Member Meeting Minutes for November 19th, 2023: Difference between revisions

From HackPittsburgh Wiki
Jump to navigation Jump to search
(Created page with "==== Called to Order ==== * The meeting was called to order by Becky Zajdel at 7:XX PM ==== Attendees ==== * Becky Zajdel, President * Chris McCann * Geno Soroka * Brian "Beebo" Esch * Valerie Walch * Allison Leamer * Josh Baringer * Jim Fialho * Andrew Pinto ==== New Members or Guests ==== * XXX ==== Quote of the Day ==== “I prefer dangerous freedom over peaceful slavery.” - Thomas Jefferson in a letter to James Madison (he wrote it in Latin because he could be...")
 
No edit summary
 
(21 intermediate revisions by the same user not shown)
Line 1: Line 1:
==== Called to Order ====
==== Called to Order ====
* The meeting was called to order by Becky Zajdel at 7:XX PM
* The meeting was called to order by Becky Zajdel at 7:35 PM


==== Attendees ====
==== Attendees ====
* Becky Zajdel, President
* Becky Zajdel, President
* Chris McCann
* Kirk Hendricks, Vice President
* Geno Soroka
* Morgan Wable, Treasurer
* Lucian Chapar, Member at Large
* Wilkes Vaughn, Member at Large
* Rob Bedel
* Paul Cauchon
* Quara'e Canady
* Emily Crane
* Brian "Beebo" Esch
* Brian "Beebo" Esch
* Valerie Walch
* Jim Fialho
* Allison Leamer
* Allison Leamer
* Josh Baringer
* Kiefer Mansfield
* Jim Fialho
* Bryn Miller
* Andrew Pinto
* Josh Mauer
* Alex Reasinger
* Alex Roth
* Dean Roth
* Geno Soroka
* Valerie Walch
* Spencer Zacher
*  
*  


==== New Members or Guests ====
==== New Members or Guests ====
Line 17: Line 31:


==== Quote of the Day ====
==== Quote of the Day ====
“I prefer dangerous freedom over peaceful slavery.” - Thomas Jefferson in a letter to James Madison (he wrote it in Latin because he could be kind of a pretentious douche, but the point still stands)
“It's not the battles we lose that bother me, it's the ones we don't suit up for.” - Toby Ziegler from 'The West Wing.'


==== Upcoming Events ====
==== Upcoming Events ====
https://hackpgh.org/calendar
https://hackpgh.org/calendar
* It's a slow, holiday week at HackPGH
* It's a slow, holiday week at HackPGH
** Keep Calm & Carry Yarn is this Wednesday at 6pm
** Keep Calm & Carry Yarn aka "Stitchin' Bitches" is this Wednesday at 6pm
** Happy Thanksgiving!  
*** Related: Hillman Cancer Center REALLY needs "cancer caps." These are knitted or crocheted hats for those who lose their hair from chemo or radiation. Their donations are down to zero right now. If you can knit or crochet, please consider making one and maybe we can bring a box of donations from HackPGH!
** Happy Thanksgiving!  
* November's Shop Clean is next Sunday starting at noon.
** Please attend! It is part of your member requirements to volunteer two hours a month. If you cannot attend the shop clean proper, PM a board member and we will give you an "assignment."
* The next Game Night is Friday, December 1st.


