Proposal: Card Access for Frank Ruiz

[Luis Montes]

He's been doing a lot for the lab and it would be awesome if he could have access to also host open hours and member hours.

-Luis

[SM Newstead]

It's great to get this into everyone's mind and have it on the horizon for the inevitable vote. That being said, I believe Frank hasn't been at HSL quite long enough yet after the bylaws changes? The good news is that now even more people will get to know Frank to vote for him. I only met him yesterday, for example! 

[Luis Montes]

I'm leaving this up as a proposal.

All card holders can vote for his access,  the board absolutely should not be able to exclude him with a simple bylaws change that was done without the consent of the community.

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[Jeff Sittler]

Luis,

Please explain to me how the recent changes are specifically singling out a single person?

[Luis Montes]

he's been here less than 6 months.  He's currently excluded from card access.

I didn't mean to imply it was personal.

I would have voted down the 6 month limitation if it was a proposal.

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[Jeff Sittler]

Thank you for the clarification.  

Regardless of how you would have voted on the card access change, the rules still apply to everyone since it did pass.  

This card access proposal sounds like you are wanting to ignore the procedures for granting card access and just do it anyway. Which is exactly the problem we have had in the past of people just doing whatever they want and who cars how it impacts things.

We have rules/procedures in place for a reason, and even though the community may disagree with them, we all need to agree to follow them otherwise why have any rules and procedures?

While we can't change the past, we can learn from it and make changes and adhere to those changes moving forward.

[Luis Montes]

I've been part of heatsync for 14 years, a few of those years on the board. I've seen a whole lot of changes over the years.

However, having the board do things like make changes without the rest of the members consent is not in the spirit of Heatsync Labs.  We do not gate keep.

Volunteering for the board is a service to the community, it was never intended as a way to establish authority.

My 3 proposals are straightforward.  I'm intending to change the rules that I very much disagree with.  I hope we get a good turnout next HYH.

To view this discussion visit https://groups.google.com/d/msgid/heatsynclabs/69298cd5-215a-43f4-b25c-19d2a540f657n%40googlegroups.com.

[Jeff Sittler]

I've been part of heatsync for 14 years, a few of those years on the board. I've seen a whole lot of changes over the years.

I have been part of HSL for a long time as well and I too have seen many changes.  How is that relevant to respecting the current changes?

However, having the board do things like make changes without the rest of the members consent is not in the spirit of Heatsync Labs.  We do not gate keep.

Exactly what rule did the board break?  Not everything needs to go to the community, as per written in the  by laws, which since you were a past board member, you should fully understand.  And how exactly is there gate keeping?

 

Volunteering for the board is a service to the community, it was never intended as a way to establish authority.

What authority is being established?

Either way, my intent is not to derail this into a different conversation.  I would be more than happy to meet with you to discuss.  

However, as per the current Card Access rules (https://wiki.heatsynclabs.org/wiki/Bylaws#CARD_ACCESS), the Eligibility requirements have not been met:

Eligibility

Must be a paying member at the $50 or higher level, in good standing, for a minimum of six (6) months. Must attend HYH, or during public hours, so the community can be introduced to the individual

[Luis Montes]

On Sat, Apr 12, 2025, 2:40 PM Jeff Sittler <mindb...@gmail.com> wrote:

I've been part of heatsync for 14 years, a few of those years on the board. I've seen a whole lot of changes over the years.

I have been part of HSL for a long time as well and I too have seen many changes.  How is that relevant to respecting the current changes?

It's relevant because the changes were made by the board.  This is different than how things have been done in the past .

I want the changes reversed.  This is not the Heatsync I've helped build up.

However, having the board do things like make changes without the rest of the members consent is not in the spirit of Heatsync Labs.  We do not gate keep.

Exactly what rule did the board break?  Not everything needs to go to the community, as per written in the  by laws, which since you were a past board member, you should fully understand.  And how exactly is there gate keeping?

Important things like this absolutely need to go to the community.  That is exactly what I'm trying to fix here.

 

Volunteering for the board is a service to the community, it was never intended as a way to establish authority.

What authority is being established?

Either way, my intent is not to derail this into a different conversation.  I would be more than happy to meet with you to discuss.  

However, as per the current Card Access rules (https://wiki.heatsynclabs.org/wiki/Bylaws#CARD_ACCESS), the Eligibility requirements have not been met:

Eligibility

Must be a paying member at the $50 or higher level, in good standing, for a minimum of six (6) months. Must attend HYH, or during public hours, so the community can be introduced to the individual

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[Robert Bushman]

> I've been part of heatsync for 14 years, a few of those years on the
> board. I've seen a whole lot of changes over the years.
>
> I have been part of HSL for a long time as well and I too have seen many
> changes.  How is that relevant to respecting the current changes?

