Meeting frequency: yes, switch to meetings every 2 months. Have committee meetings and members' meetings on alternate months.
Monitoring hackspace usage and sensors:
General concern over privacy/intrusiveness. Could store only last image, to alleviate concerns? Why do we want it? Know how much the space is used, help members without a key to access space. This is useful, capturing e.g. motion sensors only. Segued onto:
Identifying how problems are caused: DW: another application that has been mentioned could be to monitor . PD: could have a camera to monitor entry exit. MT: but that sort of evidence is not always possible to use even if available. JW: use swipe-card, also provides potential sanction by temporarily disabling card from usage. TG: swipe-cards have limited reliability due to tailgating, cameras have problems but might also have usefulness. DH: what are transgressions? H&S? Better answer is to instill a better culture in space. Theft? No occurrences so far. JW: tidying up after using workshop. MT: should encourage people to report faults not blame them for doing so. AA: Need better communication, many members aren't on mailing list. JD: Make it easier to report faults SV: Have a policy to clear up afterwards, DH: we already have this, and it's getting better! NM: in community workshops people need an incentive to tidy up, some untidyness is frequent. MT: members need to encourage other members to tidy up, NM but it builds up little-by-little and inevitably adds up to a big effort. TG: it is possible to ensure work is divided equally between all members from other examples, reaffirm to members what things ought to be like. PD: need to ensure new members understand how the space works and ought to work incl. clearing up afterwards. AA: one way of doing this is via better signage. MT: are there rewards we could give for good behaviour? TG: concerns over rare events where people are being irresponsible - this is something other members should and do help with. TS: possible for members to go via committee, publicise act but not specific persons. JW: concerns that processes are not being followed e.g. laser cutter materials. TS: Need a members' handbook for how to do things e.g. editing wiki, to improve communications. JW: *ask* for members to contribute time as well as money, just as a soft request? PD/MT: give time in exchange for money? DH: if we have the right culture, hopefully we shouldn't need to request this.
Imposing penalties: AA: better to have incentives! TS: constitution doesn't specify sanctions, do we need a formally approved mechanism for committee to revoke membership of individuals in extreme circumstances? DH: potentially, hopefully shouldn't be needed if other systems working well. Action: TS check constitution, review next meeting.
Kiln acquisition: still probably available, size unknown. Space is a concern. JW: need to define floorplan, where it could be put. DW/JW: concerns over infrastructure for kiln, esp. extraction. NM: don't believe that kilns require extraction from previous experience. MT: concerns over people using inappropriate materials in kiln. DH: concern over liability of committee from inappropriate activities. NM: rationally, we have reached capacity in our space and cannot accommodate without removing other things. Many would like a kiln in principle, PD has a small kiln at home. MT: perhaps needs to be a more considered approach, write up as a proposal with appropriate measures to set things up properly. TG: reqts for a kiln would be a useful input into discussions on future spaces. NM offers to find out more details and possibly write up a proposal, PD offers to bring in her kiln to look at
The year ahead:
EMF camp: some people are going
Bristol MakerFaire (set a brief): sometime in August, we should go and we might have volunteers to staff it. Potentially collaborate on projects? Action: TS to talk to Ruth who is organising to pin down the dates.
PD: Festival of Nature in June, aimed at children. Present slime mould? JW: concerned over volunteers. JW: will talk to Ben about doing Biohack there.
SV: at Open Studios people commented they enjoyed meeting other BV Studios people. DH offers to look into
Cash & Budget: details available on wiki. DH: other pending purchases including insurance, business rates, chemical cabinet, wiring in G10. JW: produce cashflow forecast? DH: concerns over effort required to produce it. Concerns over liability of committee over H&S and expense required to operate in a safe way. Directors need separate liability insurance, will be covered in policy. Potential to take on a new space in future, lead from Open Studios from a prospective councillor. Current cashflow would not support much additional space. Need to clarify who's a member and who isn't, concerns over nonmembers using space - NM not often, DH very frequently.
Petty cash system
Electrical Supply and Distribution
G10 single phase sockets
G10 3 phase power
G11 Sockets
I feel that the underlying cause of things being left on is: hidden sockets, poor labelling, excessive use of extension leads and multi way adaptors, and poor compliance with safe working practice and Hackspace rules. Adding timers to this lot is a bodge not a solution to the underlying problem.
Consumables Procedure: I ask the meeting to:
Approve the attached procedure
Request an initial budget of £1000 which is topped up by £80 per calendar month.
Plan to implement it at the next maintenance weekend.