Meeting:Committee (2024-03-18)
This meeting has two pages: one restricted-access page (only for members of the current Board) and one public-access page (which may have sensitive information redacted).
- Present: Amanda Lawrence, Bunty Avieson, Peter Neish, Elliott Bledsoe, Tom Hogarth, Belinda Spry.
- Apologies: Kelly Tall, Jeremy Ludlow, Emily Mierisch.
Meeting opened: 18 March 2024, 4pm AWDT / 6.30pm ACDT / 7pm AEDT
Acknowledgement of Country
Previous meeting
- Monday 19 February 2024 Meeting:Committee_(2024-02-19)
2024-02-19-Wikimedia Australia Board meeting
Moved: Bunty Avieson; seconded: Amanda Lawrence; outcome: approved
Matters for Noting
Reports
Executive Officer's Report
Know My Name event at National Gallery of Australia, Canberra (16 March 2024)
Belinda Spry facilitated a successful workshop with Simon, Ellen and Linda at the National Gallery of Australia (NGA). There were 12 participants with two driving from South Australia specifically to attend. [available here].
Richmond Library Women’s Art Register event (9 March 2024)
Very successful event with thanks to Pru Mitchell and Amanda Lawrence for teaching 15 new editors. [report available here].
Partner Projects
WMAU staff are holding monthly catch ups with each Project, as well as bringing all Wikimedians-In-Residence (WiRs) together to share their experiences. Nicole and the BHL/Field Naturalists project has some issues with articles being tagged for deletion. Our experienced members have provided ideas and support. Caddie held a successful editathon with 8 participants. Olivia at the EPA held a successful information session for 25 staff, and is due to finish by the end of March.
ESEAP Preparatory Council
The Preparatory Council has been meeting fortnightly and sometimes weekly to develop the By-laws and an election process for the ESEAP Hub. By-laws will be released soon for community consultation and feedback. The election process will be released shortly after that.
First Nations and Wikipedia Report
Professor Bronwyn Carlson has incorporated our feedback into the Final Report. Professor Carlson has suggested that we organise a cover design and Belinda Spry has contacted a First Nations Graphic Designer for quotes.
AIATSIS Core Cultural Learning online foundation course
Board to continues to access the AIATSIS Learning Ground - Core training modules and join 30 minutes before each Board meeting to reflect on what they have collectively learnt. There is also a Slack channel set up for discussion.
Wikimedia Aotearoa New Zealand collaboration on #1Lib1ref
Victoria and Dianne from Wikimedia Aotearoa New Zealand (WANZ) met with the WMAU Executive Officer, Belinda Spry and Communications and Project Coordinator, Ali Smith, to discuss a joint #1Lib1ref online event during late May. Mary Coe from Charles Sturt University (CSU) and her cohort of Library students has been invited to take part, as well as promotions through ALIA, Public Library networks and general social media.
International conferences
Scholarships have been awarded to five members of the WMAU community to attend the ESEAP Conference in May 2024. There has been one successful scholarship application to attend Wikimania.
April Board meeting
The Executive Officer, Belinda Spry will be travelling to Berlin for the Wikimedia Foundation (WMF) Summit on Monday 15 April, so will not attend the April Board meeting. Ali Smith, Communications and Project Coordinator will be attending in her place.
Communication Team Report
Deductible Gift Recipients status
Pro-Bono work is commencing to look into WMAU Deductible Gift Recipients (DGR) status.
Franklin Women - July 2024
Melina Georgousakis of Franklin Women, has provided a draft plan for two Franklin Women edit-athons in late July 2024. The costs will be covered by AbbVie (a Biopharmaceutical company) including travel, accommodation and a donation to Wikimedia Australia.
Open Access Australasia Director
Ginny Barbour, Director of Open Access Australasia is leaving the role. A collection of best wishes is being collected to thank her.
President's Report
Online Safety Bill consultation
There is a possible follow up opportunity with eSafety Commissioner who is interested in learning more about the Wikimedia model of collaborative editing.
UN Global Digital Compact
The drafting of the UN Global Digital Compact is underway to be ratified at a UN meeting in September. WMF see this an opportunity to further advocacy for Wikimedia and an open internet. The WMAU President has been invited to join the group, which she has accepted.