Luis is explaining the context on which he is drawing when he says that
the current changes seem out of line with the past nature of the board.
I joined Heatsync in 2011 and was on the board, recently, for two years.
I concur, in broad strokes, with Luis.

> However, having the board do things like make changes without the
> rest of the members consent is not in the spirit of Heatsync Labs.
> We do not gate keep.
>
> Exactly what rule did the board break?  Not everything needs to go to
> the community, as per written in the  by laws, which since you were a
> past board member, you should fully understand.  And how exactly is
> there gate keeping?

During the two years I was on the board, the unwritten practice for the
board was to leave all decision making to the membership at HYH except
in specific cases:

* The board handled inter-member conflict issues.
* The board handled member discipline / membership revocation.
* The board handled pro forma legal and financial matters.
* The board handled building security and maintenance.
* The board handled time sensitive issues (on a temporary basis where
possible).

There are, in fact, past board members who have said they stopped being
on the board specifically because they felt the board did not have
sufficient authority. That they could do all the considerable things
that they do to support and advance HSL without being on the board.

That limitation on authority is not in the bylaws. That practice is now
changing. It is within the bylaws for the board to do so. Luis is using
the appropriate mechanism to raise an issue with the changes during HYH.
He is also using the appropriate mechanism to make the discussion
visible to the membership.

> Volunteering for the board is a service to the community, it was
> never intended as a way to establish authority.
>
> What authority is being established?

Bylaws have been changed. Bylaws are the most authoritative thing we
have. That has not happened in my memory without an HYH vote.

[SM Newstead]

Bylaws have been changed by board vote (as is in the bylaws) for the seven years I've been on the board. It's fine to want to change that now, but we did not deviate from our normal practice nor abuse authority in doing what we have always done. I think getting a quorum will be an issue for such changes, but I'm open to the possibility. I proposed to the board a few years ago that the membership choose bylaws changes and the board disagreed with me then. I am still unsure of what I would choose. However, I will reiterate that no rules have been broken and I've been on the board when we've changed bylaws at informal meetings.

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[SM Newstead]

Luis was on the board when we voted at a bar to change the bylaws so a board member could be a scholarship recipient, FYI. 😉

[Robert Bushman]

I am not saying any rules were broken. I specifically said that I think
that what was done was within the bounds of the bylaws.


Can you provide examples of changes to the bylaws that have been done
this way? I looked through my board emails and I couldn't find any
examples, though that was only for two years.

I'm curious if they were changes like "our official bank of record will
be Bank of America" (pro forma financial paperwork) or if the were
things like "we no longer allow card holders to host events without
prior HYH approval" (things that directly impact member-driven activities).

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[SM Newstead]

We changed member in good standing so that board members could be scholarship recipients, for example. In 2020

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[Luis Montes]

huge difference.  The members knew for at least a month before the change and were on board with the change

https://groups.google.com/g/heatsynclabs/c/r5JO5FGwVWw

still, let's fix this.

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[Cprossu]

I cannot recommend Frank for card access. After my interactions with Frank, even though he has put a lot of effort, time, and resources into the lab, he has done so at the detriment of others. He has been way too pushy, ignored the requests of not only the current 3D printing champion and me before I stepped down from the co-champion position, but others as well.

He has skirted requests and requirements to keep equipment, people, and the HSL network safe and done his own thing while saying he was working within the requirements. While we do have a tradition of do-ocracy, this I feel is not in the spirit of it, and I feel that the initial attempt to ramrod Frank's card access through is a great example of what should not be done for a reason.

[Luis Montes]

"the initial attempt to ramrod Frank's card access"

Can you explain what you mean here?

I made a normal proposal for card access.  The ramrodding was changing the bylaws without consent of the rest of the members to add a 6 month requirement.

To view this discussion visit https://groups.google.com/d/msgid/heatsynclabs/9c27d3e4-6969-4ee2-ae23-68672d527914n%40googlegroups.com.

[Cprossu]

What I mean exactly is my first interactions with Frank at all were in mid February and it wasn't even 60 days before card access was proposed here. Although there's nothing written down on what constitutes a probationary period I know of, it was way too soon for me to make a proper decision on my limited interactions, and I also don't recall a time when we nominated someone who was actively negative and somewhat hostile towards current champions. It also did not help my decision making process that the first interactions I had with him were mostly attempted character assassinations towards other people in the lab followed by a want/need to bring in their own personal equipment to the 3d print station. I told him that it was okay for a event, but he'd have to accept that his machine might be damaged. It ended up becoming a part of the lab's fleet while still being his personal property as he modified other machines without asking and against the wishes of myself and Antonio, and this right here is just one of the many reasons I didn't have a great impression and needed more time to find out why he was being so critical of my co-champion and other people in the lab.

