[Noisebridge-discuss] General Meeting Notes 7 October 2008 --JimComments

[Mitch Altman]

Hi Jim,
 
You can give me your dues when you pick up the battery tomorrow morning.  And there is a key waiting for you at the space.
 
Mitch.
 
---------------> Subject: Re: [Noisebridge-discuss] General Meeting Notes 7 October 2008 --JimComments> From: jim at well.com> To: dmolnar at eecs.berkeley.edu> Date: Wed, 8 Oct 2008 16:55:43 -0700> CC: noisebridge-discuss at lists.noisebridge.net> > > Thank you, david, for the big job of writing all > that down. > not to cause trouble, rather to help: a couple > of points. > > * i plan to do electricity upgrades thursday and > friday (and other days). initial work will be just > to add circuits for the fishbowl workshop. > a couple of people verbally have told me they > support my purchase of parts as going toward my > monthly dues. I cannot afford to pay monthly dues > and buy a few hundred dollars of electrical parts. > IF YOU OBJECT, please say so now, and i will > pay my three months' dues to someone and then ask > for money to go buy the parts and do what i can > with what parts i can buy. > (i am currently unemployed and have been for > months; i like it that way, but money is tight.) > had i been able to attend after shannon brought > keys, i would have stood up while jake talked. > if you have an interest in what's happening > with electrical upgrades, please read the wiki > discussion (talk) page: > https://www.noisebridge.net/index.php/Talk:Electricity_Upgrade > the "real" page is a little awry wrt > predicting what'll happen: > https://www.noisebridge.net/index.php/Electricity_Upgrade > > > * wells fargo, at least for corporate business > accounts, wants a minimum of $4000 in the account. > if the balance falls below that, WF charges $16 > per month ($192 per year if account always falls > short). there are other banks that have easier > policies (WaMu, now a proud member of the Chase > Banking family, provides free checking and debit > for commercial accounts). > > > > > On Wed, 2008-10-08 at 02:22 -0700, David Molnar wrote:> > Hi all,> > > > Here are my notes from the meeting today. Please let me know if you have> > any additions, questions, or amendments, etc.. I'll wiki-fy them after a> > day or two, including any fixes people send me, unless someone else> > feels like doing it.> > > > Roughly 32-35 people in attendance.> > > > 1) Incorporation Status> > > > * Secretary of State has accepted the incorporation documents> > * The first Board resolutions to activate the corporation have been> > drafted, need to be slightly fixed up, redrafted, and then signed by> > Board members. Then we are an active California Public Benefit> > Non-Profit corporation.> > ** ETA: Wednesday 8 October 2008> > ** Andy and Mitch take responsibility for obtaining signatures> > * David Molnar will file online for a Tax ID number> > * Noisebridge will then open an account with Wells Fargo> > ** There is a branch down the street> > ** Question about Wells Fargo's stability - they appear to be stable> > (they are eating other banks, not being eaten)> > ** Question about credit unions -- they appear not to be a good fit for> > small businesses> > * Wells Fargo can be changed later if membership desires, but we need a> > bank account now> > > > 2) Keys, Dues, Membership> > > > * Shannon Lee sent out to make many copies of the key to the space> > ** People are getting keys tonight> > > > * Bootstrap Membership process> > ** We have talked about a 3 month contribution/waiting period> > ** Do not want to prevent people from being members who have contributed> > so far!> > ** Therefore invite people to join now> > ** Initial members will help us all make a membership process> > ** Goal: simple 1-page document to sign stating agreement with> > Noisebridge mission, disclaim liability, and agree to pay dues on time> > > > * Dues: where does it go?> > ** Rent - $1975/month> > ** Electric bill - we're not sure exactly, but $300-$600?> > *** Previous tenants paid $365 for 1.3 megawatt-hours (13,000 100-watt> > lightbulbs on continuously)> > *** House can use 2 megawatt-hours per month> > ** Connectivity - DSL + cable bill> > ** Consumables - toilet paper, resistors, etc.> > > > * Board exists to fill will of membership> > * Want to trust the members. "We're not sacred cows. Don't be afraid to> > kill us."> > ** "Don't actually murder us."