[AHA! Shop members] You can call this the AHA Board DEBATE of 2012! - The AHA! Shop

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Message from discussion [AHA! Shop members] You can call this the AHA Board DEBATE of 2012!
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Subject: Re: [AllHandsActive] [AHA! Shop members] You can call this the AHA Board DEBATE of 2012!
From: Lisa Thierbach <lisa.thierb...@gmail.com>
In-Reply-To: <CAHULLj5mCCuTRAMu_9D=wZw_xTKyUm5EXyNYCDdpAN-hRj-...@mail.gmail.com>
Date: Thu, 25 Oct 2012 13:58:00 -0400
Cc: ahashop_members@googlegroups.com
Message-Id: <637A0E38-C32C-467E-9089-80C7F0D78...@gmail.com>
References: <CAHULLj448DoADgUZpiX_MS3=LPpXyJtWLnxUkm8S_rF7jrY...@mail.gmail.com> <50889D3E.7050...@gmail.com> <96C0FF6C-31F1-46B3-8D60-47929D2E9...@me.com> <CAHULLj7wWooVJRjbxgHOFMVyJdE1KpL+ZA_tPUPY7Hq_kiU...@mail.gmail.com> <CAHULLj5mCCuTRAMu_9D=wZw_xTKyUm5EXyNYCDdpAN-hRj-...@mail.gmail.com>
To: ahashop@googlegroups.com


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I realize I've only been a member for a couple of months, and probably =
don't understand much about AHA yet, but I've got some thoughts.

I have some ideas on what could make the "showing people around" thing =
work a bit better based on my observations. I don't think it helps that =
the sexist maker equipment is hidden in the back. I think the people =
working behind the counter need some more tools and guidance to get the =
excitement up.

BTW, no excuse for showing disrespect for anyone. Better not do that =
around me or I'll pull the mom card on you.

Lisa

On Oct 25, 2012, at 9:31 AM, Dana Nelson <heibai...@gmail.com> wrote:

