A couple of concerns

Thanks for starting this thread, Mike. A few quick thoughts for you:

On chapters - This is indeed a long conversation. The vision for the chapters-Wikimedia relationship goes beyond a pass-through funding relationship. It is important for the movement to have effective chapters and I was encouraged by the discussion at the Berlin chapters meeting in April that focused on what they term "professionalization". I know that WMF is committed to continued support for Chapters to grow into strong, effective organizations in their own right. In fact, I'm going to be leading a team at WMF to increase our capacity to support chapters on a number of dimensions beyond our current grantmaking work.

On chapters funding flow to WMF - There is a need for some additional work to better define the revenue relationship. Arne and Jan-Bart on the WMF Board are beginning a process soon to wrestle with the structures that could work to both ensure that, as you note, the WMF can fulfill its global role, and chapters can fulfill these.

On "Global South" - It would be great to get a better word I agree, though it seems every term is laden with all sorts of unfortunate meaning.

On missing topics - From the strategy process, there was a lot of enthusiasm for partnerships with cultural institutions. It would be great if the group within the community that is leading this effort would capture their goals in this plan. While WMF doesn't have a specific initiative around this, there is no reason why a community group couldn't lay out a goal and also seek grant funding from the WMF or generate funding from chapters to support their work.

On issues, you didn't raise...I'd be interested in hearing from you on these. If you are attending Wikimania, it would be great to meet.

BarryN18:52, 21 June 2010