noted for its activity or level of success, and it's worth noting the decision by more than half of the team including its leader (our second during the term) not to renominate, along with the general feeling inspired by a look across our published minutes over the term (both of which have attracted comment from members and former members) and the general state of the public mailing lists. Almost none of the decisions taken at our planning meeting in January, for which a variety of committee members were responsible, were put into effect either. The culture I have just described is not one that an Ordinary Member gets to have much say in - indeed, most of my candidate statement is not news to anyone on the last committee. I do not see any advantage in revisiting the past, however, so I will simply say that I am confident that a new leadership team and a new executive, as has been confirmed unopposed, will bring cultural change and offer new talents, skills and ideas to our chapter. Should I be elected, I will be doing everything I can to help them succeed. [[User:Orderinchaos|Orderinchaos]] 19:24, 13 September 2010 (EST)<br />
<br />
::Thank you Andrew - that is an interesting answer. I did not realise that you were of the feeling that an Ordinary Member did not have the same rights as executive members - I did not think that was the case. However I appreciate your expressing this belief at this time.<br />
::I must take some issue with your statement that ''none of the decisions taken at our planning meeting in January'' were put into effect. I can actually think of quite a few that were achieved. I also recall many comments that were provided to you in regards to the information booklet - however that was not the focus of my questions, and as you say we should not delve into the issues of the past too much. My question was more focused on three other issues being your continued education, seeking of work and political life - all of which had impacted upon you; and so my question was simply do you think that these (and other) issues will impact upon you in the same way this term?<br />
::I also note that you have often expressed your personal concern that WMAU is NSW/VIC based - I guess if you are re-elected that concern will be overcome?<br />
::In any event I wish you good luck with your nomination.[[User:VirtualSteve|VirtualSteve]] 19:51, 13 September 2010 (EST)</div>VirtualStevehttps://wikimedia.org.au/w/index.php?title=User_talk:Andrew_Owens/Archive_1&diff=2937User talk:Andrew Owens/Archive 12010-09-13T08:19:09Z<p>VirtualSteve: questions</p>
<hr />
<div>.<br />
<br />
== G'day andrew ==<br />
<br />
I left a note on your regional participation talk page sort of saying that I think transferring to the 'mainspace' of this wiki is probably a good idea - what do you think? :-) [[User:Privatemusings|Privatemusings]] 07:47, 11 December 2009 (UTC)<br />
: If it was just a general workspace rather than the official wiki for Wikimedia Australia, I'd agree - but given that, it's merely an idea at this stage that I'm hoping to further develop before presenting for consideration, and putting it in mainspace may give it an official air which it doesn't (yet) merit. [[User:Orderinchaos|Orderinchaos]] 10:24, 11 December 2009 (UTC)<br />
<br />
<br />
== Questions ==<br />
<br />
Good to see you've put your candidature statement up for all members. I've put a question or two on the talk page for your consideration.[[User:VirtualSteve|VirtualSteve]] 18:19, 13 September 2010 (EST)</div>VirtualStevehttps://wikimedia.org.au/w/index.php?title=Talk:2010-2011_AGM/Candidates/Andrew_Owens&diff=2935Talk:2010-2011 AGM/Candidates/Andrew Owens2010-09-13T08:19:04Z<p>VirtualSteve: two questions for Andrew</p>
<hr />
<div>Hello Andrew - I'm assuming you will accept questions and have posted them here but if you want me to put them on the candidature page please let me know.<br />
<br />
Firstly, well done posting your statement with as much time as possible for all financial members to consider your intentions etc. I am hopeful that every candidate, whether a vote or not is required puts their position up clearly for all to see.<br />
<br />
I have two questions - they may be related. <br />
<br />
*Question 1 - I (and I'd say others) were fully expecting to see you apply for a more senior position on the committee than a general member - can you tell us why you have decided not to put your application in for those positions? <br />
<br />
*Question 2 - which may be related to an answer to question 1 - During this current year of committee work you were at times inundated by real life commitments and you found this to impact to varying degrees upon your achievement of goals which you had set. Given that your stated goals this year are perhaps even more ambitious, what can you tell us about your ability to remain with your 'hands on the wheel' so to speak?<br />
<br />
I look forward to all financial members being able to read your answers.[[User:VirtualSteve|VirtualSteve]] 18:19, 13 September 2010 (EST)</div>VirtualStevehttps://wikimedia.org.au/w/index.php?title=2009-2010_AGM/President_report&diff=28852009-2010 AGM/President report2010-09-10T05:42:01Z<p>VirtualSteve: moved 2009-2010 AGM/President report to 2008-2009 AGM/President report: correcting date - report by Brianna must have been for 08-09</p>
<hr />
<div>#REDIRECT [[2008-2009 AGM/President report]]</div>VirtualStevehttps://wikimedia.org.au/w/index.php?title=2008-2009_AGM/President%27s_Report&diff=28832008-2009 AGM/President's Report2010-09-10T05:42:01Z<p>VirtualSteve: moved 2009-2010 AGM/President report to 2008-2009 AGM/President report: correcting date - report by Brianna must have been for 08-09</p>
<hr />
<div>__NOTOC__<br />
=Wikimedia Australia - We have only just begun=<br />
<br />
2009 has been an exciting and challenging year for Wikimedia Australia. As president, I have seen our committee coalesce into a more and more capable unit, our activities turn from nebulous possibilities into concrete realities, and our members take opportunities to spread the Wikimedia word around Australia.<br />
<br />
''We have only just begun!'' I say this as a statement of excitement, embracing the possible futures available to us. Our greatest challenge remains scrambling to take advantage of the opportunities available to us -- what a wonderful challenge to have. I also say it as a tempered assessment of our journey to date. As long as our dreams outstrip our capabilities, we have to keep perfecting our "crawl", in preparation for our "walk". This often means tedious red tape and formalities that seem to hold us back rather than push us forward. But learning to navigate the worlds of government, law, education, business and charity is a necessary activity, and helps to build an institutional knowledge, a foundation, that we need to have for the future. This knowledge can't be outsourced.<br />
<br />
==External outlook==<br />
The major event of the year for Wikimedia Australia was, of course, the '''[[GLAM-WIKI]] conference''' at the Australian War Memorial, Canberra, in August. I have asked our vice president, Liam Wyatt, to write something about this event, as it was undoubtedly his "baby". (See [[2009-2010_AGM/GLAM-WIKI Report]].) I am proud that Wikimedia Australia was able to help make it happen, and I was especially proud of the volunteers who helped out through the course of the conference. Their professionalism impressed many attendees including myself.<br />
<br />
Something of a precursor to GLAM-WIKI, the '''[[Backstage pass]] event''' in March was also a success, and an important first example of how we might start to build sustainable relationships with cultural institutions. Around a dozen Wikimedians visited the Powerhouse Museum and were treated to a "backstage" tour of some of the museum's most interesting collections. The PHM staff who attended also appreciated the opportunity to hear from real editors about how they work on Wikipedia. It is so far the first and only such event but I hope it will not be the last.<br />
<br />
Throughout the year we have also seen signs that the tide is turning on '''Australian government attitudes towards the dissemination of public sector information (PSI)'''. This is a topic closely aligned with the Wikimedia Australia aim of promoting the development of Free Cultural Works. To this end, we made a '''formal submission''' the federal Department of Broadband, Communications and the Digital Economy [[Submission on Australian Digital Future Directions|Australian Digital Future Directions inquiry]]. Informal contact with relevant groups such as Creative Commons Australia, and politicians via GLAM-WIKI, also helped us push this message.<br />
<br />
Since our inaugural AGM in January 2009, Wikimedia Australia has been represented at the following events:<br />
* Free as in Freedom miniconf, Linux.conf.au conference, Hobart, Tasmania<br />
* Open Day, Linux.conf.au conference, Hobart, Tasmania<br />
* Wikimedia chapters meeting, Berlin, Germany<br />
* Unlocking IP conference, UNSW, Sydney<br />
* Victoria EDNA ICT Workshop, State Library of Victoria, Melbourne<br />
* Australian Historical Association annual conference, University of the Sunshine Coast, Queensland<br />
* Wikimania, Buenos Aires, Argentina<br />
* Wikimedia Multimedia Usability Meeting, Paris, France<br />
* MelHack, Lonely Planet, Melbourne<br />
* OpenEdge conference, Sydney<br />
* National Digital Forum, Wellington, New Zealand<br />
<br />
These events represent a mix of technology, education and law events in Australia. They also show our participation in the '''Wikimedia chapters network and general Wikimedia movement'''. As a chapter I believe we have done a good job of staying abreast of happenings among other chapters, and calling on them for advice where appropriate.<br />
<br />
We have an impressive array of contacts and relationships with people in a large number of different organisations. Developing this network has certainly been a success for 2009.<br />
<br />
==Internal outlook==<br />
Looking now to more "inward" facing topics, a mixed success was the receipt of four grants from five applications to the '''Wikimedia Foundation (WMF) chapter grants''' application process, as well as a special grant for the GLAM-WIKI conference (see http://meta.wikimedia.org/wiki/Wikimedia_chapters/WMF_grants/Reporting_Guidance for the list of accepted grants; the GLAM-WIKI grant was awarded outside the ordinary timeframe). The other grants received were<br />
* '''Board Development''' (for the committee to meet in person and undertake training related to their committee position)<br />
* '''Conference and signage''' (for paying conference attendance fees)<br />
* '''Outreach Conference''' (for an inaugural Australian Wikimedia Academy)<br />
* '''Printing and collateral''' (for "start-up" merchandise and stationery costs).<br />
<br />
While it is pleasing that we were able to obtain these grants, and the trust from WMF to use them wisely, our activity in taking advantage of them since then has been disappointing. Plans for the Wikimedia Academy event fell through and this money has been returned to WMF. That was a sobering reminder that our first steps always need to be followed through. <br />
<br />
One of the first decisions the committee made was to ask Andrew Owens and Gideon Digby to become '''non-voting participants''' in the committee. Their presence and input has always been welcome and I believe this approach would be a useful one for future committees to adopt.<br />
<br />
'''Committee communication''' has been an ongoing topic of interest to me throughout the year. The committee primarily communicates via use of a committee mailing list, with a committee wiki also available. Meetings have mainly been conducted via IRC (similar to instant messaging), with one attempt at using Skype (internet telephony). We have held ten meetings since the 2008-2009 AGM, organised on an ad-hoc basis, which itself has been frustrating. I suspect the next committee will be better served by a fixed monthly meeting. We created a method to pass motions "by wiki", but this has not yet been used. Although we should know better than most how effective wikis can be, I think we have not found that sweet spot in our own communications yet. Committee meeting minutes have been promptly recorded by our secretary Sarah Ewart and published in a timely manner, which is a good precedent to have set.<br />
<br />
In February, the committee attempted to undertake an '''in-person''' strategic planning meeting, but this was significantly hampered by the non-attendance of two committee members and the two non-voting members. This was difficult as Wikimedia Australia had few funds at this time, and needed to ask participants to cover their own costs - something I don't consider to be acceptable or sustainable in the long-term. As we are a national organisation with people on both coasts and a few places in between, organising meetings will always be a trade-off between costs (both monetary and time) and effectiveness. I am a great believer in the benefits of in-person meetings, especially for building trust and avoiding misunderstandings so common in text-only communication. With receipt of the "Board Development" grant mentioned above, I hope that a better balance can now be found. It is a great shame that this committee was never able to completely meet even once in-person.<br />
<br />