==== Organization Updates ====  
==== Organization Updates ====  
* The leak and subsequent flood has been contained and cleaned up. Thank you for those who helped!
* October's events (Vaccine Clinic and Halloween Party) were both well-attended and brought in over $1000 in donations.  
* We will be hosting our fourth annual vaccination clinic on Sunday, October 22nd from 1-3PM! It is FREE to the public and the pharmacists can use or look up any insurance or state aid.
* Becky will be taking off a full week from all HackPGH duties to recover from a recent accident. Please contact other Board Members if you have any queries.
** We have water-resistant flyers (available Monday) that we will be handing out to the shelter next door, pharmacy patients, and any friends and family.
* Skedda, the reservation system that we use for the laser and CNC, is removing its free version after the new year.  
*** We need help making the shop as tidy as possible, so please attend the special shop clean this coming Saturday, October 21st!
** We are finding a replacement either within our website proper or Wild Apricot.  
* The annual "Hack-o-Ween" costume party will be held on Saturday, October 28th at 7PM.  
** We don't want to give a DIME to Skedda.
** We have tons of Halloween decorations to re-use and we'd like to make money on this party, not spend it. Please spread the word about the party (Morgan is making a flyer/graphic!) and/or donate:
*** A hot or cold appetizer - or even an entrée!
*** A beverage for a crowd (non-alcoholic or alcoholic, your pick!)
*** An item to donate for our silent auction. On deck so far: A pet care gift basket, Dr. Squatch Avengers Collectible Soap Box, Comic Book Gift Bag, and more!
*** Becky will need a list of food/drinks/donations for the auction ASAP.
* IMPORTANT: If we do not get enough interest in the Halloween party, it will be cancelled.  


* CLASSES
* CLASSES
** As stated above, we have scheduled a second TIG welding class for Saturday, November 11th at 11am. Sign up ASAP as we will be publicizing it outside the membership soon.  
** Kiefer is taking off teaching for the month of December. He will return with a TIG-welding class on a Saturday in January. Date TBD.
** Kyle is helping us set up a "make your own wand" class with a coworker of his.
** Spencer's Intro to Woodworking class filled and had a waitlist!
*** Date is TBD as he and his wife are in labor. Possibly literally.  
*** Kyle is teaching an Intro to Woodworking class on Saturday, December 16th at 10am. He will be offering a snowman/holiday tree cutting board options. Register now if you are interested! https://members.hackpgh.org/event-5487469
* Beebo will be teaching chainmail classes. Two types (European four-in-one bag and a Byzantine chain).
*** Spencer's next two Intro to Woodworking classes are scheduled for Sunday, January 14th and Sunday, February 11th.  
** Contact Beebo so we can select date(s) in November/December that suits the instructor and interested students the best.  
** Geno is teaching his "Learn to Solder an LED Holiday Tree" class on Saturday, December 9th. Register now! https://members.hackpgh.org/event-5496970
** Price: $60 for members, $70 for non-members. Students will leave with a bag, chain, and/or the tool and materials to complete both.  
** New classes!
** Geno will once again be teaching his holiday tree soldering class. Date TBD.
* Jaimee Gaster is teaching a wood lathe class where you can make a pen or a bottle stopper.  
** Becky's mom "Mern" will be teaching a sewing class where participants will create a holiday "mug rug" made from seasonal fabrics. Date will depend on interested parties. 
** The first class will be held on a Thursday evening in January (Exact date TBD).  
* (Dr.) Zach Senders and Becky will be scheduling a winter "stop the bleed" class sometime in the late fall-winter.
** The class is limited to two people. We will add dates as demand and Jaimee's schedule permits.
** We would like to combine it with a hybrid Red Cross CPR/First Aid/AED class that gets participants certification cards. (OSHA friendly)
* Marion Zajdel will be teaching a sewing class and teaching students basic sewing machine skills. Students will make a "mug rug".  
** We need to gauge interest, as the last time we attempted to hold one of these courses the 20+ "interested" members bailed when the (voted) class date was posted. We lost our deposit.  
** This class will be scheduled when the Soft Arts area is more "complete", most likely the end of January.  


