Minutes:10 JAN 2024 Members Meeting Agenda

Meeting begins: 1907

Meeting ends: 2108

Participants: David G., Joe D., James K., Andrew C., Victoria W., Nate Y., Brian J.

Agenda

• Announcements/new business - 10m
• Operations
• Financial
• Membership
• Outreach
• Education

Minutes

• Announcements/new business:

• Operations:
  • PC upgrades: buy new vs. upgrade (i.e. more RAM/switch to SSD)? - James K./Nate Y./Ben N.
    • Focus on donated machines instead of buying?
      • try a returnable CPU replacement?
    • Use existing Mac Mini for the public PC
    • https://www.ebay.com/itm/285309742776 as an example of new PCs
    • Victoria to look at getting a few https://www.amazon.com/GMKtec-Nucbox5-Desktop-Computer-Windows/dp/B0B75PT2RY/?th=1 for $140?
    • 3dp/slicer should be priority
    • IT committee ?
  • Access control (interior and exterior): pivot to off-the-shelf Unifi solution? - James K./Nate Y./Ben N.
    • Parts received -- parallel install this weekend (partial) - Nate Y.
    • reach out to Lynn RE wall mount - Joe D.
    • We should test out some of the higher-end Unifi cameras for the main entrance, to control the number of alerts.
    • Access control -- we will order some Unifi gear at the beginning of 2024 (returning if it doesn't work out), could roll into the fundraiser.
  • Can we define a group of people "responsible" for each machine who would document/maintain/organize the main trainings? (i3-style "zone wardens")
    • somewhat happening organically?
    • or a list of subject matter experts?
  • Candice' lathe
• Financial:
  • Financial Position: https://drive.google.com/file/d/1U_IURRK7QLhnVKWiRDk4u64dw7JJ2WuK/view?usp=sharing
  • Financial Activity: https://drive.google.com/file/d/1M8axPee9qlmCH8ajU5dZQKTJLn3bK7ZE/view?usp=sharing
  • Monthly financial report https://docs.google.com/spreadsheets/d/1fCZ2j8G5ZXTxQlR_fnR_BoUldrVSsgBDnbztHpAYgGw/edit?usp=sharing
  • Accountant/tax advice/Payroll solutions - Joe D.
    • Joe's solution: try doing paperwork ourself with payroll service. Switch to CPA if its overwhelming
      • Artisan market starts 4/7
    • Setup will be a big job either way. Management may not be that much work.
    • This needs at least two people.
    • https://docs.google.com/document/d/15guo7zZOTvUhtWUuEZ3JxxUewXUzQSMBxMrQysdqxFo/edit?usp=sharing
    • reach out to i3, Maker Works -- how do they handle this?
• Membership:
  • Membership objection reduction brainstorming session (noon before space improvement starts at 2pm)
  • Volunteering SOP/color-coded task list? - Joe D.
    • need more beginner-friendly tasks
    • Joe: we should ensure we're getting more volunteer metrics/tracking before we engage with this too much
      • Nate: More folks have been logging their hours (Benevity has helped a lot with this since there is real money attached!). Seems to be largely a discipline issue that can be improved with a bit of PR effort.
    • CiviCRM can potentially track hours also to nudge folks, if needed.
    • Joe: can we take any existing documentation on volunteering stuff, update/distill it, and post in the space for easy reference.
    • Joe will do some color-coding of tasks
  • Membership tracking
    • We have something terrible, but functional! Long term is to get this into something more suitable (CiviCRM?)
    • James K. open to creating a custom open-source solution for us over an upcoming weekend (with prodding/reminders!)
• Outreach:
  • Future grants?
    • Free-form MEDC grant - James K./Ben N.
    • SA²T (Sustaining Ann Arbor Together) - Sarah B./Nate Y.
      • Will start January 1st
    • SPARK cooperation, can we give them more bang for their buck? - David G.
  • Upcoming events:
    • End of the year fundraiser:
      • CiviCRM fundraising management - Sarah B.
      • Events:
        • Science thing at Lawton Elementary 1/24 5pm
        • Sam's bat mitzvah
  • Future goals & pitch deck - Sarah B.
    • Come up with 3-5 year goals for the pitch deck
  • schmooze cruise - everyone reach out to 3 people and ask for donations, and/or attend events to promote AHA! and our fundraiser
  • Cahoots and Workantile partnerships - James K.
• Education:
  • 2024 education goals/classes
    • How to transfer some responsibilities for classes to more people?
    • form own sub-committee?
  • Bonus: DIY fob/badge idea
• Communications improvements
  • always-on #general on TV/RPi
  • Matrix vs. Discord?
    • bridging as stopgap?