Regarding our '''technical infrastructure''', we made some slow progress on this front in 2009, appointing Andrew Garrett (User:Werdna) as our sysadmin, and thanks to the Linux Users of Victoria, gaining a new (free) server. This will be a big improvement as we will have more control over our own systems, no space restrictions, and it may make the website load marginally faster for Australian visitors. Migration of existing systems is partially complete, and ongoing.<br />
<br />
Limitations of the memberdb software have also become more prominent, and there are plans to migrate to another system such as CiviCRM's CiviMember program. As we are likely to begin using CiviCRM for handling donations soon, it should also be easier for committee members to use a single cohesive system. We also opened a Paypal account and since August have been accepting credit card payments via Paypal.<br />
<br />
Taking part in the Wikimedia Foundation '''fundraiser''' was another issue we were slow to grasp, mainly because of mixed unspoken assumptions about what our role in it would be. Timing the AGM to be the same month as the start of the fundraiser is certainly a mistake, and in future I expect the AGM will always be held before November to give the new committee a chance to settle in and become familiar with the issues before the topic is thrust upon them.<br />
<br />
We still have a lot of progress to make on "internal" issues! Unlike external ones they are less likely to be noticed or appreciated, but things like setting up correct policies, or gaining deductible gift recipient (DGR) status, are insurance against future would-be mistakes and building blocks for bigger things in the future.<br />
<br />
==Thanks==<br />
I would like to thank all the committee members for their time, energy and expenses that they have put towards Wikimedia Australia in 2009. Discussion has been at times, spirited, almost always, respectful, and ultimately, we make better decisions for challenging one another. Thanks especially to Liam for his enormous effort on GLAM-WIKI, Sarah for her tireless (and often thankless) work on memberships and minutes, and Brian for his careful account-watching. <br />
<br />
Thanks also to<br />
* Linux Users of Victoria, for providing web hosting<br />
* Andrew Garrett, our volunteer sysadmin<br />
<br />
--Brianna Laugher, Wikimedia Australia president</div>VirtualStevehttps://wikimedia.org.au/w/index.php?title=Meeting:2010_AGM&diff=2881Meeting:2010 AGM2010-09-10T05:40:06Z<p>VirtualSteve: /* Agenda */ link</p>
<hr />
<div>The third '''Annual General Meeting''' (2010-2011) of Wikimedia Australia, Inc.&reg; will be held on Sunday 19th September 2010.<br />
<br />
==Date, Time and Location==<br />
The AGM will be held at 2:00pm AEST on Sunday 19th September 2010. Members are invited to organise local AGM meetups around the country. These meetups will act as regional AGM venues. The secretary will appoint a member at each regional venue to act as a Returning Officer. Members unable to attend a regional venue may call into the conference call individually or use IRC.<br />
<br />
If you are organising an AGM meetup, please provide the details on the relevant sub-page. If you are planning on attending a meetup, please sign your intended attendance on the relevant page.<br />
*[[/Melbourne]] <br />
*[[/Sydney]]<br />
*[[/Adelaide]]<br />
*[[/Brisbane]]<br />
*[[/Darwin]]<br />
*[[/Canberra]] <br />
*[[/Perth]]<br />
*[[/Hobart]]<br />
<br />
==Agenda==<br />
# Apologies, attendance (connect with returning officers in each locale)<br />
# Thanks<br />
# To confirm the minutes of the previous annual general meeting<br />
# To receive the committee reports<br />
## [[/Financial Report|Treasurer's Report]] (in accordance with section 30(3) of the Act)<br />
## Secretary's Report<br />
## [[2009-2010 AGM/President's Report|President's Report]]<br />
# To elect officers of the Association and the ordinary members of the committee<br />
## President<br />
## Vice President<br />
## Treasurer<br />
## Secretary<br />
## Ordinary Members (2)<br />
# To vote on proposed changes to the Association's Rules of Incorporation (see below for details)<br />
##Nominating for more than one seat<br />
##Corporate affiliate<br />
<br />
===Proposed rule changes===<br />
<br />
'''Notice is given of the following proposals for changing the Association's [[Rules]] of Incorporation''':<br />
<br />
===Nominating for more than one Office===<br />
<br />
*'''Motion:''' The committee proposes the Association's Rules are changed as follows:<br />
#Replace 23 (2) by: A candidate may nominate for one only of the offices and/or as an ordinary member of the committee, but may only be elected to one position. <br />
#Add at the end of 23(6): save that the ballot will be conducted in the order of offices as specified in 21(1) followed by the ordinary members of the committee, with any successful candidate for an office withdrawing, if nominated, from the ballot for ordinary membership of the committee. <br />
<br />
*'''Rationale:''' The committee recognizes, that where a member stands for an Office and fails, perhaps narrowly, to be elected, the committee may be losing valuable talent as the member can not be elected to any other Office or as an ordinary member of the committee. The committee discussed various broader proposals that would have allowed a member to stand for more than one Office, but there was no consensus to proceed with them. This motion merely allows a member to stand for one Office and as an ordinary member of the committee, withdrawing from the latter before the counting of votes if successful in the former.<br />
<br />
===Corporate affiliates===<br />
The committee proposes the rules be changed to allow corporate affiliates who would be entitled to attend AGMs but would have no vote.<br />
<br />
*'''Motion:''' The committee proposes the Association's Rules are changed as follows: <br />
#The proposal is: Add a new clause 4(13): Corporations and other bodies may become affiliates of the association by resolution of the management committee. Affiliates will pay such fees as determined by the management committee. Affiliates may send representatives as observers to General Meetings but they can not vote.<br />
<br />
*'''Rationale:''' The committee discussed the whole issue of corporate affiliates and corporate membership, the latter differing from the former by having voting rights. There was no consensus to support the latter at this time, but a clause allowing the former was carried without dissent. It allows the committee to appoint affiliates, but does not force them to do so.<br />
<br />
==Participating via Conference Call==<br />
Conference call information will be distributed on the members mailing list.<br />
<br />
==Participating via IRC==<br />
* Members may participate in the AGM by IRC through the channel [irc://irc.freenode.net/wikimedia-au-agm #wikimedia-au-agm]. If you have not used IRC before, you can find more information at [[IRC]].<br />
* If you wish to participate via IRC, you must email {{nospam|secretary|wikimedia.org.au}} with your intended IRC nick before the meeting, from the email address you registered with your membership details.<br />
* You must be "at the keyboard" for the duration of the meeting to be considered present.<br />
* Please note that you may not vote via IRC. Votes must be submitted using the information at [[voting via memberdb]].<br />
* It is preferred that members only use IRC if they are not able to join the conference call. If you are participating via the conference call, please don't also sign into the IRC channel as it creates problems with maintaining the attendance register.<br />
<br />
==Proxies==<br />
Members who are unable to attend the meeting may appoint another member to act as their proxy. Members wishing to appoint a proxy need to complete the [[2010-2011 AGM/Proxy form|proxy form]] and return it to the secretary no later than 24 hours before the scheduled time of the AGM. Only current financial members may act as proxies.<br />
<br />
==Committee election==<br />
All current financial members of Wikimedia Australia are eligible to stand for election to the 2010-2011 committee. All six seats on the committee will be up for re-election. The election will be held in the week preceding the AGM and the results will be announced and published during the AGM. If you would like to submit a nomination for a seat on the 2010-2011 committee, please email the Secretary at ''{{nospam|secretary|wikimedia.org.au}}''. A nomination<br />
must have two financial members supporting it and the candidate accepting it, and it must be received by the secretary before Sunday 12th September 2010. The secretary will add nominees to the nominations list once the nomination is complete and confirmed as valid.<br />
<br />
===Nominations===<br />
Information about candidates may be found on the [[2010-2011_AGM/Candidates|candidates]] page.<br />
<br />
*John Vandenberg (User:Jayvdb) nominated for President by Sarah Ewart, seconded by Adam Jenkins.<br />
*Adam Jenkins (User:Bilby) nominated for Vice President by Sarah Ewart, seconded by John Vandenberg.<br />
*Sarah Ewart (User:Sarah) nominated for Secretary by John Vandenberg, seconded by Brian Salter-Duke.<br />
*Andrew Owens (User:Orderinchaos) nominated for Ordinary Member by Brian Salter-Duke, seconded by Adam Jenkins.<br />
<br />
===Elected Members===<br />
To be announced.<br />
<br />
[[Category: Meetings]]</div>VirtualStevehttps://wikimedia.org.au/w/index.php?title=2009-2010_AGM/Presidents_Report&diff=28792009-2010 AGM/Presidents Report2010-09-10T05:39:50Z<p>VirtualSteve: moved 2009-2010 AGM/Presidents Report to 2009-2010 AGM/President's Report: ownership apostrophe</p>
<hr />
<div>#REDIRECT [[2009-2010 AGM/President's Report]]</div>VirtualStevehttps://wikimedia.org.au/w/index.php?title=2010-2011_AGM/President%27s_Report&diff=28772010-2011 AGM/President's Report2010-09-10T05:39:50Z<p>VirtualSteve: moved 2009-2010 AGM/Presidents Report to 2009-2010 AGM/President's Report: ownership apostrophe</p>
<hr />
<div>*Will post my report in the next few days.</div>VirtualStevehttps://wikimedia.org.au/w/index.php?title=2010-2011_AGM/President%27s_Report&diff=28752010-2011 AGM/President's Report2010-09-10T05:38:20Z<p>VirtualSteve: started</p>
<hr />
<div>*Will post my report in the next few days.</div>VirtualStevehttps://wikimedia.org.au/w/index.php?title=User_talk:VirtualSteve&diff=2861User talk:VirtualSteve2010-09-08T08:51:04Z<p>VirtualSteve: cleaning up</p>
<hr />
<div></div>VirtualStevehttps://wikimedia.org.au/w/index.php?title=2010-2011_AGM/Melbourne&diff=28592010-2011 AGM/Melbourne2010-09-08T08:19:07Z<p>VirtualSteve: +</p>
<hr />
<div>There will be a meeting in Melbourne for the AGM, at [http://doc.vic.computerbank.org.au/ ComputerBank] as for previous AGMs, followed by a meetup in North Melbourne.<br />
==Planning on attending==<br />
*[[User:Sarah|Sarah]]<br />
*[[user:Bduke|Brian]]<br />
*[[User:VirtualSteve|Steve]]</div>VirtualStevehttps://wikimedia.org.au/w/index.php?title=User:VirtualSteve&diff=2857User:VirtualSteve2010-09-08T08:16:42Z<p>VirtualSteve: Not standing for any position - cheers to all</p>
<hr />
<div>Hi all,<br />
<br />
Only a week and a bit until the AGM - and just to make it clear to financial members etc I will not be standing for any position in this year's AGM. My best wishes to those that do wish to nominate. [[User:VirtualSteve|VirtualSteve]] 18:16, 8 September 2010 (EST)</div>VirtualStevehttps://wikimedia.org.au/w/index.php?title=Meeting:2010_AGM&diff=2813Meeting:2010 AGM2010-08-29T23:56:26Z<p>VirtualSteve: /* Participating via IRC */ The election this year will be by postal voting</p>
<hr />
<div>The third '''Annual General Meeting''' (2010-2011) of Wikimedia Australia, Inc.&reg; will be held on Sunday 19th September 2010.<br />
<br />
==Date, Time and Location==<br />
The AGM will be held on Sunday 19th September 2010. Members are invited to organise local AGM meetups around the country. These meetups will act as regional AGM venues. The secretary will appoint a member at each regional venue to act as a Returning Officer. Members unable to attend a regional venue may call into the conference call individually or use IRC.<br />
<br />
If you are organising an AGM meetup, please provide the details on the relevant sub-page. If you are planning on attending a meetup, please sign your intended attendance on the relevant page.<br />
*[[/Melbourne]] <br />
*[[/Sydney]]<br />
*[[/Adelaide]]<br />
*[[/Brisbane]]<br />
*[[/Darwin]]<br />
*[[/Canberra]] <br />
*[[/Perth]]<br />
*[[/Hobart]]<br />
<br />
==Agenda==<br />
The agenda will be provided prior to the AGM.<br />
<br />
'''Notice is given of the following proposals for changing the Association's Rules of Incorporation''':<br />
<br />
===Nominating for more than one Office===<br />
<br />
*'''Motion:''' The committee proposes the Association's Rules are changed as follows:<br />
#Replace 23 (2) by: A candidate may nominate for one only of the offices and/or as an ordinary member of the committee, but may only be elected to one position. <br />
#Add at the end of 23(6): save that the ballot will be conducted in the order of offices as specified in 21(1) followed by the ordinary members of the committee, with any successful candidate for an office withdrawing, if nominated, from the ballot for ordinary membership of the committee. <br />
<br />
