[hackerspaces] Vetting new members

Wed Jun 17 20:33:58 CEST 2009

The Lodge follows this same policy almost exactly. The space is open
to anyone on 'open house' days or if there's a class going on
(Homebrew workshop 2 weeks ago is an example). If someone needs the
space at another time (i.e. need to hold a meeting, etc) they can
contact a keyholder who can open the shop up for them. If someone
hangs around long enough, demonstrates that they're 'good people', and
has some financial stability (rent is 160/mo) they can become a key
holder..if they want to be. There's plenty of good people that are
regulars at the Lodge that either don't need/want 24 hour access or
want to put the cash in monthly to pay for the space. Those folks just
toss a few bucks in the donation box from time to time to help pay for
the pop they drink.

PGP Key ID: 0x0517358E
"None are more hopelessly enslaved than those who falsely believe they
are free" - Goethe
--

On Wed, Jun 17, 2009 at 11:26 AM, john arclight<arclight at gmail.com> wrote:
> Our policy is as follows:
>
> Anyone can show up and work or hang out when a keyholder is present. They
> can come as often as they like and we even have free cubby holes to store
> projects in.  People who use the space in this way are encouraged to donate
> something if they can but it's not required.
>
> The keyholders are the actual rent payers.  We charge $200/mo for unlimited
> 24/7 access and have a small number of these members.  In order to become a
> key holder, you need to:
>
> 1. Convince us that you can pay in a timely manner.
> 2. Hang out with us enough times that we know you are responsible and going
> to be a good citizen.  We did have to revoke one key in the last 2 years,
> but this was because the person went a little nuts on us.
>
> Arclight
>
> On Wed, Jun 17, 2009 at 11:16 AM, nicolle <superherogirl at gmail.com> wrote:
>>
>> At Pumping Station: One, in Chicago, we don't have a formal vetting
>> process.  One of our core principles is that anyone aged 18 or older is
>> free to become a member of our organization.  Therefore, if someone
>> hears about us, comes by, likes what they see, and pays the monthly
>> membership fee, they get a key and get 24 hour access to our space.
>> (Right now it's physical keys, although we're hoping to implement key
>> cards soon.)
>>
>> We have had a physical space for about two months now, and it's working
>> out nicely.  Of course it's a risk to allow such open access to the
>> space, but it's a calculated one in my opinion.  Under our model, the
>> core benefit of being a member is not just access to the space, but
>> twenty-four hour a day, seven day a week access to the space.  There's
>> no such thing as a member without a key.  Our space is big enough that
>> it can accommodate the number of members who join under our open policy,
>> and doing it any other way would violate our intent to involve as many
>> new and interesting people in the hackerspace as possible.
>>
>>
>> nicky
>>
>>
>>
>>
>>
>>
>> David Powell wrote:
>> > We are a new hackerspace in Maryland, USA so we don't have a whole lot
>> > of experience. We have discusses this issue and basically it came down
>> > to all the existing keyholders must vote in private on weather to
>> > allow or deny a member to right to have 24/7 access. With that said we
>> > don't actually have a 24/7 facilility available to us yet so we have
>> > not given out any keys. When the time comes that we do have 24/7
>> > access the board members will have keys and the charter members will
>> > also have keys. Currently there are 5 of us putting everything we have
>> > into forming our hackerspace. Those 5 will be considered charter
>> > members and will ultimately be who gets to decide who else has a key.
>> >
>> > Not every member needs a key. You need to be careful who you hand them
>> > out to. If you have a member who really needs 24/7 access I'm sure
>> > they will let you know that they tried to access the building but
>> > nobody was there. At that time you could offer to motion for a vote on
>> > their behalf amoungst the other keyholders.
>> >
>> > I would not hand out a key to a new member. We have discussed
>> > requiring background checks before providing keys. This is easily done
>> > in 5 minutes for free in Maryland using the courts website.
>> >
>> > One thing you may also want to implement is a quarterly inventory of
>> > the keys. Mark each members key with a number and possibly with a do
>> > not duplicate message. Then every quarter ask to physically see their
>> > key. If they don't have it then it may be time to change the locks.
>> >
>> > Finally, I've toyed with the idea of not having a key at all. There
>> > are plenty of inexpensive electronic locks. This will allow you to
>> > keep a log of who accessed the building and when. It would also allow
>> > you to setup a system where you can remotely allow a member to enter.
>> > So they may not need full access but they may need to call someone and
>> > request use of the building before entering.
>> >
>> > Discuss this over with your members and see what they are comfortable
>> > with.
>> >
>> > On 6/17/09, Eric Gerlach <eric+hackerspaces-discuss at gerlach.ca> wrote:
>> >
>> >> Hi all,
>> >>
>> >> Some of you may have seen me asking this question on IRC over the last
>> >> few days, so if you're one of those people, my apologies for the
>> >> duplicate communication.  Feel free to respond anyways :-)
>> >>
>> >> I'm working with a group in Kitchener-Waterloo, Ontario, Canada to
>> >> build
>> >> a new hackerspace.  One of the debates we're having right now is about
>> >> vetting new members.  I'm really interested in what other spaces are
>> >> doing.
>> >>
>> >> Specifically, I'm interested in what a person has to do to become a
>> >> member of your organization and get 24/7 access to the space (if you
>> >> allow that), and what you feel the advantages and disadvantages to your
>> >> approach are.
>> >>
>> >> Thanks in advance for your help.
>> >>
>> >> Cheers,
>> >>
>> >> Eric
>> >> _______________________________________________
>> >> Discuss mailing list
>> >> Discuss at lists.hackerspaces.org
>> >> http://lists.hackerspaces.org/mailman/listinfo/discuss
>> >>
>> >>
>> > _______________________________________________
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>> >
>> >
>>
>>
>> --
>> "A developed and decent man cannot be vain without a boundless
>> exactingness toward himself and without despising himself at moments to the
>> point of hatred."
>> Notes from Underground
>> by Fyodor Dostoevsky
>>
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