I cannot for the life of me think of anyone I know who went from joining the lab to full door access in under 2 months since I joined the lab in 2016, it takes way more than that in my opinion to meet and work with everyone and built up a rapport, I mean to me card access is our ultimate form of trust and confidence with the lab an, and it shouldn't just go to anyone. If it's not unprecedented I'd like to know.

[Francisco Ruiz]

Cprusso, I get your issues with me on the printing station. But, I’m a positive person that loves to get things working for everyone that uses the lab. The printers were down for many weeks before I came in and at the time seemed to not have any progress done or have time to fix them. I’m a doer and a fixer so that’s exactly what I did, fix them.

 I want to open the lab more, try to get more engagement and more members to join the lab. I want to create a positive environment for everyone without creating roadblocks or shooting anyone’s willingness to help out, or block any new ideas that can improve the labs overall experience. I get there are rules and procedures, but sometimes we have to accept and adapt to changes, even if we may not like the person.

 The lab is almost never open, and there are people like me who would love to be at the lab durning the day instead of being stuck home with nothing to do or anyone to really socialize with. Don’t want to give me card access and keep the lab closed, ok, like thats been working very well as of late. If we don’t open up more, or accept change, eventually there won’t be a lab for anyone to enjoy. 

Thank you,

Frank Ruiz

To view this discussion visit https://groups.google.com/d/msgid/heatsynclabs/8bba4400-4d4e-482e-aa40-170e189cedd8n%40googlegroups.com.

[Rick Blake]

Frank, I am not comfortable with granting card access to someone because they will host additional open hours. I recommend you look at the calendar carefully, and if your most important qualifications for card access are based on hosting, please offer what hours you intend to host, the days, and impacts on any preexisting events or activities you may impact.

FWIW, I was granted card access after a few years of membership. I was not a regular visitor, nor did I host, but I tried to be helpful, fit in, and make stuff. 2 out of 3 wasn't so bad. I rarely host, which continues to be a question I need to answer for myself. 

To view this discussion visit https://groups.google.com/d/msgid/heatsynclabs/CABM%2BNRBgc8__A6EegEqopuTG29WLakC8ZXHMZNpNyPGZ30Kdhg%40mail.gmail.com.

[Francisco Ruiz]

Sir Rick, thanks for your honest response! I personally would like to open the lab Monday, Tuesday, Thursday, and maybe Friday, from 9a-3p. I am on disability and will not be working for the next possible year, so I would like to dedicate more time to the lab instead of sitting at home finding things to do.

Thank you,

Frank Ruiz

To view this discussion visit https://groups.google.com/d/msgid/heatsynclabs/CALSEc_cc2NT%2BScCHunz9TDjqFLjG3tF5%3Dko6ijfCHx1hvk60sw%40mail.gmail.com.

[sherman mohler]

I am also uncomfortable at this time. Once someone has that card all bets are off managing any behaviors that are causing concerns for the HS community.

@Frank feel free to hate me, but I do wish you well especially if you are managing some handicaps and disabilities. We all need and deserve a chance to learn and grow. BUT, at THIS point in time, what are your qualifications for opening HeatSync for public hours? I will be totally candid here; I've heard you use profanity in front of children while I have been holding HeatSync open to the public, so until I know that's not going to be a future issue I cannot advocate for you having this level of responsibility.

-- Sherman

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[Francisco Ruiz]

I don’t hate anyone, I welcome criticism from anyone. I have an open mind and open to suggestions on how I can improve. Also my vote for card access until September, so plenty of time to change for the better.

-Frank

To view this discussion visit https://groups.google.com/d/msgid/heatsynclabs/422711746.2412094.1753812949160%40mail.yahoo.com.

[David Lang]

the calendar shows the lab open for members (by appointment) most days.

is there usually someone there? or is it really a matter of needing to
coordinate ahead of time?

David Lang

On Tue, 29 Jul 2025, Francisco Ruiz wrote:

> Date: Tue, 29 Jul 2025 07:07:17 -0700
> From: Francisco Ruiz <ruiz.fra...@gmail.com>
> Reply-To: heatsy...@googlegroups.com
> To: heatsy...@googlegroups.com
> Subject: Re: [HSL] Re: Proposal: Card Access for Frank Ruiz

>>>>>>> heatsynclabs...@googlegroups.com.
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[Francisco Ruiz]

Unfortunately, they are not consistent or reliable. A lot of times something comes up and they cannot host, or they show up late or have to leave early. In my opinion when they do show up, they don't announce that the lab is open for members and so no one shows up, so they end up wasting their time per se and get discouraged to keep hosting, hence why it's by appointment only now. I'm not attacking anyone, just stating the situation with those "open hours". 

---

From: heatsy...@googlegroups.com <heatsy...@googlegroups.com> on behalf of David Lang <da...@lang.hm>
Sent: Tuesday, July 29, 2025 12:28 PM
To: heatsy...@googlegroups.com <heatsy...@googlegroups.com>