*'''Rationale:''' The committee recognizes, that where a member stands for an Office and fails, perhaps narrowly, to be elected, the committee may be losing valuable talent as the member can not be elected to any other Office or as an ordinary member of the committee. The committee discussed various broader proposals that would have allowed a member to stand for more than one Office, but there was no consensus to proceed with them. This motion merely allows a member to stand for one Office and as an ordinary member of the committee, withdrawing from the latter before the counting of votes if successful in the former.<br />
<br />
===Corporate affiliates===<br />
The committee proposes the rules be changed to allow corporate affiliates who would be entitled to attend AGMs but would have no vote.<br />
<br />
*'''Motion:''' The committee proposes the Association's Rules are changed as follows: <br />
#The proposal is: Add a new clause 4(13): Corporations and other bodies may become affiliates of the association by resolution of the management committee. Affiliates will pay such fees as determined by the management committee. Affiliates may send representatives as observers to General Meetings but they can not vote.<br />
<br />
*'''Rationale:''' The committee discussed the whole issue of corporate affiliates and corporate membership, the latter differing from the former by having voting rights. There was no consensus to support the latter at this time, but a clause allowing the former was carried without dissent. It allows the committee to appoint affiliates, but does not force them to do so.<br />
<br />
===Treasurer's Report===<br />
<br />
[[/Financial Report|Treasurer's Report]]<br />
<br />
==Participating via Conference Call==<br />
Conference call information will be distributed on the members mailing list.<br />
<br />
==Participating via IRC==<br />
* Members may participate in the AGM by IRC through the channel [irc://irc.freenode.net/wikimedia-au-agm #wikimedia-au-agm]. If you have not used IRC before, you can find more information at [[IRC]].<br />
* If you wish to participate via IRC, you must email {{nospam|secretary|wikimedia.org.au}} with your intended IRC nick before the meeting, from the email address you registered with your membership details.<br />
* You must be "at the keyboard" for the duration of the meeting to be considered present.<br />
* Please note that you may not vote via IRC. Voting this year will be by post, with voting documents send out in time for all members to return by use of a stamped addressed envelope. Votes must be received by a pre-detailed date, prior to the AGM. More details will follow soon.<br />
<br />
==Proxies==<br />
Members who are unable to attend the meeting may appoint another member to act as their proxy. Members wishing to appoint a proxy need to complete the [[2010-2011 AGM/Proxy form|proxy form]] and return it to the secretary no later than 24 hours before the scheduled time of the AGM. Only current financial members may act as proxies.<br />
<br />
==Committee election==<br />
All current financial members of Wikimedia Australia are eligible to stand for election to the 2010-2011 committee. All six seats on the committee will be up for re-election. The election will be held in the week preceding the AGM and the results will be announced and published during the AGM. <br />
===Nominations===<br />
If you would like to submit a nomination for a seat on the 2010-2011 committee, please email the Secretary at ''{{nospam|secretary|wikimedia.org.au}}''. A nomination<br />
must have two financial members supporting it and the candidate accepting it, and must be received by the Secretary before Sunday 12th September 2010. The secretary will add nominees to the nominations list once the nomination is complete and confirmed as valid. Nominees may provide a nomination statement if they wish. Once the nomination is complete and accepted as valid, the secretary will provide the nominee with a page where they may post their statement. <br />
<br />
===Elected Members===<br />
To be announced.<br />
<br />
[[Category: Meetings]]</div>VirtualStevehttps://wikimedia.org.au/w/index.php?title=Template:News/Original&diff=2733Template:News/Original2010-07-14T02:23:08Z<p>VirtualSteve: adjust, add link</p>
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{{newsitem wmau-a|Sept 19: |The third [[2010-2011_AGM|Annual General Meeting]] of Wikimedia Australia, Inc.&reg; to be held }}.<br />
{{newsitem wmau-a|August: |Wikimedia Australia's trial [[small grants]] program concludes.}}<br />
{{newsitem wmau-a|July 9: |Wikimania 2010 in Gdańsk, Poland!}} <br />
{{newsitem wmau-a|July 1: |[[Membership]] renewals due by July 1, 2010.}} <br />
{{newsitem wmau-a|June: |Liam Wyatt is spending five weeks volunteering at the British Museum as the first ever "volunteer Wikipedian in residence".}}<br />
{{newsitem wmau-a|May 14: | Brian-Salter-Duke is representing Wikimedia Australia at the Wikimedia Foundation's fundraising summit in Bristol, UK.}} <br />
{{newsitem wmau-a|May 9: |Brianna Laugher's resignation is reluctantly accepted at a special meeting of the committee, and [[User:VirtualSteve|Steve Peters]] is elected to complete the committee's current term as president.}}<br />
{{newsitem wmau-a|Apr 13:|Liam Wyatt is co-presenting a workshop at the annual "Museums and the Web" conference in Denver, USA.}}<br />
{{newsitem wmau-a|Apr 18: |Sarah Ewart and Andrew Owens are representing Wikimedia Australia at the 2010 Wikimedia Foundation Chapters meeting in Berlin, Germany.}}<br />
{{newsitem wmau-a|Apr 16: |Brianna Laugher is presenting at the National Library's Innovative Ideas Forum on the theme: "How technology is changing cultural institutions and the visitor experience, and how people integrate technology into their lives".}}</div>VirtualStevehttps://wikimedia.org.au/w/index.php?title=Template:News/Original&diff=2731Template:News/Original2010-07-14T02:20:07Z<p>VirtualSteve: added AGM date</p>
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<span class="plainlinks">[http://wikimedia.org.au/w/index.php?title=Template:News&action=edit edit]</span><br />
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{{newsitem wmau-a|September 19: |The third Annual General Meeting (2010-2011) of Wikimedia Australia, Inc.&reg; to be held }}.<br />
{{newsitem wmau-a|August: |Wikimedia Australia's trial [[small grants]] program concludes.}}<br />
{{newsitem wmau-a|July 9: |Wikimania 2010 in Gdańsk, Poland!}} <br />
{{newsitem wmau-a|July 1: |[[Membership]] renewals due by July 1, 2010.}} <br />
{{newsitem wmau-a|June: |Liam Wyatt is spending five weeks volunteering at the British Museum as the first ever "volunteer Wikipedian in residence".}}<br />
{{newsitem wmau-a|May 14: | Brian-Salter-Duke is representing Wikimedia Australia at the Wikimedia Foundation's fundraising summit in Bristol, UK.}} <br />
{{newsitem wmau-a|May 9: |Brianna Laugher's resignation is reluctantly accepted at a special meeting of the committee, and [[User:VirtualSteve|Steve Peters]] is elected to complete the committee's current term as president.}}<br />
{{newsitem wmau-a|Apr 13:|Liam Wyatt is co-presenting a workshop at the annual "Museums and the Web" conference in Denver, USA.}}<br />
{{newsitem wmau-a|Apr 18: |Sarah Ewart and Andrew Owens are representing Wikimedia Australia at the 2010 Wikimedia Foundation Chapters meeting in Berlin, Germany.}}<br />
{{newsitem wmau-a|Apr 16: |Brianna Laugher is presenting at the National Library's Innovative Ideas Forum on the theme: "How technology is changing cultural institutions and the visitor experience, and how people integrate technology into their lives".}}</div>VirtualStevehttps://wikimedia.org.au/w/index.php?title=Meeting:2010_AGM&diff=2729Meeting:2010 AGM2010-07-14T02:17:06Z<p>VirtualSteve: start page</p>
<hr />
<div>The third '''Annual General Meeting''' (2010-2011) of Wikimedia Australia, Inc.&reg; is to be held on Sunday 19th September 2010.<br />
<br />
==Date, Time and Location==<br />
<br />
'''Information''' for financial members of Wikimedia Australia regarding nominating, nominations, voting etc will be posted shortly.</div>VirtualStevehttps://wikimedia.org.au/w/index.php?title=User_talk:VirtualSteve&diff=2481User talk:VirtualSteve2010-06-17T03:35:01Z<p>VirtualSteve: /* thanks for stepping up / stepping in :-) */ response</p>
<hr />
<div>== G'day Steve :-) ==<br />
<br />
..and congrat.s on taking up the treasurer role for WMAU for this year - it was great to hear all the voices on the conference call yesterday - Liam was kind enough to open up his place for our very-mini-sydney meetup. You mention on your userpage that you're semi-regularly in Sydney, so I thought I'd swing by to see if you're going to be here sometime before christmas, just in case you fancied another mini-meet. It'd be great to have a drink, put a face to a name, and maybe talk about general chapter stuff (things like the possibility of a 'Wikipedia Day' in Jan being on my mind, for example) - being a rather crazy time of year schedule wise, it might be impossible, but worth a shot, I reckon... if you're passing through sydney at all, and are up for a drink, flick me an email, or leave the details below / my talk page, and I'll let the various sydney wiki folk know :-) best, [[User:Privatemusings|Privatemusings]] 23:25, 29 November 2009 (UTC)<br />
<br />
* Thank PM - I will take you up on your offer but can't prior to Christmas this year (at this stage most of my calendar is totally booked). That said my schedule can change through court/commission attendance at the stroke of a pen so if I am up this year I will let you know. Other than that I'll be sure to see you next year.<br />
:I should probably add though that I think you and I have met - at GLAM when you were about to do a "how to edit Wiki" slide show - your second one and I asked you if you would like any help. Not sure if you recall - or perhaps I have the wrong person?[[User:VirtualSteve|VirtualSteve]] 23:35, 29 November 2009 (UTC)<br />
::'tis the wrong chap, I'm afraid - I was an apologetic non-attendee at GLAM unfortunately :-( - look forward to a meetup when schedules permit :-) PS. - I just created [[Meetups]] on this wiki to see if centralisation of info / effort might help - I'm thinking that a watched page where folk who travel can drop in some info from time to time might facilitate 'pop in' type meetups throughout the year - thoughts / feedback most welcome of course! [[User:Privatemusings|Privatemusings]] 23:41, 29 November 2009 (UTC)<br />
:::My error then PM - but that it will make it even more enjoyable to meet. Have added a bit at [[Meetups]]. [[User:VirtualSteve|VirtualSteve]] 23:54, 29 November 2009 (UTC)<br />
<br />
Congrats are in order I see! Great to see rural and regional Australia get a look in. :-)Best of luck with the new role. -- [[User:Mattinbgn|Mattinbgn]] 06:59, 30 November 2009 (UTC)<br />
*Very kind Matt - thank you. I will do my best. Cheers [[User:VirtualSteve|VirtualSteve]] 07:04, 30 November 2009 (UTC)<br />
<br />
==chapter activities for 2010 :-)==<br />
G'day - I thought I'd swing by and see if there are any ideas kicking around for chapter activities at the mo. - I think we've probably missed doing anything for Wikipedia Day, but wondered if there was any other specific plans being mooted that I (or indeed other members!) might be able to engage with :-) - I have a few ideas, but am unsure as to how best get them going, so maybe buying into / hepling out an existing project might work too? happy new year too, and hope you're well! best, [[User:Privatemusings|Privatemusings]] 11:45, 8 January 2010 (EST)<br />
:ping on this, if you're around :-) - also is this a good spot for a chat on a related matter, or is another wmf talk page a better bet? I'd like to bend your ear for a bit of advice on progression of the schools project :-) best, [[User:Privatemusings|Privatemusings]] 09:40, 11 February 2010 (EST)<br />
::Not sure if I can help - but bend away and I'll soon let you know.[[User:VirtualSteve|VirtualSteve]] 17:01, 19 February 2010 (EST)<br />
:::I think it's pretty much common ground / general consensus that working in some way with schools is a good idea - I quite enjoy a gentle bit of outreach on a semi-regular basis, and I'd quite like that sort of thing to come under a chapter banner. I'm also someone who feels that the wikimedia projects are really unsuitable for children to access in many ways, a view that has been shared by the few teachers and educators I've spoken with to date - primarily in regard to the violent and sexual imagery readily available (in particular the growth of rather hardcore sexual stuff).<br />
:::So I advocate educating schools and school children about what wikipedia is / isn't etc. - though I don't think using wikipedia live in a classroom is really safe for the schools / parents / kids unless and until further technical measures are taken - (like descriptive image tagging, or age verification, or something!)<br />
:::I think working with Uni level students is interesting, valuable, and of course side-steps all of these issues. I'd like us to try and form a 'Chapter' view on this sort of thing - and of course work towards producing some info. that can be printed, distributed, used in the classroom or as part of presentations. I guess I'd like to ask you with your treasurer's hat on how we might go about setting a budget / applying for WMF funding / planning that side of things, and I'd like to ask you as a Chapter member and wiki volunteer for your thoughts on the former (access in schools etc.) - and if you have any suggestions for how a centralised Chapter discussion might occur such that a sort of 'official' view migh form?<br />
