13may2019
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| + | Generator Member Meeting DRAFT Minutes\\ | ||
| + | May 13 th , 2019\\ | ||
| + | Meeting Facilitator: Steve Mermelstein\\ | ||
| + | In attendance: Daryl Stutz, Jonathon Landell, Mike Senften, Brook Martenis, Mats Thureson, Edward\\ | ||
| + | Burke, Marcus Bretto, Jess Hyman, Fletcher Pratt, Camille Casemier, Jon Weisbecker, Steve\\ | ||
| + | Mermelstein, Karen Freeman | ||
| + | |||
| + | \\ | ||
| + | Welcome: Steve welcomed attendees and called the meeting to order. Members introduced themselves\\ | ||
| + | and offered a thought about something they wish would change: have access to additional\\ | ||
| + | tools/equipment, more hours in life to work at the Generator, less divisiveness in the world, simplify life,\\ | ||
| + | more hours in the day, world peace, and correct spelling of two “jewlery” signs at the Generator.\\ | ||
| + | Minutes of April 8 th members meeting: Motion by Daryl, seconded by Brook to accept the minutes.\\ | ||
| + | Unanimous vote to approve.\\ | ||
| + | Announcements & Questions:\\ | ||
| + | Maker Fair will be September 27&28 at Shelburne Farms; Tables are free and sign up will be\\ | ||
| + | announced soon; Friday is a school-focused day. There will be a Celtic festival Saturday night-\\ | ||
| + | Sunday that same weekend at the site.\\ | ||
| + | Thursday May 23 is the last Maker Exchange and a party/barbecue to celebrate Kat Clear’s\\ | ||
| + | residency.\\ | ||
| + | Reckless Ideas on 5/29 features serial entrepreneur Alan Newman; beer and pizza afterwards.\\ | ||
| + | Mike asked how the ARVR lab is doing; Steve thinks it is going well. Chris suggested that offering\\ | ||
| + | workshops is a good way to get more people involved. Jake and/or Robin can provide an ARVR\\ | ||
| + | lab update at the next member meeting.\\ | ||
| + | Director’s update: Chris reported that the editor of Popular Mechanics visited the Generator and was\\ | ||
| + | excited to see so many interesting projects: from an environmentally sound paddleboard, to an LED light\\ | ||
| + | water purification system for underdeveloped countries. The Generator may end up being featured in\\ | ||
| + | the magazine. A Maker Place conference was held at the Mint in Rutland, with attendees from\\ | ||
| + | Vermont, Massachusetts and New Hampshire. Chris noted that Generator is one of the more successful\\ | ||
| + | maker spaces in the US and has had a 25% growth rate for two years in a row. Maker spaces are a tough\\ | ||
| + | business model, why does it work here? What is the Generator magic? Many thought the people!\\ | ||
| + | Finances are still solid. Organization got another grant (we are 7 for 8!), we are ahead of what was\\ | ||
| + | anticipated, and most of the grants have not been received before. Ken’s development work is amazing.\\ | ||
| + | Chris shared the current dashboard which shows good financial health: A 6-month operating reserve,\\ | ||
| + | 123 members paying every month (total of 400 members including colleges), no studio vacancies, profit\\ | ||
| + | at 6% (healthy, with target higher). Great success bringing in philanthropic dollars. Goal for revenue is\\ | ||
| + | 2/3 earned income and 1/3 development dollars, as Chris is anticipating philanthropic donor interest will\\ | ||
| + | decrease. Members pay 50% of actual costs, development dollars help keep the prices low for\\ | ||
| + | members.\\ | ||
| + | Next cohort of Jumpstart collegiate has three participants to date, goal is six. Great opportunity for\\ | ||
| + | students who have a physical prototype to get paid to learn how to run a company. Chris encouraged\\ | ||
| + | folks to spread the word. Generator is trying to raise funds for First Robotics, which teaches STEM\\ | ||
| + | through robot building. Four high schools in Chittenden County do not have teams. Brook thought Jim\\ | ||
| + | Wick might be interested and offered to talk with him. | ||
| + | |||
| + | The new key card system is working and will facilitate a new “pro user” membership. $120/month, with\\ | ||
| + | access from 6 AM to midnight and members can apply after a month of regular membership. Chris\\ | ||
| + | reminded the group that members still need to have a buddy with them during times after the regular\\ | ||
| + | Generator hours when using the power tools. The members thought the new membership was a good\\ | ||
| + | idea. Generator will try new summer hours, closing at 6pm on Friday and Saturday and see how that\\ | ||
| + | works.\\ | ||
| + | Member Build Updates: Steve reviewed the member build process: there is $500 available each month\\ | ||
| + | for projects that involve a number of members and benefit the Generator community. Members can\\ | ||
| + | apply using the application in the member area of the Generator website, with proposals voted on by\\ | ||
| + | the members at the monthly meetings. A potential forge build was discussed and there were questions\\ | ||
| + | about why staff involvement was needed for member builds. There has been a history of projects\\ | ||
| + | started and not completed, and/or those that took a bad turn. Code compliance and space limitation\\ | ||
| + | issues were also mentioned. Suggestions: put a plan together for the build and get to Elliot, post info\\ | ||
| + | about the build to the member group, and talk to Sarah about related classes since that can open up\\ | ||
| + | possibilities.\\ | ||
| + | Maker-In-Residence Update: Kat Clear is closing out her residency and the maker exchange with a\\ | ||
| + | Maker Exchange Pop-up and barbeque on May 23 rd .\\ | ||
| + | Next Meeting: Monday, June 10 th , 2019\\ | ||
| + | Adjournment – Motion by Brook, seconded by John Landell. Vote to adjourn 6:45 PM | ||
| + | |||
| + | Minutes submitted by Karen Freeman | ||
| + | |||
13may2019.txt · Last modified: 2019/06/06 22:49 by usrbingeek
