Milwaukee Makerspace Wiki

Milwaukee Makerspace Board of Directors Meeting - 6 p.m. July 23rd, 2024 at Norwich

Introduction

Dan J calls this meeting to order at 6:09 pm.

Attendance

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

Guests:

• Matt D
• Lincoln
• Tim C
• Dan L
• Rick P
• Kathy L
• Melissa
• Jon D
• Brian F
• Kyle W
• Rick M
• Erika
• Tiffany
• Rosie
• Maya
• Devin
• Celeste
• Tom G
• Gary H
• Tony W
• Mike T
• Steve P

Review and approval of Previous Minutes

• Approved unanimously (7-0)

Current Financial Projections

• Available on the WIKI
• Geoff lowered internet bill from >$100 to $49/month
• 677 members

BOD votes completed between Board meetings:

• $100 Member Engagement Funds for refreshments during movie night. Vote to approve was unanimous 7-0 on Friday, July 12th

• On July 11th Dan J made the following motion to the BOD via email:

I am formally making a motion to update the new member signup process as follows (this language is as proposed by the membership committee):

Modify the new member sign up process so that prospective members 1) receive tours of both buildings, 2) complete the new member waiver/signup sheet, 3) attend a New Member Orientation meeting, and 4) pay their first invoice. After completing all 4 steps they will become a Member and receive their key/code for the buildings. This would take mandatory effect for anyone who does not signup at the upcoming Tuesday meeting on the 16th of July. For anyone joining after then, starting with the August 6th meeting, they must attend a new member orientation.

• Geoff L seconded.

• Vote was unanimous (7-0) on July 11th to update the new member signup process as outlined above.

Agenda items:

• Update on Vault 18 tear down (Geoff L.)
  • Concrete blocks are on Craigslist
  • Rest of area will be cleaned up on Saturday at SID
  • Printing area ready to be expanded.

• Kyle W - requests a 5 minute presentation for his and Rick's proposal to acquire a saw stop for the Woodshop. Followed by a Q/A session and a BOD vote on the current proposal.
  • woodshop_proposal_-_norwich_sawstop.pdf
  • professional_cabinet_saw_-_sawstop.pdf
  • Powerpoint available upon request from Kyle
  • Kyle developing a Norwich Woodshop Handbook (~60% complete)
  • Norwich training is slated to be hands on in the future. Members can choose to be trained at one or both woodshops. Members can only use the shop they are trained at.
  • Rick M: evaluating DC step downs to slow blade speed quicker when saws are turned off.
    • Step down motors cost ~$200/motor
  • Tom G asked: given costs, should we put step down motors on all saws instead of buying sawstop.
    • Rick M: want to address both issues, this is not one or the other
      • Watkins now has step down motor and stops in ~4 seconds.
      • Saw stop is ~$5,900
        • Woodshop has $2,000 to offer; requesting $3,968
      • Discussion about matching funds from general funds ($2,984 from general funds).
      • Lincoln: price discount ($350) is in place until mid-September
      • Dan called for vote on notifying members regarding: provide woodshop $4,000 from general funds to pay for SawStop.
      • Members informed of expenditure >$500 after Board meeting
      • On August 1st,Sarah called a BOD vote email: “To spend 4000$ of general funds for a sawstop tablesaw. Details per the slide deck and Non Routine Business emails.”
      • Tim E seconded
      • Vote passed: 5 yes, 1 no (Geoff L); 1 abstention (Sarah D).

• Dan J - Request we redefine the second Tuesday of the month as a “Member Activity Night”
  • Dan J stated “We've had some good mini-SIDs, but I think putting that on the calendar is limiting. Lets make it more open ended. Whoever wants to drive that bus can have freedom to do something cool.
  • If nobody volunteers to direct something, then we should set the expectation that nothing will happen. The BOD is overworked enough as is and we don't need another instance of shit getting hastily thrown together 4 hours beforehand, like this month.”
  • Reset expectations; reduce stress; have it be structure less (Maya L).
  • Tim E suggests: taking off calendar. Include membership committee on how this time can be best used.
  • Tony W: call it “Makers Night Out” – no guests, only members
  • Dan calls a vote: 2nd Tuesday of each month is Makers Night Out
    • Stefan seconds
    • Vote: 7-0 (unanimous)

• Vote on Rule - No Dumping of outside/personal garbage in makerspace garbage cans or dumpsters without board approval. If approved, member will be required to pay a fee based on the amount of outside garbage being dumped. (Geoff L.)
  • Geoff calls for a vote: No Dumping of outside/personal garbage in makerspace garbage cans or dumpsters without board approval. If approved, member will be required to pay a fee based on the amount of outside garbage being dumped.
  • Stefan seconds
  • Vote: 5-2 to approved; 2 no votes: Juliet and Sarah
  • Amendment: members are allowed to depose of 1 cubic foot of trash/month without Board approval.
  • Vote: 5-2 approved; 1 no vote: Juliet; one abstention: Sarah

• Not sure this needs to be an official rule but I would like to set the policy/expectation that no refunds of member dues will given for periods longer than the previous month. With the exception being if there is an error on the Makerspace's part we will refund the amount necessary to remedy our error. (Geoff L.)
• Rick M: Board can review presented exceptions.
• BOD has set the expectation.

• Tormach Area Champion
  • Matthew Dowell recently volunteered via email.
  • Tormach is part of the machine shop under Bill2 leadership; not a Stand Alone area
  • Dan J will provide training materials to Matt
  • Matt will reach out to Bill2 to be the Tormach trainer.

• Erika: Area Champion meeting on August 11th.
  • At Lenox meeting room
  • Noon to 2:30 pm

• SID this Saturday at 1 PM.

Meeting adjourns at 7:19 pm.