:::hope you're having a great 2010 anywhoo.... planning to be in Sydney any time soon? It must be almost time to rattle the cages for another meetup :-) best, [[User:Privatemusings|Privatemusings]] 13:21, 24 February 2010 (EST)<br />
::::I should probably answer your last question first. I have been in Sydney one or two days every week for the past 3 or 4 weeks (Melbourne also but not quite as often) and I have many other trips coming up. Trouble is that my trips are usually to attend court (with me prosecuting this, that or another case or to push for conciliation) - which means I fly out on the first plane and I go back on the last - with about enough time (if I am lucky) to unwrap a sandwich in between. The other trips are normally high level executive meetings - top management along with top/highish level union organisers plus a delegate or two - with the object/purpose being to form Enterprise Agreements etc. I work every weekday and also work every Saturday afternoon in another business that I own - Sunday's at the moment are relatively free - but I have an up and coming poultry/market garden in the process of construction so I spend at least 3 hours there from early Sunday to around lunch time. None of this is meant to sound like me playing a lonely violin whilst crying in my pretzels. I am busy and I wouldn't have it any other way - but it probably gives you some idea of how difficult attending meet-ups are for me.<br />
<br />
::::In relation to your other (and more important) point I make the following comments... As you know a school's project was canvassed in the IdeaScale forum. It was assessed and given a priority by all members of the current board. It didn't reach the highest level of priority but it wasn't completely cast off. Indeed we think it is a good idea but not the most important thing to do right now. I won't say any more than that yet because I note in another forum that Brianna is going to release a synopsis of the F2F meeting and the results (and it is right for me to allow her to do so). I guess when you read those results you will get a better idea of what the committee thinks it can achieve this term - and you might like to come back to me then with some other thoughts. On the other hand nothing is stopping you personally from working on this idea - and indeed something that did come out of the F2F as a higher priority might assist you in "gaining funds" for this work. So on this point have a look at the results - I believe they are being posted this week - and then we also have another meeting tomorrow which will move one of those items (and which might relate directly to your question) a little further on.<br />
<br />
::::Finally I note in passing your views (perhaps that should read concerns) in relation to the possible need for a "censorship". I understand your points - especially in regards to primary school children; high school children probably already know enough to know they can see and find images etc on wikipedia already - and university students are probably submitting the images you are concerned about ;) I don't have exactly the same concerns but I respect yours - and of course if you wish to create something that is aimed just at university aged students then that would be fine.<br />
<br />
::::All of that said, WikiAus can assist in helping you with this project - and may be able to assist with funds. In my view however, what the committee needs to see more of is members who are able to provide detailed, reasonable, analytical plans to progress our mission. From that perspective any suitable plan that does not require the committee members to be an actual player but rather a supporter, guide, director etc is likely to move ahead in leaps and bounds. <br />
<br />
::::To my mind WikiAus will grow exponentially a little bit as we the committee continue to remind members that we are here to support (rather than take charge and complete every mission) - BUT WikiAus will grow very, very fast when members submit plans for our approval which are reasonable, realistic, human and capital resource effective, and which support the mission - and then when those plans are accepted, those same submitting members take on the task they have planned. This doesn't mean that every plan that is submitted will be supported - but part of the growth will come in our understanding of what can and should be considered. I appreciate and thank you for your informative question.[[User:VirtualSteve|VirtualSteve]] 18:32, 24 February 2010 (EST)<br />
<br />
< music to my ears, Steve :-) - what I take from the above is that the best thing for me to do is to work up some plans for outreach work (basically I think I'll offer myself, and anyone else I can persuade on board to a few schools here in Sydney) - get them on this wiki, and that's the best way of ensuring momentum for the chapter at the mo. It's great to hear that concrete plans will be considered, and if feasible, the committee may be able to help with funding streams etc. - if the talks in Sydney go well, personally, I'd like to 'go bush' this year too, and offer members the chance to train up to give talks / seminars etc. throughout NSW (hence the funding requirement) - more on this anon :-) [[User:Privatemusings|Privatemusings]] 13:12, 25 February 2010 (EST)<small>I look forward to reading the committee's plans etc. very soon too!</small><br />
<br />
== thanks for stepping up / stepping in :-) ==<br />
<br />
Glad to see you've stuck your hand up to be Pres. for the remainder of this year :-) What do you reckon to us arranging a meetup of whatever scale next time you're available for an evening in Sydney - or lunchtime if that's likely to happen sooner? - It's been way too long since wiki types chatted in real life down / up here, so your presence could be just the catalyst we need - lemme know your thoughts :-) cheers, [[User:Privatemusings|Privatemusings]] 18:40, 16 May 2010 (EST)<br />
*Yes I guess given my new role a meet up is even more important. Trouble is that I don't normally know when I am going to be in Sydney except for a few days beforehand. For example I am in Sydney (Newtown (for a RL business meeting)and also at The Galleries at 500 George Street (I have to vist Kinokuniya Book Store there)) this Wednesday for a few hours. Is it possible to organise a meet up of a 3, 4 or more interested parties in just two days. I'd see it as an opportunity to hear the views of members and non-member wikimedians to gauge some views as to what they want from the chapter, committee etc. I could probably arrange to be available from around 12.30pm and have to leave no later than 2.00pm. What do you think? How could we/you get the word out and back to me before Tuesday evening?[[User:VirtualSteve|VirtualSteve]] 19:01, 16 May 2010 (EST)<br />
::heh.. my apologies for missing this note, and failing horribly therefore to meet. Hopefully you'll be back in the next couple of weeks, and maybe with just a wee bit more notice :-) - My feeling is that whilst there are a few willing wiki types (perhaps up to 7 or 8?) here in sydney, we're not really cohesive, or organised particularly strongly, so there's a bit of inertia to overcome. Lemme know when you're around anywhoo, because it'd be nice to say hi :-) cheers, [[User:Privatemusings|Privatemusings]] 14:21, 29 May 2010 (EST)<br />
:::following up - I was considering trying to organise one of [http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Wikipedia:Meetup/Sydney these] - and would hope to coincide with your schedule? Lemme know if a late June / early July time suits at all :-) cheers, [[User:Privatemusings|Privatemusings]] 11:34, 8 June 2010 (EST)<br />
::::following up again :-) cheers, [[User:Privatemusings|Privatemusings]] 12:57, 17 June 2010 (EST)<br />
:::::Sorry PM I have no time frame for being anywhere near Sydney in June or July - meaning that I will be there during that time, but at best I will have two maybe three days notice.[[User:VirtualSteve|VirtualSteve]] 13:35, 17 June 2010 (EST)</div>VirtualStevehttps://wikimedia.org.au/w/index.php?title=User_talk:Privatemusings/Archive_1&diff=2387User talk:Privatemusings/Archive 12010-05-16T09:02:53Z<p>VirtualSteve: /* Notification */ new section</p>
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<div>chat away! [[User:Privatemusings|Privatemusings]] 02:02, 7 January 2009 (UTC)<br />
<br />
== Flagged revs ==<br />
<br />
Hi PM,<br />
<br />
Flagged revs is indeed installed. But actually for the time being it is massive overkill. No one did the research to tell me how we should configure it, and I don't have time to do that myself, so since it was just getting in the way, I turned it off for now. <br />
<br />
The new main page is really lovely BTW. I hope the timely content can avoid becoming stale, though.<br />
<br />
cheers --[[User:Pfctdayelise|Brianna (pfctdayelise)]] 13:47, 17 May 2009 (UTC)<br />
<br />
== Responded ==<br />
<br />
... my page. Cheers :) [[User:VirtualSteve|VirtualSteve]] 23:38, 29 November 2009 (UTC)<br />
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== Re: chapter activities for 2010 :-) ==<br />
<br />
Hi,<br />
<br />
Sorry for my late reply. I am planning to post to members/wmau in the next few days regarding brainstorming for 2010. So if you can be a couple more days patient I think you will find a venue for your ideas. cheers --[[User:Pfctdayelise|Brianna (pfctdayelise)]] 23:39, 15 January 2010 (EST)<br />
:coolio - I'll look for it :-) [[User:Privatemusings|Privatemusings]] 11:35, 18 January 2010 (EST)<br />
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== Notification ==<br />
<br />
Good question, I have replied at my talk page with a current window of opportunity for such a meeting.[[User:VirtualSteve|VirtualSteve]] 19:02, 16 May 2010 (EST)</div>VirtualStevehttps://wikimedia.org.au/w/index.php?title=User_talk:VirtualSteve&diff=2385User talk:VirtualSteve2010-05-16T09:01:44Z<p>VirtualSteve: /* thanks for stepping up / stepping in :-) */ response - what about this Wednesday?</p>
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<div>== G'day Steve :-) ==<br />
<br />
..and congrat.s on taking up the treasurer role for WMAU for this year - it was great to hear all the voices on the conference call yesterday - Liam was kind enough to open up his place for our very-mini-sydney meetup. You mention on your userpage that you're semi-regularly in Sydney, so I thought I'd swing by to see if you're going to be here sometime before christmas, just in case you fancied another mini-meet. It'd be great to have a drink, put a face to a name, and maybe talk about general chapter stuff (things like the possibility of a 'Wikipedia Day' in Jan being on my mind, for example) - being a rather crazy time of year schedule wise, it might be impossible, but worth a shot, I reckon... if you're passing through sydney at all, and are up for a drink, flick me an email, or leave the details below / my talk page, and I'll let the various sydney wiki folk know :-) best, [[User:Privatemusings|Privatemusings]] 23:25, 29 November 2009 (UTC)<br />
<br />
* Thank PM - I will take you up on your offer but can't prior to Christmas this year (at this stage most of my calendar is totally booked). That said my schedule can change through court/commission attendance at the stroke of a pen so if I am up this year I will let you know. Other than that I'll be sure to see you next year.<br />
:I should probably add though that I think you and I have met - at GLAM when you were about to do a "how to edit Wiki" slide show - your second one and I asked you if you would like any help. Not sure if you recall - or perhaps I have the wrong person?[[User:VirtualSteve|VirtualSteve]] 23:35, 29 November 2009 (UTC)<br />
::'tis the wrong chap, I'm afraid - I was an apologetic non-attendee at GLAM unfortunately :-( - look forward to a meetup when schedules permit :-) PS. - I just created [[Meetups]] on this wiki to see if centralisation of info / effort might help - I'm thinking that a watched page where folk who travel can drop in some info from time to time might facilitate 'pop in' type meetups throughout the year - thoughts / feedback most welcome of course! [[User:Privatemusings|Privatemusings]] 23:41, 29 November 2009 (UTC)<br />
:::My error then PM - but that it will make it even more enjoyable to meet. Have added a bit at [[Meetups]]. [[User:VirtualSteve|VirtualSteve]] 23:54, 29 November 2009 (UTC)<br />
<br />
Congrats are in order I see! Great to see rural and regional Australia get a look in. :-)Best of luck with the new role. -- [[User:Mattinbgn|Mattinbgn]] 06:59, 30 November 2009 (UTC)<br />
*Very kind Matt - thank you. I will do my best. Cheers [[User:VirtualSteve|VirtualSteve]] 07:04, 30 November 2009 (UTC)<br />
<br />
==chapter activities for 2010 :-)==<br />
G'day - I thought I'd swing by and see if there are any ideas kicking around for chapter activities at the mo. - I think we've probably missed doing anything for Wikipedia Day, but wondered if there was any other specific plans being mooted that I (or indeed other members!) might be able to engage with :-) - I have a few ideas, but am unsure as to how best get them going, so maybe buying into / hepling out an existing project might work too? happy new year too, and hope you're well! best, [[User:Privatemusings|Privatemusings]] 11:45, 8 January 2010 (EST)<br />