> M.S.-
> Everyone can show up to board meetings. They are open to the public. =
Holding a seperate day never really panned out well in the past.
>=20
> Also, the people working shift are supposed to be greeting people and =
showing them around, giving AHA a more friendly appearance. If they =
aren't doing their job, tell them. You pay membership, you are their =
boss.
>=20
> On Thu, Oct 25, 2012 at 9:29 AM, Dana Nelson <heibai...@gmail.com> =
wrote:
> Okay, here's my answer. I agree with a lot of what the other say =
regarding outreach, accountability, etc.
>=20
> And before I start, I will warn that this may sound rant like. I am =
very passionate about this question, as I see it as an emergency that we =
need to be stepping up and doing something about NOW. Everyone that =
boasts to other people about how they are members, how they are part of =
the community, and yet only come down here on build nights to socialize, =
this question is for you. We are sinking, how are you helping to keep us =
afloat?
>=20
> I am working on developing curriculum and schedules for local schools =
to be able to come down to AHA for field trips. Theoretically, this =
could make us $150 for 3-4 hours of work during hours in which the space =
isn't being utilized. We already have a teacher interested, which could =
lead to a whole school, which could lead to about 5 classrooms. Once =
ideas are settled and implemented though, we could send this to other =
schools.
>=20
> Another plan, which I am working on a couple different options and =
will bring to the board as soon as we know who the new board is, if we =
are struggling to pay our bills, why do we still have so many free =
members working in exchange for a membership. While this is awesome that =
we do this, we can't really afford to. The members working behind the =
counter are an exception to this, I think, as it's extremely difficult =
to get people to work a shift. I work shift, and work a lot doing other =
things, and ya know what? I'm still paying my membership this month =
because I know that my community is suffering.
>=20
> One thing people are forgetting, 1/3 of our income is made up from the =
gaming portion of All Hands Active!!! Even with this fact, I continually =
hear comments about how "They're just gamers." and so on. It's no secret =
that over the past few years, the gaming side has gone down a bit, but =
I've heard and know people that have flat out said, "I stopped coming =
back to Ops because of the AHA people." We all need to be more =
respectful as far as noise go and need to make an effort to think about =
what they want from the organization.=20
>=20
>=20
> On Wed, Oct 24, 2012 at 10:51 PM, Lisa Thierbach <lis...@me.com> =
wrote:
> I would very much like to help with ideas and actions for making =
money. I just joined AHA and don't want to see such an awesome group of =
people struggle with money. Maybe we could start a separate email topic =
and/or arrange a group meeting.
>=20
> Lisa
>=20
> On Oct 24, 2012, at 10:00 PM, N Y <nymis...@gmail.com> wrote:
>=20
> > Good question! We have a very small window here, so I wanted to =
focus on
> > something getting us some funds quickly, then when we are solid, =
working
> > toward future alliances.  My idea is to take a few days to canvas =
the
> > downtown area (and perhaps beyond) with some nice business cards and =
a
> > convincing pitch.  I would like to meet with organizations in the =
area
> > who might be sympathetic to our cause, and who could donate a bit of
> > money to our cause.  Another short-term idea is to run a Kickstarter =
to
> > help supplement any donations we might get from the first idea.  The
> > only "drawback" there is that we will need a small, dedicated team =
to
> > work on spreading the word and making gifts.  If it comes down to =
it, I
> > will personally invest the money needed to help make these gifts.
> >
> > More in the big picture (but we can start now), I would like to
> > stimulate our own membership by investigating what it will take to
> > become self-sufficient through dues alone.  Being self-sufficient is =
the
> > ultimate goal, since donors can eventually burn out.  We need to =
offer
> > people a great reason to give us $20-$50 every month.  We have =
record
> > membership, so what can we do to ensure we hold that trend, and make =
it
> > pay the bills? To that end, I would like to organize quarterly =
feedback
> > surveys.  We have not polled the membership as a whole in a very =
long
> > time! How do we make AHA better?
> >
> > There are a few other ideas I can bring to the table, but I would =
also
> > like to see what other people have in mind (and I'd like to hear =
more
> > from everyone who can read this, not just nominees/directors!).  I =
think
> > that the joy of having a group of committed people working on a =
problem
> > is that we can bounce around all these ideas and polish them up into
> > something that will help us out.
> >
> > As an aside: another thing I really would want to focus on this term =
is
> > encouraging all directors (and that certainly would include me!) to
> > develop their ability to follow through.  It is imperative for AHA's
> > leaders to not only come up with ideas, but also to execute those =
ideas
> > in a timely fashion -- even if it means coordinating a larger team =
to
> > make things happen.  I am ready!
> >
> > -- Nate Y.
> >
> > On 10/24/2012 07:46 PM, Dana Nelson wrote:
> >> So out of curiousity, because this is a MAJOR issue right now, and =
you can
> >> treat it as a debate style question if you wish:
> >>
> >> If you are elected to the AHA board, what will you do to help your =
favorite
> >> hackerspace *MAKE IT'S DECEMBER RENT* as we are still in the hole. =
Your
> >> hackerspace needs you!
> >>
> >> I think this is just as important as the national deficit in our =
little
> >> community, and if you wish to help guide the hackerspace forward, =
you
> >> should be helping with it being able to pay it's bills.
> >>
> >> As for me asking this in an open forum, I think all of the AHA =
members
> >> would be interested to know your amazing plans or intentions before =
they
> >> vote tomorrow during Build Night!
> >>
> >> So, get to it candidates, I'll share mine when I know I won't be =
the only
> >> one fretting over such circumstances.
> >>
> >
>=20
>=20
>=20
>=20
> --=20
> Dana Nelson
> All Hands Active
> AHAkids Class Coordinator
>=20
>=20
>=20
>=20
> --=20
> Dana Nelson
> All Hands Active
> AHAkids Class Coordinator
>=20


