==== Board Meeting Minutes for March 27, 2014 ====
- 7:10 - Legal/Financial:
- Review Treasurer’s Report for February 2014
- JoeR indicated that the income shown for February was higher than average and we should not assume it to be typical
- It was also noted that the new dues structure will appear on the next report since it began in March, not February
- JoeR, Tom and others discussed asking for volunteers to shovel and plow next winter due to the costs of a professional plow service
- Review Treasurer’s Report for February 2014
- 7:18 - Policies and Procedures:
- Revisions to the By-Laws on hold
- Tom noted that there will be some necessary changes to the By-Laws when our non-profit application is approved
- The previously proposed revisions will be worked into a final draft in the future
- 7:20 - Tom suggested that new members undergo a probationary period
- Tom indicated that during the probationary period new members would not be allowed to reorganize or modify parts of the building
- New members would also need to attend an orientation class
- Tom and others noted that all members should attend an orientation class eventually
- It was not clear if the Board should track who has and has not attended classes
- Tom and Joe discussed requiring both a probationary period and attending orientation class
- Brant and Pete discussed how this policy may discourage new members from volunteering
- The group noted that no one, current or new, should rearrange tools/machines without consideration for others and a probationary period would help that
- Pete, Tom, and Joe noted that if a new member is excited, they should work with others before taking on a huge task or reorganization project by themselves. This would also help them learn from current members and meet new people.
- The Board did agree to encourage all members to attend orientation classes
- 7:25 - Tom, Brant, and others discussed the need to remind people of the parking pass system
- 7:27 - Tom suggested to Pete that reMMinderbot be set up to post a “tip of the week” email
- Pete and Dan discussed how to accomplish this best
- Pete requested a database or list of rules be written to pull from; Brant volunteered
- 7:28 - Tom and others suggested the Allen-Bradley LED displays be used as exterior building signs
- Tom suggested that the color of the text alternate from red to green depending on the day of the week
- The color could be used as a secret code for members to indicate which side of the street to park on
- 7:34 - VOTE: Do we want to require a 90-day probationary period for new members? ^face69
- 7 votes yes
- The implementation is still to be determined, but the Board agrees on the spirit of the policy and its intent
- Revisions to the By-Laws on hold
- 7:36 - Check on progress of Building Topics/Projects:
- Forging/Casting/Hack Rack reorg in West Room (Dan)
- 99% completed
- Intent of reorganization was to avoid/deter accumulation of random junk
- Many compliments and few concerns noted from others so far
- Dan noted that he and at least two other members have hit their heads on the large chimes over the forge
- Dan and Jake would like to find a new place for them
- They were relocated to the north hallway by the Craft Lab after the meeting
- 7:40 - Gas line for Forge
- Pipe has arrived and is being stored on the floor in the West Room
- It will take about 3 days to install and weld
- Scissors lift might block the welders for a day or two
- Board will send an email to the members about any work that blocks tools or work surfaces
- BillW and Tom spoke about the gas valve for service outside garage door
- Will use two valves in series to shut off outside service from inside
- 7:42 - Wired Network Upgrades
- ChrisH, JoeB, Lance, MattW, and others involved
- Step 1 was completed last Sunday
- All network equipment moved to rack at far end of room, consolidated with access controls
- New security camera DVR added to rack
- 96-port patch panel added
- Allocations planned for specific items
- Panel will have room reserved for 32 cameras, even if we don’t need it
- Everything works off RJ-45
- Step 2
- Camera locations
- Brant shared a sketch of the floor plan
- Chris and Lance have some other locations in mind
- Will review outside of this meeting
- Chris didn’t see any need to mothball the existing camera DVR, just let it keep running
- Additional phone locations planned
- Continue rewiring existing data jacks
- Camera locations
- Step 3/Future Plans
- Replace WAPs with better equipment
- Goal to support both 2.4 and 5 GHz connections
- Likely ~$250 per WAP or so according to Chris, will be discussed more in the coming months
- 7:44 - Rain barrels was briefly discussed
- A significant amount of water would have to be collected to reduce our sewer/storm usage
- No one has stepped up as a leader for this project
- The Board is not interested in pursuing this unless another member takes it on
- Forging/Casting/Hack Rack reorg in West Room (Dan)
- 7:50 - Check on progress of Member Projects:
- 7:50 - Powder Coating Unit (RichB)
- Board approved earlier this week
- Working out details and location now
- 7:50 - Awnings at doors
- Tom has wanted to put awnings over doors 1, 2, and 3 for awhile now
- Better protection of doors and access control boxes from the elements
- Improved safety/convenience for people entering/exiting
- Permitting likely needed with city
- Professionally installed awnings may cost hundreds or thousands
- Lighting also desired
- A retractable awning at the garage has been discussed in the past
- More of a wish list item than anything else
- The hope is that it would allow casting/forging in poor weather
- Tom has wanted to put awnings over doors 1, 2, and 3 for awhile now
- 7:52 - CNC Router (EdH,SteveP)
- SteveP said Ed’s been busy, but progress is being made
- Currently working on Y-axis parts
- 7:54 - CNC Plasma Cutter (JRod)
- To be completed April 30th, 2014 - Tentative
- Joe is waiting on parts ordered from China
- 7:57 - HMMMMM
- The Board considered:
- Is it a tool for everyone or a personal project?
