I don’t think we have core abilities in day-to-day management. It’s a lot closer to the duties of a janitor than it is to the duties of a director/officer/etc. … all of whom serve as a volunteers. Volunteers get to decide when to show up, why to show up, what to do when they show up, and don’t have to show up at all. Having a paid helpful Joe or Jane who has an obligation to show up, conduct tours for stragglers who show up unexpected, watches to see if makers are doing things safely or not, guides makers to be responsible for messes during and at the end of projects, watches over how we buy and use basic supplies so as to be economically responsible, guides new makers to find a niche and get off to a good start, stops makers who are endangering themselves, others or DMS as a whole by some wrongheaded approach, and, and, and … are all things DMS needs at the 2000+ member size.
We have no way to communicate with most Makers … did you see the chart posted about Talk visits … maximum of 250 separate Makers get on Talk in an entire month … barely more than 10%. So a committee adopts a new rule … 10% might know. Fire Dept defines an boundary, 10% plus the few who read signs might know. If the terminology of an operations manager is a problem, redefine it … Fraternity/sorority house mother, hall monitor, the workout room caretaker at the Y, playground supervisor, etc. Look at what we need … don’t stumble over the name.
We aren’t staffed to avoid safety problems, waste, rule knowledge, rule obedience, …
We have a janitor (an angel if there ever is one for this task), but we need a Maker janitor that keeps the Makers neat & tidy as well.
So, what was the big hurdle that stopped this from happening? Is it still valid? If yes, can it be resolved by position description at the start of the process?
When I was on the board the idea of a shop steward was bought up many times. Always seemed to stall when discussing how to implement and the cost to DMS. Probably was too early to handle at the time but seems we are in need of someone now. Currently we have many great members to fix stuff but it is reactionary process. Would be better to have someone to do repairs AND preventive maintenance. I think @frank_lima had the best arguments for the need of a shop steward. Lets have the discussion again. I bet we can work it out after expansion.
Ken, maybe avoiding the “repair and maintenance” responsibility is important. Just a guess on my part, but I get the impression some committee chairs might have concerns about who is qualified to do what within their zone. In addition, having that as a responsibility shrinks the candidate pool. For my two pennies, I’d select a good people influencer over a great mechanic. I think it’s the cat-like herd of Makers that needs shepherding more than the tools. I could be wrong. It wouldn’t be the first time, either!
My hope was always just the equivalent of a “meter maid” walking around or a hwy patrolman standing at the side of the road with a radar gun pointed rather than another nanny (do we really need a person to vacuum and sweep and throw our garbage away for us?).
People need to understand they may get a “talking to” or worse if they are leaving a mess for next person, or using tool/table/space in a way not intended, or breaking a rule ("no spray painting!!!). In other words, things that might make it harder for other members to make their make. I.E. enforce rules and consequences for “crimes against making”.
If person could also help out with light maintenance or occasional off-beaten-track or tougher-to-do items (occasional ceiling tiles replacement, occasional fluorescent/LED light replacement, doorknob fixing, etc.), then great. But simply enforcing the basic standards and rules we have will be a huge start/improvement.
I am trying figure out if you are talking about the current janitor or if that segment applies to a new position. If the former, well unfortunately so because of the many and oft discussed “customers” and the lack of anyone to be their mommy and make them clean after themselves 24/7.
If the latter, I don’t think anyone has suggested this. If I worded it in such a way to suggest that … was not my intention. Your meter maid, patrolman, or my playground supervisor is more the role I am trying to describe when I used this line:
Since this topic has gone way off the rails I’ll throw my 2 pennies in by saying that just how can we be having a conversation about hiring someone and presumably paying a decent wage when according to various threads here we are constantly on the verge of financial ruin?? Can’t have it both ways.
Thanks @nicksilva moved it to a new topic. Yes we can’t have it both ways. Certainly was a future endeavor in my mind. At least until after we have incorporated next door and have a CO.
Sorry. Senior moment. Didn’t think that’s what you were implying, but was a tad worried my “Maker janitor” terminology was not actually “clever”, but “too clever” and casual readers might not catch the intended humor.
Based on our current size, and the membership numbers to which we aspire, I think it is impossible to maintain our all volunteer all the time + paid positions model. Shop steward(s) are likely the next paid positions to consider.
We need an Executive Director. Someone to prepare an annual budget, supervise daily spending, ensure the Space is maintained appropriately, to coordinate recruiting efforts, to execute the goals and directives of the Board, and to ensure our rules, and the law, are followed, and to handle the maintenance of the physical premises. It needs to be someone with direct experience performing the task, and should be hired outside the membership to ensure no conflict of Interest.
It’s too much to expect Volunteers to enforce the rules. Our own experience has shown that most problems are simply ignored because it would be embarassing or politically difficult for Board members and Committee chairs to enforce.When rules do get enforced, too often they are politically motivated, or too long in the coming.
And a professional Manager would serve as a check on both the membership, and on the Board, to ensure the space is run fairly and efficiently.
I like this concept, but it seems to be a very hard sell. So after proposing it a few times, I starting try to think of ways to move the needle on something that might help even if it is only a partial solution to problems I perceive. From what I gather about the history of DMS, all past efforts in this vein can down to an all or nothing decision and nothing won.
Throwing in my two cents. I fully agree with @Tapper that it has to be a non-member. They can’t be monitoring issues and working on their own projects. They will also most likely be the most despised person in the building. Everyone has different feelings when corrected, but most don’t like it. They also have to be empowered to hand out punishment in some form or fashion, otherwise some members will blow them off just like they do fellow members when they speak up. On top of this, it’s not one position, it’s 3. We are open 24 hours a day. One shop steward, meter maid, whatever will only be here 8 hours. If I want to do something questionable, fine, I’ll do it outside their work hours. If we are going down this road, we have to see where it’s going before jumping on the path.
What is a good guess at loaded salary (including benefits) for someone like this? My uneducated guess puts this at a significant fraction of our current revenue.
I think you really have to start with a retired person with necessary personality who want to do something besides sitting in a rocker and enjoys being around people. Pay is enough to help their nest egg but not a “normal day job pay scale”. I’d also consider letting them get their hours in on a flexible schedule so vary when in the 24/7 hours they are around. Given we have nothing now, a start is something. Bad actors still have to deal with cameras and soon to be RFIDs.
What “Authority” will this employee have. Until that is very explicitly defined and in great detail it is doomed to failure.
We don’t agree very well on what authority the BOD actually has. Most of the toxic discussions on talk can be attributed to finding the edges of the authority for the BOD and committee chairs. Members have input in selecting BOD and committee chairs. How will the Shop Stewards be selected. Will we vote on them or will they just appear one day and we are expected to defer to their guidance?
Just a suggestion … If you can agree we are at a size that some oversight would help, then let the Committee Chairs draw up a job description based on what they see as the issues another set of eyes could cover.
That gives the Chairs ownership and a basis for supporting the position to both their committee arena and the members at large.
