2023-11-01 Transcript
Roll Call: Aaron, Bob, Ali, Malcolm, Steve, Andrew W, Andrew A, Edgar, Duncan Fyfe, Chris Reddish, Ian Turner
Announcements and Events
Hack the Space Day - When? 7th of January, 10 -- 4.
One Shot Wonders - last one was week before last. Nothing else planned yet.
Combat Robots - Review of event. On Saturday, went pretty well. Someone came up from Coventry. It was live streamed and Steve has edited a video from this. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=oL9r6UMqLJs
EMFCamp planning session - 14th of November. Come up with some ideas of what to do.
Festivus - Traditionally on the 23rd Saturday unless there's some strong objection.
Actions and Minutes from Last Meeting
Mention of warning / banned members. Work in progress.
Minimum Membership Payments
File:2023 November - membership review.pdf Slides
New financial year on October 1st dropped the membership from 650 to 500, but too early to get exact numbers since there is some long period of time before membership is fully removed for people.
3 options: all 150 cancel their standing orders/membership (loss of ~£500), all increase the amount up to the minimum of £5 (gain of ~£500) or somewhere in the middle.
Of the people emailing no one has said no one saying they can't afford the amount, only it isn't worth it to them to keep up payment for it.
Several rude responses in response to the action. Graphs showing membership change. Currently got 519 members, roughly 45 members have changed their standing order, net positive additional £73/month. Some members have also reduced their membership payment to the minimum. Reminder the recommendation is £15 / month. Average monthly expenses are £5500 a month!
Question: Ali: Is the people under the £5 blocked from entering? Aaron: Not cut off immediately on October 1st. 180 emails sent out. The logic for the final dates are quite complex for when membership ended. 2 weeks generally was when it was rechecked.
Question: Andrew W: Are people continuining their donation? Aaron: No reporting for that at the moment. Those payments are still linked into the account but not figuring them out at the moment. Will try and prepare something for AGM. Andrew W: Also a comment it might be not visible until Spring since Chrismas doesn't have as many members joining and some people lower payments.
Metalworking Downstairs
Douglas not here at the moment. Things have been moved to allow an electrician to come in. Quotes are being requested, still some painting to be done, lathe is still broken but parts are being obtained. Hopefully we can get it finished soon. Come and helpout at a work party if you can.
Questions?
AGM
At the Carousel, 12th of December. Venue cost £100, good value. Quorum is 52 - hopefully people will attend. It will be via Zoom also. Free tea and coffee included.
Proxy votes can be arranged by HMS.
We also invite members to submit items for discussion.
Migration to Discord
Not much to discuss. Retiring access fully in January. We might be enabling community features on Discord.
Team Updates
Call for membership team volunteers. Couple of questions.
Lift still broken so we can't move the laser.
Andrew W has bought a new saw blade for the band saw, as well as some new screwdriver bits.
Most other updates covered by by other items.
Financial Update
We have September. Slight bump in income for August due to pledges from Laser Cutter. Similar scale expandature change due to Laser Cutter. Membership income may vary as discussed earlier due to membership payments. Other large expendatures recently due to flooring in metalworking area.
In general we are at a loss each month. Income does not cover general expenses. Last month, 5300 income, 5500 outgoings, for example.
Some confusion worth investigating due to drops in September and August which are not reflected in Expendature / Income. This is due to laser cutter being a fixed asset rather than expenditure.
No questions
Any other business
Lift is still broken. No real updates from BizSpace. It's been nearly four months.
New form to report accidents and near-misses. Please see posters around the space. Link is also on HMS.