:ping on this, if you're around :-) - also is this a good spot for a chat on a related matter, or is another wmf talk page a better bet? I'd like to bend your ear for a bit of advice on progression of the schools project :-) best, [[User:Privatemusings|Privatemusings]] 09:40, 11 February 2010 (EST)<br />
::Not sure if I can help - but bend away and I'll soon let you know.[[User:VirtualSteve|VirtualSteve]] 17:01, 19 February 2010 (EST)<br />
:::I think it's pretty much common ground / general consensus that working in some way with schools is a good idea - I quite enjoy a gentle bit of outreach on a semi-regular basis, and I'd quite like that sort of thing to come under a chapter banner. I'm also someone who feels that the wikimedia projects are really unsuitable for children to access in many ways, a view that has been shared by the few teachers and educators I've spoken with to date - primarily in regard to the violent and sexual imagery readily available (in particular the growth of rather hardcore sexual stuff).<br />
:::So I advocate educating schools and school children about what wikipedia is / isn't etc. - though I don't think using wikipedia live in a classroom is really safe for the schools / parents / kids unless and until further technical measures are taken - (like descriptive image tagging, or age verification, or something!)<br />
:::I think working with Uni level students is interesting, valuable, and of course side-steps all of these issues. I'd like us to try and form a 'Chapter' view on this sort of thing - and of course work towards producing some info. that can be printed, distributed, used in the classroom or as part of presentations. I guess I'd like to ask you with your treasurer's hat on how we might go about setting a budget / applying for WMF funding / planning that side of things, and I'd like to ask you as a Chapter member and wiki volunteer for your thoughts on the former (access in schools etc.) - and if you have any suggestions for how a centralised Chapter discussion might occur such that a sort of 'official' view migh form?<br />
:::hope you're having a great 2010 anywhoo.... planning to be in Sydney any time soon? It must be almost time to rattle the cages for another meetup :-) best, [[User:Privatemusings|Privatemusings]] 13:21, 24 February 2010 (EST)<br />
::::I should probably answer your last question first. I have been in Sydney one or two days every week for the past 3 or 4 weeks (Melbourne also but not quite as often) and I have many other trips coming up. Trouble is that my trips are usually to attend court (with me prosecuting this, that or another case or to push for conciliation) - which means I fly out on the first plane and I go back on the last - with about enough time (if I am lucky) to unwrap a sandwich in between. The other trips are normally high level executive meetings - top management along with top/highish level union organisers plus a delegate or two - with the object/purpose being to form Enterprise Agreements etc. I work every weekday and also work every Saturday afternoon in another business that I own - Sunday's at the moment are relatively free - but I have an up and coming poultry/market garden in the process of construction so I spend at least 3 hours there from early Sunday to around lunch time. None of this is meant to sound like me playing a lonely violin whilst crying in my pretzels. I am busy and I wouldn't have it any other way - but it probably gives you some idea of how difficult attending meet-ups are for me.<br />
<br />
::::In relation to your other (and more important) point I make the following comments... As you know a school's project was canvassed in the IdeaScale forum. It was assessed and given a priority by all members of the current board. It didn't reach the highest level of priority but it wasn't completely cast off. Indeed we think it is a good idea but not the most important thing to do right now. I won't say any more than that yet because I note in another forum that Brianna is going to release a synopsis of the F2F meeting and the results (and it is right for me to allow her to do so). I guess when you read those results you will get a better idea of what the committee thinks it can achieve this term - and you might like to come back to me then with some other thoughts. On the other hand nothing is stopping you personally from working on this idea - and indeed something that did come out of the F2F as a higher priority might assist you in "gaining funds" for this work. So on this point have a look at the results - I believe they are being posted this week - and then we also have another meeting tomorrow which will move one of those items (and which might relate directly to your question) a little further on.<br />
<br />
::::Finally I note in passing your views (perhaps that should read concerns) in relation to the possible need for a "censorship". I understand your points - especially in regards to primary school children; high school children probably already know enough to know they can see and find images etc on wikipedia already - and university students are probably submitting the images you are concerned about ;) I don't have exactly the same concerns but I respect yours - and of course if you wish to create something that is aimed just at university aged students then that would be fine.<br />
<br />
::::All of that said, WikiAus can assist in helping you with this project - and may be able to assist with funds. In my view however, what the committee needs to see more of is members who are able to provide detailed, reasonable, analytical plans to progress our mission. From that perspective any suitable plan that does not require the committee members to be an actual player but rather a supporter, guide, director etc is likely to move ahead in leaps and bounds. <br />
<br />
::::To my mind WikiAus will grow exponentially a little bit as we the committee continue to remind members that we are here to support (rather than take charge and complete every mission) - BUT WikiAus will grow very, very fast when members submit plans for our approval which are reasonable, realistic, human and capital resource effective, and which support the mission - and then when those plans are accepted, those same submitting members take on the task they have planned. This doesn't mean that every plan that is submitted will be supported - but part of the growth will come in our understanding of what can and should be considered. I appreciate and thank you for your informative question.[[User:VirtualSteve|VirtualSteve]] 18:32, 24 February 2010 (EST)<br />
<br />
< music to my ears, Steve :-) - what I take from the above is that the best thing for me to do is to work up some plans for outreach work (basically I think I'll offer myself, and anyone else I can persuade on board to a few schools here in Sydney) - get them on this wiki, and that's the best way of ensuring momentum for the chapter at the mo. It's great to hear that concrete plans will be considered, and if feasible, the committee may be able to help with funding streams etc. - if the talks in Sydney go well, personally, I'd like to 'go bush' this year too, and offer members the chance to train up to give talks / seminars etc. throughout NSW (hence the funding requirement) - more on this anon :-) [[User:Privatemusings|Privatemusings]] 13:12, 25 February 2010 (EST)<small>I look forward to reading the committee's plans etc. very soon too!</small><br />
<br />
== thanks for stepping up / stepping in :-) ==<br />
<br />
Glad to see you've stuck your hand up to be Pres. for the remainder of this year :-) What do you reckon to us arranging a meetup of whatever scale next time you're available for an evening in Sydney - or lunchtime if that's likely to happen sooner? - It's been way too long since wiki types chatted in real life down / up here, so your presence could be just the catalyst we need - lemme know your thoughts :-) cheers, [[User:Privatemusings|Privatemusings]] 18:40, 16 May 2010 (EST)<br />
*Yes I guess given my new role a meet up is even more important. Trouble is that I don't normally know when I am going to be in Sydney except for a few days beforehand. For example I am in Sydney (Newtown (for a RL business meeting)and also at The Galleries at 500 George Street (I have to vist Kinokuniya Book Store there)) this Wednesday for a few hours. Is it possible to organise a meet up of a 3, 4 or more interested parties in just two days. I'd see it as an opportunity to hear the views of members and non-member wikimedians to gauge some views as to what they want from the chapter, committee etc. I could probably arrange to be available from around 12.30pm and have to leave no later than 2.00pm. What do you think? How could we/you get the word out and back to me before Tuesday evening?[[User:VirtualSteve|VirtualSteve]] 19:01, 16 May 2010 (EST)</div>VirtualStevehttps://wikimedia.org.au/w/index.php?title=Template:News/Original&diff=2363Template:News/Original2010-05-14T00:04:34Z<p>VirtualSteve: Undo revision 2159 by VirtualSteve (talk)</p>
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* Wikipedia will turn 10 years old in January 2011 - send your ideas for celebrations to us now!<br />
* [http://wikiwednesday.org.au/wiki/Sydney Wiki Wednesdays in Sydney] - a regular bi-monthly meet for those interested in all things wiki.</div>VirtualStevehttps://wikimedia.org.au/w/index.php?title=Template:News/Original&diff=2143Template:News/Original2010-05-10T23:19:33Z<p>VirtualSteve: drop a couple off for space</p>
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<div>[[File:VirtualSteve.jpg|right]]<br />
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Hi all,<br />
<br />
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<br />
That's me to the right and in real life I am Steve Peters.<br />
<br />
Born and raised in Melbourne but now residing in the [[wikipedia:Riverina|Riverina]] area of Australia.<br />
<br />
I tend to travel quite a lot especially to Melbourne, Sydney, & Canberra. I'm occasionally in the other capital cities as well as other larger and smaller cities, both on the mainland and in Tasmania.<br />
<br />
My main attendances to editing are on [[wikipedia:User:VirtualSteve|English Wikipedia]], where I am an administrator; as well as at [[Commons:User:VirtualSteve|Commons]] where I often upload images - most of which are also categorised [[commons:Category:Photographs by VirtualSteve|here]].<br />
<br />
I am the [[Committee|current president]] for the Wikimedia Australia chapter. I am always happy to receive email messages asking pertinent questions in regards to that role. You may contact me on {{nospam|speters|wikimedia.org.au}}</div>VirtualStevehttps://wikimedia.org.au/w/index.php?title=Template:News/Original&diff=2139Template:News/Original2010-05-10T23:14:43Z<p>VirtualSteve: add news</p>
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{{newsitem wmau-a|May 9: |The Committee of Wikimedia Australia reluctantly accepts the resignation of Brianna Laugher who is moving on to other interests}}<br />
{{newsitem wmau-a|Apr 18: |Wikimedia Australia sent two representatives to the 2010 Chapters conference in Berlin. Exciting developments to follow!}}<br />
{{newsitem wmau-a|Feb 1: |The committee's strategy and planning meeting concluded with some clear goals and objectives for the year ahead.}}<br />
{{newsitem wmau-m|Nov 29: |The [[2009-2010 AGM|Annual General Meeting]] for 2009-2010 is held nationwide.}}<br />
{{newsitem wmau-a|Nov 7: |The [[:w:Queensland Museum|Queensland Museum]], with assistance from the chapter, has begun uploading images from the Bert Roberts photograph collection onto Wikimedia Commons. See the images [[:commons:Category:A E "Bert" Roberts plate glass photo collection|here]].}}<br />
{{newsitem wmau-a|Aug 7: |[[GLAM|GLAM-WIKI]] has been and gone! A fantastic conference by all accounts. }}<br />
{{newsitem wmau-a|June 20: |Wikisource has promoted its first Australian Content to 'featured' status - see below for full details}}<br />
{{newsitem wmau-a|May 26: |[[w:Australian_War_Memorial|The Australian War Memorial]] are confirmed as hosts of the upcoming [[GLAM]] conference}}</div>VirtualStevehttps://wikimedia.org.au/w/index.php?title=User_talk:VirtualSteve&diff=1905User talk:VirtualSteve2010-02-24T07:36:31Z<p>VirtualSteve: /* chapter activities for 2010 :-) */ clarity</p>
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<div>== G'day Steve :-) ==<br />
<br />
..and congrat.s on taking up the treasurer role for WMAU for this year - it was great to hear all the voices on the conference call yesterday - Liam was kind enough to open up his place for our very-mini-sydney meetup. You mention on your userpage that you're semi-regularly in Sydney, so I thought I'd swing by to see if you're going to be here sometime before christmas, just in case you fancied another mini-meet. It'd be great to have a drink, put a face to a name, and maybe talk about general chapter stuff (things like the possibility of a 'Wikipedia Day' in Jan being on my mind, for example) - being a rather crazy time of year schedule wise, it might be impossible, but worth a shot, I reckon... if you're passing through sydney at all, and are up for a drink, flick me an email, or leave the details below / my talk page, and I'll let the various sydney wiki folk know :-) best, [[User:Privatemusings|Privatemusings]] 23:25, 29 November 2009 (UTC)<br />
