2025 Board Elections

[SM Newstead]

Hi, everyone! 

Our elections are in about two months here. Last time, and for the last few years, we have had very few people interested in running. 

It would be nice to gather all of the people interested in running in a single thread here. 

I will start by saying that I plan to re-run for treasurer and apply the 20% of my life I have spent on the board giving that information and knowledge to newer members to transition the new team. 

Please declare your candidacy here, for what position and what your platform is. Thanks!

[Francisco Ruiz]

I’m assuming I can’t run for secretary lol

Thank you,

Francisco Ruiz

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[Sheldon McGee]

The bylaws say you have to be a member in good standing. Are you a member in good standing?

Sheldon

To view this discussion visit https://groups.google.com/d/msgid/heatsynclabs/CABM%2BNRDSsjA%2BiV8DBQa7hgH%2BCQ6Jidosf3EZmrH%3Dj0t2EdG7qg%40mail.gmail.com.

[Arnob Kabir]

I would like to run for either operations or champion.

[Francisco Ruiz]

Lmao, Not in good standing with like 5 people. But it was really more of a joke. Getting forced out has been really beneficial for me and my mental health since I don’t have to deal with people who practically can’t stand each other and give me a bunch of pushback and negativity.

I tried adding positivity and passion to the lab and was forced out. So I am no longer interested in supporting this lab. 

I hope those who abuse their power get replaced and maybe the lab will have a more successful outcome. 

Good luck,

Francisco Ruiz

To view this discussion visit https://groups.google.com/d/msgid/heatsynclabs/26204904-19e9-4d03-b6e0-c1a691221688n%40googlegroups.com.

[Antonio Contrisciani]

As I mentioned in a previous thread/posting I am interested in a board position now that I can devote more time and attention to the lab. I feel my talents would best go to the secretary or champion. If Sheldon wishes to remain/re-run for secretary I would happily shoot for champion alone. Honestly, I'm just happy to serve where I can. 

As for my platform, I want what I think the majority of the members want these days. I want to see the lab become secure financially and grow our membership and to that end I want to see us become aggressive about recruitment, grants, and refurbishment. I want to see us get out from the under the constant threats of the fire marshall and get our space into one where we can not only expand but also prosper. 

To view this discussion visit https://groups.google.com/d/msgid/heatsynclabs/CABM%2BNRC%3DKe19TPerDQf7m21uyu0uHPE-Win2PThtR1fX_3yRCw%40mail.gmail.com.

[David Lang]

as a new member who joined as things were blowing up, I didn't see you forced
out. I saw an attemt from you to force someone else out get lots of pushback to
the point that you withdrew it, and I have seen complaints about you acting
without consulting others (or in spite of their disagreemtn), and seen people
say that they thought that you are not suitable for cardholder access at this
time

but I have not seen anyone say that you should not be around, just that a
do-ocracy does not mean that the doers ignore everyone else.

David Lang


On Wed, 13 Aug 2025, Francisco Ruiz wrote:

> Date: Wed, 13 Aug 2025 13:00:05 -0700
> From: Francisco Ruiz <ruiz.fra...@gmail.com>
> Reply-To: heatsy...@googlegroups.com
> To: heatsy...@googlegroups.com
> Subject: Re: [HSL] 2025 Board Elections

>>>>> <https://groups.google.com/d/msgid/heatsynclabs/949ba340-a21c-47b8-8c17-df090a5cff0an%40googlegroups.com?utm_medium=email&utm_source=footer>
>>>>> .

>>>>>
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>>>> You received this message because you are subscribed to the Google
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>>>> To unsubscribe from this group and stop receiving emails from it, send
>>>> an email to heatsynclabs...@googlegroups.com.
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>>> To view this discussion visit

>>>> https://groups.google.com/d/msgid/heatsynclabs/CABM%2BNRDSsjA%2BiV8DBQa7hgH%2BCQ6Jidosf3EZmrH%3Dj0t2EdG7qg%40mail.gmail.com
>>>> <https://groups.google.com/d/msgid/heatsynclabs/CABM%2BNRDSsjA%2BiV8DBQa7hgH%2BCQ6Jidosf3EZmrH%3Dj0t2EdG7qg%40mail.gmail.com?utm_medium=email&utm_source=footer>
>>>> .

