Sometimes members just do things that are needed… like upgrading memory in a computer in CA. 
BUT those types of things should always be run by the chair for that committee.
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So computers are the committee’s responsibility.
What committee?
Laser has an incentive to make people not design using a control computer. It it takes not upgrading the video card, then they should be allowed that.
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For daily care and feeding, Yes. The committee makes sure it is used correctly and that no one is abusing it, or loading things (porn, games) that shouldn’t be on it. Simple maintenance like swapping out a bad cord does not need infrastructure to get involved. A knowledgeable member can do that sort of thing.
Loading and maintenance of software and the OS and all things network should be left to our professionals.
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Are you purposefully trying to be obstinate?
Infrastructure is in charge of them. Committees request upgrades as needed. In the case I was mentioning, I had spare memory and was happy to donate it.
You need something to do?
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No, I’m referring to something from last year where I donated memory to upgrade a CA system.
Cindy,
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Infrastructure owns the computers. We upgrade them when committee chairs request upgrades and the BoD allocates funds to do so, or the committee chair allocates funds from their account. Some of the computers, especially those that are dedicated to specific machinery, may have more direct control by the committee.
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Restructuring… No. Smoother transitions… absolutely. A document for each Chair on daily/weekly/monthly duties would help tremendously.
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Possibly.
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How about not worrying about who owns the computers while you are not a member? I’ve said this to others that were butting in while not having any skin in the game… If you are not a member, you have no voice in how DMS does anything.
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Actually, I was looking for more questions than to debate these.
I’d love to see DMS grow with its membership. Guess it’s just not that interesting to everyone.
I’ve been told to go away. I’ll go away.
We ran off Brandon precisely because he embodied this mindset. Turns out that when you make zero effort to build consensus you piss people off. Especially when your do-ocracy gores their ox.
There’s a balance to be struck, and with more than 1500 members it’s somewhere between the extremes of free-wheeling do-ocracy and crushing bureaucracy.
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We are space-bound. It makes no sense to continue to grow membership until we have more space.
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can we pay to move one of our neighbors and take one of the sides?
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Nope. It’s more about realizing it’s just not worth the effort.
What I don’t think DMS realizes is that when the fundamentals-yes even something as mundane as who is the constant contact for computers-is ignored, then it’s really tough to get the big stuff done.
I always thought I saw the potential for big stuff, but I guess the core/active membership is ok with still treating the organization like there are only 300 members.
DMS is interesting to me, but really not necessary. I’m glad Stan ran me off before I started paying dues again. It’s kind of like paying to relive the very worst parts of junior high school. I’m ok with skipping the sequel.
Every one look around. Is the place really functioning as well as it could? As it should? Did you have an idea that was shot down by insiders in the last month? Did you receive the “volunteer organization” excuse/lecture lately in response to a frustration you voiced?
DMS has a budget of over half a million dollars a year, but committees buy equipment they don’t get around to putting on the tool list. Are you ok with that?
I’m not. I thought I’d try to change that mindset. I failed.
This rant of mine will be flagged and hidden. It might even be deleted. I don’t care. If DMS were publicly traded stock, I’d short it. Management-the old timers-are stuck in a mindset that will eventually wreck the goodwill of your company. You’ve capitalized on the maker trend and survived your constant churn, but just like the craft beer phenomenon, I suspect you are about to have some competition. The new group might not be as cool as you, but they’ll be in a better location, or set up a leaner organization that sticks to a better business plan, and then you’ll look around at the end of two years and realize not only do you not need to move, but because DMS never asked itself hard questions, you can’t afford it.
You prove me wrong. If I hear about you someday in more than a puff PR piece, I’ll be genuinely happy for you. But right now a group of makers can’t even get a guy who uses a wheelchair into the building comfortably, and they just kicked to the curb a talented, intelligent woman who knows when to cut her losses.
It will hurt for a few days. I’ll get over it.
Does the landlord even want us anymore?
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About?
- TheLab.ms https://www.thelab.ms/
They cannot seem to achieve critical mass. They have two classrooms and a combination electronics/break/meeting/server/laser cutter room.
Unless the laser cutter brings in lots of paying members, I do not see them getting a workshop. They have had one “training the trainers” class on the laser, but no other public indication that tool even exists.
- Rockwall Makerspace http://www.rockwallmakerspace.com/
Their web site says nothing. Their forum is only accessible to members. There is no way to decide that this organization is worth a look unless i lived really close.
