Newsletter/August2009

Wikimedia UK Newsletter

August 2009 Issue

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Summary: (Summary to go here)

In this month's newsletter:

1. Charity status update
2. Wikipedia Loves Art prizes
3. Schools Project
4. Britain Loves Wikipedia
5. Workplace Learning Lunches
6. Other Chapters' Activities
7. Press Coverage
8. Meet-ups

Charity status update

In our last newsletter we reported that we had received a start up grant from the Wikimedia Foundation. This put us over the £5,000 threshold which meant we could apply for charitable status directly to the Charity Commission, without having to go through the tax authorities. Since then we have been working hard on our application, which is now substantially complete. We are now beefing up our policies and procedures for child protection and conflicts of interest. We have pencilled in early September for completing these policies and submitting the application. In the meantime, we are engaging legal advice to assist us with the application.

Wikipedia Loves Art prizes

(AT to write)

Schools Project

The Wikimedia UK Schools Project is designed to bring Wikimedia projects into the classroom, to be used as both a teaching tool and a learning tool. It aims to create a set of materials, ranging from workshops, showing how to use Wikimedia projects correctly, to showing students and teachers how to contribute; to materials that teachers can distribute to students in order to allow the students to use Wikimedia projects effectively and correctly in their classroom assignments - whether it be in-class or homework.

Currently, the project is aimed at KS1-5 (Primary School thru Secondary School). Are you interested in helping us out? Join up with the mailing list here, and make yourself known! The project is still in the developing stages at the moment - so you have plenty of time to get involved, shape, and develop this Wikimedia UK Initiative.

Britain Loves Wikipedia

(MP to write)

Workplace Learning Lunches

(SV to write)

Other Chapters' Activities

• Wikimedia Australia hosted GLAM-WIKI - "Galleries, Libraries, Archives, Museums & Wikimedia: Finding the common ground"

Press Coverage

• Rorschach test: The uploading of all 10 images has caused lots of discussion both on Wikipedia, and also in the press. In the UK it has been covered by The Guardian, The Independent, as well as BBC Newsnight (3 August).
• Statistics: A group based in Palo Alto, California, have analysed the statistics of Wikipedia, and found that they are leveling out. Covered by the New Scientist (twice) and Wired.
• Bigipedia: BBC Radio 4 launched a radio parody of Mikipedia, which was reviewed in The Independent and The Guardian.
• 3 millionth article The Guardian wrote an article in response to this pending event and the Palo Alto statistics. Also covered in the Guardian's Technology blog, and by the Telegraph.
• WMUK charity status: An article on our charity status from June was mentioned in the 3 August edition of The Wikipedia Signpost
• Schools Project mailing list: The creation of this mailing list was noted in the 113rd English Wikizine (with a correction in the 114th edition).

Meet-ups

• London 24 happened on Sunday 9th August @ 13:00 in Penderel's Oak Pub, Holborn WC1.
• Manchester 6 will be on Sunday 6th September @ 13:00 in The Waterhouse pub, Manchester
• London 25 will be on Sunday 13th September @ 13:00 in Penderel's Oak Pub, Holborn WC1.