<br />
* Thank PM - I will take you up on your offer but can't prior to Christmas this year (at this stage most of my calendar is totally booked). That said my schedule can change through court/commission attendance at the stroke of a pen so if I am up this year I will let you know. Other than that I'll be sure to see you next year.<br />
:I should probably add though that I think you and I have met - at GLAM when you were about to do a "how to edit Wiki" slide show - your second one and I asked you if you would like any help. Not sure if you recall - or perhaps I have the wrong person?[[User:VirtualSteve|VirtualSteve]] 23:35, 29 November 2009 (UTC)<br />
::'tis the wrong chap, I'm afraid - I was an apologetic non-attendee at GLAM unfortunately :-( - look forward to a meetup when schedules permit :-) PS. - I just created [[Meetups]] on this wiki to see if centralisation of info / effort might help - I'm thinking that a watched page where folk who travel can drop in some info from time to time might facilitate 'pop in' type meetups throughout the year - thoughts / feedback most welcome of course! [[User:Privatemusings|Privatemusings]] 23:41, 29 November 2009 (UTC)<br />
:::My error then PM - but that it will make it even more enjoyable to meet. Have added a bit at [[Meetups]]. [[User:VirtualSteve|VirtualSteve]] 23:54, 29 November 2009 (UTC)<br />
<br />
Congrats are in order I see! Great to see rural and regional Australia get a look in. :-)Best of luck with the new role. -- [[User:Mattinbgn|Mattinbgn]] 06:59, 30 November 2009 (UTC)<br />
*Very kind Matt - thank you. I will do my best. Cheers [[User:VirtualSteve|VirtualSteve]] 07:04, 30 November 2009 (UTC)<br />
<br />
==chapter activities for 2010 :-)==<br />
G'day - I thought I'd swing by and see if there are any ideas kicking around for chapter activities at the mo. - I think we've probably missed doing anything for Wikipedia Day, but wondered if there was any other specific plans being mooted that I (or indeed other members!) might be able to engage with :-) - I have a few ideas, but am unsure as to how best get them going, so maybe buying into / hepling out an existing project might work too? happy new year too, and hope you're well! best, [[User:Privatemusings|Privatemusings]] 11:45, 8 January 2010 (EST)<br />
:ping on this, if you're around :-) - also is this a good spot for a chat on a related matter, or is another wmf talk page a better bet? I'd like to bend your ear for a bit of advice on progression of the schools project :-) best, [[User:Privatemusings|Privatemusings]] 09:40, 11 February 2010 (EST)<br />
::Not sure if I can help - but bend away and I'll soon let you know.[[User:VirtualSteve|VirtualSteve]] 17:01, 19 February 2010 (EST)<br />
:::I think it's pretty much common ground / general consensus that working in some way with schools is a good idea - I quite enjoy a gentle bit of outreach on a semi-regular basis, and I'd quite like that sort of thing to come under a chapter banner. I'm also someone who feels that the wikimedia projects are really unsuitable for children to access in many ways, a view that has been shared by the few teachers and educators I've spoken with to date - primarily in regard to the violent and sexual imagery readily available (in particular the growth of rather hardcore sexual stuff).<br />
:::So I advocate educating schools and school children about what wikipedia is / isn't etc. - though I don't think using wikipedia live in a classroom is really safe for the schools / parents / kids unless and until further technical measures are taken - (like descriptive image tagging, or age verification, or something!)<br />
:::I think working with Uni level students is interesting, valuable, and of course side-steps all of these issues. I'd like us to try and form a 'Chapter' view on this sort of thing - and of course work towards producing some info. that can be printed, distributed, used in the classroom or as part of presentations. I guess I'd like to ask you with your treasurer's hat on how we might go about setting a budget / applying for WMF funding / planning that side of things, and I'd like to ask you as a Chapter member and wiki volunteer for your thoughts on the former (access in schools etc.) - and if you have any suggestions for how a centralised Chapter discussion might occur such that a sort of 'official' view migh form?<br />
:::hope you're having a great 2010 anywhoo.... planning to be in Sydney any time soon? It must be almost time to rattle the cages for another meetup :-) best, [[User:Privatemusings|Privatemusings]] 13:21, 24 February 2010 (EST)<br />
::::I should probably answer your last question first. I have been in Sydney one or two days every week for the past 3 or 4 weeks (Melbourne also but not quite as often) and I have many other trips coming up. Trouble is that my trips are usually to attend court (with me prosecuting this, that or another case or to push for conciliation) - which means I fly out on the first plane and I go back on the last - with about enough time (if I am lucky) to unwrap a sandwich in between. The other trips are normally high level executive meetings - top management along with top/highish level union organisers plus a delegate or two - with the object/purpose being to form Enterprise Agreements etc. I work every weekday and also work every Saturday afternoon in another business that I own - Sunday's at the moment are relatively free - but I have an up and coming poultry/market garden in the process of construction so I spend at least 3 hours there from early Sunday to around lunch time. None of this is meant to sound like me playing a lonely violin whilst crying in my pretzels. I am busy and I wouldn't have it any other way - but it probably gives you some idea of how difficult attending meet-ups are for me.<br />
<br />
::::In relation to your other (and more important) point I make the following comments... As you know a school's project was canvassed in the IdeaScale forum. It was assessed and given a priority by all members of the current board. It didn't reach the highest level of priority but it wasn't completely cast off. Indeed we think it is a good idea but not the most important thing to do right now. I won't say any more than that yet because I note in another forum that Brianna is going to release a synopsis of the F2F meeting and the results (and it is right for me to allow her to do so). I guess when you read those results you will get a better idea of what the committee thinks it can achieve this term - and you might like to come back to me then with some other thoughts. On the other hand nothing is stopping you personally from working on this idea - and indeed something that did come out of the F2F as a higher priority might assist you in "gaining funds" for this work. So on this point have a look at the results - I believe they are being posted this week - and then we also have another meeting tomorrow which will move one of those items (and which might relate directly to your question) a little further on.<br />
<br />
::::Finally I note in passing your views (perhaps that should read concerns) in relation to the possible need for a "censorship". I understand your points - especially in regards to primary school children; high school children probably already know enough to know they can see and find images etc on wikipedia already - and university students are probably submitting the images you are concerned about ;) I don't have exactly the same concerns but I respect yours - and of course if you wish to create something that is aimed just at university aged students then that would be fine.<br />
<br />
::::All of that said, WikiAus can assist in helping you with this project - and may be able to assist with funds. In my view however, what the committee needs to see more of is members who are able to provide detailed, reasonable, analytical plans to progress our mission. From that perspective any suitable plan that does not require the committee members to be an actual player but rather a supporter, guide, director etc is likely to move ahead in leaps and bounds. <br />
<br />
::::To my mind WikiAus will grow exponentially a little bit as we the committee continue to remind members that we are here to support (rather than take charge and complete every mission) - BUT WikiAus will grow very, very fast when members submit plans for our approval which are reasonable, realistic, human and capital resource effective, and which support the mission - and then when those plans are accepted, those same submitting members take on the task they have planned. This doesn't mean that every plan that is submitted will be supported - but part of the growth will come in our understanding of what can and should be considered. I appreciate and thank you for your informative question.[[User:VirtualSteve|VirtualSteve]] 18:32, 24 February 2010 (EST)</div>VirtualStevehttps://wikimedia.org.au/w/index.php?title=User_talk:VirtualSteve&diff=1903User talk:VirtualSteve2010-02-24T07:32:28Z<p>VirtualSteve: /* chapter activities for 2010 :-) */ response</p>
<hr />
<div>== G'day Steve :-) ==<br />
<br />
..and congrat.s on taking up the treasurer role for WMAU for this year - it was great to hear all the voices on the conference call yesterday - Liam was kind enough to open up his place for our very-mini-sydney meetup. You mention on your userpage that you're semi-regularly in Sydney, so I thought I'd swing by to see if you're going to be here sometime before christmas, just in case you fancied another mini-meet. It'd be great to have a drink, put a face to a name, and maybe talk about general chapter stuff (things like the possibility of a 'Wikipedia Day' in Jan being on my mind, for example) - being a rather crazy time of year schedule wise, it might be impossible, but worth a shot, I reckon... if you're passing through sydney at all, and are up for a drink, flick me an email, or leave the details below / my talk page, and I'll let the various sydney wiki folk know :-) best, [[User:Privatemusings|Privatemusings]] 23:25, 29 November 2009 (UTC)<br />
<br />
* Thank PM - I will take you up on your offer but can't prior to Christmas this year (at this stage most of my calendar is totally booked). That said my schedule can change through court/commission attendance at the stroke of a pen so if I am up this year I will let you know. Other than that I'll be sure to see you next year.<br />
:I should probably add though that I think you and I have met - at GLAM when you were about to do a "how to edit Wiki" slide show - your second one and I asked you if you would like any help. Not sure if you recall - or perhaps I have the wrong person?[[User:VirtualSteve|VirtualSteve]] 23:35, 29 November 2009 (UTC)<br />
::'tis the wrong chap, I'm afraid - I was an apologetic non-attendee at GLAM unfortunately :-( - look forward to a meetup when schedules permit :-) PS. - I just created [[Meetups]] on this wiki to see if centralisation of info / effort might help - I'm thinking that a watched page where folk who travel can drop in some info from time to time might facilitate 'pop in' type meetups throughout the year - thoughts / feedback most welcome of course! [[User:Privatemusings|Privatemusings]] 23:41, 29 November 2009 (UTC)<br />
:::My error then PM - but that it will make it even more enjoyable to meet. Have added a bit at [[Meetups]]. [[User:VirtualSteve|VirtualSteve]] 23:54, 29 November 2009 (UTC)<br />
<br />
Congrats are in order I see! Great to see rural and regional Australia get a look in. :-)Best of luck with the new role. -- [[User:Mattinbgn|Mattinbgn]] 06:59, 30 November 2009 (UTC)<br />
*Very kind Matt - thank you. I will do my best. Cheers [[User:VirtualSteve|VirtualSteve]] 07:04, 30 November 2009 (UTC)<br />
<br />
==chapter activities for 2010 :-)==<br />
G'day - I thought I'd swing by and see if there are any ideas kicking around for chapter activities at the mo. - I think we've probably missed doing anything for Wikipedia Day, but wondered if there was any other specific plans being mooted that I (or indeed other members!) might be able to engage with :-) - I have a few ideas, but am unsure as to how best get them going, so maybe buying into / hepling out an existing project might work too? happy new year too, and hope you're well! best, [[User:Privatemusings|Privatemusings]] 11:45, 8 January 2010 (EST)<br />
:ping on this, if you're around :-) - also is this a good spot for a chat on a related matter, or is another wmf talk page a better bet? I'd like to bend your ear for a bit of advice on progression of the schools project :-) best, [[User:Privatemusings|Privatemusings]] 09:40, 11 February 2010 (EST)<br />
::Not sure if I can help - but bend away and I'll soon let you know.[[User:VirtualSteve|VirtualSteve]] 17:01, 19 February 2010 (EST)<br />
:::I think it's pretty much common ground / general consensus that working in some way with schools is a good idea - I quite enjoy a gentle bit of outreach on a semi-regular basis, and I'd quite like that sort of thing to come under a chapter banner. I'm also someone who feels that the wikimedia projects are really unsuitable for children to access in many ways, a view that has been shared by the few teachers and educators I've spoken with to date - primarily in regard to the violent and sexual imagery readily available (in particular the growth of rather hardcore sexual stuff).<br />
