Month: January 2019

Furry Friends

You wait a long time for a blog post and then three arrive at the same time…basically blog posts are like buses.

I want to talk about adding a guideline for members and visitors. There is some confusion as to allowing animals into the Space and I think we should clarify.

Therefore I propose we add the following:

  • Non-Assistance animals will be allowed to visit the Space only on prior agreement from the board.
  • Any animal in the Space (except assistance animals) must leave if requested by a member.
  • Any member bringing a non-assistance animal into the Space must inform other members of their intent and times the animal will be in the Space.
  • Animals are brought at the owners own risk, must be well behaved and remain on appropriate leashes or in cages.
  • The owner accepts all liability for any issue caused by bringing a non-assistance animal into the Space.

This will clarify the position and allow everyone to be aware of what is considered acceptable and normal in the Space.

Guidelines and Rules

In the last few weeks a few different conversations have focused on how our rules for members work, as we only have the four, in regards to all the edge cases. Let me broadly refresh you on the rules for members:

  • 0. Don’t be on Fire
  • 1. Follow the Code of Conduct
  • 2. Protection of underage members
  • 3. Don’t do anything stupid so we have to make up new rules.

I personally don’t want a lot of rules, however that means that we don’t have absolute guidance on some matters such as:

  • Animals in the Space
  • Laser and other machinery usage
  • Item Costs
  • Snack Space
  • Tidying

My proposal then is to have a set of guidelines for members on this website, under a new section called, conveniently, Guidelines. I would like any guideline to be published in a format that is easy to find, accessible and able to be amended and altered. These are not set in stone, they are guides for sharing and co-operation.

I would also like to be able to vote on them, and that is what I will propose we do at AGM’s and other meetings, and via member polls. I will be suggesting this is the practice we follow at the AGM in 2019 and I will be asking for a vote on this and a couple of guidelines at that time.

Hacking the Space

a confused jumble of spider babies on acid

On Saturday and Sunday (19th-20th January) we held a Hack the Space weekend to clear down some of the clutter and change the layout of our community hack space.

It had become, in the words of one ‘a confused jumble of spider babies on acid’*.

So we gathered, at first there was Tom, Bill and I, but it quickly grew into Kay, Rob, Col and Rhiannon (and Ben the habitual vallium hound).

  • We moved a lot of stuff
  • Cut benches in half
  • Re-arranged shelves
  • Threw out unwanted, unloved or unused items
  • Cleared and cleaned
  • Re-organised and refreshed

** The end result is that our little Space looks twice as big now. There is more room to do crafting and art, to make, mend, repair and invent. It is cleaner, more logical and better.

A huge shout out has to go to Tom and Kay who had all the ideas and discussions ahead of the day to make sure we had a semblance of a plan and to everyone who took the time to come and help.

As always thanks to all the members who gave suggestions, support or even just the heartfelt thanks.

  • * That might have been me.
  • ** The pictures were all taken afterwards (we should have had before pics) by Kay.