==== Treasurer's Report ====
==== Treasurer's Report ====
* We have $11,975.10.  
* We have $12,750.48. Not bad, considering that we made a few larger payments recently. However, our goal is still to break $15k by the new year!
* Our Autumn Fundraiser kicked off last week! We have raised about $1,300(ish) from multiple sources thus far. (Note: this is not included in our bank balance).
* Our Autumn Fundraiser has exactly ONE MONTH LEFT! We have raised a little over $2,000 so far.  
** But it's all from one or two members' friends and family. We have water-resistant flyers, a sharable graphic, and an easy way to donate: Text HACKPGHFALL to 707070!  
** But it's all from one or two members' friends and family. We have water-resistant flyers, a sharable graphic, and an easy way to donate: Text HACKPGHFALL to 707070!  
** Our goal is $5,000 by December 20th (the last day of autumn). Let's keep going!
** Our goal is $5,000 by December 20th (the last day of autumn). One month left! We understand that times are tight, but please contribute if and what you can or share the link with family and friends.  
** The fundraiser will benefit:
*** Scholarships for low-income members
*** Supplementing the vaccination clinic (At most a few hundred dollars)
*** Building up our shop including the new computer lab, air conditioning, and other shop improvements.
* THIS IS IMPORTANT. We are in a good position but we don't want to have to keep self-funding for things like woodshop improvements and new laser tubes. It also helps us keep our prices low. Contribute what and if you can and at the very least share Hack's fundraiser with your family and friends. Donations are tax-deductible. Donations of $250 or more always receive a receipt, but receipts can always be given upon request!  
* THIS IS IMPORTANT. We are in a good position but we don't want to have to keep self-funding for things like woodshop improvements and new laser tubes. It also helps us keep our prices low. Contribute what and if you can and at the very least share Hack's fundraiser with your family and friends. Donations are tax-deductible. Donations of $250 or more always receive a receipt, but receipts can always be given upon request!  