:::So I advocate educating schools and school children about what wikipedia is / isn't etc. - though I don't think using wikipedia live in a classroom is really safe for the schools / parents / kids unless and until further technical measures are taken - (like descriptive image tagging, or age verification, or something!)<br />
:::I think working with Uni level students is interesting, valuable, and of course side-steps all of these issues. I'd like us to try and form a 'Chapter' view on this sort of thing - and of course work towards producing some info. that can be printed, distributed, used in the classroom or as part of presentations. I guess I'd like to ask you with your treasurer's hat on how we might go about setting a budget / applying for WMF funding / planning that side of things, and I'd like to ask you as a Chapter member and wiki volunteer for your thoughts on the former (access in schools etc.) - and if you have any suggestions for how a centralised Chapter discussion might occur such that a sort of 'official' view migh form?<br />
:::hope you're having a great 2010 anywhoo.... planning to be in Sydney any time soon? It must be almost time to rattle the cages for another meetup :-) best, [[User:Privatemusings|Privatemusings]] 13:21, 24 February 2010 (EST)<br />
::::I should probably answer your last question first. I have been in Sydney one or two days every week for the past 3 or 4 weeks (Melbourne also but not quite as often) and I have many other trips coming up. Trouble is that my trips are usually to attend court (with me prosecuting this, that or another case or to push for conciliation) - which means I fly out on the first plane and I go back on the last - with about enough time (if I am lucky) to unwrap a sandwich in between. The other trips are normally high level executive meetings - top management along with top/highish level union organisers plus a delegate or two - with the object/purpose being to form Enterprise Agreements etc. I work every weekday and also work every Saturday afternoon in another business that I own - Sunday's at the moment are relatively free - but I have an up and coming poultry/market garden in the process of construction so I spend at least 3 hours there from early Sunday to around lunch time. None of this is meant to sound like me playing a lonely violin whilst crying in my pretzels. I am busy and I wouldn't have it any other way - but it probably gives you some idea of how difficult attending meet-ups are for me.<br />
<br />
::::In relation to your other (and more important) point I make the following comments... As you know a school's project was canvassed in the IdeaScale forum. It was assessed and given a priority by all members of the current board. It didn't reach the highest level of priority but it wasn't completely cast off. Indeed we think it is a good idea but not the most important thing to do right now. I won't say any more than that yet because I note in another forum that Brianna is going to release a synopsis of the F2F meeting and the results (and it is right for me to allow her to do so). I guess when you read those results you will get a better idea of what the committee thinks it can achieve this term - and you might like to come back to me then with some other thoughts. On the other hand nothing is stopping you personally from working on this idea - and indeed something that did come out of the F2F as a higher priority might assist you in "gaining funds" for this work. So on this point have a look at the results - I believe they are being posted this week - and then we also have another meeting tomorrow which will move one of those items (and which might relate directly to your question) a little further on.<br />
<br />
::::Finally I note in passing your views (perhaps that should read concerns) in relation to the possible need for a "censorship". I understand your points - especially in regards to primary school children; high school children probably already know enough to know they can see and find images etc on wikipedia already - and university students are probably submitting the images you are concerned about ;) I don't have exactly the same concerns but I respect yours - and of course if you wish to create something that is aimed just at university aged students then that would be fine.<br />
<br />
::::All of that said, WikiAus can assist in helping you with this project - and may be able to assist with funds. In my view however, what the committee needs to see more of is members who are able to provide detailed, reasonable, analytical plans to progress our mission. From that perspective any suitable plan that does not require the committee or its members to be an actual player but rather a supporter, guide, director etc is likely to move ahead in leaps and bounds. <br />
<br />
::::To my mind WikiAus will grow exponentially a little bit as we the committee continue to remind members that we are here to support (rather than take charge and complete every mission) - BUT WikiAus will grow very, very fast when members submit plans for our approval which are reasonable, realistic, human and capital resource effective, and which support the mission - and then when those plans are accepted, those same submitting members take on the task they have planned. This doesn't mean that every plan that is submitted will be supported - but part of the growth will come in our understanding of what can and should be considered. I appreciate and thank you for your informative question.[[User:VirtualSteve|VirtualSteve]] 18:32, 24 February 2010 (EST)</div>VirtualStevehttps://wikimedia.org.au/w/index.php?title=User_talk:VirtualSteve&diff=1899User talk:VirtualSteve2010-02-19T06:01:16Z<p>VirtualSteve: /* chapter activities for 2010 :-) */ response</p>
<hr />
<div>== G'day Steve :-) ==<br />
<br />
..and congrat.s on taking up the treasurer role for WMAU for this year - it was great to hear all the voices on the conference call yesterday - Liam was kind enough to open up his place for our very-mini-sydney meetup. You mention on your userpage that you're semi-regularly in Sydney, so I thought I'd swing by to see if you're going to be here sometime before christmas, just in case you fancied another mini-meet. It'd be great to have a drink, put a face to a name, and maybe talk about general chapter stuff (things like the possibility of a 'Wikipedia Day' in Jan being on my mind, for example) - being a rather crazy time of year schedule wise, it might be impossible, but worth a shot, I reckon... if you're passing through sydney at all, and are up for a drink, flick me an email, or leave the details below / my talk page, and I'll let the various sydney wiki folk know :-) best, [[User:Privatemusings|Privatemusings]] 23:25, 29 November 2009 (UTC)<br />
<br />
* Thank PM - I will take you up on your offer but can't prior to Christmas this year (at this stage most of my calendar is totally booked). That said my schedule can change through court/commission attendance at the stroke of a pen so if I am up this year I will let you know. Other than that I'll be sure to see you next year.<br />
:I should probably add though that I think you and I have met - at GLAM when you were about to do a "how to edit Wiki" slide show - your second one and I asked you if you would like any help. Not sure if you recall - or perhaps I have the wrong person?[[User:VirtualSteve|VirtualSteve]] 23:35, 29 November 2009 (UTC)<br />
::'tis the wrong chap, I'm afraid - I was an apologetic non-attendee at GLAM unfortunately :-( - look forward to a meetup when schedules permit :-) PS. - I just created [[Meetups]] on this wiki to see if centralisation of info / effort might help - I'm thinking that a watched page where folk who travel can drop in some info from time to time might facilitate 'pop in' type meetups throughout the year - thoughts / feedback most welcome of course! [[User:Privatemusings|Privatemusings]] 23:41, 29 November 2009 (UTC)<br />
:::My error then PM - but that it will make it even more enjoyable to meet. Have added a bit at [[Meetups]]. [[User:VirtualSteve|VirtualSteve]] 23:54, 29 November 2009 (UTC)<br />
<br />
Congrats are in order I see! Great to see rural and regional Australia get a look in. :-)Best of luck with the new role. -- [[User:Mattinbgn|Mattinbgn]] 06:59, 30 November 2009 (UTC)<br />
*Very kind Matt - thank you. I will do my best. Cheers [[User:VirtualSteve|VirtualSteve]] 07:04, 30 November 2009 (UTC)<br />
<br />
==chapter activities for 2010 :-)==<br />
G'day - I thought I'd swing by and see if there are any ideas kicking around for chapter activities at the mo. - I think we've probably missed doing anything for Wikipedia Day, but wondered if there was any other specific plans being mooted that I (or indeed other members!) might be able to engage with :-) - I have a few ideas, but am unsure as to how best get them going, so maybe buying into / hepling out an existing project might work too? happy new year too, and hope you're well! best, [[User:Privatemusings|Privatemusings]] 11:45, 8 January 2010 (EST)<br />
:ping on this, if you're around :-) - also is this a good spot for a chat on a related matter, or is another wmf talk page a better bet? I'd like to bend your ear for a bit of advice on progression of the schools project :-) best, [[User:Privatemusings|Privatemusings]] 09:40, 11 February 2010 (EST)<br />
::Not sure if I can help - but bend away and I'll soon let you know.[[User:VirtualSteve|VirtualSteve]] 17:01, 19 February 2010 (EST)</div>VirtualStevehttps://wikimedia.org.au/w/index.php?title=Talk:Wikimedia_Australia/Archive_1&diff=1883Talk:Wikimedia Australia/Archive 12010-02-10T20:44:46Z<p>VirtualSteve: /* Seeking inclusion of a bookmark icon */ well done</p>
<hr />
<div>thought I'd kick off the main page talk page by wondering why it's protected? - I've no particular idea in mind for changes (yet!) - but thought I'd ask this first :-) [[User:Privatemusings|Privatemusings]] 04:24, 18 January 2009 (UTC)<br />
:ah... it's not! doh! - I think it looked that way to me a) because I'm stupid and b) because I wasn't logged in ;-) [[User:Privatemusings|Privatemusings]] 04:25, 18 January 2009 (UTC)<br />
<br />
== weird image behaviour ==<br />
<br />
could someone else confirm that the topographic map of oz appears as a redlink non-image when viewing this page from an IP? - that's what's happening for me, and it's odd! [[User:Privatemusings|Privatemusings]] 01:44, 11 February 2009 (UTC)<br />
:I am seeing the same problem, and only when logged out. [[User:Jayvdb|John Vandenberg]] 02:53, 11 February 2009 (UTC)<br />
::Same here, but it worked after I [http://www.wikimedia.org.au/wiki/Wikimedia_Australia?action=purge purged] the page. The wiki uses [[mw:Manual:$wgForeignFileRepos|InstantCommons]] which has not been widely tested yet. [[User:Angela|Angela]] 05:06, 11 February 2009 (UTC)<br />
:::just confirming it's fixed for me too... prolly the purge thing? [[User:Privatemusings|Privatemusings]] 02:32, 13 February 2009 (UTC)<br />
<br />
== frontpage redesign ==<br />
<br />
After grumbling a bit, and then announcing my experimentation on the mailing list yesterday, I felt 'bold' this morning, and have gone ahead and dun it! It's a 'copy and paste' move, which I sort of vaguely understand creates some problems - I've referred to the page history [[User_talk:Privatemusings/play|here]], and welcome ideas or technical means to ensure that we're fully compliant with whatever 'history' requirements are in vogue :-) Comments / tweaks / merciless editing of the mainpage is also most welcome... I hope this represents a modest improvement over the previous, and will of course continue to improve etc. over the next few days etc. cheers, [[User:Privatemusings|Privatemusings]] 21:55, 15 May 2009 (UTC)<br />
<br />
== Seeking inclusion of a bookmark icon ==<br />
Is it possible to have the source code for pages at wikimedia.org.au include a bookmark icon? I am asking because I think there may be others (like me) who maintain bookmarked pages as small icons in their bookmarks toolbar (without addition of description) and which can then be clicked on by site. Such an addition will also add further professionalism to the site - similarly to English Wikipedia. I think a *.ico image (being a miniature of our Wikimedia Australia logo) at the start of the source code will be particularly appropriate. At this stage the icon is just the generic dog-eared plain paper icon which does not provide any clue as to the bookmarked link. With thanks. [[User:VirtualSteve|VirtualSteve]] 23:31, 29 November 2009 (UTC)<br />
:You're taking about a [[w:en:favicon|favicon.ico]]. The detail is here: [http://meta.wikimedia.org/wiki/MediaWiki_FAQ#How_do_I_change_the_icon_.28favicon.29_in_browser.27s_address-line.3F] Simply we need a http://wikimedia.org.au/favicon.ico that is a small version of [[:File:Logo.png]].<br />
:Alternatively another location can be specified using [[mw:Manual:$wgFavicon]]. [[User:Markhurd|markhurd]] 04:07, 14 December 2009 (UTC)<br />
::Will bring this to our technical people's attention :) Thanks Mark. [[User:Orderinchaos|Orderinchaos]] 06:40, 14 December 2009 (UTC)<br />
:::Nice work on getting this finalised. Thanks to those involved. [[User:VirtualSteve|VirtualSteve]] 07:44, 11 February 2010 (EST)<br />
<br />
== web page speed times ==<br />
<br />
I think we have a problem with the speed of page rendering - drop your times in here if you get the chance;<br />
