I’m not in favor of charging more for classes. I’m already strapped for cash and it’s a little tricky bpaying the membership fee which really gets you nothing until you are trained. I’m not really complaining, just noticing it adds up b
I just joined, so my opinion is worth two shits, so take what you like and leave the rest. It’s worth what you paired for it.
but I can tell you it’s hard and finding being a new member and not being allowed to do anything until you take classes, which are hard to come by. I haven’t spent much time up there so far because I’m not really allowed to use anything I don’t think. We already pay for classes, the popular ones anyway. can some of that go to the instructors- top encouraged more people to step up and do it. Im not against paying the instructors for their time. It’s just hard to be asked to pay more. The DMS quickly becomes way more than $5O/ month. Which is fine, I know we have to keep the lights on, it’s just hard for some of us to afford.
At risk of repeating the above overstepping my bounds, I think the committees need to be responsible for saying we will make sure we offer training every two weeks or month, or every other month as the demand may be. Maybe they already do.
I’m not against a training for pay mode eitherl, which is only fair if the above is implemented I. e. There are cheap classes available if you wait. But if we posted a list of people who will train on demand for a fee that might actually be really nice. Like if I really want to use the laser cutters and the next 4 classes available this quarter on the calendar are totally full, then there’s a list, where I know I can call John and get trained for $20-50 plus consumables. If everyone added their price too, it would keep the pricesb down due to competition, and I would have called down the list from the cheapest in.
Anyway, as a newcomer it is discouraging how hard it is to get trained on the machines I joined to use. There needs to be a list, and maybe there is, of what I am allowed to do and what I need to be signed off on. I’m signed off on the 3D printers, but I’m unsure if I am allowed to use the electronics room or part of the assemblies space or really anything else, or do I need training firs. So to be safe, I try not to enter the other spaces. I try and check the calendar every few days to look for classes that are available that fit my schedule with work and that cover the things that I want to use. Can we add that to the wiki, things that require approval to use. . If someone wants to give me the info I can add there wiki page.
Anyway, there are tons of classes, but basic training classes are hard to find. I think we would retain more members if the basic into classes were much more available. There only ons I see are Haas and laser cutting and those see always full.
Sorry for the long post. I’m in a rambling mood. Sorry for any typos I’m on my phone.
TL;dr I wish there were more into classes for the newcomer who is excited to get started.