2020-10-19 Member's Meeting

Minutes recorded by: Ben

Members in attendance: Adalynne, Ankur, Ben, Jack, Geoff, Noah, Olivia, Brandon, Kevin, Daniel, Esther

ALTSpace Working Group

Member Projects

  • Adalynne - potentially available on weekends - 3d printing/fusion 360/programming
  • Ankur - working on chairs and circular saw. Available most weekday evenings. Good at Excel. Lives 20 min north of the space. Willing to join email alias
  • Ben - Interested in tool library, doing construction at house so busy a lot lately
  • Jack - metalwork projects. Could possibly give tours but needs better familiarity. Weekend reorg.
  • Geoff can help on the weekends - might be able to write code for tool inventory
  • Noah trying to transition the space to be more self-sufficient
  • Olivia - working in the woodshop pretty often, taking commissions. Only available to give tours on weekends unless already around.
  • Brandon ran a space in New Hampshire and has bandwidth. Add to alias.
  • Kevin - helped run the space a few years. Back to support how possible.
  • Daniel - working frequently next door. Able to give tours infrequently. Willing to join alias
  • Esther - UW CompSci PhD student. Working to provide LTE access during COVID. Community network talking with Dan Ryan who hosted a Meshnet node. Tiny home village.

Reorganization

  • INW storage clear-out
    • Confine to a pro-space?
    • Postpone woodshop idea if they carry the cost of the garage
    • Need the space for new pro-members

Member Needs

  • Access code clarity - repository
    • Ron changed lock on side-gate
    • Anyone know python coding? Jack will work with Noah.
  • Get the glow forge back
  • New laser cutter but needs tubes
  • Olivia needs their pro-space

New Lease Agreement

  • Month to month or negotiate new annual terms
    • Escalation clause
    • Side walkway/antenna mast(/ship door room&electric)
  • Insurance issue
  • Ron negotiation strategy - we’d like to continue month to month, but will circle back in 3 months knowing what membership trajectory is.
  • Bills are paid
  • Access to the walkway - check the lease.

WIFI/LTE Node

  • Serves community and potential to cover our needs as well.
  • Better location for antenna?/re: lease
  • Applied for Seattle community broadband

Divison of Labor / Bandwidth Check

  • Tours
    • Could resume Sun tours
    • Match calendar events to tours - sendout to email willingness to give tours. New members might not feel comfortable.
    • Expand the alias, kick to larger group as needed.
    • Work with the door open.

Tool Library

  • Email accountability sufficient?
  • Spend some money on consumables and equipment repair.
  • Need a computerized inventory - tagging isn’t always kept up
  • Tool chit system - name and phone number for communal tools.
  • Write proposal for vote at next meeting.
    • Include return date, 3 day limit
    • 48 hour lead time
  • Geoffery willing to write inventory system

Draft MISSION / VISION / VALUES / BYLAWS (501c7?)

Mission:

  • ALTSpace is a radically inclusive makerspace that builds artistic community through creation of epic shit in the company of inspiring people of all abilities and experience.
  • Reduce environmental and economic waste through sharing tools and materials
  • Share, learn, and collaborate in a welcoming and actively inclusive space.

Vision: ALTSpace will be a community institution with limitless possibilities to design, build, and perform creative endeavors in the company of inspiring people - A collaborative hub that can accommodate large scale art builds, learning and education spaces, community meetings, interactive galleries, performances, and events.

Values:

  • Accessibility - ease of access for all (adult) human-types regardless of experience, skill, income, or physical ability.
  • Active Inclusivity - members will actively welcome and engage with other members, provide tours to prospective members, and recruit friends.
  • Respect / Anti-Chauvanism - harassment, patronization, and other such bullshit will not be tolerated
  • Participation - members contribute to the life and maintenance of the space as often as they are able
  • Economic Opportunity - support artists in earning a living from their craft and hobbyists who wish to turn their passion into a source of income.
  • Outreach - Continual exploration of ways to plug into the Central District neighborhood and greater Seattle creative community.
  • 20% Rule - Leave the space 20% cleaner than you found it.