Meetings at Wikimedia Summit
Meetings have been arrange at the Wikimedia Summit with ESEAP affiliates and Indigenous Community of Interest across affiliates and with the advocacy interest group.
Secretary's Report
Membership report
- No new Members
- One lapsed member removed
Treasurer's Report
Overview of the Grant budget at 29 Feb (8 months)
- Strategy 1: Engagement - utilised 69%
- Strategy 2: Equity & Inclusion - utilised 76%
- Strategy 3: Capacity Building (set costs for Staffing and Admin removed) - utilised 61%
Moved: Peter Neish; seconded: Amanda Lawrence; outcome: approved
Matters for Decision
Year 3 Draft Budget
Peter, Amanda and Belinda have developed a draft Year 3 budget, and met with with Jacqueline Chen, Senior Program Officer for ESEAP Regional Grants. Jacqueline supported the current draft with minor feedback relating to future years. If the Board endorse this draft Year 3 Budget we will then submit by 19 March 2024.
Moved: Bunty Avieson; seconded: Elliott Bledsoe; outcome: approved
Allocation of Funds to increase Staff Hours for Evaluation program
In the current financial year, funds have been allocated for Evaluation Phase 1 and Stakeholder Analysis to enhance our understanding of our metrics and ensure effective measurement and evaluation practices. However these initiatives have not yet commenced and there is $8000 to expend.
Propose to use the allocated funds to increase the Events and Program Coordinator role from 0.6 to 0.8 Full-Time Equivalent (FTE), allowing for an additional day per week dedicated to these key deliverables.
By increasing the hours of the Coordinator, we can undertake the Evaluation Phase 1 and Stakeholder Analysis, providing a thorough review of our metrics and working in collaboration with WMF staff.
Moved: Tom Hogarth; seconded: Bunty Avieson; outcome: approved
Complimentary membership for staff
In line with policy of similar organisations to WMAU, we will offer staff complimentary membership to WMAU.
Moved: Tom Hogarth; seconded: Elliott Bledsoe; outcome: approved
Matters for Discussion
Subcommittees
Current subcommittees are:
- Finance - Amanda Lawrence, Peter Neish and Belinda Spry
- Membership review - Jeremy Ludlow, Emily Mierisch and Alice Woods (Events and Programs Coordinator)
- WikiCon Aus planning - WMAU Staff, 2 community members (FILLED) plus 1 board member (VACANT)
- Craig Franklin Award - WMAU Staff, Tom Hogarth, 1 Board (VACANT), 2 community members (VACANT)
- Wikimania Scholarships - Bunty Avieson and Elliott Bledsoe.
- Standing Grants Subcommittee: Amanda Lawrence and Elliott Bledsoe.
Board member required to be part of Wikicon Aus planning, and another for Craig Franklin award.
Craig Franklin Award 2024
Inaugural Craig Franklin award presented at the WMAU AGM on 6 August 2023. This will be an annual award announced at the AGM. Rules need finalising, and a subcommittee needs to be set up to identify a group of people/organisations to consider, and to select a winner for 2024. It is proposed 2 Board members and 2 WMAU community members. Tom Hogarth has nominated to be one of the Board members in this subcommittee.
WMAU Activities
All current and past activities can be found [here].
National activities
- Australian Digital Alliance Conference, 22 March - https://digital.org.au/events/forum-2024/
- ALIA Conference, Adelaide, May 2024 - https://alianational2024.alia.org.au/
- The International Communication Association (ICA) Conference, Gold Coast, 20-24 June 2024 - https://www.icahdq.org/mpage/ica24 (Visiting Wikimedia academics attending - opportunity for side events.)
- International Federation of Library Associations and Institutions (IFLA) Information Futures Summit, 30 Sept - 3 Oct (Brisbane)- https://2024.ifla.org/
- Australian Libraries and Archives Copyright Coalition (ALACC) are holding a side event on Open Access on 3 October, which we will be invited to.
Meeting Close
8:36pm
Next meeting
Monday 15 April 2024