Board Meeting 16-06-2011
Attendees: Michael Erskine (ME), David Hayward (DH), James Hayward (JH), Matt Little (ML1), Matt Lloyd (ML2), Dominic Morrow (DM)
Apologies: Michael Proctor (MP)
2011-0001 - Incorporation
A discussion takes place about what we are incorporating as, along with future thoughts on charitable status.
Agreed: Incorporate as Not for Profit, Limited by Guarantee
ML1 not to be named as director, due to other commitments
Actions:ML1 agrees to investigate and incorporate. Initial budget of £100 set. Any more to be agreed by board
2011-0002 - Management Roles
General talk around the “management roles” page that DM had set up on the wiki.
Agreed: There will be a board member responsible for each area, along with a deputy.
This is not to exclude members, but just to give things some general coordination
(Rule 3 still in effect).
Actual work will be completed by board and members; board responsible for overview.
Roles will be
- Hackspace Infrastructure - ML2 to lead, DH to deputise
- Membership Management - DH to lead, DM to deputise
- Events Management and Marketing - DM to lead, ML1 to deputise
- Treasury and accounts - MP to lead, DM to deputise
- Commercial interests - ME to lead, JH to deputise
- Tools and consumables - ML1 to lead, ME to deputise
- Web services - JH to lead, ML2 to deputise
2011-0003 - Heating for Winter
Need to keep place warm, as rather than complain, people just won’t come.
Agreed: Integrated heater too expensive due to standing gas charge
Draft exclusion needed
Heat small spaces, designated warm areas
Entire space heated on Wednesday
PVC strips to break larger areas up
Actions: DM to chase building management about broken windows
2011-0004 - Membership
Discussion around two documents produced by DH and circulated before the meeting - Member Guidelines and New Members Welcome Pack.
Agreed: Board photos to go on wall
Photos of ID of all members to be kept
All members should have keys
Hackspace will have keys and RFID in stock for new members, £10 refundable deposit.
Actions: JH & DH work to clean up new members form
DH to perform census of current membership, gather IDs
DH to investigate bulk key-buying rates
2011-0005 - Facilities, co-working space
Although worries were voiced by JH, general agreement was reached that we need to make the space more accessible to co-workers. DH mentioned conversation with Jake about starting a freelance day to encourage participation; DH to start making this happen.
Agreed: Blue room to be made more useful. More desks, power points, etc
Some stuff to move from wall of boxes to workshop / studio
Museum to move to studio
Actions: Additional details/work to be done by infrastructure committee
2011-0006 - Vending Machine
Enough pledges have been received to purchase vending machine, which isn’t refrigerated. Missing shelf is probably an issue.
Actions: DM to investigate if machine is missing shelves, and if so, how much to replace them.
2011-0007 - Friends Wall
DH has tweaks to make to the artwork, but will sort shortly (Update: 22/6: Completing with Tony on 23rd)
2011-0008 - Neighbours
We need to co-exist with our neighbours, the main ones being church and dance school, but no matter how much we try to keep the noise down, it won’t be enough. General agreement that the building is always going to be noisy. Too many restrictions will drive hackers away.
Agreed: As the church is not willing to compromise, we are not willing to make concessions.
Happy to make occasional concessions to dance school, for exams, etc.
2011-0009 - Events
Tim Hunkin to visit
Actions: DM to round robin in all the usual places (hackspace groups, instructables, what’s on, etc.)
2011-0010 - BarCamp
BarCamp is coming, lots to do
Actions: DM to arrange meeting with Gemma to discuss requirements
ML2 to ensure 3D printer is working, with logo to sell
JH to ensure snackspace fully stocked and staffed
Pass on direction details for the bcnotts.co.uk websites
2011-0011 - Screen Printing
This can’t happen until wet area is built. We are currently waiting on sink.
2011-0012 - Bike Maintenence
Actions: DH to arrange workshop and gauge interest for regular event.
2011-0013 - Sew much fun
DM would like them to be helped, event pushed, etc. DH disappointed that no info came back regarding the textile table. DM pointed out that not everyone uses a computer regularly.
Actions: ML1 to attend on Monday to discover requirements
2011-0014 - Finances
Membership levels on track to reach required levels, although average membership is slightly too low.
Agreed: Finances should be transparent, without IDs
Actions: The board need to define membership targets for each month to make sure the hackspace is sustainable: DH to do.
[JH has to leave at this point, DH continues taking minutes]
2011-0015 - A.O.B.
Children: DM asks if people would object to children being in the space. It’s generally agreed that they should be welcome, but the hackspace is a fundamentally adult social environment. Under 16s must be supervised by an adult, and children attending are expected to be engaged with the space in some way, i.e. doing some kind of hacky project. All are wary of the space becoming a creche.
Arcade machines: All agree that the arcade machines are cluttering up the corner of the workshop.
Electricity: Concerns raised about how Bizspace are metering us.
Actions: Arcade machines to be moved into kitchen by ML and helpers.
Meter reading to be taken every two weeks to see how Bizspace costs square with it.
DH to add section on children to the members welcome docs.