ComDev minutes 2023-06-08

Community Development Committee

Thursday 8th June, 4-5 pm (online)

Welcome and apologies

Present: Caroline Ball, Daria Cybulska, Kelly Foster, Sara Thomas, Rod Ward, Chuks Ogbonna (minuting).

Apologies: Lucy Crompton-Reid, Sara Thomas.

Declaration of interests

None

Approval of previous minutes

Approved

Thanks extended to ST for providing additional information after the previous meeting.

Matters arising (CB)

CB mentioned that if members have any ideas on potential members they may put the names forward.

Report from annual Community Leaders survey and key volunteer metrics from 2022/23 (DC)

DC gave the report, highlighting that we have run this project for a few years now, remarking that community leaders are the powerhouse of our activity in Wikimedia UK. The survey asks questions about how the leaders see our activities, and if they would volunteer with us, etc and using various metrics performance is accessed. DC mentioned that the request for training on Wikidata has increased significantly over the past year. She added that questions around financial support for volunteers have come up regularly and that Esma was thinking about this a lot during her time.

RW asked about paid volunteering. KF asked questions about whether the survey goes to the mailing list or to the wider community and DC answered that it only goes to people who have led and organised an activity in the last 18 months.

CB talked about the possibility of increasing the engagement of volunteers with project grants. KF asked what the bots do and RW answered that it adds cite links to the websites. https://wikimedia.org.uk/wiki/Project_grants/Pi_bot

Action: CB & DC to discuss with LCR the potential of increasing grants to volunteers.

Oral update on Volunteer Coordinator Post (DC)

DC updated that Esma will be moving outside the UK and that we are therefore in the process of recruiting for her replacement. The position is currently being advertised with a closing date next week and interviews likely to be 21st June. CB suggested that it will be nice to have the hours increased to more than 2 days a week due to the huge job description. DC also concluded that Esma will be leaving us with a substantial amount of reflection about the role in general, which will feed into thinking on community engagement plans.

https://wikimedia.org.uk/wiki/Outreach_and_Community_Coordinator

Plans for Community Engagement (DC)

DC covered the Volunteer Supporters Network, and noted plans for another train-the-trainer (TtT) toward the end of the year. DC also mentioned the community events that used to form part of the AGM, and noted that we are planning community activities later in the year, including something tying in with the Wikimedian of the Year awards.

DC talked about community building around the Train the Trainer group, including regular community calls, and KF asked if notes from these meetings could be kept, and shared with the trainer group.

Brainstorming Potential new members of the committee (CB)

CB asked for suggestions about the potential members that may join the committee.

KF mentioned that she will not be standing to be on the board again, but would like to continue on the committee. There was support for this.

RW observed that he also has one more year to go and that it may be relevant to go out to the wider mailing lists and other trustees to seek for people to join the committee. DC stressed that it is important having voices from community organisers on this group, KF stressed this point too. CB suggested Matt Hodgkinson (https://about.me/matt_hodgkinson) as a member of the Committee and mentioned that she can approach him to ask if he’s interested.

Action: Nominate Kelly Foster as a member of the committee after she leaves as a trustee.

Action: Group to propose further members, especially focusing on community organising perspective.

Action: Explore the terms of reference of this committee

AOB

CB thanked KF for her contributions to the group and the organisation. DC and RW thanked CB for her excellent Chairing.

The meeting ended at 5: 10 pm.

Useful Links:

https://meta.wikimedia.org/wiki/Volunteer_Supporters_Network VSN