==== Shop Updates ====
==== Shop Updates ====
* We are continuing to clean out and organize the storage room and lockers to make room for our new computer lab, although the ceiling and flooding have slowed our progress somewhat.
* We know that many members wait to pay for consumables, but we have been going through expensive boxes of red bull and candy bars like lightning and we haven't seen many payments.  
** We have cleared out a little over a third of the lockers in the storage room, and Lucian is attempting to sell them so we can make some money.
** If you owe the shop for your consumables, PLEASE settle your "tab" ASAP. We don't want to put ALL items in the vending machines because they are evil.
** If you have not already cleared out your locker, please do so as soon as you can. If you absolutely need private storage, please do one of the following:
** We received a request to add sugar-free red bull to the mini-fridge. A case will be donated next week from our "Red Bull Guy!"
*** Move your locker to the back of the storage room.
* Please clean up after yourself every time. Throw away food waste and paper towels. Wipe down work surfaces. Wash your dishes in the sink!
*** Consider getting a bin and using that for storage. We have freed up a decent amount of shelf space. We have a few members who have bins on the floor - please clear them out or move them to the shelves ASAP.
** On a related note, throw away your used bottled waters (on Friday, a board member picked up 12 used water bottles just on the clean side). Consider refilling empty water bottles using the filtered water in the fridge. We've gone through four cases of water in a week. When it's hot, that's understandable. But now? It's wasteful.  
* We have two new donations to Soft Arts!
* Parking Permits
** Marion Zajdel (Becky's mom) has donated a brand new Brother CS7000X Computerized Sewing and Quilting Machine as well as a two year old Singer Scholastic Sewing Machine. This gives us enough working/new machines to hold classes!
** When leaving a project or large materials in appropriate areas, always use a parking permit.  
** The problem now? We need ROOM to hold classes in Soft Arts. Although progress has been made organizing the Soft Arts area, we will need more help organizing and clearing out old materials and projects SOON!
** You must completely fill out the parking permit. EVERY time. Every member. No exceptions. Your name, a contact number/email, the type of project, and the date.
** If you have been storing anything in the Soft Arts area long-term, please come and clean it up & out!
** If you leave a large long piece of wood or metal somewhere and it sticks out beyond the table, please mark it with a piece of bright-colored tape or fabric.
* Garbage and recycling:
* The Woodshop Build is still in progress.
** We finally have both recycling and garbage dumpsters. Huzzah. Pickups are weekly on Tuesday mornings.  
** Cabinets (with labels and liners) have been built.  
** If you are at the shop on Monday evenings, PLEASE gather the garbage and recycling and take it outside. Thank you!
* Soft Arts is about 60% cleaned out!
*** We have already had locals dump trash and more on our property and dumpsters. We are considering paying extra for a lock. In the meantime: if someone could please drill our outdoor "NO DUMPING" signs onto/into the wall - we have them and Dale asked for this to be done months ago.
** All items are now organized and labeled either in lockers or the black bookcase.  
* Computer lab updates:
** We are waiting for the last member items to be removed so we can bring in:
** Becky got us a new iBUYPOWER SlateMRI7N3601 Gaming Desktop (usually $1300, Hack paid less than $400). And we have a lead on a similar new machine for a similar discount.
** Our new two sewing machines, the new soft arts laptop*, a loveseat, and new carpeting. (All donated!)
** Jim Fialho has several older machines and parts that he can contribute to the lab!
** If you use soft arts materials, PLEASE return all thread, scissors, fabric, bobbins, etc. to their labeled containers & shelves. COVER all sewing/embroidery/serger machines. All machines now have a cover.
** These will allow us to do anything from advanced CAD and animation classes to VR gaming sessions.  
* New stuff!
** These machines plus the new OMEN 24L and the other donated laptops & PCs are the beginnings of a pretty nice lab!  
** Jim Fialho has donated two PCs to the shop.  
** Alpha and Beta will also be updated soon, we will be getting NPO discounts on software, and the embroidery machine will be getting a dedicated laptop for Hatch.
** We have two new IBuyPower gaming PCs with two large curved-screen monitors set up behind the conference tables. They are VR compatible (and the "broken" PC has been replaced). Enjoy!
* Wood Shop Build updates:
** Becky has permanently loaned the soft arts an Asus Gaming laptop. It will have Hatch Digitizer 3 installed as well as a lot of other helpful software. Do NOT remove this laptop from Soft Arts without board permission!
** The platform is half-done. It should be completed within a week or so.  
*** All three computers will have at minimum: CS5 Adobe Creative Suite, Adobe Acrobat Professional, and Office 2018. They're old licenses, but good enough for what we do.  
** From the wood shop leads: Doug is identifying small projects that need to be done to improve the shop and he needs volunteers to complete them.  
*** The Board is working on getting CAD and animation software.  
*** For example, Dean is making a feather board for the table saw.  
* Storage Room
*** We need someone to tune the band saw.  
** We are working on selling the EMPTY lockers to make room. Please clean out your locker if you are not using it. If you have bins on the floor or more than one bin in the storage room without permission, please come and pick up your stuff!  
*** If someone in the woodshop wants to help (or needs to fulfill their volunteer hours), please DM Doug Smith on Slack and he will match you up with a task that matches your skills. Thanks!
* Metal Shop Updates
* Metal Shop Updates
** Kirk, Allison, and Valerie will be heading up to Albany sometime soon to get new machines for the Metal Shop!  
** Kirk, Allison, and Valerie will be heading up to Albany sometime soon to get new machines for the Metal Shop!  


==== Recognition for AWESOMENESS ====
==== Recognition for AWESOMENESS ====
* Chris McCann, Beebo, and Neil for helping prevent the burst pipe/flooding from getting wore and cleaning up.
* Jim Fialho for donating two PCs and working on computers as well as organizing the electronics bench.
* Aaron Stein for helping with Hack's graphics, cleaning soft arts, and installing our new antimicrobial, soft-close toilet seats.
* Jordan Rininger for going all Swedish-death-clean on the 3D printing area. It looks great!
* Beebo for putting out the (literal) dumpster fire on Watson Street.
* Greg for machining
** The A. Chief from No. 4 said there was accelerant in and around the dumpster. Probably illegally dumped gasoline, kerosene, or even hairspray. So... don't throw out anything like that in OUR dumpsters.  


