Meeting #1 Minutes: Saigon Hackspace

[Elliot]

Who: Saigon Hackspace
Place: A3.04 Cao oc PNTechCons
Date: Tuesday, December 7, 2010

People: Cong, Corry, Eytan, Frank, Huy, Pedro
Time: 5:30-6:30 PM

Topic 1: About the hackerspace movement
- Hackerspaces are community-operated physical places where people can
meet and work on awesome projects.
- There are now hundreds of hackerspaces around the world. Here's a
relatively complete list: http://hackerspaces.org/wiki/List_of_Hacker_Spaces
- Our hackerspace will be called the Saigon Hackspace. In the USA,
"hackerspace" is the more common (and generic) term, but it is
actually pretty much synonymous with "hackspace", which is a little
shorter, a little easier to say, and has prominence in the UK.

Topic 2: Saigon Hackspace details
- We've signed the lease on our new space. It will be a floor of a
house on Tran Quang Khai in District 1, HCMC. The house is about 8
years old.
- Our space will be about 4 x 22 meters.
- The house has a basement for parking. Parallel Frozen Yogurt will be
on the first floor.
- Rent for the space will cost about USD $650/mo. It is a 5 year
lease, and rent increases by 5% per year. Utilities (including
Internet) must be paid separately.
- The Saigon Hackspace will open January 2011. Like many other
hackspaces, we intend for it to be open 24/7.
- The membership fee will be 800,000 VND/month (~USD $40). We also
offer a "starving hacker" rate for 400,000 VND/month (~USD $20). If
you cannot afford the fee, you can still join the community and use
the space.

Topic 3: Needs and donations
- We will need furniture and equipment. Some people in the community,
like Frank, may graciously donate some.
- We will need to set up a building access system for 24/7 access. It
would be cool to use RFID. We may also need a backup power source. We
might like to make use of the house's roof space by installing solar
panels. Huy knows people who may be able to help with these projects.
- We will need 1-2 solid Internet connections. In our area, we can
choose from VNPT (VDC), FPT, Viettel, and CMCTI. Huy will contact
someone at VNPT who may be able to help us. A USB 3G connection is
another option.
- After we move into the new space, we'll have a Parts Party, where
the community will donate stuff to fill the space.

Thanks to everyone who came to our first meeting! I hope you enjoyed
it, and that you're looking forward to the creation of Vietnam's first
hackspace.

We will meet again next Tuesday, but perhaps at a different place;
somewhere in District 1. Any suggestions? Maybe L'Usine?

Thanks!
Elliot