Milwaukee Makerspace Wiki

Milwaukee Makerspace Board of Directors Meeting - 6 p.m. September 24, 2024 at Norwich

Introduction

Dan J calls this meeting to order at 6:12 p.m.

Attendance

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

Guests:

• Chris K
• Kathy A
• Jerry K
• Kyle W
• Jon D
• Rick M
• Melissa
• Carl S
• Dan L
• Mike T
• Galen
• Tony K

Review and approval of Previous Minutes

• Approved: Unanimous 7-0

Current Financial Projections

• Available on the WIKI
• Membership at all time high as of 9/1/24: 685

BOD votes completed between Board meetings:

• None since 9/9/24 Board Meeting

Agenda items:

• Lenox parking lot repair.
  • Is the disabled parking spot near the most convenient door for most members who use it? (ask for feedback from membership who use it) and if not, can this be improved without reducing total availability?
• Can we efficiently add motorcycle parking? (perhaps near a door/overhead door so that 4ish bikes can back in without wasting a parking space) (John K/Tiffany M/Anna K/Stefan B)
  • Tom and Tony to get quotes
    • need to correct slope and replace drainage pipes
    • Tom suggests 6“of concrete for decades of use
    • Tom says re-doing gives 2 extra parking spots
  • Rick M to discuss with Alter-woman
  • Will solicit member opinions on where the handicap spot is
  • Motorcycles: share an auto spot

• Glass Fusion family project night request for BOD approval: Kathy L
  • Jean and Dan L will cover
  • Wants to hold a family night to make holiday ornaments where children can participate with a member parent
    • Parent will sign waiver and children will not use any machines
    • Dan J: MMS has done this before
      • Dan J makes motion to allow Kathy L to have a Make and Take in the Glass Fusion area. Children are not allowed to use power tools. Kathy L will need to notify the membership that children will be in the Space for the program
      • Bill R seconds motion
      • Vote is unanimous 7-0

• Wood Shop Hack Rack Lenox move: Jerry K
  • Move hack rack out of the woodshop and re-organize the hack rack by the CNC room.
  • Dan J made motion to have Jerry K and Geoff L to work together to manage their respective areas (woodshop and hack racks)
    • Passed 7-0

• “Proposal from Juliet J and Tom G to add a second weekly pick up to the Norwich garbage dumpster.

Problem: Too much garbage; dumpster often gets bad publicity by being full right before Space Improvement days; causes needless stress on individual members who wish to dispose of trash from the building and needless stress between members over what garbage is or isn’t dumped or how much space for garbage remains.

Solution: Accept that garbage happens and there are many more people with access to the space now. Although calling for an extra dumpster pick up has always been an option, it is significantly more expensive individually than a second weekly pick up. A second weekly pick up makes the annual cost of garbage removal more predictable and representative. The training we have had in our lives to put garbage in garbage cans and to regularly empty those garbage cans into garbage dumpsters is something to be preserved and encouraged. Adding a second weekly pick up will decrease stress and emotional turmoil, decrease the need to enforce or create rules around garbage, encourage members to put garbage where it belongs promptly and ensure that every Space Improvement day has plenty of space for new garbage.”

• Dan J will contact John's (garbage contractor) to get numbers on options (e.g. larger dumpster, second dumpster, more frequent pick ups, etc)
• Recycling: look into getting a 4 yard dumpster? Dan J will check.

• Where to hang Carl S's cool video game module which he made.
  • Stefan motions Carl S hang video console by refrig in Norwich meeting room.
    • Dan J seconds
    • Passes 7-0

• Community Outreach funding discussion - Kristie Kirch
  • Key Community Outreach Programs: Makerfaire, Makesgiving, and Bay View Gallery Night
  • 2023 expenses:
    • Makerfaire: $1,351
    • Makesgiving: $525
    • Bay view gallery night: $143
    • Halloween party/post MakerFaire wrap up: $400
• Request the BOD provide $2,000/year to help fund these outreach projects
• Poll of meeting attendees showed strong support of $2,000 to Community Outreach Area.
• Members will be notified of $2,000 area moneys

• Fall Election: time line sent via Wild Apricot
  • Election run by Bill R and Carl S

General Discussion:

• Tony K: get service to plow Lenox
• Rick M: SawStop will be installed later this week
  • There will be special training for this new table saw.

Meeting adjourns at 7:30 pm.