[hackerspaces] question about hackerspace hourly rate, what do you think

Shirley Hicks shirley at velochicdesign.com
Wed Jan 8 23:25:59 CET 2014


Thanks, Joshua.

-- Shirley Hicks

On Jan 8, 2014, at 4:12 PM, Joshua Pritt wrote:

> Your best bet is to drop by the Public Night on any given Tuesday and ask about this stuff.  Someone there can surely help you out with exactly what you need!
> As far as how it all works and all the rules are mostly on the wiki:
> 
> https://256.makerslocal.org/wiki/Main_Page
> 
> The membership form is even a page on the wiki so it can be easily changed if the need ever arises.
> 
> https://256.makerslocal.org/wiki/Application
> 
> Even the bylaws that govern the whole place has its own "living document" page.
> 
> https://256.makerslocal.org/wiki/Bylaws
> 
> I believe the monthly meeting notes are even public knowledge since it's a 501c3 non profit.
> 
> https://256.makerslocal.org/wiki/Meetings
> 
> 
> 
> 
> On Wed, Jan 8, 2014 at 4:38 PM, Shirley Hicks <shirley at velochicdesign.com> wrote:
> <continuing the general discussion as I need more details myself for the Birmingham Red Mountain Makers business plan>
> 
> Joshua - would it be possible to get a copy of your membership application form that we could adapt for our use?
> We've been discussing following you in this approach, but would find it helpful if we could peer over your shoulder and could see what
> you're doing now. I had originally planned to drop by Local 256 yesterday, but was deterred by the cold from making the drive from Birmingham.
> Am aiming to stop by next Tuesday. I'm working on our business plan and need to work that into the cash flow analysis. Our board would really
> like to be able to make this work at our space.
> 
> Shirley Hicks
> Board member-at-large
> Red Mountain Makers
> 5502 1st Avenue North
> Birmingham, AL 35212
> 
> Email: redmtnadm at redmountainmakers.org
> www.redmountainmakers.org
> -----------------------------------------------------------
> Home email: shirley at velochicdesign.com
> 
> On Dec 19, 2013, at 3:16 PM, Joshua Pritt wrote:
> 
>> The way Makers Local 256 in Huntsville, AL does it is instead of having a set monthly fee to become a member they have a field on the application form you fill out where you put how much money you can afford to donate each month towards rent and utilities.  This allows those with less resources to contribute and we all know every little bit helps.  We tell them to put down however much you think it's worth to you, how much you can swing, and how much you think you'll be using the resources there like power and A/C, etc.  We say it can be as low as $1 a month but you'll need to donate a lot more of your time to help on clean up day and spread your skills to others by helping on other projects if needed.  We have monthly meetings where the treasurer gives the report on donations received and bills paid divided by the total number of members to get the per member cost and per member donation average.  We sometimes use that number when telling someone applying for membership that number to give them an idea of how close to get with their donation.  The whole place operates on donations and if you are a member that just means you have a set monthly donation.  The other donations come from the public when they come by including Public Night that happens every single Tuesday night.  There's a donation bucket or box in almost every room.  So the treasurer can then count on the set member donations to pay the bills with the extra donations from the public and some local businesses to help buy new tools or other resources.  Some companies like Lockheed and Boeing have a "company match" kind of thing that will double your donation if you work for them and donate to a hackerspace.  
>> Hope this helps.
>> 
>> 
>> On Thu, Dec 19, 2013 at 4:01 PM, Florencia Edwards <floev22 at gmail.com> wrote:
>> thanks matt, we are doing this with some members! OTher members are not intrested in doing classes, so it's just a few
>> 
>> 
>> 2013/12/19 matt <matt at nycresistor.com>
>> one of the things nyc resistor tried is basically reducing membership rates for members that taught x number of classes at the space.  this lead to the space getting money from classes, the member getting money, and there being more classes.
>> 
>> wins all around.
>> 
>> -matt
>> 
>> 
>> On Thu, Dec 19, 2013 at 3:43 PM, David Francos <me at davidfrancos.net> wrote:
>> 
>> 
>> 
>> 2013/12/19 Florencia Edwards <floev22 at gmail.com>
>> Thanks dave for your answer . Alan, I agree on the community, but i'm thinking this hour rates for a virtual community we have but don't have the money to spend on a whole month in the makerspace, but for sure would do it if it was for hours (less money and time).  to use some tools. So the community exists, we have  a forum  and we are friends, but they just don't have the money. I don't know what to do to include them
>> 
>> Why not simply doing a special price for people with less resources?
>> If you've got a strong community, consult with them, most probable thing is they'll be ok paying more than people who couldn't affor the hackerspace otherwise.
>> We at Dlabs Hackerspace (Spain) did that for a while, and those members ended up paying the full wage when they could. We've got even a free-comunity member that donates material and hours of his time to the hackerspace instead of money. 
>> 
>> Things are a bit different, we've got 450€ of full outcome (and 330 of regular income + donations + beer + paid talks / events, that are given / organished by volunteers). Remember that there are more ways to provide for a hackerspace than just memberships =)
>> 
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