> > > > * Want to collect 2x rent every month> > ** Cushion because we don't know our monthly expenses yet> > ** Will be moving target until we work this out> > > > * Two proposals for membership fees, assuming 55 members:> > 1) Baseline fee of $75, "starving hacker" fee of $50> > 2) Baseline fee of $80, "starving hacker" fee of $40> > > > * We accept donations above membership fee> > ** If you want a "Corporate Rate" of $5000/month we can do that> > > > * Pay 3 months or more at a time if you can> > ** Helps Noisebridge figure out what to expect> > * Jake promises to sink as much money as needed to keep Noisebridge> > running for one year more> > > > * Feeling that $10 makes a difference to starving hackers, so $80/$40> > * What do members get for their dues?> > ** Need to work that out with members> > ** Keys at a minimum> > * Membership lapses? 1 month behind on dues?> > ** Another thing to figure out> > ** Won't take away key because you're one month behind> > > > * Door lock progress> > ** Goal: keycard lock> > ** Thomas is obtaining bill of materials for AnonAccess keycard system> > ** We will be obtaining a quote for SALTO DESFire system, too> > ** Contact David Molnar to be on the Lock Team> > > > * For now, trust the members to do the right thing with keys> > * Do we redo key discussion when we have a new lock?> > ** Probably not, but we will talk about it> > ** Likely scenario: trade in key for keycard> > * What if income is low enough that $40 is too much?> > ** Gender issues, women work for 50 cents/dollar> > ** Scholarship program - Noisebridge forgives some dues?> > ** Sponsorship/patronage program - one member sponsors another?> > ** We will try to work something out> > * The $40 is not "hard wired"> > * Grants?> > ** Jake looking at $150K grant for "hacker in residence" program> > * Want to make Noisebridge accessible as possible> > * Even if not member, not paying dues, welcome to hang out at space!> > * Members will also be part of consensus process> > ** Welcome input from non-members too, but members decide> > * Greg wanted to point out that the $80/$40 can be reviewed at a future> > time, even if we agree to it now> > ** Put as agenda item for meeting on wiki> > * Treasurer will open source accounting> > ** Subject to privacy of donors - $1k in anon donations already> > > > * Should ask "does anyone disagree" with consensus rather than "does> > everyone agree" - easier to hear when there are dissenting voices> > ** Adopted> > > > * After Shannon arrived with the keys (at the end of the meeting), Jake> > then asked people to sit down. Then Jake asked people to stand up if> > they felt they had made a contribution, that they would continue to make> > a contribution, and they were OK with paying dues. Many people stood up,> > they all got keys.> > > > * Consensus: Move forward with $80 baseline, $40 "starving hacker" dues,> > with concerns noted about payment in kind, sponsorship, or scholarship> > for people that can't afford $40 but still contribute. Also noted that> > these numbers are open to revision.> > > > 3) Consensus Process and Running Meetings> > > > * Proposals for improving meeting and consensus process:> > ** 90 minute time limit to meetings> > ** Recorder reads back consensus to everyone, asks "Does anyone disagree?"> > ** Do not decide big things in same meeting when introduced> > ** Limit ad-hoc agenda items (see also 90 minute time limit)> > * Who joins the consensus process? "Wander in off the street" issue.> > ** Have to be a member> > ** Person has to be a member of a group for consensus to work> > ** This deals with "out of nowhere" problem> > * Can we get IRC channel to discuss beforehand?> > ** Yes. See #noisebridge on irc.freenode.net !> > ** Sadly, this by itself does not shorten meetings> > * NYC Resistor - need to do a cool project to be a member> > * What about members interested but not present?> > ** Some weeks people can't leave the apartment> > ** People travel> > * Ubuntu Boston meetings: webcam, IRC> > * Space will have projector, webcam, microphones> > * Work on telepresence and tele-consensus needs doing> > * Process discussion will go on wiki> > * Consensus: we are not done yet discussing the consensus process. More> > work needed.> > > > 4) Safety Committee> > > > * Seth Schoen is starting a Safety Committee. He couldn't make it> > tonight, but he has already started adding things to the space.