>>>>
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>> You received this message because you are subscribed to the Google Groups
>> "HeatSync Labs" group.
>> To unsubscribe from this group and stop receiving emails from it, send an
>> email to heatsynclabs...@googlegroups.com.
>> To view this discussion visit

>> https://groups.google.com/d/msgid/heatsynclabs/26204904-19e9-4d03-b6e0-c1a691221688n%40googlegroups.com
>> <https://groups.google.com/d/msgid/heatsynclabs/26204904-19e9-4d03-b6e0-c1a691221688n%40googlegroups.com?utm_medium=email&utm_source=footer>
>> .
>>
>
>

[David Lang]

I've had a couple people suggest that I should run, but I'm brand new (I will
have been a member for just a couple months at the time of the vote)

put me down as willing, but not eager :-)

David Lang

On Tue, 12 Aug 2025, SM Newstead wrote:

> Date: Tue, 12 Aug 2025 12:47:19 -0700 (PDT)
> From: SM Newstead <smpne...@gmail.com>
> Reply-To: heatsy...@googlegroups.com
> To: HeatSync Labs <heatsy...@googlegroups.com>
> Subject: [HSL] 2025 Board Elections

[Francisco Ruiz]

I nominate Landon for Champion of the Board. If this lab is going to have any chance of success, it’s going to be under Landon’s leadership and guidance. Too many people who don’t want to do anything or aren’t really motivated in making positive changes have taken the position and it has led to where the lab is now. There is almost no support or motivation to reignite the lab to what it should be. I only see angry bitter people driving this place to the ground. No one wants to become a paying member, and no one really wants to participate in HYHs. This all needs to change or there won’t be a lab by the end of next year. Again I believe with a more diverse board of adding Landon and Arnob the lab could achieve great things. 

Thank you,

Francisco Ruiz

[Sheldon McGee]

I nominate Moheeb as . . . oh I don't know, let's go with Champion. 

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[Francisco Ruiz]

I 10000% agree with this nomination! Who better than one of the OGs! 

Thank you,

Francisco Ruiz

To view this discussion visit https://groups.google.com/d/msgid/heatsynclabs/CAJH76FvK%2BtG86fKuu8stirt%2BACEX79f4B5R3fNbROwe0o6rd%2BA%40mail.gmail.com.

[Cprossu]

"
Too many people who don’t want to do anything or aren’t really motivated in making positive changes have taken the position and it has led to where the lab is now. There is almost no support or motivation to reignite the lab to what it should be. I only see angry bitter people driving this place to the ground. No one wants to become a paying member, and no one really wants to participate in HYHs. This all needs to change or there won’t be a lab by the end of next year. 
"

Please stop. 

I do not support negativity nor attacking our amazing volunteers' character. Each single one of us puts in monumental effort to make the lab better and we have slowly been improving things for the better step by step since we re-opened after COVID-19 shut everything down for so long. Each of us has also had many personal hardships thrown in to test us, and I am thankful how many of us are still around and still able to contribute to the dream and the experiment HeatSync Labs is.

I am VERY thankful for all the hard thankless work that goes on behind the scenes by all our elected members and volunteers that ensure we can still exist and move forwards.
 
We are a community of people who compromise and strive with eachother, no one person can make it or break it. The community will vote and shape what it is in the future. The HSL of 5 or 10 years from now will not be the same one of today, it will evolve with it's base of users and volunteers.

Long Live HSL no matter what form it takes on to survive.

-Cpro

[Francisco Ruiz]

Cpro, it’s more of a difference of opinion. I’m not attacking anyone, just calling out and being realistic about the current negative energy visitors see and complain about. The lack of support and motivation in the lab for new people and those who have been there a while. The back stabbing and all the shit talking that happens behind peoples backs. Yeah I praise and respect those who put in hard work to keep the lab running. But the “thankless” work that has been burning out certain people and they have been showing their spiteful behavior need to step down, take a break and let new blood take over with their fresh modern ideas and new found enthusiasm for the lab. Last night seems to have been the busiest and most positive, productive HYH the lab has had in years, and that’s literally all I’ve been fighting for. Yeah I agree the lab from yesterday isn’t the same as the lab of today, but new people need a chance to shine and bring their energy and ideas to life. The lab needs a more diverse team of people on the board. It can’t be full of people who don’t want to be there and constantly say how crappy it is to be on the board and yet do nothing to change the perception or make any positive changes to make the position more appealing. That’s where I’m coming from. Not attacking anyone but the actual negative energy from those that should be leading to greener pastures. 

