<html><head></head><body style="word-wrap: break-word; -webkit-nbsp-mode: space; -webkit-line-break: after-white-space; "><div><div>We're just starting the Red Mountain Makers space in Birmingham, AL (pop 299,999 in the city proper). As we have several students and recent graduates within our organizing group, we're gleefully seizing every opportunity to promote the group on campus, and to cross-promote campus tech events and lectures open to the general public, as well as those of the local tech incubator and the various tech interest groups. </div><div><br></div><div>Collaborations tend to swirl in this city. The tech and creative communities are small enough that most of the key people in the tech community are, are at most, two degrees of separation from each other. At the same time, we've (the city's tech community) had difficulty maintaining critical mass for larger efforts. Getting the maker space up and going is part of growing that community.</div><div><br></div><div>Shirley Hicks</div><div>board member at large</div><div>Red Mountain Makers</div><div><a href="http://www.redmountainmakers.org">www.redmountainmakers.org</a></div><div><a href="http://wiki.redmountainmakers.org">wiki.redmountainmakers.org</a></div><div><br></div><div><br></div><div>On Oct 16, 2013, at 3:07 PM, Ben Brown wrote:</div><br class="Apple-interchange-newline"><blockquote type="cite">
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I hear that. We never inquired about promotion on-campus, because
they tend to insulate their students within the six square blocks
around the University, which we aren't in.<br>
<br>
For us, it usually boils down to one word: Insurance.<br>
<br>
(as in we have it, but they require twelve months notice and nine
committees to sign off on it just to give us the time of day)<br>
<br>
Ben<br>
<br>
<div class="moz-cite-prefix">On 10/16/2013 3:56 PM, Randall G.
Arnold wrote:<br>
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<div> I can't say all of our experiences have been great.
University bureaucracy has gotten in the way of our efforts,
too. Very frustrating. Typical scenario: </div>
<div> </div>
<div> Me: I would like to connect your students with creative
opportunities. We have equipment, resources, etc... just need an
introduction to your students. </div>
<div> College outreach officer: sounds like a lot of work for us.
</div>
<div> </div>
<div> *sigh* </div>
<div> </div>
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On October 16, 2013 at 2:44 PM Ben Brown <a class="moz-txt-link-rfc2396E" href="mailto:ben@generik.ca"><ben@generik.ca></a> wrote:
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<br>
Kwartzlab has tried to work with other local organizations, with
varying results. We've tried to partner up with one of our local
university for events, but their ridiculously bureaucratic
nature has prevented us every time. At this point, I have no
plans to try anything else with them. <br>
<br>
That said, we have partnered up with local grassroots arts and
technology organizations for various events/causes to great
success. We've also leveraged this community
participation/recognition for an arts grant that bought us our
laser cutter in 2010, and a provincial equipment grant from the
Ontario Trillium Fund (provides no-strings-attached money to
non-profits). <br>
<br>
We don't affiliate with organizations that have strings
attached. We don't allow outside organizations to steer our
space and it's future. We would not accept large donations or
equipment from outside organizations in return for
administrative control of our space. We remain independent. <br>
<br>
Ben <br>
<br>
<div class="moz-cite-prefix"> On 10/16/2013 1:52 PM, Florencia
Edwards wrote: </div>
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<div dir="ltr"> I wanted to ask you what you guys think about
this. At our hackerspace people who manage it are trying to
make some strategic alliances with universities, schools,
culture centers... But I think it's not good. A hackerspace
is an alternative to this institutions and methods of
education. Making an alliance only makes this institutions
try to use the hackerspace their way (they have more power),
trying to preasure us to adapt to their methods of
education, what their students need, special workshops... I
don't know. Maybe I'm wrong, . I love everyone to know about
a makerspace or hackerspace and to come here to explore, but
this institutions have a way of imposing or forcing
things...
<div> </div>
<div> Do any of you have experience with school or collages,
are they good? Can you give me some advice? </div>
<div> </div>
<div> Cheers all </div>
</div>
<br>
<br>
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