I’ve been here a couple of months now, and have quietly been attending meetings and taking it all in, Over the years, I’ve participated in quite a few volunteer orgs and non-profits, and have served on various boards and as executive director more than once. I have great respect (and pity) for the folks that volunteer to try and lead and determine policy in groups like this, where situations can sometimes devolve into arguments between passionate people. It can be hard to see the forest for the trees. Developing a structure that minimizes conflict, and maximizes the members ability to create, to make, is a job for people that are serious about succeeding, and love what they are doing. And so far, having met several board members, I believe they have the right hearts for the job.
I think the makerspace, in general, is part of an idea that is just beginning its evolution, and I believe it serves a bona fide need in our communities, and in our country. As we watch manufacturing being offshored by greedy managers, and our schools abandon industrial arts training, our ability as a people, to innovate and survive, has been put at stake. Are we to be a nation of dependant consumers, unable to survive on our own because no one taught us how?
All that being said, I would make the following observations of needs, as I see them. My opinion only, FWIW.
Finance - I would view this as the most urgent and immediate need. The current ability to accurately define the financial status of the org is non-existent. This is bad. The lack of appropriate budgeting and financial controls, render the Board unable to make advised spending decisions, or develop supportable long term plans. This is a “stop the fucking car” sort of problem, and needs to be treated that way. There are just too many ways this could hurt the space, or the people running it, to ignore it or take the slow ride in dealing with it.
Member retention - Right now, older members really don’t see this as a problem, because all the recent publicity and exposure have created a temporary boom in memberships. People are signing up in numbers. But what happens after they sign up? Only a very few post here, yet how many requests for training have you seen in just the past month or so? This is a big deal for someone who signed up because they wanted to use this tool or that, but then can’t, because the training hasn’t been done in a long time, or is done when someone feels like it, or needs money for his committee. Likewise, the barrier to involvement, particularly for the kinds people we so often attract (semi-introverted geeks, like me), is a bigger problem than you might think. Newbies, often walk in the door, knowing no one, nor where things are stored, what the customs and methods of the space are, which tools they can use. I’d be willing to bet, the membership churn is very high, especially among members recently signing up. What’s going to happen, when the new wears off, and the new signups slow way down? It is a fact of life in volunteer organizations, that longevity is determined by your ability to get people involved, and keep them involved. Or you die.
Committee structure - If you’ve been following any of the recent threads about this, some of the problems should be pretty obvious to you. It reminds me of trying to herd cats with a stick. Benevolent dictators, space wars, money pandering, committees with no members, etc. Its not going to get better, until the structure is replaced with something that recognizes the difference between investment centers (shops) and Special Interest Groups, that minimizes individual personalities and conflict, and encourages participation by everyone. The current committee structure encourages conflict, and discourages participation.
Hey - you asked for it - my two cents.