> > * Currently 2 fire extinguishers, some goggles, earplugs, etc.> > * e-mail the list and start a wiki page about Safety Committee> > * Action items for Safety Committee: figure out agenda items for near> > future meeting> > * Question - are board members on Safety Committee? Jake is.> > * Consensus: we have a Safety Team.> > > > 5) Kitchen and Chem Lab> > > > * Shannon previously had suggested on list that we scrap the kitchen and> > use it exclusively as a chem lab.> > * Shannon stated at the meeting that he felt the consensus was to keep> > the kitchen. No one disagreed with this.> > * Meredith described plans for a fume hood on casters.> > * Meredith and Shannon will form the Chem Lab Team. Talk to them if you> > want to help out with building out the chem lab.> > > > * Consensus: we keep the kitchen. We have a Chem Lab Team.> > > > 6) Insurance Status> > > > * David Molnar is handling interactions with insurance agents.> > ** One agent gathering a General Liability quote for us> > ** Another agent has given us application forms> > ** Forms sent to board at lists.noisebridge.net, archives public> > ** Check wiki page, ask David if any questions> > > > * We are applying for the following insurance:> > ** $1MM of general liability, $500K per occurrence, because the lease> > says we need to have it. Covers slip and fall, accidents, etc.> > ** Property theft insurance - $15K replacement cost, $1K deductible, but> > this may change depending on the premium. This covers Noisebridge> > property of the space only, so it covers the oscilloscope but it DOES> > NOT cover your laptop! We will ask about coverage for member property> > and see how much it costs.> > ** $1MM of Directors & Officers insurance. Protects board and officers> > in case a donor sues the corporation for mishandling a donation among> > other things. At a previous meeting Alameda County Computer Resource> > Center people suggested seriously having this.> > > > * These are starting points for insurance so we can get up and running.> > We can revisit in the future. In particular we may want to increase the> > coverage for member property. That depends on our finances and the cost.> > Our priority now is to get the basics in place to cover operations.> > ** Until then, please don't leave your laptop in the space.> > > > * Two people pointed out that renters' insurance may cover personal> > property lost in the space. Check your coverage!> > > > * Consensus: David M. should continue to pursue insurance.> > > > 7) Safari> > > > * Brian/endenizen is researching Safari, online book service for> > O'Reilly books> > * Current status is we can get a corporate account at no cost to> > Noisebridge proper, then that enables individuals to access cheaper> > plans than they could obtain on their own. Need minimum 5 people.> > * Plans are pre-paid, cheapest is $153/year in advance> > * Cheapest plan is 10 books / 30 day period, not downloadable> > * Slightly more expensive plan allows downloading> > * Plans rocket up in cost from there> > * Still need individual accounts under the corporate account, but these> > accounts are transferable> > * Brian asked if group is OK with having a group account, also asked if> > there were at least 5 people interested> > * More than 5 people raised their hands> > * Meredith pointed out competing services may be available.> > * This does not establish a precedent that all no-fee corporate accounts> > are automatically OK. For example, would need to discuss a corporate> > Zipcar account. Settle on case-by-case basis.> > > > * Consensus: Brian can move forward with a corporate account for> > Noisebridge and organizing Team Safari. Several members have concerns> > about being associated with a service that uses Digital Rights> > Management, but these concerns are not blocking. In addition, future> > corporate accounts must be discussed on a case-by-case basis.> > > > _______________________________________________> > Noisebridge-discuss mailing list> > Noisebridge-discuss at lists.noisebridge.net> > https://www.noisebridge.net/mailman/listinfo/noisebridge-discuss> > _______________________________________________> Noisebridge-discuss mailing list> Noisebridge-discuss at lists.noisebridge.net> https://www.noisebridge.net/mailman/listinfo/noisebridge-discuss
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