Wikipedia:AMA Coordinator
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Welcome to the Association of Member's Advocate's Coordinator page.
Contents |
Statement of the outgoing AMA Coordinator
Dear Members,
I have decided to submit my resignation today, Martin Luther King Day 2006 in an effort to make way for a new election, much in the same way as a prime minister calls an election by either resignation or parlimentary dissolution. This is appropriate because the term of my office was not stated, but I served until a successor was to be elected and an election has yet to occur. Hopefully now the members will organize an election for a new coordinator, and perhaps even a system of parliamentary representation.
The AMA was originally my brainchild. I worked to start it when the first Arbitration and Mediation Committees were formed in the early days of Wikipedia's development in an effort to somewhat counterbalance what I felt was a growing and complex system of dispute resolution that needed some alternate voice where Wikipedia editors faced with the dispute resolution system could reach out to other members for assistance. I had also hoped that the organization might help to be a coherent voice to assist in changing the dispute resolution and making it simplier and more responsive. While there was some early talk of it being more like a public service law firm, in supervising activities, the model adopted was more of an advocacy organization that would just allow individual members a chance to put themselves in touch with volunteer editors that were facing dispute resolution issues.
When we first decided to have an election (it was the first election ever held on Wikipedia and was something of a precedent that laid the way for the first Board of Trustees election, something of which I am particularly proud) it was not clear what the term of office would be, six months, one year, but there was nothing voted upon by the members. Last winter there was some talk about having another election but then we decided to have a series of "town meetings" on IRC instead. It has been my opinion that my role as coordinator has been more as a facilitator rather than someone with an active mandate to change the organization and while I have had some ideas I have resisted making any changes because that was not within my mandate. At this point it is clear that my original mandate as coordinator is completed and it is important for me to step aside so a new election can be held and the will of those involved of the organiation can be heard and respected.
My only suggestion is that if the membership elects a new coordinator, or interim coordinator or even several co-coordinators these people should be in place before changing any of the organization's structure, rules or mission statement. Hopefully a short period of consultation can take place where all members can air their ideas before major changes are undertaken. I will be available for consultation if the new coordinator(s) have any questions. I wish the association and its members the best in all future endeavors for the benefit of Wikipedia and its volunteer editors.
Alex756 18:39, 16 January 2006 (UTC)
What is the AMA Coordinator
After the creation of the AMA the members had a discussion about the activities of the group and decided that they needed a coordinator.
AMA Coordinator job description
This is taken from the discussion about electing a coordinator:
- Qualifications required: No particular experience necessary, but you should probably join the AMA if you want to be the coordinator
- Job description: Connect users who request general advocate assistance with individual advocates who can represent them, co-ordinates policy discussion and maintains meta page
- Salary: Ha!
- Other perks in lieu of salary (such as power, authority, position of importance): Fancy title
- Term of service: Currently undetermined. 6 months?
- Duties would consist primarily of having AMA Requests for Assistance on your watchlist. When requests come in, you would then need to find a suitable advocate who is willing to work with that client, and put the two in contact with each other.
- — by User:Michael Snow, with some modifications by others
- What is clear to me is that we need a co-ordinator, and that their 1st duty should probably be to provide leadership/proposals in regards to members comments and the process of becomming a member. I clearly prefer a stricter structure, and others clearly prefer a near unmitigated freedom (even going so far as to edit other members comments). One thing I think we can all agree on is a need for clarity, and I feel a co-ordinator will help us in pursuit of such a goal. Sam Spade 02:56, 16 Mar 2004 (UTC)
Background of the current coordinator
An election was held and Alex756 was elected coordinator on April 30, 2004. There was a poll conducted regarding the next election which will be discussed at our upcoming Membership Meetings. See also information about the upcoming coodinator election, Wikipedia:AMA Coordinator Election Procedure and Wikipedia:AMA 2004 Coordinator Election.
The coordinator's role
On this page the coordinator will post concerns. Members can ask questions to be discussed through the coordination. If the coordinator sees fit there will be polling of members on their user pages to encourage them to participate in the discussions on the AMA pages. Also, members will be deputized to work on particular educational projects for the group as a whole (training materials are an example).
One of the coordinator's tasks is to review the requests for assistance page. That is the appropriate page to ask for assistance, or alternatively by contacting Alex756 on his talk page or via email if the Wikipedian does not want anyone to know that they are requesting assistance. The coordinator will try and find someone to work with the Wikipedian in need of assistance amongst the membership. As the coordinator has taken on the task of supervising the association at present the coordinator is not able to entertain requests to represent Wikipedians in disputes.
Members Survey
After more than six months of existence, the AMA is having its first membership meeting. To that end the coordinator is asking all members to complete a short survey: Wikipedia:AMA Coordinator/January 2005 Survey.
Questions to the coordinator
This section is for member questions. Please post the latest question at the top. Once questions are reviewed they will be moved into an appropriate archive or added to the FAQ.
Election
Did we ever determine the time period between elections for Coordinator? The suggested said six months, which passed mid-December. I'm in no hurry for elections, but if we're going to be lawyers, we should know our own election regulations, eh? :) Wally 03:17, 31 Dec 2004 (UTC)
- Yes, there has been a straw poll regarding elections and I am also hoping that we can have a membership meeting before any election is held to discuss the associations strengths and weaknesses so we can improve delivery of volunteer services. Alex756:The Coordinator 08:26, 6 Jan 2005 (UTC)
General public inquiries
Anyone, member or not can post a question or comment below regarding the AMA, their experiences regarding the AMA or any other matter. Once questions are reviewed they will be refactored and/or removed from here, put into an archive, or added to the FAQ at the coordinator's discretion.
Guide to Mediation?
Having read many of the various pages related to the AMA, I have been left with a few questions -- I hope I am correct in my choice of location for fielding them.
- How are mediators assigned and from where are they drawn?
- or
- Does becoming a mediator require special appointment or selection?
Perhaps the answers to these could be laid out in a new Guide to Mediation along the same lines as the existing Guide to Advocacy.Thank you for any input or consideration.
- --Oceanhahn 08:24, 13 Sep 2004 (UTC)
Thanks for the question and comment. I think this kind of general question can best be answered if you study the pages on the Wikipedia:dispute resolution process, particularly Wikipedia:Mediation Committee, where most of your questions should be answered; not only will you better understand the process, but then you may understand what kind of role an advocate could play in such a situation. The idea for a guide to mediation is a good idea for a future AMA project, it might be something AMA members might like to collaborate on. Any takers? Alex756:The Coordinator 05:10, 17 Sep 2004 (UTC)