2024-5-28

Milwaukee Makerspace Board of Directors Meeting - 6 p.m. May 28th, 2024 at Norwich

Introduction

Dan J calls this meeting to order at 7:04 pm

Attendance

BOD

Dan J
Geoff L
Tim E
Stefan B
Sarah D
Bill R
Juliet J

Guests

Tony W
Carl S
Tim C
Anna K
Tom G
Delia L
Dan G
Kathy A
Chris K
Dan L
Mike T
Gary H
Lauren N
Bill2
Kathy L
Melissa

Review and approval of Previous Minutes

Approved, unanimous 7-0

Current Financial Projections

Available on the WIKI

Agenda items

Spring 2024 elections completed on May 21, 2024:
- Tresurer: Geoff Landrum
- Communications: Sarah Davitt
- Facilities: Tim Erdmann
- Member-At-Large: Juliet Jaeger
Any Assistants that need to be voted in/ given access to Wild Apricot (Sarah)
- Hapto: Carl (approved 7-0) and Jon Drayna (approved 7-0)
- Tim: Mike Tarnowski (approved 7-0)
- Anna K (Approved 7-0)
Vote to make Erika Paulson the primary champion for Jewelry Area (Sarah) (Approved 7-0)
Reaffirm Membership committee leads (do we need to do this with the regime change?) (Sarah)
- Continue Membership committee (approved 7-0)
- Continue Communication committee (approved 7-0)
Review of child/pets/guest — Reaffirm- and set as NRB (Sarah)
- Tim C: remove the word “similar” in the pet section
  - Remove “not a childcare” and “not everyone finds interactions with youth pleasant”
  - Delete “your child” in the “substances in the air and on the floor section”
- Updated draft will be sent out to members as Non-Routine Business
  - After one week’s time, the BOD will vote on these rules
Cordless Tool Walls in both building — follow up from April meeting (Sarah)
- Dan J suggests general funds be used to support this area; as first aid supplies are done.
  * Perhaps a facilities fund (a Facilities Director decision)
  * Perhaps an area - as the system exists.
  * This changes how we handle the champions - if thats what we do.
  - Dan J recommends $2,000 from general funds be allocated for purchase of batteries and needed tools.
    - BOD voted via email to approve this budget unanimously (7-0)
- Next Steps: 4 volunteers to date. Have them meet to draft how to best manage this area.
- Dan J motions that Melissa be the Area Champion, Stefan 2nds; Approved 7-0
Discuss and clarify the rules surrounding members teaching paid classes at MMS. -Delia L and Dan J
- Are members allowed to receive payment for teaching a class using public areas and tools?
- Should there be a fee/percentage kickback to MMS or the area?
- Will it prevent members from using the shop?
- Should we limit the frequency of classes one member can teach, or total number of classes in an area?
- Should we restrict all classes to a certain time / day of week?
- Should we require members teaching classes to carry their own liability insurance?
- Are non-members allowed to take paid classes?
Discussion:
- Tom G: have teacher have a bond to cover cost of any damage to machines used in the class
- Tony: members do a significant amount of volunteering, will they want to be reimbursed.
  - Members should not profit from the MakerSpace.
  - Insurance: Tony states a paid class raises insurance issues
Dan L: has been to MakerSpaces that give paid classes and it changes the organizaiton
Lauren N: classes help build a community. Have skill to share, can’t do that only by volunteering
Dan J: has been to other maker spaces that have paid classes and it works
- If we implement it, can always stop if it goes sideways
- There are for profit providers in the community that members can take classes
Geoff: “refuses to be a paid employee”.
Gary H: a paid class may reduce access to areas.
Anna K: will volunteers that give current classes want to be paid.
Carl S: long term member — importance of learning from other members
Stefan: can free-loaders “audit” the class
Lexie: the current design of the Space is a level playing field
Maya: paid classes may increase/allow experts to increase their volunteering for classes as well.
Dan G: raises the level of skills being shared.
Kathy L: Experts can not be part of the club.
