User Tools
Milwaukee Makerspace Board of Directors Meeting - 6 p.m. April 23rd, 2024 at Lenox
Introduction
Dan J calls this meeting to order at 6:08 pm
Attendance
BOD
- Dan J
- Geoff L
- Anna K
- Stefan B
- Sarah D
- Bill R
- Hannah S
Guests
- Tony W
- Bill C
- Erika
- Maya L
- Mike T
- Bill2
- Dylan
- Sylvia
- Galen
- Anderson
Review and approval of Previous Minutes
- 6 of 7 approved; 1 abstention
Current Financial Projections
- Available on the WIKI
- Membership: 650+ (new record)
Agenda items
- Area Champion requests:
- Per Bret: Add Rosie as a Neon Co-Champion
- Unanimous 7-0
- Per Anderson: Add Bun as Quilting/long arm Co-Champion
- Unanimous 7-0
- To ensure accuracy: Rick Melton was appointed Woodshop Champion 7-0 (include in record)
- Sylvia as primary fine arts champion
- Unanimous 7-0
- Vote on tearing down vault 17 & 18 (Discussed at previous board meeting)
- Vault 17 is currently assigned to Fine Arts
- Vault 18 has a current member in it and will be moved.
- Motion by Jeff, 2nd by Bill; vote is unanimous 7-0
- Motion to give Vault 2 to the Fine Arts Area (currently vacant)
- Motion by Dan J, 2nd by Anna; vote unanimous 7-0
- Tony requested “finishing off” recent door opening to paint room.
- Clarification of children and dogs at the makerspace rules (Sarah: Communications Committee: recommended for inclusion in the Member pamphlet).
- Rules are unclear and state different things in different areas of wiki
- Insurance requires that nobody under 18 allowed in workshops (wood shop, machine shop, forge)
- Codify rules to say that children and dogs must be supervised at all times, your child or pet's supervision comes before your project. No children may operate any powered machinery, including computers, without permission of the area champion (prevents members from using that computer for the area).
- If children are to be in workshops for a special event, parents should be signing a liability waiver. Children have been hurt on broken glass and soldering irons.
- Sarah provided draft guidance. One addition requested: any member can ask that a pet to be removed from an area; no reason needed.
- Recommended new policy:
- ——-Guest / Under 18 / Pet Policy——-
Guests: Members may bring up to four adult guests who are required to sign a waiver. No guests may handle any MMS power tools. The responsibility for guest behavior, cleanup, and leaving the space better than it was found, regardless of age, lies with the hosting member(s).
Events: Occasionally, we host events at the space that welcome the outside community. Each guest is required to sign a waiver and will be accompanied by a guide or granted limited access, with specific dangers and permitted locations mentioned in special cases (such as Iron Pours and similar events).
Minors: Because our space is driven by paid adult membership, guests and individuals under 18 are considered a privilege in our shared spaces. In addition to safety and legal concerns, not everyone finds interactions with youth pleasant. The makerspace is not a child care facility. Please be advised that there are often substances in the air and on the floor that may adversely affect your child's health and any member may ask that the children not be present.
- Guests under the age of 18 are not allowed in MMS shops and tool areas.
Minors under the age of 12 must remain within sight of, and under the direct control of, their hosting member at all times.
- Minors between the ages of 12 and 18 may be informed of risks and travel directly in the yellow lines between supervised non tool areas (eg: the bathroom area, or in a member’s personal rental space alone).
Makerspace is not responsible for determining your level of acceptable parent/guardian risk, and assumes no liability in case of negative effects resulting from member behavior or omissions. Exceptions may be granted or denied for accompaniment in appropriate areas or for specific events (like Makesgiving), at the discretion of the area champion and present members, on a case-by-case basis, which may be revoked at any time.
- Pets: Pets are a similar privilege, and owners are responsible for keeping their animals out of dangerous areas and maintaining a non-aggressive stance. Any member may ask any pet to leave the space without question. Pets should be leashed, penned or carried at all times in the MMS spaces. Owners are expected to immediately clean up after their pet should any accidents occur. Please be advised that, in addition to concerns about member comfort and allergies, there are often substances in the air and on the floor that may adversely affect your pet’s health. This policy does not affect trained service animals.
- Reporting Problems: If you observe any problematic guest dynamics or wish to request an exception, please email bod@milwaukeemakerspace.org and CC the relevant area champion(s).
- Call for a vote: Bill R; 2nd: Geoff; Vote Unanimous: 7-0.
- Clarification on procedure for implementing the “Automatic 1 week suspension for sleeping at the space rule” voted on in the August 2023 board meeting. https://wiki.milwaukeemakerspace.org/boardmeetingagenda/2023-08-03
- Geoff's recommendation to formalize the process:
- Board member informs BOD of offender sleeping
- Wild Apricot message to member accused of sleeping at Space
- Member has 48 hours to respond
- BOD has 24 hours to call vote to determine if member was sleeping.
- If no vote is called for, or 2nd, suspension is effective in 24 hours via WA.
- Dan J: shared “automatic” portion is 1 week suspension
- Each documented infraction must be discussed by BOD and decided.
- Geoff calls for a vote for his recommendation, Stefan 2nds: motion fails 4-3
- Based upon above discussion notify KP of 1 week suspension (3 weeks total) for each of 3 instances of sleeping at the space. (1/1/2024, 3/7/2024, 4/21/2024)
- 1 week suspension voted: unanimous 7-0.
- Cordless Tool Walls in both building (Bill2)
- Who is the Champion of the cordless tool wall? Should there be one?
- BOD will put out a call for a volunteer/Champion
- Will include the hand tool wall
- What is needed to get all of the doors under Lock and Fob?
- Brian F and Dan J are the leads on this
- How to stop the defacing or fix the no longer clear doors on some of the lockers?
- DAN L to fix the doors to make them clear
- Is there a plan to restock the tools and batteries?
- Pending a Champion
- Based on the answers to the above questions, I would like to suggest that the Milwaukee tools and batteries be restocked, and if there are not general funds available to do this I would propose that the area champions contribute some of their funds for this.
- BOD agrees Batteries are needed
- 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)
- Dan J recommends $2,000 from general fund for tool wall battery purchases.
- Members to be informed (amount greater than $500).
- Galen will put together a list of needs for next BOD meeting.
- Spring BOD elections
- 4 Positions included in this election:
- Communications
- Facilities
- Treasurer
- At Large
- Ceramics Area Expansion
- Cost estimate from Electrician: $1,370.
- Ceramics area to pay for all enhancements of their new area.
- Membership committee update:
- Working with Communications Committee
- Working on orientation and mentorship programs.
- Orientation: group of 5 with Orientation Leader
- Mandatory; 1 to 2 hours
- Dues are due and key fob is activated after the new member completes Orientation.
- Facilities, Community Ethos, Discord access, Safety rules, Group Activity, Training
- Mentorships: members sign up to be a mentor and is assigned a new member.
- Last for ~2 to 3 months. Is the go to for a new members questions on how things work.
- Communication committee update:
- Redoing Member Pamphlet
- MakerSpace was featured on CBS HomeTown segment
- Updating the website to make it more mobile friendly
General discussion
- NA
Meeting adjourns at 8 PM.
