Milwaukee Makerspace Wiki

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.
    • 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 (free kiln) to ~$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

• NA

Meeting adjourns at 9:10 PM.