Quartz 5

2019-7-18

8 min read

==== Milwaukee Makerspace Board of Directors Meeting - July 18th, 2019 ====
//Held at the Milwaukee Makerspace Entrance//

=== Attendees ====

Present

  • Faith
  • Markus
  • Pete
  • Carl
  • Kathy
  • Billy

Absent

  • Steff

Guests

  • Dan
  • Jake
  • Alex
  • Tony
  • Jeff
  • Steve

==== Minutes ====

  • Meeting called to order by Markus at 7:04PM

=== Review and approval of the Minutes of the previous meeting ===

  • Previous meeting minutes were approved by 6 in attendance.

=== Reports of Boards and Standing Committees ===

== Treasurers Report ==

  • Find the current treasurer report here.

  • Update
    *

== Building Maintenance/Issues ==

  • Waiting on bill from city for graffiti
  • Possibly added to taxes, Kathy said she would call

=== Reports of Special (Select) Committees ===
*

=== Unfinished Business ===

== Membership Engagement ==

  • Previous Status

    • Remember to suspend members before archiving them
    • Ideas:
      • Increase knowledge on classes available online or throughout space
      • Events to get members together such as a grill out day
      • Ice cream social is a possibility
      • Area champions sponsor events in their area with area funds
      • Makerspace facilitate classes by purchasing materials
      • See if members want to teach specific classes

  • Updates
    *Markus mentions the classes at Tuesday meetings
    *Grillers night out has been going on every week, need to post on TV
    *Kathy did her painting class, it went well
    *A member wants to do a Miniature painting class
    *Jeff has pottery classes scheduled
    *Carl wants to look into the Makerspace holding a makers mart in the alleyway

== Clarification of Policy on teaching classes to non members ==

  • Last Status
    • Propose to clarify language on wiki, vote if this is acceptable - Dan
    • Members can teach a class to non-members, but must get BOD sign-off first.
    • We need to be sure that safety protocols are in place that will not risk a claim against our liability insurance.
    • All guests MUST sign the liability waiver before class.
    • Make it clear that if a member accepts payment for the class, they are no longer covered by the space’s liability insurance and should buy their own.
    • Does not apply to guests working on personal projects.
    • Wiki has not been updated
  • Update

== New Flooring Proposal ==

  • Last Status
    • all 6 vote approval for flooring
    • 700 dollars for flooring est.
    • Waiting on Kyle to order flooring
    • Dan J. will purchase flooring and request repayment from board
  • Update
    • Still waiting

== New Building/Makerspace Annex ==

  • Last Status
    • Tom G was issued a Letter of intent
    • Rezoning and drawings in progress
    • Waiting on City to determine how they will handle land situation
  • Update
    • City Council has voted yes to giving us the building for $1

== Lighting /Graffiti ==

  • Last Status
    • Exterior Building lighting - Tom G
    • Lighting the side of building attempt to reduce graffiti also talk to neighborhood
    • Big LED light was acquired that can be aimed.
    • Tom G waiting on an electrician to come by
    • Idea of a mural for the outside wall
      • need approval from city
      • Carl and Steff heading this
  • Update
    • Waiting for quotes from Tom

== Maker Faire Milwaukee ==

  • Last Status

    • Tom G. said we can use his truck. If we need another, Pete can get one for probably less than $300

  • Maker Faire funding requests

    • Forms will be made for requests for funds - https://goo.gl/forms/FTlhPLpWlrLUWRwI3
    • how do we handle the budget with the outreach committee
    • discussion of funding flat amount or a match rate from fundraising
    • 6-1 vote to notify membership of a proposal requesting putting 5k toward outreach programs
    • Waiting on the plan for the 5K toward the Outreach Program until there is a budget outline
    • Vote Need to approve requests
      • Adrian $300
        • Pete: YES
        • Steff: YES
        • Faith: YES
        • Markus: YES
        • Kathy: YES
        • Billy: YES
        • Carl: YES
      • Jake $500
        • Waiting for him to reapply
      • Pete $200 (travel funds for Akron Makerspace to attend)
        • Faith: YES
        • Markus: YES
        • Carl: YES
        • Pete: YES
        • Steff:
        • Kathy: YES
        • Billy: YES

