Minutes for the Members Meeting
September 2nd 2020, conducted via Zoom at 7:30pm
Tom chairing, Hannah taking notes
The meeting was the first meeting since February 2020 because of the restrictions of COVID-19.
We didn’t record the icebreaker as we didn’t assign anyone to take minutes until afterwards! We talked about who we would like to have a zoom call with, if we could pick anyone in the world.
Tech and “Tool lead” recruitment (@AussieFred)
- We discussed having tool leads
- Is this any different from tech leads?
- For some tools this works well and is helpful - ie the lathetechs
- We discussed Inductions and learning
- Woodshop night was proposed
- We could have buddy’s for those who are less experienced to help with learning or on a specific project
- That would have to be online for now, or wait for when it’s safe to meet up in person
- Videos: we can create some or use some that are already be online
- We need to consider the time and energy it would take to make new videos, will we be able to get them done? Will restrictions interfere?
- Mixed learning options are needed as people learn differently
- We could offer quizzes to test people’s learning
- People with existing experience should be able to start using tools sooner, than others
- They need to prove they can use the tools
- Aim to free up inductors time for the less experienced members to learn
- Safety needs to be considered, how can we ensure safety?
- We could use a nomination system like shutter access
- We could use the quizzes/tests for learning, or ask some questions to check someone’s knowledge
- Will members feel it’s unfair if some people get to ‘jump ahead’ where they have to go through a longer process?
- A buddy system could be useful for both keeping up with and checking existing knowlegde, and could help if there was a nomination system
Making inductions COVID safe (@Dermot )
Intro:
- Small tools can be taken outside
- Workbench has been built for this
- Important to find ways to fast track those with experience while we are so restricted
- Safety needs to be highest priority
Discussion:
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How do we handle covid safety when we need enough eyes in the shop to handle physical safety?
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Remote inductions
- Need to make sure the process is smooth
- Good for a refresher but maybe not for first time users
- A post will follow on the @lasertechs experience
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Suggestion that the glass from the kitchen be used as a safety screen and one person watches the other shows, then they swap?
- Issues with the angle being awkward for some things and not good for all tools
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A few people could work at the benches outside to be inducted on hand tools especially
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Relaxing the main rules for one to one sessions (with PPE)?
- Not currently possible but changes may come soon.
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Trying to record anything or induct while simultaneously holding a screen would be dangerous for some tools - you need hands free to hit the stop button
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Outside is safe - with 1+ meter distance, we are happy with a group working outside. This needs to be considered by area.
Arch 2 (Tom)
- Overview of the survey results was given
Enabling practical plans with timelines/action group - (@Beccaartist)
Proposal:
- We want to spread the responsibilities and actions required to get Arch2 up and running across the membership, not just leaving things to the Directors
- Proposal is to set up an action group to turn the questionnaire results into something meaningful for the whole membership
- We want to have some people to lead an action group
- The action group can set out a timeline and have this available for members to follow and take part in the actions
- We can make sure we have some professional input from (as an example) people with construction work experience
- The group can create a project plan to deliver actions
Discussion
- Can the ‘tech’ role help make this happen? Such as creating an Arch2 tech role?
- Why can’t just anyone be involved? We don’t need people to be ‘techs’
- It could be confusing and create a barrier for members wanting to take part who are not techs
- People who have time to offer are really important for getting things moving; the focus needs to be on action
- The action group, as well as the techs, should all be key in making decisions and getting Arch2 finished.
- We need skilled people, and people with time and enthusiasm
- There will be opportunities for the whole membership to be engaged the whole way through the process
- We also want to make sure the group can make decisions and we don’t deliberate for too long or wait and have things be slowed down
- We want the group to be a trusted group
- We need leadership, but we don’t want control
- Can we have nominations for people involved in the group?
- Do we focus on the planning or on the people who will take the action?
- We can start some action immediately
- Votes:
- Do we want an action group of members to take on the decision making and driving of the Arch2 project? (all visible hands raised)
- How will the action group members be decided?
- Entirely self selecting (4 visible hands raised)
- Roles are posted and people are elected (2 hands raised)
- A little of both (10 - 12 hands raised)
Other Arch 2 updates and next steps
- We can start getting materials and start on initial construction already
- We can have multiple processes going on at once to keep things moving
- Shall we outsource some of the work? I.e. for the clearing up?
Governance Working Group
Proposal:
- We could form a group of interested people to look into the processes and procedures that we have and see if we can move forward on getting them updated (ie grievance procedure)
- Does anyone who was previously involved with working on any governance updates want to take part in finishing the updates or offer their work to take forward?
- We can go back to basics and organise a session where members can take part in refreshing our mission and values which would align nicely with Arch2 expansion
- This work could help when we need to think about roles and structures, and how people can get involved with action and bringing ideas to life
Discussion:
- We need to do less, and do it well and quickly rather than try and tackle a lot of things in great depth and overreach ourselves
- We could work on improving structures
- We want to make that move that we attempted in 2016 to move out of start up mode
New crowdfunding campaign - #Makerdifference_2 - (@Dermot)
Update and call for members to get involved:
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MakerDifference 1 was mostly about masks, and also things like air purifiers, and face shields
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We reached out to people from the local community to get PPE to vulnerable people
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We offered PPE to care homes and key workers
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MakerDifference2 is about providing an even more targeted response, particularly in light of the BLM movement and focusing on our local BAME community
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How can you ‘maker difference too’?
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What can we do for our next campaign?
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We want to hear ideas for how we can help, perhaps beyond masks
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There are long term impacts and issues related to COVID that we will continue to need a response
Discussion
- Can we focus on education? People are acting like the virus is gone, but it hasn’t
- What about information posters? ie how to correctly wear a mask, covid symptoms, info on BLM?
- Can we hold workshops in the outdoor area (covid safe)?
- Offering skills
- Support
- Teaching sessions
- Focused around projects
- We could pay the facilitator as an incentive to get more interest
- Could we run an anti-racism group? Or a book club?
- With outreach in mind we could:
- Offer a scholarship, for example for young artists,
- Run a competition and have the prize be a makerspace membership
- Focus on getting engagement
- If people commit they need to be able to follow through and not run out of time
- We need some energy and engagement around the campaign, let’s make it fun!
End of meeting notes.