Meeting Notes: 10/12/2012 @ Wegman’s Café

 

Pre-meeting discussions:

• The space we’re looking at is a sublet of the gym space in the NYPENN Center.
• Drew is speaking to a lawyer in regard to insurance and waivers.
• The lawyer should be getting back to Drew on 10/13
• Theft Prevention:
• DVR
• Member screening
• Insurance
• Contributions versus Communal Items
• Communal items would be for everyone to use but the person that donates would still retain ownership. Contributions would become group Hackerspace property.
• There would be different levels of materials and assets which will be recorded and tagged accordingly.
• Consumables (ink cartridges, batteries, et cetera)

 

Meeting Commences:

Introductions:

• Dell:
• Basics: Drew’s Coworker. Network Administrator, Programmer.
• Why are you here? Wants to be part of a community of makers, into electronics et cetera, would like access to better equipment.   Brought up the idea of setting up a dark room. (In that respect he could contribute in a major way by setting up and managing darkroom space.)
• John:
• Basics: Self-described ‘tinker’, works at Riverwalk
• Why are you here? CNC (computer numerical control machine)
• Chris:
• Basics: Does office work.  Jack of all trades.
• Interests: Graphic arts, fine arts, electrical/mechanical engineering, coil guns!
• Why are you here? Cooperative, collaborative projects.  Looking for an idea space, a bit like a guild. Looking for not only the experience, but also possible profit from collaborative projects down the road.
• Erik:
• Basics: Writes scripts, et cetera, robotics, microcontrollers,
• Why are you here? Collaboration, working with equipment not otherwise available, ROBOTS.
• Drew:
• Basics: Enabler.  IT . Aquarium, electronics, woodworking, computers, bikes, CNC laser engraver.
• Why are you here?
• Jamie:
• Basics: Programmer, 3D Modeling.
• Why are you here?
• Krista:
• Basics: Drew’s other half. Not Technological. Likes typewriters and outdated technology. Draw, craft, sew, wire, beads.
• Why are you here? Good at organizing and wants to learn.
• Ben:
• Basics: Grad student.
• Why are you here? To make stuff. Cinderblock loft bed. Make furniture. Kids stuff, educational stuff.
• Rene:
• Basics: Cal State Longbeach
• Why are you here? Free range kid movement, community outreach.
• Free Range Kid: modeled on parks in Germany – kids are provided with space and tools and materials and allowed to discover and invent on their own.  In the USA, parents are too involved and scaffold their students to an unhealthy degree. Free range kid movement

Community Outreach:

• Running classes for adults, young adults and children.
• CLASSES CAN ALSO BE A SOURCE OF INCOME FOR TCMS
• Think “21^st Century Boy Scouts” (Ben’s words.)
• Tech is the future and kids should have experience with tech
• Mushy circuit boards
• Community Development. Check with the Binghamton Planning Office. (Dell’s doing that.)
• John can get us advertising space in the new Hawley Street student housing building.

Immediate Needs:

• Networking
• Enhanced Power
• First Aid Kit
• Security
• Zigbee-enabled keypad lock
• Features: remote code reset, delete codes
• Everyone has their own code.
• Logs all who accesses the space and when. (Keeping honest people honest)
• Perhaps RFID
• Basic Information for each member in the case of an emergency.
• The B.C. Rollers handle this as follows:
• Each member has a sealed envelope with their medical information and a copy of their health insurance information.
• If there is an emergency, these envelopes are on-site and go with the person to emergency care or are given to an EMT

Membership:

• Age limit on active members (Minors).
• Perhaps supervised membership for minors.
• 20 to 30 people max – beyond that it might become unmanageable

Expenses:

• Basic Expenses
• $300.00/month Rent
• $800.00-$1,200.00/year Insurance
• $100.00/month Electric (maybe more, we don’t know yet.)
• $100.00/month Internet
• Applying for 501-C3 Status: $200.00 to $300.00 (Drew)
• Income
• Vending Machines
• Dues
• Also – in order to qualify for grants or funding from SUNY Binghamton, we need to offer a student rate
• Bit Coins – Virtual Currency
• Sponsorships
• Local Sponsorships
• Shelly Dionne – Ben’s contact at SUNY BU
• Binghamton Neighborhood Project
• Low Income Reduced Rate
• Would have to show proof of public assistance
• All information would be kept confidential
• All the books would be open, but there should be one treasurer
• One person in charge of collecting dues and keeping track of the books.
• Alternate funding sources
• Kickstarter (crowd-funding website)

ú  Could use that for help with initial equipment purchases.

ú  Requires actual, not open-ended projects

• Small donations from many hackerspaces to help with set up

To Do List:

• Web Design
• Website Erik/Ben
• WordPress Blog
• Jamie
• Facebook
• Krista
• Wiki
• Moderator: Erik
• Reddit
• Ben
• Skill Set Page
• Should be an internal page on the site
• List of who can do what to aid in collaborative projects

Other Concerns:

• The floor in the gym is in rough shape
• Heat remains at 58 to 60 degrees over the winter.

Plan B:

• Worst case scenario, perhaps a garage for a basic workshop

Erik’s points: Resources from which we can draw to take the makerspace from idea to reality

• One time donations from companies
• SUNY
• BCC

Wish List:

• Kiln
• Photo Lb
• Glassblowing/flame work
• Welders
• Perhaps Kevin can teach welding classes
• Combo arc welder and generator
• Indoor planting
• Sewing
• Painting
• Loom
• Lego Mind Storm
• Lathe
• Data Projector
• Telepresence Robot  on the roomba – hook up with other hackerspaces
• Or telepresence blimp with a cell phone
• Rovers
• RC Airplanes
• Laser 3d Scanner

 

Future Venues/Meetings:

• Wegmans has a meeting room. (Drew? Ben? Erik? Setting it up for our next meeting.)
• McD’s by Target
• Dunkin Donuts on Reynolds Rd also has a meeting room.
• Weekly meetings, probably shorter in duration
• Next meeting Friday at 8pm
• Weekly meetings Fridays at 8pm.

 

Addendum: Tools

 

Tools we have:

• 6” bench grinder
• 16” scroll saw
• Mouse sander
• Heat Gun
• Jig saw
• Belt Sander
• Router table (no router)
• 90 Amp flux welder and auto tinting mask
• Tongue and Groove Jib
• 12” Band Saw
• Table Saw
• Compound miter saw
• Edge joiner
• Thickness Planer
• Stationary Belt Sander
• Rivet Gun
• Hand Tools
• 2 Razor Scooters for mega fun time

Miscellaneous:

• Shop Vac
• Tembered Glass Sheets
• Microwave
• Five Pentium 3-4 laptops
• White Boards
• Kinect with pistol mount

Need:

• Drill Press
• Utility Sink
• Rechargeable and coded tools
• 4”pvc and dust collection system

Ben’s Contributions:

• Rechargable Screw Driver
• Corded Drill
• Skil Saw (crappy)
• Glue Guns
• Two 100’ extension cords
• Heat Gun