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<html><head><meta http-equiv=3D"Content-Type" content=3D"text/html =
charset=3Diso-8859-1"></head><body style=3D"word-wrap: break-word; =
-webkit-nbsp-mode: space; -webkit-line-break: after-white-space; =
"><div>I realize I've only been a member for a couple of months, and =
probably don't understand much about AHA yet, but I've got some =
thoughts.</div><div><br></div>I have some ideas on what could make the =
"showing people around" thing work a bit better based on my =
observations. I don't think it helps that the sexist maker equipment is =
hidden in the back. I think the people working behind the counter need =
some more tools and guidance to get the excitement =
up.<div><br></div><div>BTW, no excuse for showing disrespect for anyone. =
Better not do that around me or I'll pull the mom card on =
you.</div><div><br></div><div>Lisa</div><div><br><div><div>On Oct 25, =
2012, at 9:31 AM, Dana Nelson &lt;<a =
href=3D"mailto:heibai...@gmail.com">heibai...@gmail.com</a>&gt; =
wrote:</div><br class=3D"Apple-interchange-newline"><blockquote =
type=3D"cite">M.S.-<div>Everyone can show up to board meetings. They are =
open to the public. Holding a seperate day never really panned out well =
in the past.</div><div><br></div><div>Also, the people working shift are =
supposed to be greeting people and showing them around, giving AHA a =
more friendly appearance. If they aren't doing their job, tell them. You =
pay membership, you are their boss.<br>
<br><div class=3D"gmail_quote">On Thu, Oct 25, 2012 at 9:29 AM, Dana =
Nelson <span dir=3D"ltr">&lt;<a href=3D"mailto:heibai...@gmail.com" =
target=3D"_blank">heibai...@gmail.com</a>&gt;</span> =
wrote:<br><blockquote class=3D"gmail_quote" style=3D"margin:0 0 0 =
.8ex;border-left:1px #ccc solid;padding-left:1ex">
Okay, here's my answer. I agree with a lot of what the other =
say&nbsp;regarding&nbsp;outreach, accountability, =
etc.<div><br></div><div>And before I start, I will warn that this may =
sound rant like. I am very passionate about this question, as I see it =
as an emergency that we need to be stepping up and doing something about =
NOW. Everyone that boasts to other people about how they are members, =
how they are part of the community, and yet only come down here on build =
nights to socialize, this question is for you. We are sinking, how are =
you helping to keep us afloat?<br>

<div><br></div><div>I am working on developing curriculum and schedules =
for local schools to be able to come down to AHA for field trips. =
Theoretically, this could make us $150 for 3-4 hours of work during =
hours in which the space isn't being utilized. We already have a teacher =
interested, which could lead to a whole school, which could lead to =
about 5 classrooms. Once ideas are settled and implemented though, we =
could send this to other schools.</div>

<div><br></div><div>Another plan, which I am working on a couple =
different options and will bring to the board as soon as we know who the =
new board is, if we are struggling to pay our bills, why do we still =
have so many free members working in exchange for a membership. While =
this is awesome that we do this, we can't really afford to. The members =
working behind the counter are an exception to this, I think, as it's =
extremely difficult to get people to work a shift. I work shift, and =
work a lot doing other things, and ya know what? I'm still paying my =
membership this month because I know that my community is =
suffering.</div>

<div><br></div><div>One thing people are forgetting, 1/3 of our income =
is made up from the gaming portion of All Hands Active!!! Even with this =
fact, I&nbsp;continually&nbsp;hear comments about how "They're just =
gamers." and so on. It's no secret that over the past few years, the =
gaming side has gone down a bit, but I've heard and know people that =
have flat out said, "I stopped coming back to Ops because of the AHA =
people." We all need to be more respectful as far as noise go and need =
to make an effort to think about what they want from the =
organization.&nbsp;<div>
<div class=3D"h5"><br>
<br><div class=3D"gmail_quote">On Wed, Oct 24, 2012 at 10:51 PM, Lisa =
Thierbach <span dir=3D"ltr">&lt;<a href=3D"mailto:lis...@me.com" =
target=3D"_blank">lis...@me.com</a>&gt;</span> wrote:<br><blockquote =
class=3D"gmail_quote" style=3D"margin:0 0 0 .8ex;border-left:1px #ccc =
solid;padding-left:1ex">

I would very much like to help with ideas and actions for making money. =
I just joined AHA and don't want to see such an awesome group of people =
struggle with money. Maybe we could start a separate email topic and/or =
arrange a group meeting.<br>


