Affiliate-selected Board seats/2019/Call for Candidates

Call for Nominations - Affiliate Selected Board Seats

This year, the Affiliates (Chapters, Thematic Organizations, and User Groups) will select two members of the Wikimedia Foundation Board of Trustees.

We want to invite nominations for candidates to be elected to the Wikimedia Foundation Board in this process. Please help us by distributing this call for candidates as widely as possible through such forums as mailing lists, village pumps, and blogs.

Role of Wikimedia Foundation Board members

The Wikimedia Foundation board provide governance and strategic oversight of the Wikimedia Foundation. The role of Wikimedia Foundation board members is set out in detail in Board member page and in the Board handbook.

Candidates' profiles

Successful candidates will bring expertise and understanding to help the Board further its goals and ability to work effectively at a strategic and governance level. The work of the Board is conducted in English (though fluency in additional languages is an advantage) and the role involves a significant commitment, including travel to several in-person meetings in California or worldwide. The Board's perspective regarding an ideal candidate profile can be read at Wikimedia Foundation Board of Trustees/Ideal candidate profile (2019).

Common requirements or criteria to assess candidates are:

• Engaged in the community, including project work for affiliates
• Effective communicator, emphatic, approachable, trustworthy
• Governance experience. Proven track record in leading positions
• Must understand technical issues, sees the chances that technology can bring
• Strong voice in strategic discussions. Able to set clear goals, taking position, defending point of view, but also willing to compromise in order to come to a decision

The eligibility criteria are as follows:

1. Candidates must obtain public endorsement for candidacy from exactly two Wikimedia affiliates which are eligible to vote in this election
2. Candidates must be listed on nominations page during the scheduled nomination period

Unlike the community election, there are no criteria regarding previous contributions to Wikimedia projects. Wikimedia Foundation Board members are also required to be over 18, willing to publicly disclose their real name, to submit identity documents to Wikimedia Foundation, and not to have been convicted of serious crimes. Candidates and voting organizations are advised to take these prerequisites for community elections into consideration. The bylaws of the Wikimedia Foundation require "Trustees selected by Affiliates must meet the requirements of applicable state or federal law for Trusteeship. In the event that a candidate is selected who does not meet the requirements of Article IV, Section 3(A) or other requirements of these Bylaws, or of applicable state or federal law, the Board will (i) not approve the selected candidate, (ii) declare a vacancy on the Board, and (iii) request that the Affiliates collectively select a new candidate whom the Board may appoint to fill the resulting vacancy".

Nominations and selection process

Nominations should be posted at Affiliate-selected Board seats/2019/Nominations. If you need assistance completing the wiki-template, please contact one of the election facilitators who will be happy to assist.

Nominations are open until the 30 April 2019 23:59 UTC. To be entered into the ballot, a candidate's nomination must be accompanied by two and not more than two endorsements. The timeline for the selection process can be seen at Affiliate-selected Board seats/2019. There is also a selection FAQ

Many thanks,

Abhinav Srivastava, Lane Rasberry, Jeffrey Keefer, Ad Huikeshoven, Neal McBurnett and Alessandro Marchetti.