Affiliations Committee/Standing on hubs

AffCom's standing on hubs

July 11, 2022

During the strategic meeting of the Affiliations Committee (AffCom) in Paris on June 24-26, members discussed how AffCom may be able to support the movement in relation to the upcoming Hubs pilot process. We reviewed two issues – whether it was within AffCom’s remit to contribute to the Hub pilot process and if so, what our involvement might look like.

AffCom has, since its inception in 2004, worked directly with all Affiliates across the movement, i.e.: User Groups, Chapters, and Thematic Organizations. Our role, as it has evolved, is to support these different entities as they come into being and then as they grow, ensure that they integrate best practices and with a view to long-term sustainability. This has provided AffCom with both a broad overview, as well as a deep understanding, of the various challenges faced by affiliates across a range of circumstances that include socio-cultural issues and affiliate-based conflicts. Hubs are intended to function as formal movement bodies constituted by existing groups and/or affiliates, able to use Wikimedia trademarks to present their association. They will need to be independent, legally constituted Affiliates, recognised by the Board of Trustees. This introduces a significant and exciting new Affiliate model to our movement and AffCom would welcome the opportunity to bring our institutional knowledge and experience to assist in their development.

Recognising the principles of subsidiarity, the committee would like to offer its support as an advisory body for the Hubs piloting process, working with the community to develop a process that will lead, ultimately, to their approval by the WMF Board of Trustees.