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{{News from the Office}}
==4th July==
Daria, our events organiser, has arrived safely in New York and will no doubt have a great day celebrating US Independence. Personally I think they made a mistake and have lost out on having cricket as a national sport. On the other hand they would probably thrash us. The follow up from the board meeting at the weekend led to pages of actions for staff and trustees. I have now posted three major pieces of work on the wiki for comment. Hope the community has the energy to contribute. And as I approach my 1000's edit on wikis I have asked for suggestions as to what it should be. Fae came up with what looks like a week's work. Hmmm. something simpler perhaps?

== 29th June 2012==
Build up to board meeting and the sound of whole Norwegian woods being felled for the paper almost audible.  Taking sage advice we have done our office shopping well in advance of the Olympics.  Visions of stationary stationery vans haunting office managers all over London. Panic buying of toilet paper only weeks away. Sandra, the new CE of Wikimedia Netherlands spends the day with us. The first time ever for an excuse for the whole office to go for a pizza together. Nobody brave/stupid enough to drink anything but water; members be proud of us!

== 22nd June 2012==
A busy, busy week but much achieved.

Our events organiser got her visa on second attempt to go to to the states to Wikimania. Everyone very happy and a certain amount of fizzy wine supped to celebrate.

Tom Watson MP, famous Murdoch baiter but more crucially champion of open access, agreed to come into the office.
Board meeting next week and masses to do to prepare crucial report. Need to have next year's programme in draft very soon.
Trying to pin down the whole Developer issue. EVERYONE has an opinion but in the meantime we really need technical support. The trustee dealing with it is a saint.<br />
— Jon Davies, CE, WMUK

== 15th June 2012==
Job Description for Developer agreed but lots of discussion still. Running out of time if we are to have someone in post for fundraiser.
Build up to WW1 editathon. All seems to be running very smoothly.
Staff have mobile phones at last. Very important so that they are not subsidising the charity and can hand the phone over to colleagues when on holiday or if they leave.  Androids so lots of learning to do. Many recommendations for apps coming in.
Round Table with Jimmy Wales over his government work goes very well with 100% attendance, mostly thanks to Diane from Creative Commons.
First Train the Trainers seems to have gone well - received positive feedback from trainers and trainees.
<br />— Jon Davies, CE, WMUK

== 8th June 2012==
After much legal and small 'p' political discussion we are close to signing this year's fundraiser agreement with the Foundation. Much of the debate involves getting the balance of the relationship right. Lots of goodwill on both sides helps.
GLAM camp at Mozilla's swanky new London HQ in Charing Cross Road. A laptop and a serious look gets you admission and access to their kitchen!
Popped in on Norwegian Wikimedians during private visit to Oslo. They have big ambitions and two languages to work with apart from English which they all speak fluently and edit on.
<br />— Jon Davies, CE, WMUK

== 1st June 2012==
Five year plan discussion have died down - will publish soon for board.
Long discussions about how to support new board, especially around issues of governance.
Fundraiser chosen and references proved good. She will start July 1st.
October 1st when I was sitting alone seems a long time ago.
<br />— Jon Davies, CE, WMUK

== 25th May 2012==
Very slow progress on Developer post/contract. So many things to consider. Mike Peel working hard at trying to come up with a solution.
Fundraiser interviews at weekend. Fingers crossed for good outcome.
Met British Library and Creative Commons people. Agreed to get Jimmy Wales to a round table to brief him about issues regarding the work he is doing on open access to academic work for the government.
Six weekly call with other CE's of European chapters. Fun and useful.
<br />— Jon Davies, CE, WMUK

== 18th May 2012==
At rapid pace we re-publish copies of 'how to edit' booklet. Almost daily requests for copies. Office admin a very patient guy but now we have a written version so he doesn't have to explain edits down the phone.
AGM passes smoothly - no big hassles and elections held in good spirit despite inevitable casualties as so many standing for the seven places.
Big potential to make it more successful next year with more events and activities.
Advertising for fundraiser post - not many enquiries - disappointing as other jobs attracted lots of interest.
London Wikimeet full of interesting charaters. Gave James tin of beans to celebrate its 57th meeting. He eventually understood although possibly unfamiliar with baked beans in his part of Islington.
<br />— Jon Davies, CE, WMUK

== 11th May 2012==
Prepared five year plan for AGM
Carried the Train the Trainers actions forward.
Annual report looks good and is something we can give to people to explain our role.
New bank account working really well.
Some progress on Pensions.
Utube channel completely revised by one special volunteer.
<br />— Jon Davies, CE, WMUK

