Minutes:08 June 2016 Board Meeting Agenda

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AHA Mission Statement
We seek to establish, build, and support a collective of individuals organized around the principles of community-driven education in the arts and sciences, and to ensure ready access to the tools needed to pursue the realization of those principles.

This meeting was rescheduled from 6/8 to 6/15 to accommodate board schedules.

  • Meeting attendees:
  • Meeting starts at: 19:15
  • Meeting ends at:

Board Meeting Protocol

* Standing Committee Reports - Individual Updates by Assigned Director/Officer presented in the time allotted.

* Open Time: For anyone to bring anything up to the Board. IF the Board agrees the item requires action, it will be put into New Business and addressed at the end of the meeting.

(15m) Open For All

  • All Are Worthy. All Are Welcome.

Greg G, while not in attendance, requests feedback on a new set of board positions under "New Business". Greg feels that while it's a small tweak, these positions better represent the need of the community.

We submitted an Art Fair booth to: www.washtenawnonprofits.org We should hear back if we have a 12'x12' booth at Art Fair this month. We are "fairly certain" to get the space. We are #13 out or 32 (one spot behind the Trump party), and not many asked for a 12x12. First come first served.

Backyard Brains would like to start using the new space from 9-5 beginning on Jun 13 (Mon). This will allow us to prepare for the TechTrek on Friday, Jun 17.

Tyler, asked if we would be okay with our new internet provider, AT&T, having one of their reps at our spot during Tech Trek? He discussed with Nick and Alex on 6/9. They agreed provided it wasn't a sales push. Discussed with AT&T - They will send a rep to answer questions in a passive manner with some marketing materials. Focusing on how they can help other startups get setup with business services in the area, similar to how they helped us. Will try to have a network engineer with them to answer really technical stuff we'd normally not get to ask. Also will have a listing of jobs available in tech/engineering roles in the Ann Arbor area available. Haven't heard back from them with any information though so this may not actually happen. Not going to push it.

Discussion here about space across the hall from new AHA.

Minutes Approval

  • June 2016 Board Minutes

- Minutes approved


(90min) Standing Committee Reports

Financial - from Alex W.

Membership - Alex W.

BYB Internship has begun. 7 new memberships added June-Aug 2016.

Fundraising - Greg G.

Tyler W has received numerous grants of cash and in-kind donations from local businesses! ~5300 GoFundMe + $1500 at the shop. We had just about enough to fix the floor. We also received donations for new chairs, networking equipment (rack, switches, cat6, keystone jacks), podium, cabinets, computer supports, new keyboards, and power bars.

AT&T donated the installation of internet, and a few months of service on top of a large gift card (in mail after 3rd month) for switching to their service. We shouldn't have internet fees for a while. In addition we can swing by the store and borrow a hotspot for any event if we need internet access/extra speed on busy days. Comcast offered nothing Our previous provider offered us nothing.

AHA has a chance to get a large grant from the MEDC, possible to fund the rent, renovations, and an employees/part timers for several years. The "ask" is to make an incubator space for hardware companies... currently A2 has a lot, but only software. BYB is an example that it works. MEDC would invest for the first few years until we can sustain the costs on our own.

AHA will receive a visit from various local and state officials during the TechTrek on June 17.

In preparation for the grant, we have asked an architect to draw up rough sketches that we can include. Greg would like to call a meeting this month to discuss ideas on the "ideal" makerspace layout. We can submit these to the architect.

Greg has sent a letter to Oxford expressing interest in the adjoining spaces in preparation for the grant.

Governance - Donnie J.

Facilities - Nick R.

Remaining work items for new space: https://docs.google.com/spreadsheets/d/1gzQAtToSgRQnIiSCJTTk1CX8eTng57mNZGF1LnfNjvk/edit?usp=sharing

Josh W. is printing art for delivery on 6/16. Tyler will frame and mount on Thursday evening.

Install for laser exhaust slated for Mon Jun 13. $5500. Cost covered by BYB

Volunteers - Erik O.

Education/Classes/Events - Donnie J.

(30m) Unfinished Business

Jon H.'s dad would like to have an AHA member come into a ACS meeting to talk about AHA.

- Greg G reached out and is in discussions to give a talk possibly summer or fall 2016.

Esty has connections with JStor, would like to see if we can get any sort of partnership with them.

- Kristin G. of JStor is trying to arrange a tour of the space in the next month or two. We are waiting on JStor.

Alec wants to have some kind of long-term agenda of "things to do" (recurring events), viewable in the minutes.

- Donnie, Nate and Alec will put this together. Nate will send an email to coordinate -- going to do this in May.

Nick R. mentions the Milan R/C Club has restarted, trying to get a non-profit status. Nick would like to see some cross-pollination between these groups. Interesting things coming up with that group includes a drone racing track.

- People are still rarely using it.

(30m) New Business

Greg G. Suggests the following board-level positions:

  • Finance - handles xero, taxes, memberships, non-profit filing, master of coin (purchasing, etc)
  • Education - maintain classes, invite outside speakers, maintain a system for checking if members have been trained on tools.
  • Marketing - content calendar, branding, monthly emails, planning and arranging promotional events outside of AHA (Maker Faire, Mini Maker Faire, etc)
  • Fundraising - grant writing, pledge campaigns, talk to donors
  • Operations - maintenance of the space, volunteers and employees. Elections. Keeper of the rules. Maintain list of job function (similar to what is on the wiki, with a bit more detail)

Greg would like to have a discussion to see if these make better sense that our current setup. Possible vote/fill positions next month.