Regular Member Meeting 20151112

This meeting will be held in MIBS SRC3 format.

Time, location

20:00, Dallas Makerspace

Approval of prior minutes

Prior minutes

Officer/Committee reports

Committee chairs are requested to provide their reports in writing. Reports can be short bullet-points.

Committee Chairs

• 3d Fabrication Committee (Lisa Selk and Mitch Cerroni, Co-Chairs)
  • Reminders
    • Only PolyPrinter staff are allowed to perform repairs/maintenance on the PolyPrinter 3D printers. Do not try to fix them, unless you work for PolyPrinter.
    • Only PolyPrinter staff and 3D Fab Committee Chairs are allowed to adjust the z-height using the hardware (knob). If you believe it needs to be adjusted, open a ticket (and place a note on the printer that a ticket has been opened for it). [NOTE: Members can still use the arrow buttons in the software to raise the z a few mm to swap out filament, and to home z when needed. Just do NOT adjust it with the hardware at all. Thanks!]
    • EVERYONE who uses the filament provided by 3D Fab, must weigh all the plastic used - in grams (including support material and failed prints) - and pay for it at the time it's used. There is a cash box in the room for cash, or you can pay via PayPal (minimum $5.00 due to fees, please) at: HTTPS://DallasMakerspace.org/3dprinter
    • A member must be at the 'Space for the duration of the 3D print job. While you do not need to stay in the 3D Fab Room the entire time, you - or another member who agrees to watch your print for you - must be on Dallas Makerspace premises for the entire duration of the print.
    • Only one PolyPrinter 3D printer can be used by any member at a time.
    • Remember to put (at least) your name on the small white board of the printer you are using. By including your phone number, it will help other members to quickly reach out to you if they notice a problem with your print job.
    • As Always: No Personal Storage in the 3D Fab Room. Any personal items found in the room will be taken to the Lost & Found bin the Room 1 (aka: "The Big Common Room"). This includes personal spools of filament.

• Amateur Radio Committee

• Automotive Committee
  • Gone racing

• Blacksmith Committee

• Civic Hacking

• Classroom Committee

• Creative Arts Committee

• Digital Media Committee

• Electronics Robotics Committee
  • New Equipment/Supplies:
    • 2 Hakko FX-951 Soldering Irons
    • 2 Hakko FA-400 Fume/Smoke Suckers
    • 2 Lighted Magnifiers 5" 5 Diopter lens
  • Classes - Thanks to members teaching members!
    • Intro to Arduino
    • Analog High-Definition Television: NHK MUSE (part 1 of 2)
    • RFID implants and biohacking
    • Analog High-Definition Television: NHK MUSE (part 2 of 2)
  • Get your Adafruit group order ideas together. Will do another order for your holiday electronics fun!

• Financial Committee

• Foundry Committee
  • Two Classes scheduled for October; thanks to Amna for teaching the petal pot class, and to Beth for teaching the extruder class.
  • November 7th tile decorating class.
  • Slab roller (http://www.bigceramicstore.com/northstar-sirius-star-ct-503-slab-maker-2-boxes.html) ordered on 10-12-15 and deliverd on 11-2-15. Keep an eye on the DMS calendar for future classes featuring slab building.
  • Proposed class to make cookie cutter Christmas ornaments out of clay slabs. Watch the calendar for details.

• Infrastructure Committee
  • Both doors at the front of the building have had crash bars added to them.
  • PA system is installed and ready (dial x1999 from any DMS phone).
    • We're also planning to get CalendarAnnouncer back up and running.
  • OpenStack cluster is almost ready! Be on the lookout for a post on Talk.
  • Server Room door controller has been replaced so additional locked doors can be added.
    • Electrical Room s now a secured room due to members trying to make unauthorized electrical changes.
    • Garage door opener quote has been obtained, and we are pre-wiring the access control system to the area.
      • Will have a push-button on the inside to open/close, but outside will have an RFID reader and only certain members will have access (primarily handicapped members) due to technical limitations.
  • Installed MTA (mail transfer agent) on VM for main website and wiki. The new VM didn't have one by default, so emails from the wiki (changes to pages, etc) weren't being sent. This is fixed now and using Mandrill, so it should keep these e-mails out of spam folders.

• Laser Committee
  • Optics are now stocked on location to reduce downtime when a lens or mirror fails
  • New blower motor installed to replace failed blower motor
  • New interlocks installed to improve safety and reliability of the machines
  • Huge round of applause for all volunteers and instructors (especially Kevin Braby, Pearce Dunlap, Mitch Cerroni, and Chuck Baber)

• Logistics Committee
  • New personal storage racks and bins have been built and installed. Members are requested to apply for a bin following the instructions on envelopes in the galley. Process for permanent bin labels is being finalized.
  • Old shelves and bins are located in the workshop adjacent to the south open work area. Logistics requests that members remove their old bins and contents as soon as possible.

• Machine Shop Committee
  • Replaced vertical band saw blade
  • Acquired arbor press, will be installed soon
  • Got drill press running
  • Sold Southbend Lathe (awaiting pickup)
  • Purchased machinist vise

• Metal Shop Committee

• Public Relations Committee

• Remote Control Committee

• Science Committee

• VECTOR Committee
  • New member Erik Smith beginning project - Bally Flip Flop (1976)
  • Will be promoting DMS/VECTOR at the Houston Arcade Expo this weekend
  • Tool labeling and storage optimization underway per Robert Davidson's suggestions

• Wood Shop Committee

Agenda

Note: The normal cut-off time for agenda items is the Sunday prior at 11:59pm.

New business

Use of Email Notification For Major Policy Changes (David Mandala)

Problem: Discussion around proper use of email for notification of major policy changes (new policies or changes to existing policies) within the MakerSpace. We have a notifications announcement email list that has ALL members in it. (davidm)

• What is a major policy change?
  • Things that cost a member additional cash outlay.
  • Things that could cause a member to lose personal possessions.
  • Anything that can be perceived as decreasing the value of an existing membership.
• Example: The storage policy was changed but no email was sent to the general membership about this. Posting to forums and some talk thingy is not sufficient notification, not everyone uses either of those things.

Solution: Call for a vote requiring email notification for any new policy or policy change that could cost members additional cash outlay, or decrease the value of their existing membership subscription.

Discuss a New System for Determining How Funds Are Spent (Kent Bowling)

Problem: The current method for determining how funds are spent has several issues

• Difficult to implement long term strategies and planning
• No official way for members to donate into a potential purchase fund
• BoD has difficulty deciding if purchases are good for our members

Solution: Discuss a potential new democratic system for determining how funds are spent and discuss if pursuing it is worthwhile.

Minutes

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