== 4th May 2012==
Updated this year's plan on Wiki - a major piece of work and lateral thinking.
Training the Trainers tender deadline came with five applicants.
Annual report at printers - Comms organiser's first publication. Fingers crossed we spelt Wikimedia right!
Panel evaluated the Train the trainers and came to a sophisticated set of decisions that should offer a lot of scope for rapid and sustainable development.
Working with a key volunteer to develop work in Wales.
Jimmy Wales came in to visit staff on his wy from the Vatican to Mexico!
<br />— Jon Davies, CE, WMUK

== 20th April 2012==
Exec in office
Preparations for AGM continue
Financial information and archives coming together.
Our grant to Foundation received at last after issues around a misdirected code.
<br />— Jon Davies, CE, WMUK

== 13th April 2012==
Drafting a Five Year plan for everyone to look at  (and tear to shreds).
Ne Bank Account with proper charity style procedures on point of starting. Will be great relief.
Events Organiser away but her work carries on with almost daily deliveries of badges, t-shirts etc. Even Monmouthpedia beer mats.
<br />— Jon Davies, CE, WMUK

== 4th April 2012==
Attended Berlin Chapters meeting - great to meet so many people
Events Organiser off on pre-booked holiday - we will miss her but she has left a list of things for us to do!
Began to pay outstanding invoices after financial delays owing to handover from old system.
<br />— Jon Davies, CE, WMUK

== 30th March 2012==
Lots of preparation for board meeting.
Payroll worked, now for setting up a pension.
Lots of visitors - curious to see what we look like on earth.
Comms organiser and events organiser eating the work. Feels so good to have support.
<br />— Jon Davies, CE, WMUK

== 23rd March 2012==
Comms Organiser starts - dump shedload of work on him - much more than I would usually but it seems to have motivated him!
Charity Commission have rejected the complaint and will file our reply for future use. Assembling PQASSO (Charity evaluation)evidence for review of Charity.
IRC session with community - not a huge take-up but fun.
AGM notices sent out.
Organising payroll from the office for the first time - fingers crossed.
Trying to pin down the numbers for Monmouthpedia budget.
Set up visitors desks for volunteers etc in office.
<br />— Jon Davies, CE, WMUK

== 16th March 2012==
Google apps, calendar etc working. Not open source (alas) but very useful.
Complaint received about us from Charity Commission. Liaised with Foundation. Predictable issue but must be treated professionally.
<br />— Jon Davies, CE, WMUK

== 9th March 2012==
ASA satisfied with our explanation. No action. Started organising the AGM in earnest.
Exec meeting in Manchester. Lots to discuss but lots of volunteer time involved and two staff days time taken up. Much of this could be done my phone or email?
Listened in to Foundation staff 'Metrics' meeting. Quite inspirational. Lots of energy , very little politics with a samll 'p'
<br />— Jon Davies, CE, WMUK

== 2nd March 2012==
ASA complaint. Finalised reply and sent in. Response within two weeks.
Comms post: provided feedback to thirty applicants and interviewed candidates who requested it.
Events Organiser started on Thursday. Oozes enthusiasm and efficiency.
<br />— Jon Davies, CE, WMUK

== 27th February 2012==
Communications organiser appointed and so from March 19th we will have our core staff of four in place supporting ll the activities of our volunteers and trustees. Great news that there will be four Wikimeets between now and the end of April, London (natch) Monmouth, Liverpool and Manchester. I really enjoyed the one in Cambridge. A great place for Wikimedians to meet and enjoy each other's company.
<br />— Jon Davies, CE, WMUK

== 31st January 2012==
January swept past and even involved working over the Christmas and new Year to get everything done.
We appointed an Events organiser who will soon become familiar to the community, Daria Cybulska, and planned for recruiting the Comms organiser.  Hundreds of people interested with a lot of applications to plough through.  Sadly despite all our efforts, few Wikipedians applying.  I suspect most have established careers or enjoy being volunteers.
I could not get to the Finance meeting but has a quick day trip to meet colleagues at Wikimedia France. We have a great deal in common and lots of experiences to share
<br />— Jon Davies, CE, WMUK

== 2nd December 2011==
This week has been dominated by being at The Foundation offices in San Francisco meeting dozens of key staffers and building relationships for the future. I am writing a report on this that I shared. The final part of the month was occupied with creating systems to ensure the charity works efficiently and properly.  I also instituted the employment of the Events and Communications Oragnisers.
<br />— Jon Davies, CE, WMUK

== 24th November 2011 - November ==
{{:News from the Office/24 November 2011}}

== 11th November 2011 - November ==
{{:News from the Office/November 2011}}

== 2 November 2011 - My October ==
{{:News from the Office/Introduction}}