Meetings/2008-12-08
Minutes of the Wikimedia UK v2.0 Board Meeting #wikimedia-uk-board, 20:30 08/12/2008
Constitution
Present with speaking rights: Kwan Ting Chan (KTC), Mickey Conn (MC), Tom Holden (TH), Mike Peel (MP), Andrew Turvey (AT)
Apologies for Absence
No apologies were received.
Minutes of the Last Meeting
The minutes of the meeting of 1st December 2008 were available to view at [1] and were unanimously approved.
Matters Arising
HMRC tax exempt status
AT has submitted the application for tax exempt status. They will respond in six to eight weeks from submission. AT to check whether we can ask for consent to reclaim tax on donations before we receive a decision. MP to design an appropriate form to ask members for consent who apply using the current membership form.
ACTION: AT to request information from HMRC. MP to design form.
Bank & Paypal account
The Co-operative Bank will not open a bank account until they have confirmation from the Wikimedia Foundation (WMF) that we have chapter status. The position is understandable but will considerably delay future activities.
It was agreed to ask the WMF if it would be possible for them to meet ahead of schedule to consider our chapter status. MC to contact Michael Snow, giving reasons why this would be of great advantage to the organisation and to the WMF. If this is not possible, plan to wait for approval then use the Co-op Bank as agreed, possibly investigating one or more other banks as a back-up plan.
MP to investigate PayPal.
ACTION: MC to contact WMF. MP to investigate PayPal.
Wikimediauk-l Moderator
MC has not received a reply and will make contact again later in the week, once David Gerard is less busy with media relations. At the same time, MC will enquire about changing the wikimedia.org.uk website.
ACTION: MC to contact David Gerard and/or James F.
Wikipedia Loves Art
AT will contact the V&A Museum while in London this week to follow up.
ACTION: AT to contact V&A.
Election Rules
There has been little discussion on the election rules, perhaps because of the discussion around Wikipedia censorship issues. All board members to contribute to discussion.
ACTION: All to contribute to discussion.
wikimedia.org.uk website
Covered under item 4.6 Wikimediauk-l Moderator.
Treasurer's Report
No further expenses have been received. A claim for £10 credit for the organisation's phone is expected. Board members are prepared to wait for reimbursement of expenses until the bank account is open.
Secretary's Report
All issues covered under item 4.1 HMRC tax exempt status.
Membership Report
MP has received six completed applications. MP has made some minor changes to the application form. In future the board are happy for MP to make such changes without prior authorisation, provided they are noted in the next membership report.
Timetable Review
It was agreed to update the timetable to show the schedule if the Wikimedia Foundation (WMF) board do not meet early, and the bank account is therefore not opened until late January. All items dependent on the bank account opening were rescheduled. TH reported that once we send the bank a letter from the WMF approving chapter status, the bank account should be opened immediately.
MP will be overseas for one month in late January/early February. If necessary, MP will arrange for applications to be collated and posted on to an acting membership secretary. MP to check exact dates and update at future meeting.
ACTION: MP to check dates and update.
Wikimania bid
Seddon has proposed contacting a relevant Flickr group; TH encouraged him to do this, as board permission is not required.
AOCB
Languages
No responses have yet been received. MC to update next week.
ACTION: MC to update.
Wikipedia censorship by IWF
As we are not yet an official chapter of Wikimedia, the organisation has taken no role in this. David Gerard from Wiki Educational Resources Limited has co-ordinated dealing with the press. Board members are welcome to involve themselves as individuals in such media activities.
Newsletter
AT has started work on the December newsletter. MC to co-ordinate publication of next issue on weekend of 20th December. All to contribute.
ACTION: MC to co-ordinate publication. All to contribute.
Closure
The next meeting will be held on Tuesday 16th December at 20:30 (GMT/UTC).