==== Open Floor ====
==== Open Floor ====
* Geno has updated the light system and linked it to the #buddysystem Slack channel. It will give members a general idea if people are in the shop.
* Security Concerns - Rob Bedel
** He is working on doing the same on the "dirty"/industrial side. 
* Rob is securing the doors


====  Move to Adjourn ====
====  Move to Adjourn ====

Latest revision as of 18:16, 19 November 2023

Called to Order

  • The meeting was called to order by Becky Zajdel at 7:35 PM

Attendees

  • Becky Zajdel, President
  • Kirk Hendricks, Vice President
  • Morgan Wable, Treasurer
  • Lucian Chapar, Member at Large
  • Wilkes Vaughn, Member at Large
  • Rob Bedel
  • Paul Cauchon
  • Quara'e Canady
  • Emily Crane
  • Brian "Beebo" Esch
  • Jim Fialho
  • Allison Leamer
  • Kiefer Mansfield
  • Bryn Miller
  • Josh Mauer
  • Alex Reasinger
  • Alex Roth
  • Dean Roth
  • Geno Soroka
  • Valerie Walch
  • Spencer Zacher

New Members or Guests

  • XXX

Quote of the Day

“It's not the battles we lose that bother me, it's the ones we don't suit up for.” - Toby Ziegler from 'The West Wing.'

Upcoming Events

https://hackpgh.org/calendar

  • It's a slow, holiday week at HackPGH
    • Keep Calm & Carry Yarn aka "Stitchin' Bitches" is this Wednesday at 6pm
      • Related: Hillman Cancer Center REALLY needs "cancer caps." These are knitted or crocheted hats for those who lose their hair from chemo or radiation. Their donations are down to zero right now. If you can knit or crochet, please consider making one and maybe we can bring a box of donations from HackPGH!
    • Happy Thanksgiving!
  • November's Shop Clean is next Sunday starting at noon.
    • Please attend! It is part of your member requirements to volunteer two hours a month. If you cannot attend the shop clean proper, PM a board member and we will give you an "assignment."
  • The next Game Night is Friday, December 1st.

Organization Updates

  • October's events (Vaccine Clinic and Halloween Party) were both well-attended and brought in over $1000 in donations.
  • Becky will be taking off a full week from all HackPGH duties to recover from a recent accident. Please contact other Board Members if you have any queries.
  • Skedda, the reservation system that we use for the laser and CNC, is removing its free version after the new year.
    • We are finding a replacement either within our website proper or Wild Apricot.
    • We don't want to give a DIME to Skedda.
  • CLASSES
    • Kiefer is taking off teaching for the month of December. He will return with a TIG-welding class on a Saturday in January. Date TBD.
    • Spencer's Intro to Woodworking class filled and had a waitlist!
      • Kyle is teaching an Intro to Woodworking class on Saturday, December 16th at 10am. He will be offering a snowman/holiday tree cutting board options. Register now if you are interested! https://members.hackpgh.org/event-5487469
      • Spencer's next two Intro to Woodworking classes are scheduled for Sunday, January 14th and Sunday, February 11th.
    • Geno is teaching his "Learn to Solder an LED Holiday Tree" class on Saturday, December 9th. Register now! https://members.hackpgh.org/event-5496970
    • New classes!
  • Jaimee Gaster is teaching a wood lathe class where you can make a pen or a bottle stopper.
    • The first class will be held on a Thursday evening in January (Exact date TBD).
    • The class is limited to two people. We will add dates as demand and Jaimee's schedule permits.
  • Marion Zajdel will be teaching a sewing class and teaching students basic sewing machine skills. Students will make a "mug rug".
    • This class will be scheduled when the Soft Arts area is more "complete", most likely the end of January.

Treasurer's Report

  • We have $12,750.48. Not bad, considering that we made a few larger payments recently. However, our goal is still to break $15k by the new year!
  • Our Autumn Fundraiser has exactly ONE MONTH LEFT! We have raised a little over $2,000 so far.
    • But it's all from one or two members' friends and family. We have water-resistant flyers, a sharable graphic, and an easy way to donate: Text HACKPGHFALL to 707070!
    • Our goal is $5,000 by December 20th (the last day of autumn). One month left! We understand that times are tight, but please contribute if and what you can or share the link with family and friends.
  • THIS IS IMPORTANT. We are in a good position but we don't want to have to keep self-funding for things like woodshop improvements and new laser tubes. It also helps us keep our prices low. Contribute what and if you can and at the very least share Hack's fundraiser with your family and friends. Donations are tax-deductible. Donations of $250 or more always receive a receipt, but receipts can always be given upon request!

