Member Meeting Minutes for September 17th, 2023

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Called to Order

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

Attendees

  • Becky Zajdel, President
  • Kirk Hendricks, Vice President
  • Lucian Chapar, Acting Secretary
  • Wilkes Vaughn, Treasurer
  • Candi Achenbach
  • Brain "Beebo" Esch
  • Allison Leamer
  • Chris McCann
  • Maggie Miller
  • Carson Riker
  • Dean Roth
  • Doug Smith
  • Clarissa Somers
  • Geno Soroka
  • Valerie Valch

New Members or Guests

  • XYZ

Upcoming Events

https://hackpgh.org/calendar

  • Game Night is this Friday, October 6th at 6:30PM.
    • Please note that until now, Game Night was not "every other week" but on the first and third Fridays of each month. Many came last week during a rare 5th Friday of the month. Due to increased interest and participation, beginning this Friday it will now be every other month.
    • But keep your eyes on the calendar, Facebook, and Meetup! Because this means that Game Nights will switch around a bit.
  • Keep Calm and Carry Yarn is now twice a month due to its popularity!
    • The next one will be Wednesday, October 11th at 6pm.
  • Spencer's Intro to Woodworking Class still has a few spaces! It will be held on Sunday, September 15th at 9am.
  • Kiefer's first Intro to TIG class is on Saturday, October 21st. It is full and has a wait list. We will announce the next TIG class date soon.


  • NEW EVENTS!
    • We announced at the last meeting that HackPGH will be holding training sessions on various machines, tools, and/or sections of the shop. Sometimes, they will be for complete beginners, other times they will be for those with intermediate skills (like Kirk's laser training session last Sunday) - we will post any required skill level with every calendar entry.
    • Mark Gaudio is offering training sessions on Hack's Electronics Bench: use of the soldering & desoldering guns, hot air rework stations, multimeter, and oscilloscope. We had to shuffle dates to illness but PLEASE contact the Board and/or Mark if you'd like a personal training session. We'd like to set it up so that he can teach as many people as possible.
  • Kirk will be announcing the next "Shop Build" for the new electric kiln (for pottery), forge (forced air propane), and foundry for member and class use soon.
    • We will attempt to use parts that have been donated, scavenged, and more to assist in the builds.

Organization Updates

  • As announced last time, Becky toured and met with TIP (the Trade Institute of Pittsburgh). They are a non-profit that allows people to take free ten-week classes on masonry, carpentry, and skills like resume-writing, basic accounting/banking, and interview prep. However, TIP lost the funding for their welding, electronics, and computer programs. While we are by no means "a school", we can allow them to "test the waters" via our welding classes and practice their carpentry skills on our tools.
  • 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.
    • IMPORTANT UPDATES REGARDING THE VACCINE CLINIC:
      • RSV has been added to the list of vaccines available (for 60+ and children).
      • Due to the awful rollout of this years' COVID booster(s), we can't 100% guarantee that we will have them at the clinic. However, if the pharmacy has NOT received the 2023 COVID booster by the 22nd, we will hold a (free) makeup date for anyone who is interested. The date will be TBD.
      • We always need help making the shop as tidy as possible, so please attend the special shop clean on Saturday, October 21st.
      • We will be posting the event details on Facebook, Meetup, and our website in the next few days. Please share the event details with your friends and family!
      • On a related note, we have had some members test positive for COVID and the flu - so please wash your hands, clean up after yourselves EVERY TIME, and get vaccinated at the clinic!
  • The annual "Hack-o-Ween" costume party will be held on Saturday, October 28th at 7PM.
    • We have tons of Halloween decorations to re-use and we'd like to make money on this party, not spend it. Please consider bringing or donating:
      • 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!
      • Please contact Becky so we can coordinate efforts!
  • CLASSES
    • Kyle and Becky are setting up the (historically popular) wood lathe class where you "make your own wand."
    • Date will be TBD.
    • As always, contact the Board if you'd like to teach a class.

Treasurer's Report

  • We have $11,722.99. (AFTER rent!) Let's keep it up and surpass $20k...
  • IMPORTANT: We are kicking off our Fall Fundraiser TODAY! We have different graphics for you all to share as well as a printable flyer with a QR code leading to the donation page.
    • Donations will be used for but not limited to:
      • Scholarships for low-income members
      • Supplementing the vaccination clinic (Many insurance plans stopped paying for the COVID vaccine after government subsidies ended).
      • Building up our shop including the new computer lab, the new Soft Arts laptop, and improving/replacing Alpha and Beta.
  • This is so important, everyone. 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. 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 have been continuing to clean and organize many areas of the shop:
    • Thanks to worked so hard on the September 24th shop clean - as you may notice, the areas behind the main conference tables have been completely cleaned.
    • Soft arts is also getting cleaned out. The black bookcase has already been cleaned and organized, and there are many new sewing items available for those interested in the soft arts.
  • Our new TIG welder now has a new dedicated (Q size) Argon tank and cart.
  • GARBAGE
    • We apologize for the many delays in garbage and recycling pickups:
    • We fired Waste Management due to their utter incompetence, and hired Big Dog (a LOCAL company!).
    • Our pickups will still be every Tuesday morning, and our recycling dumpster will be delivered soon.
    • If someone could weedwhack and clean up the old bin area(s) before it gets too cold, we would be appreciative!
      • We have already had locals use our recycling dumpster for dumping: 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.
  • COMPUTER LAB/REMOVAL OF LOCKERS:
    • We are still cleaning out the locker room.
    • We will be turning at least half of the room into a computer lab, but we will need to clear out what we can ASAP, including at least half of the lockers. We have 52 lockers total. As of now, 24 are unclaimed and empty, 26 are claimed by current members (two lapsed members). For the record, NO locker that has a member's name on it has been opened without permission. PLEASE consider cleaning out your locker if you do not use or need it!
      • Hack will be selling many of the lockers! $100 per set is about market rate, but we are willing to haggle to make money for our computer lab.
      • Storage will still be offered to members, but we will be much more strict regarding locker use and parking tickets. Remember: Hack is NOT a storage unit.
    • Computer lab updates
      • We already have a brand new gaming PC donated as well as a used MSI gaming laptop. Becky also has a lead on a half-priced (new) ibuypower gaming PC. We need more! Please donate if you can.
    • Hack has always lacked and needed a computer lab. This will open the door to classes, games, and so much more!
  • Wood Shop Build updates:
  • Metal Shop Build updates:

Recognition for AWESOMENESS

  • Aaron Stein for helping us with graphics!
  • Wilkes and Maggie for getting married: CONGRATULATIONS!

Open Floor

  • Woodshop Build Update:
    • The cabinets for the miter saw station are built.
    • Doug picked up materials for half of the platform and Tuesday half of the items in front of the garage will be taken to the dump.
    • He hopes to make progress by this weekend
    • Doug' new platform extends to the welding area to ensure the machines won't roll away
  • Festival of Combustion is THIS weekend (on October 7th from 1pm-9pm) and takes place at the Carrie Furnace. Unfortunately, Geno can no longer attend. But it would be nice to get a group of Hack members together to go!
  • Advance tickets are $20 for adults ($25 at the gate), admission is free for attendees 17 and under.

Move to Adjourn

The meeting was adjourned at 8:XX PM

Minutes by Becky "The Icebox" Zajdel

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