I’ve posted my Statement of Intent for anyone interested.
If you’d like to endorse it feel free to add your name.
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Given the unique challenge presented by COVID-19, what do you think DMS should be doing now and the first things to do once we can reopen?
DMS should continue it’s outreach and support of the larger community, such as donating masks and researching further community assistance opportunities. I believe that we are uniquely positioned to rise to the epidemic as a group of helpers, especially regarding news on 3d printing ventilator parts and sewing cloth masks for hospitals, as our facility has the tools to produce both products. We should be looking into the possibility of allowing such volunteer activities, pursuant to all applicable legal and municipal restrictions. Prusa Research is a good example to look up to in this regard as a maker minded company. They have been working closely with their local health officials to produce safe, medically tested face shields to alleviate supply chain deficiencies.
On reopening, it will of course depend on the state of play regarding the ongoing pandemic, but organizing projects to support our local doctors, nurses, and healthcare staff in any way we can, maintaining a safe and sanitized workspace for our members, and growing our maker community of helpers.
Prusa Research is not analogous to the DMS, they are a private company with paid employees.
comparing the DMS to them is inappropriate, they have a huge printer farm and the DMS has ~7 printers/
if you wanted to compare Prusa Research to something it would be closer to Polyprinter, except they are a much larger operation.
The MEMBERS at the DMS have a far larger number of 3d printers in their combined possession than the DMS has. we should be focusing on getting the membership to print stuff at home, not waiting around to try and get access to the space.
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edit: poll answered. Thanks.
Luke,
Thanks for running. 5 other candidates (and, apparently, one overly eager general member), have demonstrates their forthrightness and candor and leadership by answering my Y/N poll question here:
I suspect that single question will guide a large portion of the membership to vote one way or other…it is about far more than its explicit topic: it indicates whether or not folks running understand the importance of their behavior here at DMS both in and out of office; it reflects candidates’ ability to make tough choices and do so publicly; it shows that candidates can demonstrate they are up to speed on DMS issues of the day; and it clearly expresses an understanding whether or not “stare decisis” will be a valid principle going forward with this and other future BoDs.
Are you planning/willing to participate in that poll as well and let us know where you stand on all of this?
What professional and personal experience do you have that makes you qualified to be a board member?
Have you been a chair of a committee?
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If the membership wants to organize and help similarly to how Josef Prusa is doing, can we not allow access of our facility and resources to a few people, in order for them to produce goods to aid healthcare workers? Would not 7 printers and 5 sewing machines help those efforts?
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dude, there are liability issues that we cannot risk.
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Via bylaws sec. 2.1.1
…“are members in good standing and of the age of majority in the state of Texas”…
I am such qualified to be a board member. I make no allusions towards having great professional training nor industry experience in executive decision making of a corp.
I am currently vice chair of 3d Fab and Digital Media, buy have not served as a chair. However, I am wholly passionate for the mission of an organization such as DMS, volunteering numerous hours and being physically present almost every day. If I can help, I lend a hand. That is the reason I have chosen to run for board. If I can help, I will. Be it a project of be it the oversight of DMS as a whole. I believe there is need for level headed leadership that seeks to communicate, collaborate, and build up instead of tearing down. I do not stand by any ‘us vs them’ mentality of any groups. I am running as a middle ground. As someone who will listen to all sides, and advocate for solutions that compromise and meet in the middle for the betterment of everyone.
We could definitely ask, though. One thing that has irritated me about DMS is that, in general, the Board has been afraid of asking.
What liability issues, specifically? Is Josef Prusa, a fellow maker, more qualified or immune from liability? Please read his blog post on the topic. He is operating cautiously, fully within legal means, and making headway to better his community. Can we not do the same? There may be legal differences from him operating in a different country. But his goals still face legal hurdles. He is overcoming them. Can we not do the same?
Or shall we put our ostritch heads in the sand?
If none of our members wish to take up the task to bring such aid to fruition legally, safely, and properly, then we should continue to remain fully closed. But if some wish to help in this or other fashions, why can’t we provide access to the building and our resources for such things?
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So you’ve never had a real job and haven’t even be a committee chair? Not a compelling resume.
Start with running a committee for a year or two before you run for an extremely demanding, thankless job.
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Thank you for your expert opinion on the matter. If you feel so strongly about such prerequisites, perhaps you could sponsor a change in our bylaws? The membership shall cast their vote.
You have made assumptions on my employment. If never working as an executive or similar board appointment means I have never had a ‘real job’, then I have not ever had a ‘real job’.
I know what the job entails. I know it is demanding, and thankless. I still choose to run, and will perform my duties to the end if elected.
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We have spoken to two hospital systems. Both said the same thing. Right now they will not accept donations of PPE where they can’t verify the chain of custody of the materials used. They won’t accept the liability at this time.
Prusa as a company likely has a paid logistics and infrastructure in place that can provide that sort of materials tracking.
The advice we have gotten is the path we are taking, we are encouraging members to see masks for donation to local doctors and people in need. I’ll be posting details on how everyone can help as soon as we finalize the requirements.
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Sorry to hijack Luke’s thread, but Rose Costume in Denton is sewing masks. The radio spot said that they’re donating their masks to nursing homes, assisted-living centers, and grocery store workers. Folks who will benefit from a mask, but don’t necessary need the full-on sanitary type, and who are having trouble finding anything.
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Luke has dedicatedly co-run Digital Media as vice chair better than most chairs. He works harder than 9-5 jobs would require. Literally 80-100 hours a week for over half a year and hasn’t burned out. I’m impressed with his levelheadedness and logic. He’s super good at his engineering field.
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I do hereby remove my statement of intent running for BoD.
I’m out. I am out of the election. I am out of these makerspace reindeer games. I am not party to morebluetape.org, nor have I ever been. The members of that combined ballot invited me to campaign with them and I ignored those solicitations for months.
I was aiming for an independent platform because I didn’t want to be part of ANY us vs them bloc. That is not excellent. It is not conducive to the spirit of cooperation that the 'Space is(was?) about. Running for board has been detrimental to my mental health. Talk has been detrimental to my mental health. This hate and stubbornness and these devides between us hurt me deeply. I have been passive and complacent with my candidacy. I have not exemplified the values of leadership that I believe are important to this organization, and as such I withdraw.
This passivity has led to an association by default which I do not endorse. The first I saw of morebluetape.org was when @mrjimmy posted it here on talk a few days ago.
@mrhavens I did not give you permission to use my name, likeness, image, etc for any website, media, or other release. Please remove such from your campaign site, materials, etc immediately.
I do apologize to the membership. I still believe in DMS. I still believe in our community. I still hope to volunteer what time, talent, and treasure I can spare for as long as I am able. I want to see DMS be better. I want us to be excellent.
I am sorry.
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Please don’t let the subversive efforts of others drive you away. At least not yet.
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Luke, I “liked” your post not because I wanted, or am happy, to see you withdraw but because I support the general tone and tenor of your comments. What was done to you re: MBT website was wrong.
We are still dealing with the cracks, divides, and rifts created over last several years. These things take time to sort out and mend in a community this size. In the meantime, take it easy and keep the faith…
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Luke, it’s awful that they used you in this way and the effect it has had on you. I hope you file a complaint about this… there’s no place in our community for the kind of dishonesty and manipulation the MBT crew has shown.
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