[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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Date: Thu, 25 Oct 2012 09:31:22 -0400
Message-ID: <CAHULLj5mCCuTRAMu_9D=wZw_xTKyUm5EXyNYCDdpAN-hRj-...@mail.gmail.com>
Subject: Re: [AllHandsActive] Re: [AHA! Shop members] You can call this the
 AHA Board DEBATE of 2012!
From: Dana Nelson <heibai...@gmail.com>
To: ahashop@googlegroups.com
Cc: ahashop_members@googlegroups.com
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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.

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.

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.
>
> 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?
>
> 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.
>
> 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.
>
> 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.
>
>
> 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.
>>
>> Lisa
>>
>> On Oct 24, 2012, at 10:00 PM, N Y <nymis...@gmail.com> wrote:
>>
>> > 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.
>> >>
>> >
>>
>>
>
>
> --
> Dana Nelson
> *All Hands Active*
> *AHAkids Class Coordinator*
>
>


-- 
Dana Nelson
*All Hands Active*
*AHAkids Class Coordinator*

--047d7b339ceb0fe4cd04cce23885
Content-Type: text/html; charset=ISO-8859-1
Content-Transfer-Encoding: quoted-printable

M.S.-<div>Everyone can show up to board meetings. They are open to the publ=
ic. 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 greeti=
ng people and showing them around, giving AHA a more friendly appearance. I=
f they aren&#39;t doing their job, tell them. You pay membership, you are t=
heir 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"_bl=
ank">heibai...@gmail.com</a>&gt;</span> wrote:<br><blockquote class=3D"gmai=
l_quote" style=3D"margin:0 0 0 .8ex;border-left:1px #ccc solid;padding-left=
:1ex">
Okay, here&#39;s my answer. I agree with a lot of what the other say=A0rega=
rding=A0outreach, accountability, etc.<div><br></div><div>And before I star=
t, I will warn that this may sound rant like. I am very passionate about th=
is 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 dow=
n here on build nights to socialize, this question is for you. We are sinki=
ng, 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. Theoreticall=
y, this could make us $150 for 3-4 hours of work during hours in which the =
space isn&#39;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 scho=
ols.</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&#39;t really afford to. The members working behind the cou=
nter are an exception to this, I think, as it&#39;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&#39;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 m=
ade up from the gaming portion of All Hands Active!!! Even with this fact, =
I=A0continually=A0hear comments about how &quot;They&#39;re just gamers.&qu=
ot; and so on. It&#39;s no secret that over the past few years, the gaming =
side has gone down a bit, but I&#39;ve heard and know people that have flat=
 out said, &quot;I stopped coming back to Ops because of the AHA people.&qu=
ot; We all need to be more respectful as far as noise go and need to make a=
n effort to think about what they want from the organization.=A0<div>
<div class=3D"h5"><br>
<br><div class=3D"gmail_quote">On Wed, Oct 24, 2012 at 10:51 PM, Lisa Thier=
bach <span dir=3D"ltr">&lt;<a href=3D"mailto:lis...@me.com" target=3D"_blan=
k">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 j=
ust joined AHA and don&#39;t want to see such an awesome group of people st=
ruggle with money. Maybe we could start a separate email topic and/or arran=
ge a group meeting.<br>


<span><font color=3D"#888888"><br>
Lisa<br>
</font></span><div><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, worki=
ng<br>
&gt; toward future alliances. =A0My idea is to take a few days to canvas th=
e<br>
&gt; downtown area (and perhaps beyond) with some nice business cards and a=
<br>
&gt; convincing pitch. =A0I would like to meet with organizations in the ar=
ea<br>
&gt; who might be sympathetic to our cause, and who could donate a bit of<b=
r>
&gt; money to our cause. =A0Another short-term idea is to run a Kickstarter=
 to<br>
&gt; help supplement any donations we might get from the first idea. =A0The=
<br>
&gt; only &quot;drawback&quot; there is that we will need a small, dedicate=
d team to<br>
&gt; work on spreading the word and making gifts. =A0If 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. =A0Being self-sufficient is=
 the<br>
&gt; ultimate goal, since donors can eventually burn out. =A0We need to off=
er<br>
&gt; people a great reason to give us $20-$50 every month. =A0We have recor=
d<br>
&gt; membership, so what can we do to ensure we hold that trend, and make i=
t<br>
&gt; pay the bills? To that end, I would like to organize quarterly feedbac=
k<br>
&gt; surveys. =A0We have not polled the membership as a whole in a very lon=
g<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&#39;d like to hear m=
ore<br>
&gt; from everyone who can read this, not just nominees/directors!). =A0I t=
hink<br>
&gt; that the joy of having a group of committed people working on a proble=
m<br>
&gt; is that we can bounce around all these ideas and polish them up into<b=
r>
&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 i=
s<br>
&gt; encouraging all directors (and that certainly would include me!) to<br=
>
&gt; develop their ability to follow through. =A0It is imperative for AHA&#=
39;s<br>
&gt; leaders to not only come up with ideas, but also to execute those idea=
s<br>
&gt; in a timely fashion -- even if it means coordinating a larger team to<=
br>
&gt; make things happen. =A0I 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&#39;S DECEMBER RENT* as we are still in the h=
ole. 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 l=
ittle<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&#39;s bills.<br>
&gt;&gt;<br>
&gt;&gt; As for me asking this in an open forum, I think all of the AHA mem=
bers<br>
&gt;&gt; would be interested to know your amazing plans or intentions befor=
e they<br>
&gt;&gt; vote tomorrow during Build Night!<br>
&gt;&gt;<br>
&gt;&gt; So, get to it candidates, I&#39;ll share mine when I know I won&#3=
9;t be the only<br>
&gt;&gt; one fretting over such circumstances.<br>
&gt;&gt;<br>
&gt;<br>
<br>
</div></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>

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