Future Gazing 20241123

Community Meeting

Date: Saturday, November 23rd, 2024

Time: 4:00 PM - 6:00 PM

Attendance

Adrian, Andy, Chris H, Chris T, Graeme (remote), Jackie, Kirsty (remote), Mike, Neil, Snoof, Zarino

Previous Actions Review

Community Development

• Julian: Create and distribute university/college notice board posters
• Jackie: Set up Doodle poll for next Future Gazing meeting
  • Done!
• Andy (and Mike): Begin PAT testing program
  • Started last Maker Day! Will be an ongoing thing.
• Andy, Snoof, Sannah, Liz, and Terry: Establish Fibre Arts setup
  • Done! Set up an experts group, group chat.

Documentation

• Anitha: Conduct Wiki user testing
  • Has been doing that, but not sure how far she got
• Andy: Document processes on Wiki
  • Not sure what this was even about. "Processes"?

Key Discussion Points

Storage improvement strategies & clutter management

• Mike: We’re going to try and sort out the Machine Room – put more work benches in, including an accessible one, which folds down so it can be used when required, some materials storage space, high level shelves. Will involve some costs.
• Mike: Found an ecosystem of 3D-printable hexagonal/honeycomb brackets for small parts storage. Would like to trial it in a few parts of the space.
  • Adrian: Good idea to try it out in a small area first (like the Machine Room) to learn whether it works/helps or not. We tried pegboards in the past, but got bogged down in metric-vs-imperial debates, ridiculously (most of the 3D-printable materials online were American, and therefore imperial).
  • Andy: Bit worried we can provide storage, but it’s useless if people don’t put stuff back in storage after they’re done with it. Another "process" thing to be documented.
• Jackie: Alex and Shreya have put together a list of things that look like they could be disposed of / sold on ebay (Alex’s son has volunteered to list it on ebay) – they’re looking for comments from the community.
• Luke is happy to take one of the Form2 3D printers that were earmarked for adoption, and Carl’s old (smallish) laser cutter.
  • He can take the software dongle from Sophia, too, since she’s not working right now, and we want to replace her controller anyway.
• Caroline K donated a big resin printer, which Mike and Sean got working, but it really needs a new FEP release film, which is a bit tricky to source.
• Mike: Been meaning, for years, to put a big cupboard on the wall in the kitchen. But is it worth it, if we’re not sure we’re staying in this space long-term?
  • Adrian: Perhaps focus on other stuff first?

North West Computer Museum trip proposal

• This is in Leigh. Same building as Leigh Hackspace. Could do a combined trip.
• Neil notes a few Jelly folks were interested in visiting. Need to convince someone to drive us all there!

AOB

• Hack The Space days
• Finances:
  • Snoof: there was a period earlier in the year, where the bank balance was going down, and it’s not clear why?
    • Adrian says directors discussed it at last Tuesday’s Directors Meeting and we think it’s a combination of a number of factors, including the difference between when profit and loss is recognised by Freeagent, an insurance bill that came in around that time…
  • Chris T: Any news on the grant application for the heating?
    • Adrian: We had to provide more detail on why we were applying, rather than the landlord. But other than that, no decision yet on the funding.
  • Chris T: Any fallout from price increase?
    • Jackie: Nobody’s said they’re leaving as a result.
  • Mike: Did anything ever come of our business rates appeals?
    • Adrian: Think we have something ongoing about this, via a third party, because they called and John was like, why not. But we’re not expecting it to make a difference. We’ve challenged before, and it made only a small difference.
• Christmas party!
  • Kirsty sent an email to the organisers, suggesting 4pm–late, Friday 20th December, in the events room and workshop space.
  • "Bring and share" – invite people to bring an item of food and/or drink, and provide slots for people to share what they’ve been working on.
  • Encourage people to "bring a friend" – potential future members! First day is free with cake ;-)

Actions

• Snoof to set up github team for fibre arts room.
• Jackie to find out when we can visit NWCM, and organise, perhaps as a joint trip with Jelly folks.
• Snoof to organise another Hack The Space day to:
  • tidy up machine room
  • do some PAT testing
  • replacing pen plotter furniture with gray desks (Snoof and Jackie know what this means)
• Mike to add Caroline K’s resin printer (which needs a new FEP) to Alex’s spreadsheet of stuff looking for a new home.
• Kirsty and Neil to organise Christmas party! Some graphics, posters in the space, email to the Google Group.
• Everyone to look through Alex’s spreadsheet of stuff looking for a new home – add anything else you know of, remove anything you think we should keep.

Next Meeting

• Topics to address:
  • Update on decluttering
  • Bringing more people into the space (advertising? marketing? events?)
  • …TBC
• Date: 4pm, Saturday 4th January