== Space Improvement Day ==

  • Last Status
    *
  • # Attendees
    • 21
  • Update
    *
    == Storage Options ==
  • Last Status
    *Move Maker Faire, Make-A-Thon, Power Wheels supplies to self storage unit?
    *Potential to open up 12-30 storage spaces.
    *cost, convenience, abuse issues?
    *There is a storage unit within walking distance that has a key code entry, 10x20 space for $120/month, Markus or Billy will ask about a discount
    *We can also ask if members have any extra personal storage for Makerfair/Powerwheels supplies
  • Update
    • Tom recently started renting 1000sq.ft
    • Billy talked to Bay View storage and is waiting for hear back
      == New Member Orientation ==
  • Last Status
    *Worth reintroducing?
    *With more new members it could be more effective than individually answering the same questions over and over
    *Do we have/want a script?
    *Should space improvement day be a sign-up requirement?
    *Carl can give new members an orientation on Mondays at 5PM
    • Carl, Pete and Steff working on script and tours
    • Need to make edits to handbook
    • Face to face breakdown of video ensures sign ups are paying attention
  • ** Update **
    • Carl has been doing this weekly, only about 2 people have shown up. He will continue until the next board meeting and then decided if we should continue it or not

== Bullet points/script for giving tours ==

  • ** Last Status **
    *similar to wood shop
    *encourage and boost confidence for more members to give tours
    *more consistency of topics covered
    *cover more of our culture and what to expect (training, storage, behaviour)
    *Do we want a bulleted script for tour guides
    *Steff and Kathy C will survey new members
    *Do we want a quiz after becoming a new member for the simple/everyday things?
  • ** Update **

== Update member handbook and provide printed copy ==
*Many people more likely to read and remember printed things
*Gives new members something to do while waiting to sign up
*Include something like a quick start guide of how to get trained?
*Markus will look at handbook and edit it
*Give each new member a copy
*Give handbook at first tour, then have the new member verify that they read it: quiz potential
*Face to face instruction instead of the video
*Carl will come in 30 minutes before Monday class for new member orientation
*Slide deck in WIKI for new members
*Solves: FAQ, Training questions, Cleaning, Lights, First aid

== signage for 5 minute ToDos ==
*What can someone do to help an area/the space if they have 5 minutes?
*What are tasks that can be done without much guidance/knowledge?
*Enable and encourage members to spend a few minutes cleaning while waiting for a training, someone to show up, glue or paint to dry…
*Encourage area champions to contribute to a list/ sign
*Give a list when new members sign up
*Mark tasks in space improvement day list as repeatable for new members or volunteers
*Suggestions from area champions

=== New Business ===

  • ** Reinstating members previously removed by the Board**
    K.H.
*I would like to have a new rule regarding the return of members that we had previously removed from the Makerspace. * I propose that before such a member can be signed back in again it must be a unanimous decision by the Board of Directors to take that member back.

  • Update
    *Adding a new line on the sign up sheet to check off if they’ve been a member before
    *Markus wants to add a list of members who we should be wary of signing up again
    *new procedure write-up for signing up members

  • ** old dumpster pad**
    M.S.

*Remove old pad and replace with compacted gravel for an additional parking spot? * fix the broken edge to keep stones from falling on to the parking lot?

  • Update

    • remove the old pad and replace with compacted gravel, possibly on space improvement day

  • ** Revisit the issue of “Commercial Work” **
    P.P.

* [[https://wiki.milwaukeemakerspace.org/boardmeetingagenda/2013-01-03|See 9. d. for background/history]]
  • ** Implement a “High Score” board to help expose tool usage data to the membership at large **
    • Dan J.
    • I think it would be helpful for member engagement if we could expose more data about tool usage.
    • I would like to send out an automated email once a month, like the area funding email, containing “Most productive maker” awards. That shows who has been using each tool the most.
    • I would also add a page to the website that contains “High Scores”, for the current month, the highest ever month, and the highest cumulative all time usage.
      === Announcements ===
      *Vote to give Raymond a warning. Voted YES by 6 in attendance
    • Included in warning: If he is caught letting guests use anything but hand tools, he will be suspended or terminated
    • Jake has suspended him from the welding area for 3 weeks with certain parameters for him to meet before he can use it again

=== Close ===

  • Meeting was adjourned at 8:52pm

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