Hi All, I hope everyone is well and getting through the pandemic.
I am sure, like most of you, I am wondering how the latest discussion of “coming out” of the pandemic affects our wonderful Maker Space. We’ve all been impacted in so many ways. I’m sure most of us would love to have some movement back to a semblance of normality, at least as much as possible moving into the post (hopefully) pandemic, phase 1, etc.
Has the board had discussions on moving forward plans to reopen (with obvious limitations) of the physical facility? I am sure many of us have needs that are exempt and are more than willing to follow reasonable guidelines (social distancing, etc.).
I am unclear how a organization such as DMS falls into the governor’s or county guidelines. I would think that we are far more than just a “social” group as many of us are working on items (with needed use of DMS’s facilities) that would be considered “critical”.
I believe the current orders in general expire April 30. Are there plans to reopen in some fashion on May 1? Is there any reasonable, self monitored way to start allowing access to various departments? I am hoping for an open, reasonable discussion and exchange of thoughts leading to a workable plan going forward.
I spent some time looking through Talk and DMS Facebook on this topic and didn’t see anything of substance. Please let me know if I missed it.
Thank you @jswilson64 for taking the time to respond and link some of the on going discussions. These are helpful and I have read them. I was hoping to get more of a response about future planning vs. opinions and interpretations. It does appear that at least retail organizations that provide even partial essential services (such as Hobby Lobby) are being allowed to reopen with certain guidance/restrictions. There will come a time, soon I hope, to reopen DMS, but it will probably come with restrictions also. I would think it is best to work on a contingency plan to get us through that phase that might also have some restrictions.
What does DMS sell that can be ordered online or over the phone and picked up curbside?
This has been hashed and rehashed. DMS is a nonessential business. An all-volunteer one at that, so any restrictions will have to be enforced by volunteers. And if no volunteer wants to come monitor the site because “global pandemic” then what?
As far as I know, no, and as Secretary I’m generally invited to Board meetings and discussions.
While I can’t speak for the Board, in our discussions none of the Board have been interested in making the argument that an educational nonprofit with no direct employees is actually an essential business and thus should be allowed to reopen.
MOTION: Out of an abundance of caution regarding the emerging situation with the COVID-19
epidemic, the Dallas Makerspace will close its premises at 00:00 3/18/2020. The Board of Directors
will monitor the situation, keep the membership appraised, and re-open the Makerspace at an
appropriate time.
- Proposed Brad
- Seconded James
- Vote
- In favor: Unanimous
- Opposed:
- Abstain:
- Motion Passed
Again, I cannot speak for the Board, but I can state that we are monitoring the situation and will begin the process of re-opening when we feel it is appropriate.
Thanks @ESmith for the measured and on topic response to my questions. I would hope our leadership is considering under what situations they would reopen DMS and how we as a group would deal with possible restrictions in doing so. I would hope we are not waiting for a 100% lifting of all pandemic restrictions before considering reopening. That might be months and months away. We have to face the typical restrictions and start planning on how we would meet them as part of any plan to reopen.
Any plan would of course be subject to ongoing government updates and changes to the situation at hand as it is fluid and unique. But waiting to just see what happens next would be a disservice to all our partners (members) in this venture, many of whom are suffering some financial hardship themselves.
I hope this is perceived as constructive. I am glad to offer further possible solutions and possible plan points. But in the end we all have to make decisions about where our limited resources are spent.
I would say it’s pretty optimistic to assume the restrictions will be gone on April 30th under the circumstances. Jenkins said when they were placed the only reason that was the date is because they legally have to do it in chunks with renewals. They haven’t even fully opened up medical care. Leadership can’t plan for guidelines that haven’t been issued.
If a Dallas County Judge continues to close anything that is not an essential business, we will be closed. We are not a manufacturer to retool, or otherwise essential.
We are actively discussing the issue almost daily. We are not in control of what happens next.
Yep, an initlal part of the plan is to wait until we get an all clear from governmental actors. Those that can put us in jail for not following their decree.
Now to the meat of the issues. We have to sanitize the space with volunteers or paid cleaning crew. Followed with a set of guidelines on how to keep the place clean. Then what to do with those that don’t seem to care about the situation and show up to hang out and generally get in the way.
A big thanks to the DMS board for taking a careful and educated response to this.
I want back into the space as much as anyone, but I don’t want to infect or be infected by others, nor do I want the space sued / permanently closed for violating an order they clearly had no reason to violate.
I’m proud to be a temporary donor to keep the space alive, proud of the space for helping the PPE effort in safety conscious and effective ways, and most of all excited to stop watching maker videos and get back to making.
If I had to guess, looking at the Carrollton ordinances which limit the number of people in a room and the Dallas County orders and the Texas orders, I would say sometime after May 15th…