Call for EGM 2012
On 21 July, the English Wikipedia Arbitration Committee banned Ashley Van Haeften (w:en:User:Fæ) from the English Wikipedia indefinitely, with leave to appeal in six months, for "numerous violations of Wikipedia's norms and policies". The arbitration case can be found here: w:en:Wikipedia:Arbitration/Requests/Case/Fæ.
In addition to being a contributor to the English Wikipedia, Ashley is Chair of the Board of Trustees of Wikimedia UK. On 26 July, the Board of Trustees issued a statement in support of Ashley. This can be found here: Minutes_26Jul12#Actions_from_Arbcom_en.wp_ban_on_Fae.
On 31 July, the situation began getting some very prominent press coverage. Examples of this can be found here: https://www.google.co.uk/search?tbm=nws&q=ashley+van+haeften
I, and several others, feel that the Board's statement is not a sufficient response to this situation. Therefore, I intend for us to exercise our statutory right as members to require the Board to call a General Meeting which will enable us to discuss the situation and make a decision about how to go forward. We have the power to remove Ashley from the Board, should we feel this is the best decision for the chapter. Such a removal would require a majority of members present at the meeting in person or by proxy to vote in support of a resolution to that effect.
This requires 5% of members to sign the request. There are currently 255 members. We therefore require 13 signatures.
Please note, by signing you are not expressing an opinion about whether Ashley should remain on the Board. You are simply saying that you want to have a General Meeting so that we members can discuss the matter and reach a decision, whatever that decision may be.
Please also note that the request is addressed to Ashley. That is because he is Chair, and such requests are customarily made to the Chair. That the request also concerns him personally doesn't affect that.
If you support this request and wish to have a General Meeting, and you are a member of Wikimedia UK, then please add your name below the request. You do not need to use your real name, as long as the chapter can identify you from the name you use.
Request
Chair of the Board of Trustees, Wikimedia UK
Pursuant to Section 303 of the Companies Act 2006 (as amended), we, the undersigned, being members of Wikimedia UK representing at least 5% of the total voting rights of all members having a right to vote at general meetings hereby require Wikimedia UK to hold a General Meeting for the purpose of the discussing the situation that has arisen following the English Wikipedia Arbitration Committee case entitled "Fæ" and to make such resolutions as the meeting may deem appropriate. Is it our intention to move the following resolution:
"This meeting resolves, pursuant to Section 168 of the Companies Act 2006, to remove Ashley Van Haeften from the Board of Trustees of Wikimedia UK effective as of the end of this meeting. The Board of Trustees may appoint a replacement in accordance with Article 17.4 of the Articles of Association."
It is also our intention to move a resolution instructing Wikimedia UK to issue a statement on behalf of members to be agreed in the meeting.
In addition, pursuant to Section 314 of the same Act, we require Wikimedia UK to circulate a statement to members entitled to vote at the General Meeting. The contents of this statement can be found here: http://uk.wikimedia.org/wiki/Call_for_EGM_2012#Statement.
Yours sincerely,
- Thomas Dalton
- Joseph Seddon
- Thomas Holden
Statement
here: http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Wikipedia:Arbitration/Requests/Case/Fæ
In addition to being a contributor to the English Wikipedia, Ashley is Chair of the Board of Trustees of Wikimedia UK. On 26 July, the Board of Trustees issued a statement in support of Ashley. This can be found here: http://uk.wikimedia.org/wiki/Minutes_26Jul12#Actions_from_Arbcom_en.wp_ban_on_Fae.
On 31 July, the situation began getting some very prominent press coverage. Examples of this can be found here: https://www.google.co.uk/search?tbm=nws&q=ashley+van+haeften
Some members of Wikimedia UK feel that the Board's statement is not a sufficient response to this situation. We have therefore required Wikimedia UK to call this General Meeting in order to discuss the situation and to vote on whether Ashley should continue to serve on the Board. The decision to call this meeting should not be interpreted as giving an opinion either way on that decision, we simply feel that it is important that members be given the opportunity to discuss the situation and to make this decision.
This situation is extremely difficult for the charity, and we urge all members to attend the meeting in person in order to participate in making this very important decision.