Affiliations Committee/News/Sandbox

Welcome to the third issue of the AffCom News! The newsletter distributes relevant news and events about the work of Wikimedia's Affiliations Committee. This issue covers October-December 2024 (Q2 2024-25).

Affiliations Committee News

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The AffCom News is delivered quarterly to all Wikimedia Affiliates and individual subscribers. You may leave comments or ideas for future newsletter on the talk page. You can also help us by translating the newsletter into your language(s). Subscribe to the newsletter by adding your talk page to this list.

If you have an interesting story about what your Affiliate has been doing, feel free to reach out to us at cst@wikimedia.org.

Affiliate Recognition and Derecognition

AffCom is responsible for overseeing the recognition and derecognition process for Wikimedia movement affiliates (Chapters, Thematic Organizations, and User Groups). This section covers updates of affiliate applications as the applications progress though the review process.

This past quarter AffCom recognized three Wikimedia Affiliates:

No Wikimedia Affiliates were derecognized in the past quarter.

User Group Recognition Status Report

In October-December 2024, the Affiliations Committee received X new User Group applications.

There are no new recognitions, as the Wikimedia Board of Trustees approved a soft moratorium on applications. All applications received before 12 June 2024, can be processed for recognition using the current recognition requirements. All applications after this date will have to follow the new process for recognition.

Affiliate Activities and Compliance Report

As of 1 January 2025, 190 Wikimedia affiliates are recognised and active: 36 are Wikimedia Chapters, 2 are Thematic Organizations, and 152 are User Groups.

X of all affiliates are in good standing. The current compliance level of all Wikimedia Chapters is X%. The current compliance level of all Wikimedia Thematic Organizations is X%. The current compliance level of all Wikimedia User Groups is X%.

Compared to September-December 2024 (Q1 FY24-25), there is an increase/decrease/no change in compliance level for Chapters (from X%), increase/decrease/no change for the Thematic Organizations (from X%), and a increase/decrease/no change for the User Groups (from X%).

See the detailed quarterly compliance archive for October-December 2024 (Q2 2024-25) on Meta-wiki.

Here are the activity reports from Wikimedia Affiliates published within the past quarter:

AffCom Conflict Intervention

AffCom is currently managing X active conflicts, with X new report in October-December 2024 (Q2 2024-25). The committee continues to safeguard good governance and collaboration within the Wikimedia network of chapters and user groups. The new case highlights governance challenges and difficulties in co-working within overlapping spaces. AffCom is actively addressing these issues, facilitating communication, and supporting affiliates to overcome these challenges.

In addition, AffCom is making progress with an affiliate facing issues with their bylaws. Through constructive negotiation, they’ve reached an agreement by acknowledging concerns and appreciating small initiatives aimed at improvement. One case involving an affiliate’s engagement with a banned user was successfully resolved. AffCom’s work fosters transparency, inclusivity, and respect within the Wikimedia movement, ensuring affiliates maintain high standards of governance and collaboration.

AffCom Movement Contribution

AffCom participates in Wikimedia movement conversations that relate to the affiliate system or where the AffCom's experience and expertise would be otherwise beneficial, including answering questions about the affiliate system, providing advice relevant to affiliates or potential affiliates, and sharing knowledge and lessons related to operating as a committee with other movement bodies.

In the past quarter, AffCom members or the committee as a whole participated in these conversations:

Upcoming AffCom Events

In January-March 2025 (Q3 2024-25), AffCom will be participating in the following events:

Other Movement News