<span><font color=3D"#888888"><br>
Lisa<br>
</font></span><div><br>
On Oct 24, 2012, at 10:00 PM, N Y &lt;<a =
href=3D"mailto:nymis...@gmail.com" =
target=3D"_blank">nymis...@gmail.com</a>&gt; wrote:<br>
<br>
&gt; Good question! We have a very small window here, so I wanted to =
focus on<br>
&gt; something getting us some funds quickly, then when we are solid, =
working<br>
&gt; toward future alliances. &nbsp;My idea is to take a few days to =
canvas the<br>
&gt; downtown area (and perhaps beyond) with some nice business cards =
and a<br>
&gt; convincing pitch. &nbsp;I would like to meet with organizations in =
the area<br>
&gt; who might be sympathetic to our cause, and who could donate a bit =
of<br>
&gt; money to our cause. &nbsp;Another short-term idea is to run a =
Kickstarter to<br>
&gt; help supplement any donations we might get from the first idea. =
&nbsp;The<br>
&gt; only "drawback" there is that we will need a small, dedicated team =
to<br>
&gt; work on spreading the word and making gifts. &nbsp;If it comes down =
to it, I<br>
&gt; will personally invest the money needed to help make these =
gifts.<br>
&gt;<br>
&gt; More in the big picture (but we can start now), I would like to<br>
&gt; stimulate our own membership by investigating what it will take =
to<br>
&gt; become self-sufficient through dues alone. &nbsp;Being =
self-sufficient is the<br>
&gt; ultimate goal, since donors can eventually burn out. &nbsp;We need =
to offer<br>
&gt; people a great reason to give us $20-$50 every month. &nbsp;We have =
record<br>
&gt; membership, so what can we do to ensure we hold that trend, and =
make it<br>
&gt; pay the bills? To that end, I would like to organize quarterly =
feedback<br>
&gt; surveys. &nbsp;We have not polled the membership as a whole in a =
very long<br>
&gt; time! How do we make AHA better?<br>
&gt;<br>
&gt; There are a few other ideas I can bring to the table, but I would =
also<br>
&gt; like to see what other people have in mind (and I'd like to hear =
more<br>
&gt; from everyone who can read this, not just nominees/directors!). =
&nbsp;I think<br>
&gt; that the joy of having a group of committed people working on a =
problem<br>
&gt; is that we can bounce around all these ideas and polish them up =
into<br>
&gt; something that will help us out.<br>
&gt;<br>
&gt; As an aside: another thing I really would want to focus on this =
term is<br>
&gt; encouraging all directors (and that certainly would include me!) =
to<br>
&gt; develop their ability to follow through. &nbsp;It is imperative for =
AHA's<br>
&gt; leaders to not only come up with ideas, but also to execute those =
ideas<br>
&gt; in a timely fashion -- even if it means coordinating a larger team =
to<br>
&gt; make things happen. &nbsp;I am ready!<br>
&gt;<br>
&gt; -- Nate Y.<br>
&gt;<br>
&gt; On 10/24/2012 07:46 PM, Dana Nelson wrote:<br>
&gt;&gt; So out of curiousity, because this is a MAJOR issue right now, =
and you can<br>
&gt;&gt; treat it as a debate style question if you wish:<br>
&gt;&gt;<br>
&gt;&gt; If you are elected to the AHA board, what will you do to help =
your favorite<br>
&gt;&gt; hackerspace *MAKE IT'S DECEMBER RENT* as we are still in the =
hole. Your<br>
&gt;&gt; hackerspace needs you!<br>
&gt;&gt;<br>
&gt;&gt; I think this is just as important as the national deficit in =
our little<br>
&gt;&gt; community, and if you wish to help guide the hackerspace =
forward, you<br>
&gt;&gt; should be helping with it being able to pay it's bills.<br>
&gt;&gt;<br>
&gt;&gt; As for me asking this in an open forum, I think all of the AHA =
members<br>
&gt;&gt; would be interested to know your amazing plans or intentions =
before they<br>
&gt;&gt; vote tomorrow during Build Night!<br>
&gt;&gt;<br>
&gt;&gt; So, get to it candidates, I'll share mine when I know I won't =
be the only<br>
&gt;&gt; one fretting over such circumstances.<br>
&gt;&gt;<br>
&gt;<br>
<br>
</div></blockquote></div><br><br =
clear=3D"all"><div><br></div></div></div><div class=3D"im">-- <br>Dana =
Nelson<div><i><font size=3D"1">All Hands =
Active</font></i></div><div><i><font size=3D"1">AHAkids Class =
Coordinator</font></i></div>
<br>
</div></div></div>
</blockquote></div><br><br clear=3D"all"><div><br></div>-- <br>Dana =
Nelson<div><i><font size=3D"1">All Hands =
Active</font></i></div><div><i><font size=3D"1">AHAkids Class =
Coordinator</font></i></div><br>
</div>
</blockquote></div><br></div></body></html>=

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