Jon D: going to need expert verification of “liability insurance”.
Dan J:
- appears that it will be members only classes;
- a % of fees should go back to the Space
- Each Area Champion makes final decision for their area
- Teacher should also already be a trainer in the area
- Board review and must approve each class as well as the Area Champion
Delia: will be teaching a 101 class (3 hours) in the woodshop. Students ask “what class is next”.
- would like to teach a 16 hour cutting board class
- every machine has a personality. Need to have experience with the equipment before holding a class
- Agrees that any teacher should have volunteer classes as well.
Carl S: teachers use the tools day to day and will maintain machines and ensure students use them appropriately
Tony: members should give more to the Space than they take. Can not close the flood gate after it is opened.
Full presentation of Membership Committee orientation and mentorship programs (Anna)
- Powerpoint presentation (available by request from Anna K)
- Non-routine business vote because orientation will be mandatory for new members.
  - Pre-membership orientation (~5/session)
    - Multiple orientations per month
    - Orientation checklist
    - Each new member must complete orientation to become a member
    - Any member can be an Orientation Leader
  - Post orientation mentorship program. AKA the Do-er Docent
    - Single point of contact for a new member after they join. Tapers off after a month or 2.
  - Dan J: will Anna K and Stefan continue to ensure both Orientation and Mentorship are appropriately managed for the next 3 months.
    - Anna said yes.
    - Tom G: should there be a Membership Area Champion?
    - NEXT STEPS: send out changes to membership as Non-Routine Business
Member Request: Lower the time to move an item(s) without appropriate Parking Permit to impound lot to 1 hour (Jeff M)
- Current rule is one week unticketed, then to impound.
- Jeff makes motion to lower unticketed items to impound after one hour. ^4164a8
  - Dan J: motion; Jeff 2nd — amended to — Unticketed items may be moved to the impound after one hour, unless the Area Champion changes the policy. Approved 7-0
Ceramics electrical (Jeff M)
- Geoff: Ceramics is making the change and must pay for the change. 3D printing, Lasers, Leather and other areas paid for their upgrades
- Tom G: Makers Village had to absorb $4,000 of electrical upgrades.
- Jeff M sees it as welding having gas paid for as public utility.
- Decision holds. Ceramics will pay for the electrical upgrades associated with the expansion.
Glass Fusion Area Re-Start (Kathy Luglio)
- https://docs.google.com/document/d/1VvAYC3ZfxpnFcuCkZdesPJQhbLsl1J1H/edit?usp=drive_link&ouid=104149441249041321614&rtpof=true&sd=true
- Requires minimal space
  - Kiln (clam shell)
  - Shelving/cabinets
  - Grinders
  - Electric upgrades
  - Stained glass is willing to share equipment. The glasses used by each area are different
  - Sell inventory of glass to members to offset start up costs
  - Budget range ~ $350 (f r ee k i l n) t o$ 2,800
- Dan J: place kiln in old forge area? In the old ceramics area? Electric already wired.
- Erika has a 7”x7”x7” kiln she can use in the short term.
- Dan J: historically BOD will pay for 50% of a tool when matched with a group buy.
- Will require a co-champion as Kathy L winters out of town.
- Sylvia (Print Making) willing to have kiln in that area where the electric is already in place.
- Dan J: SE corner of Lenox - move Print Making into Vault 17 and 18; put kiln in the corner.
  - Stefan 2nds Vote unanimous 7-0
- Kathy will start taking pledges for the group buy,
Jon Drayna as Asst Secretary (Bill)
- Unanimous 6-0 (Bill abstained)
Precious Plastic initiative; opportunity to receive grant money. “I believe this initiative aligns with our mission and has the potential to significantly benefit our community.” (Lexi)
- Lexi and Devin are the drivers seeking a $20,000 grant

** General discussion **

Meeting adjourns at 9:10 PM.

Quartz 5

Explorer

2024-5-28

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