Shop Updates

  • We know that many members wait to pay for consumables, but we have been going through expensive boxes of red bull and candy bars like lightning and we haven't seen many payments.
    • If you owe the shop for your consumables, PLEASE settle your "tab" ASAP. We don't want to put ALL items in the vending machines because they are evil.
    • We received a request to add sugar-free red bull to the mini-fridge. A case will be donated next week from our "Red Bull Guy!"
  • Please clean up after yourself every time. Throw away food waste and paper towels. Wipe down work surfaces. Wash your dishes in the sink!
    • On a related note, throw away your used bottled waters (on Friday, a board member picked up 12 used water bottles just on the clean side). Consider refilling empty water bottles using the filtered water in the fridge. We've gone through four cases of water in a week. When it's hot, that's understandable. But now? It's wasteful.
  • Parking Permits
    • When leaving a project or large materials in appropriate areas, always use a parking permit.
    • You must completely fill out the parking permit. EVERY time. Every member. No exceptions. Your name, a contact number/email, the type of project, and the date.
    • If you leave a large long piece of wood or metal somewhere and it sticks out beyond the table, please mark it with a piece of bright-colored tape or fabric.
  • The Woodshop Build is still in progress.
    • Cabinets (with labels and liners) have been built.
  • Soft Arts is about 60% cleaned out!
    • All items are now organized and labeled either in lockers or the black bookcase.
    • We are waiting for the last member items to be removed so we can bring in:
    • Our new two sewing machines, the new soft arts laptop*, a loveseat, and new carpeting. (All donated!)
    • If you use soft arts materials, PLEASE return all thread, scissors, fabric, bobbins, etc. to their labeled containers & shelves. COVER all sewing/embroidery/serger machines. All machines now have a cover.
  • New stuff!
    • Jim Fialho has donated two PCs to the shop.
    • We have two new IBuyPower gaming PCs with two large curved-screen monitors set up behind the conference tables. They are VR compatible (and the "broken" PC has been replaced). Enjoy!
    • Becky has permanently loaned the soft arts an Asus Gaming laptop. It will have Hatch Digitizer 3 installed as well as a lot of other helpful software. Do NOT remove this laptop from Soft Arts without board permission!
      • All three computers will have at minimum: CS5 Adobe Creative Suite, Adobe Acrobat Professional, and Office 2018. They're old licenses, but good enough for what we do.
      • The Board is working on getting CAD and animation software.
  • Storage Room
    • We are working on selling the EMPTY lockers to make room. Please clean out your locker if you are not using it. If you have bins on the floor or more than one bin in the storage room without permission, please come and pick up your stuff!
  • Metal Shop Updates
    • Kirk, Allison, and Valerie will be heading up to Albany sometime soon to get new machines for the Metal Shop!

Recognition for AWESOMENESS

  • Jim Fialho for donating two PCs and working on computers as well as organizing the electronics bench.
  • Aaron Stein for helping with Hack's graphics, cleaning soft arts, and installing our new antimicrobial, soft-close toilet seats.
  • Jordan Rininger for going all Swedish-death-clean on the 3D printing area. It looks great!
  • Beebo for putting out the (literal) dumpster fire on Watson Street.
  • Greg for machining
    • The A. Chief from No. 4 said there was accelerant in and around the dumpster. Probably illegally dumped gasoline, kerosene, or even hairspray. So... don't throw out anything like that in OUR dumpsters.

Open Floor

  • Security Concerns - Rob Bedel
  • Rob is securing the doors

Move to Adjourn

The meeting was adjourned at 8:15 PM

Minutes by Becky "The Icebox" Zajdel

Retrieved from "https://wiki.hackpgh.org/index.php?title=Member_Meeting_Minutes_for_November_19th,_2023&oldid=4973"