WikiConference UK 2013/Notice of Annual General Meeting
Thank you for being a member of Wikimedia UK - the charity promoting and supporting Wikipedia, its sister projects and open content here in the UK. We are one of the largest and most active Wikimedia chapters worldwide, with a permanent staff and Wikipedians-in-Residence at prestigious organisations such as the British Library. This year has seen Wikimedia UK grow into a more mature, professional charity, but one where volunteers are still very much at the core of the movement.
Our Annual Conference and Annual General Meeting will be held on Saturday 8 June 2013 at Lincoln College. There will be a full programme of events starting at 9:00 and finishing at 18:00, including speakers, panel discussions and the business of the AGM itself at 13:30. There will also be a program of activities on Saturday evening, and Sunday. We'd love to see as many of our members there as possible to hear what we have achieved and help us plan our activities for the future.
We have decided to hold our AGM in Lincoln - as a national charity, it is important that we hold our AGM in places other than London! Getting to Lincoln is relatively simple, and is explained at http://uk.wikimedia.org/wiki/WikiConference_UK_2013/Travel. You will need to register your attendance, although registration is free: simply fill in your details at http://wmukagm13.eventbrite.co.uk/.
The official AGM will run from 13:30 to 15:45 and cover the annual report, election of several new Trustees and several motions.
Resolutions
Following the election of the board, the AGM will discuss several formal motions as follows:
- A motion to set membership fees
- A motion to appoint, as directors, the people elected at the AGM
- A motion to appoint auditors
There will also be several other motions proposed, which are currently being discussed and drafted at http://uk.wikimedia.org/wiki/WikiConference_UK_2013/Resolutions. The deadline for motions is 20:00 on 15 May 2013, after which the page will be locked and the motions circulated. If you would like to propose any motions yourself, please get involved in editing the page, or email chair@wikimedia.org.uk to discuss the motion with the Chair.
Candidates
We're particularly interested in having new candidates for the board.
Being a board member will take approximately four hours per week, although the current Chair is hoping to reduce this. The Board generally meet by phone once every month, with one meeting in person every three months. Full support and training will be provided, and the role of trustees is primarily a strategic one.
Board members legally act as the chapter's Directors and Trustees. The eligibility criteria and duties are set out at http://uk.wikimedia.org/wiki/Board#Duties - please check that you are eligible and accept these duties before putting yourself forward for election. If you have any questions you are welcome to contact the office, or a board member, or to take your own legal advice.
To nominate yourself as a candidate, simply email tellers@wikimedia.org.uk by 20:00 on 15 May 2013, with the following:
- a statement that you would like to nominate yourself to serve as a director and trustee of Wikimedia UK and that you fulfill the legal criteria for appointment
- Full name
- any previous names
- date of birth
- business occupation
- the names of any other UK companies which you have been director of in the last five years
During the election only your name will be made public. If you are successful these other details will be filed with Companies House as a public record. You will also be required to file your usual residential address with the Company Secretary, but this will be kept confidential.
You should also enclose a candidate statement of no more than 300 words. This will be sent out with the ballot paper to the voters and published on the Wikimedia UK website. The Tellers will confirm receipt and acceptance of the nomination. Candidates can withdraw their nomination any time before the results of the election are announced.
We look forward to seeing you at the AGM!
Regards,
James Farrar & Richard Symonds
Tellers
Wikimedia UK