Cindy,
Nothing you have written here is either innapropriate, or untimely. Many issues you have raised are in fact, things we face, but I ask that you consider them from a somewhat broader point of view. I’ll check in here, but please do note, that my opinions are my own - I’m not stating a Board position here, or speaking on their behalf. I’m in a good mood however, so bear with me.
I’ll share with you an analogy I gave a former Board member, the irredoubtable Mr. Bowling. DMS is a lot like a person who has developed too much fondness for milkshakes. The more he drinks, the tighter his clothes get, until eventually his belly button is sticking out, and he has to wipe his butt with a stick with toilet paper taped to the end of it.
We have grown very very fast, and this growth keeps outpacing the best efforts of our volunteers to deal with it. Consequently, we have more than a few kludges in place to deal with various things. We’re not quite to the stick&paper stage yet, so we can all take a deep breath. But people stepping up to help, sure makes the likelihood of the stick less.
There are things we do so very well with volunteers. And things (usually the dull repetitive ones), that are just too much to expect from volunteers. Volunteers also tend to have built-in expiration dates - peoples lives change, circumstances change, finances change, interest wanes, etc etc. Continuity is a big problem for us.
Makers, in general, tend to be pretty smart folks, with strong opinions. Many are introverts, and sometimes have trouble expressing themselves socially in constructive ways. And many introverted folks, just struggle dealing with the ways of others. Consequently, we occasionally get beset with upset caused by talkwash, personal grievances, differences of opinion, and lack of respect for others. Meetings can be awful, but lately have been a lot more productive…
But if you focus on these things, you’re going to miss the woods and see only the trees, There’s something pretty damn awesome happening here. We’ve taught a bunch of people how to make things, how to use tools, and then watched them put that knowledge to work. We’ve seen gifted artists creating really wonderful things, household repairs, the pursuit of perfection in craft, and the creation of crufty craptastic wonderment, and everything in between. Our members share a profound human need in common, that defies our sometimes all too human shortcomings.
You know what? How many articles have you read about the human need to screw? But know this - all humans spend more time making, than making out. So which is the more important human trait? One is fun as hell. The other makes our life better, and the lives of those around us too.
So, yeah. DMS is tapped in to something important here. I personally feel its worth working for and spreading. But we’re Makers, and we’re in the middle of making. Yeah, its a little messy at times, and sometimes it smells like Kee’s poo glue. But the end product is always worth it, and will be worth it this time too. Give us a little faith baby, we’ll get you there. But its easier to see where we’re going, if you ignore the mess we make while we’re making.
I can tell you this - the current Board is well aware of the strengths and weaknesses of our enterprise. But any Board, must prioritize and focus, to really accomplish anything. And that is what this Board is doing, despite the distractions and occasional silly stuff along the way.
Of course. But its more a question of quality, than quantity. We frequently have to listen to a lot of “all hat no cows” opinions along the way, and that can get frustrating. But with 1600 members, we have a deep well, and so we do also hear thoughts from members with experience and well considered points of view to share as well. It would be a mistake, to think Talk was an important resource however. Opinions here are nearly always tinged with a bit too much assertion, but now and then a thoughtful post does cross the boards.
And it would also be well to remember, that Board’s need times of discussion, reflection, and yes, negotiation. Some folks think consensus is something that just happens, like a light bulb appearing above your head. But consensus just means “reached agreement”, and sometimes that can take a while to sort out. And believe me when I tell you, the best Boards have divergent points of view. The last thing you want is marching in unison, up there behind the tables.
So, perhaps not the answer you were hoping for, but I confess it was the answer I was inspired to give
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I really think you fundamentally misunderstand the DMS. The DMS as an organization is a work in progress.
- Is the place really functioning as well as it could? : Nope, but it gets
better? worse?different every day. - Did you have an idea that was shot down by insiders in the last month? : Who cares? DO it anyway.
“Be the change you wish to see in the world” - not Gandhi
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We have no shortage of good ideas. Great ideas, perhaps. What we have is a shortage of well-developed ideas, supported by facts and data, with people committed to implementing them. We can’t expect the Board and the Committee chairs to bear all of the implementation burden for all these great ideas.
It’s easy to recommend what someone else should do to improve DMS. Any idea put forth without a commitment of what that person is willing to do to implement it is just wishful thinking.
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It has come to my attention that TheLab has apparently set their “starving hacker” rate at $10/month.
https://www.thelab.ms/makers/Board_Meeting_2017-08-12.html
Comments?
To be honest, Brandon targeted a group of members at DMS with the explicit intent to run them off. That wasn’t an attempt to do-ocracy fix issues at DMS, it was a poorly disguised attack on DMS. Thus, the resulting response from the group.
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