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Hi <br>
<br>
I really enjoyed reading this. Its an excellent contribution. <br>
<br>
Thanks for taking your time to do it. <br>
<br>
RAN<br>
<br>
On 5/21/2014 12:34 PM, sarah schrupp wrote:
<blockquote
cite="mid:CABGuZcQw_O1f71fPzcSF6BLc49bKKqLGNKbLmGd1z8CAZX7VOg@mail.gmail.com"
type="cite">
<div dir="ltr">Got to chat up other Hackerspace folks. Full
disclosure, few data points; not a tinkerer, so questions were
about running/organizing a community, and also, don't have
friends in other communities like some of you might.
<div>
<br>
</div>
<div>Take home points were derived from people who strongly
believe in the hacker community concept; many were still
wildly enthusiastic, some were still believers but no longer,
wide-eyed but a few were nearing mental collapse, yet still
clinging to the positives of what a hacker community could
offer.</div>
<div><br>
</div>
<div>Surprisingly, financing according to several, was not the
biggest issue. In fact, some mentioned that eventually, the
money started streaming in, but rather, keeping the
organization healthy was the biggest hurdle.<br>
</div>
<div><br>
</div>
<div>Some advice from volunteers/organizers:</div>
<div><br>
</div>
<div><b>Take the opportunity to build structure into a small
organization before it gets too large, and don't be afraid
to moderate policy as needs change. </b> No policies and no
enforcement leads to chaos as well as creates physically
unsafe and socially toxic environment. </div>
<div>(Stories about people not being willing to engage law
enforcement when really necessary. Other related issues, lack
of machine/tool safety tests, pets, squatters, drugs, theft
and whether 24/7 ends up being good idea. Some spaces will
not permit sleeping, for instance. Another suggested eventual
space location could be out of city center but adjacent to bus
stop, for example, become a destination, not a pass through.)<br>
</div>
<div><br>
</div>
<div><b>Partner with other non-profits.</b> They gave many
instances where reciprocation had been invaluable, sharing
funds,grants, reaching public, getting support, trading
resources et cetera.</div>
<div><br>
</div>
<div><b>Consider core objective of this hackerspace; </b>what
does this community need? If not much equipment to meet
goals, then easier to insure and maintain safety. In one
instance, the "big tools" are the 3-D printers (upgraded from
DMS ones, the $2K models) and some cnc mills. (Could
concentrate on fundraising just for those specific pieces of
equipment.)</div>
<div><br>
</div>
<div><b>Collect but screen donations else DMC will become toxic
waste site. </b> Be clear about what DMC wants to accept -
for example, old Apple II computers are interesting and could
be restored for a museum but are not really a part of the DMC
vision. Some donations, like a jackhammer and compressor, are
too large or out of scope for hackerspace, but would be
perfect for a partner non-profit, i.e. habitat for humanity,
who later might help construct a wall or something. </div>
<div><br>
</div>
<div><b>Focus on youth and families if possible to create a
healthier financial and social environment. </b> Kids and
families bring money, safety, civility, grant financing,
volunteers and resources into the community. Parents will
spend a lot of money helping their children learn but won't
participate if the environment is unsafe or otherwise toxic.
Also, many volunteer mentors derive pleasure from working
with kids and teens.</div>
<div><br>
</div>
<div><b>Visit other hackerspaces and see what they are doing
well and what they wish they could change. </b> (I can
compile a list if anyone is interested, but there are many.)</div>
<div><br>
</div>
<div>Example of Happy, Well-run, Non-profit Hackerspace
(according to other hackers, not me):</div>
<div>
<p class="MsoNormal"><a moz-do-not-send="true"
href="http://www.hackerdojo.com/About">http://www.hackerdojo.com/About</a> (Mountain
View)</p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><br>
</p>
<p class="MsoNormal">Example of small, For-Profit (opened this
space due to hacks in the common area of their lodging house
where they didn't want it):</p>
<p class="MsoNormal">
</p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><a moz-do-not-send="true"
href="http://rockitcolabs.com/makerspace">http://rockitcolabs.com/makerspace</a> (San
Francisco)</p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><br>
</p>
<p class="MsoNormal">Example of everything permitted,
financially sound, largely disfunctional and socially toxic,
non-profit (ran across the accompanying tumblr which seems
to corroborate and enhance what I heard):</p>
<p class="MsoNormal">
</p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><a moz-do-not-send="true"
href="https://www.noisebridge.net/wiki/About">https://www.noisebridge.net/wiki/About</a> (San
Francisco)</p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><a moz-do-not-send="true"
href="http://shitnoisebridgesays.tumblr.com/">http://shitnoisebridgesays.tumblr.com/</a></p>
<p class="MsoNormal">Btw, people had made great contacts and
accomplished things at Noisebridge but many had fled
elsewhere due to safety, theft and anarchy. NB no longer
seems to have a discussion page. (Ran across a posting
about the FBI looking into their TOR network with regards to
the Mandiant report etc.) Lots going on there; also, lots
going on there. Maybe you have friends that have used that
space?</p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><br>
</p>
<p class="MsoNormal">Be interested to hear what you have
learned. Seems like charging for space membership filters
out some behaviors. Sponsorships could also be made for
parties who can't afford. Otherwise, does DMS's CNC mill
just become a good place to make a copy of a DO NOT
Duplicate UCDavis Schlage key?</p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><br>
</p>
<p class="MsoNormal">Anyone have friends at other hacker
spaces? Be happy to contact the folks I met and ask any of
your questions. Also, they seem to know the folks at other
communities.</p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><br>
</p>
<p class="MsoNormal">Sarah</p>
</div>
</div>
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</pre>
</blockquote>
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