Founder's seat
The Founder's seat on the Wikimedia Foundation Board of Trustees, the ultimate corporate authority of the WMF, is granted to Jimmy Wales, who was one of the two founders of Wikipedia in 2001. The other founder, Larry Sanger, is not granted a seat nor other founder rights.
Current version of the WMF bylaws (section last changed 28 September 2015):
(F) Community Founder Trustee Position. The Board may appoint Jimmy Wales as Community Founder Trustee for a three-year term. The Board may reappoint Wales as Community Founder Trustee for successive three-year terms (without a term limit). In the event that Wales is not appointed as Community Founder Trustee, the position will remain vacant, and the Board shall not fill the vacancy.
— wmf:Bylaws#ARTICLE IV - THE BOARD OF TRUSTEES, Section 3. Selection. (F), 28 September 2015
First version (5 August 2008):
(F) Community Founder Trustee Position. Beginning in January 2009, the Board may appoint Jimmy Wales as Community Founder Trustee for a one-year term. The Board may reappoint Wales to the Community Founder Trustee position from year to year to successive one-year terms. In the event that Wales is not appointed as Community Founder Trustee, the Community Founder Trustee position will remain vacant, and the Board shall not fill the vacancy.
— wmf:Bylaws, 5 August 2008
Current version of wmf:Board of Trustees (section last changed ?):
Since 2008, the Board has seats for ten Trustees:
- one founder's seat (reserved for Jimmy Wales);
- two seats selected by the Wikimedia chapters and thematic organizations;
- three seats nominated by the Wikimedia community; and
- four seats appointed by the rest of the Board for specific expertise
- Links
- en:Founder's seat
- wmf:Bylaws#Section 3. Selection. Fig. (F)
- Wikimedia Foundation Board Handbook#Number of Board members; election to the Board; new Board members
- en:Jimmy Wales#Role
- n:Wikimedia chair Jimmy Wales steps down
- en:WP:Wikipedia Signpost/2015-12-30/News and notes
- en:WP:Wikipedia Signpost/2015-06-24/News and notes
- en:WP:Wikipedia Signpost/2015-04-22/In focus
- en:WP:Wikipedia Signpost/2011-06-06/Board elections
- en:WP:Wikipedia Signpost/2009-08-31/News and notes
- en:WP:WikipediaWeekly/Wikimania 2009/Halprin
- en:WP:Wikipedia Signpost/2009-07-27/Board elections
- en:WP:Wikipedia Signpost/2009-05-25/News and notes
- en:WP:Wikipedia Signpost/2008-05-02/Board restructuring
Jimmy Wales also holds multiple special user rights as founder:
- Founder
- en:Wikipedia:User access levels#Founder
- Special:ListUsers/founder
- Special:GlobalGroupPermissions/founder
- Requests for comment/Remove Founder flag
WMF resolutions concerning the role of Wales
- wmf:Resolution:Jimmy Wales reappointment, 7 October 2007
- wmf:Board of Trustees/Restructure Announcement Q&A, April 2008
- wmf:Resolution:Bylaws amendment - founder term, 28 February 2011
- wmf:Resolution:Term Limit Proposal for Bylaws, 15 July 2015
- wmf:Resolution:Resolution to renew the Founder's seat (2015), 7 November 2015
See also
- Founder's seat/changes – wikitext development of this exact bylaws section
- en:Wikipedia#History
- en:Founder's syndrome
- wmf:Category:Founder's Seat
- Revolution of 2016/Stakeholder representation
- en:Wikipedia:WikiBible#Fragment 1: Creation ;-)