There have been a variety of issues surrounding the multicam. This thread is an attempt to create a strategy to address these issues.
First a big thank you to all the members who have been working to keep the machine maintained and stable over the last year.
These issues are bigger than I alone am capable of dealing with, so I’m proposing a way forward that requires volunteers and help. This is open to all interested members, not just experienced multicam power users.
First- Let’s set a date to collate this strategy into an action plan. If you want to be involved in any of the following and would show up to a meeting, how does 1/16/21 work for you?
The following are the Core issues i’ve identified:
- Ongoing basic maintenance (grease the machine, deep clean the ways, etc…)
- Ongoing upkeep (Tell me when to order bits, paper, etc.)
- Setting a standard for acceptable use
- Teaching new members/machine users
- Teaching the teachers
To solve the top 3 issues, I think we need 2-3 people who “own” the machine. They will set the standards, tell me what support they need, and keep the machine in working order (either as a team or by setting up community work days to service the machine, or both.)
To solve the bottom 2 issues, I think we need to have some of the current power users put their heads together and put on a train-the-trainers event. Trainers could be new members who are not currently users or current users/ power members.
Here’s what I propose:
- I’m asking for 3-4 volunteers to step up as owners of the machine for 1 year, 2021.
- In addition, we need 6-8 volunteers to step up as teachers for 2021.
Both commitments are a 1-2 evening/ month commitment:
- Set a rotation with the other owners so the machine gets maintained almost weekly, but each owner only has to come in 1x / month. Owners will also keep the woodshop chair and other owners in a constant communication loop via email or talk.
- Teachers are committing to teach 1 checkout session of 3-5 students each month (translating into 6-8 classes each month.) Teachers will also have to pre-check the files students send in. The initial class/ powerpoint will be moved to a moodle video removing that responsibility from the teachers.
Owners can certainly also be teachers (and vice-versa) but I want to make sure that we don’t overtax volunteers and that we ‘spread the knowledge around’ and prevent the current situation from happening again.
Committing to teach this class also does not preclude you from teaching woodshop basics or any other classes. The multicam class will not be an honorarium class, but instead members will be expected to pay a fee to reserve a checkout time-slot, the fee will be split between teachers and the woodshop for the maintenance of the machine. Because of this, teaching the multicam will not count against your monthly honorarium class limit. This non-refundable fee also encourages students to show up for their reserved time slot as we have had persistent issues with students no-showing prior to a previous teacher implementing this fee.
If you’re interested in being an owner or teacher: please post here and lets get together and make 2021 a better year to CNC.
Open Slots:
Owner- Matt R. @mdredmond
Owner- Brian @Brian
Owner- Jennifer M. @jmeinel
Owner- Edward A. @Nomad
Possible owner or teacher: @SWA and @Sam_Violett
Teacher- Ryan D. @indytruks138
Teacher- Doug C. @dougbcave
Teacher- HB @got_tools
Teacher-
Teacher- Mitch C. @themitch22
Teacher- Patrick C. @trapper13
Teacher-
The following people have stated interest in teaching / maintaining the machine so I’m tagging them so they see this:
@mdredmond @indytruks138 @Evan_Lott @Brian @rlisbona @dougbcave @themitch22 @fedakkee @kaylanbetten @got_tools @SWA @bertberaht
Please do not post in this thread asking to get trained or when the next training is, as that will only muddy the conversation. I’m trying to get training happening so that I can answer that question.
Thanks!