# Served in 24.664 secs [[User:Privatemusings|Privatemusings]] 13:18, 25 January 2010 (EST)<br />
# Served in 27.211 secs [[User:Privatemusings|Privatemusings]] 11:22, 2 February 2010 (EST)<br />
# fwiw, times improve vastly after you've been at the site for a while? - Served in 0.062 secs [[User:Privatemusings|Privatemusings]] 20:25, 2 February 2010 (EST)</div>VirtualStevehttps://wikimedia.org.au/w/index.php?title=2009-2010_AGM/Treasurer/Steve&diff=17552009-2010 AGM/Treasurer/Steve2009-12-17T09:41:00Z<p>VirtualSteve: returning - will ignore anon messages recently received.</p>
<hr />
<div>Greetings all,<br />
<br />
First, I’d like to publicly thank Sarah and Robert for their kindness in nominating me for the position of Treasurer. I appreciate the level of trust that is expected of this particular position and I can assure you all that in terms of this required attribute alone, my actions, should I be elected, will be above reproach at all times.<br />
<br />
I have met many of you either ''anonymously'' through the pages of various Wikipedia projects, or, where I have been lucky at the pleasure of the meeting, at the GLAM-Wiki conference in Canberra this year. For those of you that were at that conference it is reasonably likely that I spoke to you at registration counter which is the role I tried to assist in when we all arrived at the National War Museum.<br />
<br />
That said, and especially for those that have not met me, nor had occasion to talk to me, it is probably also useful to provide the following brief snippet of who I am in real life.<br />
<br />
==As a means of introduction ==<br />
My full name is Steve Peters. I am Melbourne born and bred but left in my early adulthood to travel the world and most of Australia as a part of my various careers. I have a background in the Department of Defence; the Australian Federal Police; and the NSW State Police. I have some educational qualifications – a double degree at Bachelor’s Level in Social Science and Psychology; a Masters Degree in Human Resource Management (particularly in Law) by coursework; and a Master of Arts by thesis. Currently, for personal interest, I have 60% completed a Diploma of Teaching (Yoga) – something left field for me but also one of my broad personal interests. I have also worked for some years as the Director of International Education for an Australian University, and so have a reasonably good understanding of the bureaucracy involved in that area of Australian organisations.<br />
<br />
Some years ago I decided to pursue my main interest – Industrial & Employment Law – and I am now the Senior Partner of a firm that works in this specialised field, with a client base of 6150 companies across Australia, and some spattering into New Zealand, South Africa and the USA. This is my main real life occupation, although I run two other companies as well.<br />
<br />
I travel to Sydney, Melbourne, and Canberra quite frequently but when not travelling my home base is currently in the Wagga Wagga area. I also travel and have travelled widely overseas - which may be somewhat useful to the committee from time to time.<br />
<br />
===History as a Wikimedian===<br />
I’ve just clicked over the 4 years mark on the English Wikipedia. During that time I have collected about 24,500 edits, including starting about 360 new articles. I’ve been an administrator for about 2 years and 5 months – and I have a clean record with regards blocks etc. My other main work has been at Commons with over 2,200 edits – including the uploading of 366 images. I’ve also added edits at some of the other projects around the place.<br />
<br />
===Transferable skills===<br />
Over the years I have held voluntary positions in numerous organisations, including, neighbourhood watch; blue light disco; pre-schools; parent & citizens committees; public theatre organisations; etc. I have also held public meetings as a stand in chairperson for such as Women’s Refuges; Aboriginal organisations; and AGM’ing on behalf of changing boards of directors for private companies etc. On some occasions I have been the President or General Manager, sometimes a Vice or Deputy President, sometimes a Secretary, and sometimes a Treasurer – plus many other non-executive roles.<br />
<br />
Whilst each of these roles have come with their own set of rules as reflective of the type of organisation that I was a part of – I think (and hope you agree) that I will have some transferrable skills that I can bring to the executive of Wikimedia Australia.<br />
<br />
==What are my intentions if elected?==<br />
I tend to display a ''get in and get things done'' type of behaviour. That doesn’t mean that I don’t aim towards the longer term – and I am very, very patient person if the need arises – but in many cases if it needs to be done, and I have time to help (within the rules) then I start the job or look to gain assistance from others willing to help.<br />
<br />
From that perspective I have taken and continue to take note of all of the ideas that others in this chapter put forward from time to time and I am supportive of the consideration, discussion and as accepted implementation of those ideas. Indeed I will go so far as to say that I have no other agenda but to assist - at least for the year following my election, should that be the end result - the committee and the chapter in moving forward to these larger ideas. That said I am no pushover and will argue my case or the case of others when and if required.<br />
<br />
Additionally, in my experience, the position of treasurer is a functional one that requires amongst other things the prompt collection and receipt of monies that become due or that are volunteered by donation. No doubt it will require accurate record keeping of such monies, memberships. Additionally prompt collection and payment of expenditure items will be made by on behalf of the chapter – and towards that end I tend to be very contactable – through emails, mobile, etc. I’m almost always near a computer so electronic banking presents no problem in regards to access or timeliness.<br />
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I intend to provide those services with diligence and with the accuracy that is deserved.<br />
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Further, as I have indicated in a general email to all members, I am more than willing to assist the Secretary in what I see as an immediate need that that position has in maintaining membership records which must by their very nature involve membership payments; recording them to a spreadsheet, and maintaining a database of email addresses etc so that reminders etc for membership payments are sent as necessary. Whilst I note that there are certain obligations that are upon the Secretary for some of this work, I personally see no impediment to the Treasurer assisting in that task. From my perspective I can unequivocally state that I would have absolutely no difficulty in working with the current Secretary on this task.<br />
I have also added elsewhere that I have numerous capital resources that can assist me/us in that task, and given normal expense considerations I will be more than willing to offer those resources to the chapter as often as they are needed.<br />
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I say all of the above as a reflection of my previous statement that I tend to ''get in and get things done'' attitude – and I do not mean by that offer to reflect any lack of interest in the other views that have been made which suggest a new role be created for some of these tasks. In other words I will be happy to assist until such time as a new solution is presented.<br />
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==In conclusion==<br />
I intend to support our chapter in its continuing growth towards becoming a first-class organisation that supports the general charter of providing free information of the highest possible quality.<br />
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I ask your vote in support if you feel that my experience and willingness to assist is worthy of that response.<br />
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I wish all candidates (for this position and for all others) the best of luck. I will be happy to answer further questions either by our mailing list or by private email.<br />
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Steve Peters <br><br />
Candidate - position of Treasurer</div>VirtualStevehttps://wikimedia.org.au/w/index.php?title=2009-2010_AGM/Treasurer/Steve&diff=17512009-2010 AGM/Treasurer/Steve2009-12-17T03:57:24Z<p>VirtualSteve: remove material</p>
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<div></div>VirtualStevehttps://wikimedia.org.au/w/index.php?title=User_talk:Andrew_Owens/Regional_participation/Archive_1&diff=1641User talk:Andrew Owens/Regional participation/Archive 12009-12-03T21:56:29Z<p>VirtualSteve: /* "Who and what we are kit" */ new section</p>
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<div>== "Who and what we are kit" ==<br />
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''Members will not be left on their own - the plan is to develop a flexible kit or pack with which even lone volunteers in far-flung areas can approach local bodies confidently, professionally and with a sense of purpose.'' - I love the idea of a kit that can be accessed by any member of the chapter for this purpose. The kit should include sanctioned pamphlet/information material (and perhaps other goodies - stickers, bookmarks etc). I think it would be good if the various components were put together in a single section of this wiki - and sub-sectioned so that members could pick, choose and print as necessary. That would allow for instant access as members found they were about to meet a school, local council, library etc & save costs of sending out material (that is likely to expand and change relatively frequently in the first couple of years) to every member. Of course members who did not have viable access to printers could contact a member of the official committee and ask for a pack with various parts to be sent to them.<br />
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I also suggest that this pack could in fact be the information that any member, in any location (city, township, village or 'burb) could/should use.[[User:VirtualSteve|VirtualSteve]] 21:56, 3 December 2009 (UTC)</div>VirtualStevehttps://wikimedia.org.au/w/index.php?title=User_talk:VirtualSteve&diff=1610User talk:VirtualSteve2009-11-30T07:04:26Z<p>VirtualSteve: /* G'day Steve :-) */ return to Matt</p>
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<div>== G'day Steve :-) ==<br />
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..and congrat.s on taking up the treasurer role for WMAU for this year - it was great to hear all the voices on the conference call yesterday - Liam was kind enough to open up his place for our very-mini-sydney meetup. You mention on your userpage that you're semi-regularly in Sydney, so I thought I'd swing by to see if you're going to be here sometime before christmas, just in case you fancied another mini-meet. It'd be great to have a drink, put a face to a name, and maybe talk about general chapter stuff (things like the possibility of a 'Wikipedia Day' in Jan being on my mind, for example) - being a rather crazy time of year schedule wise, it might be impossible, but worth a shot, I reckon... if you're passing through sydney at all, and are up for a drink, flick me an email, or leave the details below / my talk page, and I'll let the various sydney wiki folk know :-) best, [[User:Privatemusings|Privatemusings]] 23:25, 29 November 2009 (UTC)<br />
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* Thank PM - I will take you up on your offer but can't prior to Christmas this year (at this stage most of my calendar is totally booked). That said my schedule can change through court/commission attendance at the stroke of a pen so if I am up this year I will let you know. Other than that I'll be sure to see you next year.<br />
:I should probably add though that I think you and I have met - at GLAM when you were about to do a "how to edit Wiki" slide show - your second one and I asked you if you would like any help. Not sure if you recall - or perhaps I have the wrong person?[[User:VirtualSteve|VirtualSteve]] 23:35, 29 November 2009 (UTC)<br />
::'tis the wrong chap, I'm afraid - I was an apologetic non-attendee at GLAM unfortunately :-( - look forward to a meetup when schedules permit :-) PS. - I just created [[Meetups]] on this wiki to see if centralisation of info / effort might help - I'm thinking that a watched page where folk who travel can drop in some info from time to time might facilitate 'pop in' type meetups throughout the year - thoughts / feedback most welcome of course! [[User:Privatemusings|Privatemusings]] 23:41, 29 November 2009 (UTC)<br />
:::My error then PM - but that it will make it even more enjoyable to meet. Have added a bit at [[Meetups]]. [[User:VirtualSteve|VirtualSteve]] 23:54, 29 November 2009 (UTC)<br />
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Congrats are in order I see! Great to see rural and regional Australia get a look in. :-)Best of luck with the new role. -- [[User:Mattinbgn|Mattinbgn]] 06:59, 30 November 2009 (UTC)<br />
*Very kind Matt - thank you. I will do my best. Cheers [[User:VirtualSteve|VirtualSteve]] 07:04, 30 November 2009 (UTC)</div>VirtualSteve