Questions for candidates

[jswilson64]

OK, here’s a question. Hope it’s not too late.

If the DMS board only had 3 seats, which two of this year’s candidates would you want in the other seats?

[wandrson]

David Kessinger and Kris Anderson

[AlexRhodes]

So I got some time to answer a few more questions and I think I found them all. If a mod wants to move my answers to another thread I have no objection. Hope I got them all.

Question #3: Do you think we need an employee? What responsibilities and authorities would that employee have while doing work for DMS? How will the employee’s performance be measured? What is the expected pay range for the employee?

I think at some point we need an employee and possibly several employees. Ideally It would be a shop person that handles maintenance on the tools, ordering the supplies and teaching the basic entry classes for the “red” tools. This person would make around $45K - $50K with Health Insurance depending on experience. Or we could think about our first employee being a part time grant writer that works to get grants so we can have the Shop employee. This would take more discussion with the rest of the board when that time comes.

David:
Alex:
Kris:
Luke:
Mitch:
Robert:
Walter:
Steve:
Brian:

David: Helpful, Experienced, Knowledgeable
Alex: N/A
Kris: Tactful, Resourceful, Composed
Luke: straight forward, Committed, dependable.
Mitch: Cooperative, friendly, inventive
Robert: Confident, Ambitious, Reliable
Walter: Tenacious, Resolute, Available
Steve: Thoughtful, Resourceful, Genuine
Brian: Dedicated, Focused, Supportive
David G: kind, smart, innovative

Given the growth of DMS, I see the need for a “division and separation of powers” to handle the growing pains. This would serve 2 purposes.

1. Limit the power, authority, influence of any one person or group.
2. Limit the burden of responsibility and accountability that any one person or group can take on.

As DMS grows, the BoD takes on a growing burden of things to deal with that keeps DMS up and running. Spreading that burden can be accomplished in 2 ways:

1. Increase the number of members on the BoD
   and/or
2. Delegate/ assign authority (along w/ responsibility/ accountability) downward through the rank and file of the membership.

I’d like to hear comments and opinions from each candidate.

I don’t think adding more board members is the answer. I think pushing things down to the Committees more has been the plan for some time. Committee chairs have 99% control over their areas. I talked a bit about this in the Meet and great that its a delicate balance. If a chair doesn’t do enough or does too much, when does the board step in? It is no secret that I think there are some committee areas that are too cluttered and while I have tried talking to the chairs about cleaning up those areas it is ultimately their call. There have been chairs that have done things like throw out a tube bender, a shelf or other things that I don’t necessarily agree with but again its ultimately their call.

Big questions

1. do you support a revision of our by laws?

2. if so, how would do it? a)Board
   b) Board and committee chairmen
   c) member committee
   d) something else

I mentioned in the Meet and Great that I do believe the bylaws need revised as a whole, not piecemeal. I think someone from the board should be involved but a SIG is really what it should be. They should do it over the year and have it reviewed by a lawyer at major stages. However it is decided I think a lawyer should be involved at some stage of the process.

Questions Regarding Interpersonal Styles of Volunteer Engagement

Consider a hypothetical community project in which the following interpersonal styles of volunteer engagement are used:

A) I hear a complaint! It sounds like you want to volunteer!
B) Since there are no volunteers, how much would it cost to hire someone?
C) I know someone who would love to do that! I’ll ask if they’re interested in volunteering.
D) I can tell that you’re passionate about this kind of thing. We’re all getting together this weekend to work on it. It would be awesome if you would come and hang out with us. I’ll introduce you to everyone, and then afterwards, we can get some dinner. We usually all pitch in to buy dinner for the newbies. You should totally come!
E) I don’t need help. I can do it alone.

Questions:

Explain what you believe to be the strengths and weaknesses of each of the listed styles as they would impact Dallas Makerspace.
Describe your own interpersonal engagement style. Explain what you believe to be the strengths and weaknesses of this style as it would impact Dallas Makerspace.
As a community leader, your interpersonal engagement style may become a model for other members to emulate. This may be especially true of new members. Do you believe members should emulate your interpersonal engagement style? Why or why not?

I will just say this. It all comes down to communication and that is something as a whole that the space needs to work on.

Drive by criticism (as its colloquially known) is not productive and people should offer to help instead of just telling someone how they should do something. Hiring someone shouldn’t be considered a bad option but it also shouldn’t be the first option. Group projects are great and I wish we had more of them, but in the recent past it comes down to a key volunteer doing a lot of the work. Lastly not every job around the space needs to have a bunch of people.

As for my engagement style…I will ask for help and I will offer help when I can. If I think someone is good for something I will let them know that another person might want their help, but I try not to put any pressure on anyone as it’s their volunteer time.

Do I think people should emulate me? I don’t know. As long as they are courteous and considerate of people we should be fine.

OK, here’s a question. Hope it’s not too late.

If the DMS board only had 3 seats, which two of this year’s candidates would you want in the other seats?

Cop out: I will do my best for the space and will work whoever the membership decides.

Hope that’s all of them.