Author Archives: erik

Meeting Notes 11-30-2012

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November 30th, 2012
Meeting start time: 7:50 PM

Attendance:

Erik, Krista, Dan,John,Eric, Mike, Drew, Adam, John, Beth, Cathy Kuzia

Pre-meeting Concerns:

  • We need to find an alternate meeting space, Wegmans is getting too small.
  • Vestal Public library has rooms that can be reserved
  • John – meeting space (s) at the Binghamton Riverwalk

Introductions:

Drew: (see previous meeting notes)
Krista: (see previous meeting notes)
Eric A.: Broadcast Engineer
Mike: Armchair DIY, between things, Communications degree
Adam: (see previous meeting notes)
Dan: (see previous meeting notes)
Kevin: DIY, HAM Radio, tinker
Erik: (see previous meeting notes)
Jun: Bu student (major)
Beth: (see previous meeting notes)
John: (see previous meeting notes)

Actions since last meeting:

  • In process of attaining non-profit status
  • Insurance- One we are an L.L. C, we can apply for insurance.

Prospective Spaces:

NYPENN TRADE CENTER:

  • $300 a month
  • Cheapest
  • Least likely
  • We got an Ok from the landlord to sublet but no OK to install access control or internet.

Susquehanna Street:

  • $950 / month
  • 16′ Ceilings
  • Garage Space-25′ x 69′ space
  • No heat in Building
  • Attic storage

Carol Street:

  • $500 a month (asking $720)
  • Behind the KNOW Theater.
  • Space has been used for storage so currently no active electrical or sewer connections
  • Dedicated Parking
  • 2/1/2013 earliest move in date
  • Gave letter of intent to real estate agent
  • Broome County Cooperative Extension has a lead abatement program.
  • Wide Access doors- good for machinery
  • Close enough to be on-the art walk
  • Mike- Plumbing inspection – should be done before move-in.
  • Other notes: Waiting to hear back from the land lord and we may have to go in front of the Community Planning Board as any change to a space is Subject to a review. But in this case since there are no zoning or exterior building changes we can most likley file for and receive an exception.


Other Space Ideas:
Outlying areas, cons:

  • Public Transit
  • Ease of Access

Mike: Find out about grant money from the Susquehanna Gateway Project

Requirements at physical space:

  • Asset tracking for items. There will also be different levels of ownership. If you have an item you want to donate to the space it can either be a straight up donation where you surrender ownership or it can be on loan, where you still own it and if you leave the space you can take the item with you. Each item will be tagged and noted as to it’s ownership status
  • Physical Access Control. We need to decide if we want to build something off the shelf or roll our own solution. Most likely implementation will be RFID card and PIN.
  • Internet: Looking into a Wideband link from TWC. Eric suggested looking into fiber from Sprint, Verizon or TWC. Wireless ISP was also discussed but the bandwidth is poor and the latency very high.

Other possible locations:

  • Fayette Street- used to be legal aid Another possible space.
  • Spool Factory– Possible free accommodations on a temporary basis (still waiting to hear back from.
  • Tech Works– Water Street (also still waiting to hear back from)
  • Kmart Plaza
  • Fat Cat Books old building
  • Renaissance Florist in J.C. is Moving 277 main street in J.C.


Funding:

  • Artists in Residence -Allow local artists to have smaller spaces in the makerspace that they would pay rent on.
  • Grants-  Mike-Corning glass- have a program to have an artist in residence
  • Laptops- There is a large lot of laptops available. Possibility to buy the lot and have a weekend hack-a-thon rebuilding them and then sell them on eBay with the profits going to the space.
  • Talk to Roberson Museum,Kopernic, BCC, and BU (there are a lot of professors who have a community outreach component written into their employment contract) about possible funding
  • Possible funding from tool/equipment manufacturers.


Internal Structure:

  • We plan to be an LLC, and Drew will be talking to a lawyer this week about getting this done.
  • Membership rate:Tentative plan is to have a normal rate, a reduced income rate, a weekly pass membership, and also sweat equity. Sweat equity would involve a memeber doing work at the space to reduce their membership dues, all taks would have to be voted on and assigned a value. Tasks could include repairing broken equipment, running Ethernet, etc. However the rate structure and sweat equity work there needs to be enough money coming from membership to pay for rent, utilities, and insurance.


Action Items:

John- Talk to the hotel about using their meeting room.