- Who is trained on it? KevinB but not clear who else
- Is it taking up floor space that would be used by other members?
- Should the Board vote that it stay or go or should the members?
- Tom noted there’s a precedent with the Darkroom
- It was taking up space and no one championed it, so it was removed
- VOTE: Should we put it before the members to decide if it is a tool for everyone or a personal project?
- 5 voted yes and 2 people abstained
- The Board considered:
- 8:00 - 40 watt laser cutter
- Only JasonG and 2 others have been trained on it
- Not clear if those 2 people can train others
- Jason did offer a training session, but it sounds like it was poorly attended
- Brant said he’d request another training session and post to the member’s only list
- 8:07 - KevinC’s Sandblasting Cabinet
- There’s an old door on the table with clamps in the east room
- Tom emailed the list on Tuesday about it
- Kevin replied that the parking pass had fell off it and it was intended for a sandblasting cabinet for group use
- The Board was not contacted about it and it’s not clear if any other members are in favor of it
- Someone noted that the table is clamped to might also be KevinC’s personal work surface, which many people had not heard before
- MattW raised concerns about how well the cabinet would be sealed
- Tom also noted the wood will need to be replaced eventually as the sand would eat it
- MattW said he would ask KevinC for plans/intent and review it with him
- It was mentioned that we may be able to purchase or acquire a large (proper) sand blasting booth if people want such a thing
- 8:12 - BillW and others mentioned the desire for larger sandblasting cabinet
- The Board asked for more details when they are available and to consider soliciting donations from members
- 7:50 - Powder Coating Unit (RichB)
- 8:13 - New equipment/donations:
- 8:13 - Stake Anvil stand in forging area (Dan)
- Dan explained that Jake and 2 other members were OK with it, but he wanted to bring it before the Board also
- There were no objections noted
- 8:15 - BillW wants to bring in his desktop arbor press
- VOTE: Board approved arbor press
- Location TBD
- 8:16 - Wood lathe offered by JoeR
- 48” long, 2 HP motor
- Also a 6” wide belt sander and 10” disc sander unit offered
- VOTE: Board approved both tools
- Joe also noted that his metal horizontal bandsaw had been used for cutting wood recently, the coolant was off
- 8:20 - Final location of the 4x8 router TBD
- The intent discussed was to replace the current CNC router in the wood shop
- The new 4x8 router would need to be oriented north-south along the long axis to fit in the room
- It was previously suggested the panel saw be moved into the Kuka enclosure, however it will not be possible to rip 8 foot long stock in that space, the overrun is too limited
- 8:21 - Pete mentioned a possible material/tool donation from MartyE, he will send to the Board mailing list
- 8:23 - Tiffany and others would like to build a jeweler’s bench and locate it in the west room
- Near the metal shop tools would be ideal
- Tiffany said she would email the Board with plans/notes
- 8:25 - BretD is looking for an etching press
- Pete and others said we might have one already, will look after the meeting
- Update: Brent took it home when his membership lapsed
- 8:13 - Stake Anvil stand in forging area (Dan)
- 8:27 - Events:
- Hardware Hackathon
- RyanK would like to host some of it at MMS
- Looking for MMS liaison to work with RyanK
- It was noted that unless a member steps up to volunteer, we can’t really be involved
- Brant will post to the public mailing list for volunteers
- Television show filming (Pete)
- Email has been posted to the member’s list
- Hardware Hackathon
- 8:30 - Any topics from members who are present
- 8:32 - BillW mentioned he would like a shop vac dedicated to the current sandblasting cabinet
- 8:32 - KarenP asked about getting power for a ceramics kiln she’d like to bring in
- Tom referred her to DeboraLynn to coordinate efforts
- There are already plans to have power installed for a kiln
- 8:34 - KarenP requested a light be added to the north door (door 1)
- Safety concerns
- Stairs are dangerous in the dark
- The bushes block light from street
- Tom and others noted there may be a street light out on that side of the building
- Brant said he would check into it and maybe call WE Energies
- Safety concerns
==== Board Meeting Agenda for March 27, 2014 (Rescheduled from the 20th) ====
Meeting Time: 7pm\
Location: Lenox
- 5 minute time limit per highest-level bullet point.
- All members are welcome to attend, and non-board members can join the conversation when invited.
- Legal/Financial:
- Review Treasurer’s Report for February 2014
- Policies and Procedures:
- …
- Check on progress of Building Topics/Projects:
- Forging/Casting/Hack Rack reorg in West Room (Dan)
- Gas line for Forge
- Pipe has arrived?
- Wired Network Upgrades
- Possible camera locations {{:boardmeetingagenda:2013-03-27_lenox_phones_cameras.pdf|}}
- Additional phone locations
- …
- Check on progress of Member Projects:
- Powder Coating Unit (Bowman)
- CNC Router (Hagopian,Pilon)
- CNC Plasma Cutter (JRod)
- To be completed April 30th, 2014 - Tentative
- HMMMMM
- KevinC’s Sandblasting Cabinet?
- …
- New equipment/donations:
- Stake Anvil stand in forging area (Dan)
- …
- Events:
- Hardware Hackathon
- RyanK would like to host some/all of it at MMS
- Looking for MMS liaison to work with RyanK
- Television show filming (Pete)
- Hardware Hackathon
- Any topics from members who are present