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[Cprossu]

If it looks like a duck, sounds like a duck, migrates like a duck, and has the same diet as a duck, it's likely a duck.You are currently bringing negativity, malice, and yes attacks against very specific people into the Board Elections thread of all places. It is not cool and I will not stand for it. You can't just say an attack against a person or a group of people is not an attack by just stating "I'm not attacking anyone", that is is a "difference of opinion", that it was "just a joke", or by pointing out you didn't state their name directly.

In all the time I've had at HeatSync Labs, there have been disagreements, there have been hundreds if not thousands of compromises to better experiences, spaces and services have been rearranged or reimagined to stay with the times, there have been people who have taken advantage of the resources and people we have who we have had to part ways with, but I have never seen anything quite like this and I employ others here who have been here longer than I to speak up if any of this is normal.

Our original code of conduct used to read
"

1.Active participation in HSL functions is encouraged. Presentations, lectures, announcements, projects, screenings, or other events are open to relevant discussion. Persistent or tangent interruptions, distractions, and unwelcome discharge of office supplies and equipment is highly discouraged.

2.In order to establish a welcoming social atmosphere, no member shall derogate, harass or otherwise troll another member during HSL functions, although civil debating over technical issues or the merit of works of science fiction is welcomed.

3.Violation of the Code of Conduct shall be reprimanded at the discretion of officers of the Board of Directors present at the location and time of violation.

4.At HSL functions and events where HSL members are representing HSL, members are required to abide by all local, state, and federal laws.

5.Be excellent to each other, dudes.

"

I still feel this original CoC gets to the spirit of what we are, even if the current CoC is much more comprehensive and leaves fewer loopholes for the people who have exploited the lab, it's services, and it's people.

More than ever we need to be acting together as a team to survive, continue operations, and improve things going forward, and to follow what direction the community as a whole wishes to follow.

[Francisco Ruiz]

My dude, you have your opinion and I have mine. I would like to see a positive outcome from all this, it’s all I’ve been trying to point out. You have your valid points and you have your right to feel as you do and I’m not taking that away from you. You’re an incredible part of the lab and you keep being you, that’s what keeps that part of the lab going. I’m not going to keep filling this forum with discourse. I want to move on from this and see a more diverse and positive motivational board. I’m leaving it at that, thank you for tuning into my TedTalk. 

Good luck to everyone running,

Frank

To view this discussion visit https://groups.google.com/d/msgid/heatsynclabs/317f408d-287c-4a9c-b9e2-51cefe39ba13n%40googlegroups.com.

[Moheeb Zara]

To anyone new to HeatSync: What happens on Google Groups is not a reflection of how the space feels in person. HeatSync is, in reality, a collaborative, friendly, and fun place—please come visit us and see for yourself. The online space often skews toward disagreements over small details.

Frank: In this thread, you’ve made a number of pointed remarks, including:

“Too many people who don’t want to do anything… angry bitter people driving this place to the ground.”
“Not in good standing with like 5 people…”
“I am no longer interested in supporting this lab.”

Several members pointed out that this was divisive and off-topic for an election thread. You responded:

“I just was saying things I think will help support this lab.”

The issue is that those statements contradict each other, you can’t claim to be supporting the lab while also stating you no longer wish to support it, especially when the tone is accusatory toward fellow members.

Positive motivation and constructive disagreement mean being respectful, specific, and addressing issues in the right channels. Broad, vague accusations don’t help; they create division. This pattern, framing other members as adversaries, proposing to replace them, and dismissing feedback doesn’t foster collaboration or trust.

If you have specific issues with a process or decision, start a thread that addresses those specific things directly. What I’ve seen instead is you repeatedly turning the people behind those processes into personal enemies, trying to rally support for a “coup” you openly talked about, or proposing votes to remove people from their roles so you could take their place. You cannot do something like that and then pretend you are being positive and collaborative. That is not reality. It is baffling that you do not see that as a serious problem. You have a lot of work to do if you want to rebuild anyone’s trust.

I have had strong disagreements with members before. I literally had a shouting match with Sheldon over the phone recently, but we did not walk away hating each other. I made it clear I respected him despite the disagreement, and because of that we were able to have a somewhat productive outcome.

I am asking you to refrain from posting on Google Groups, especially since you are currently suspended, and take the time to reflect. Explore other communities in Arizona, as I already suggested to you privately. Think about how you can improve your collaboration and conflict resolution skills. Watch how others handle these situations and learn from them. Right now you are not ready to be a leader. Stop trying to act like one and focus on being a contributing member first.

Coming in here and dropping loaded statements designed to provoke people is toxic. It might be technically allowed, but it is not healthy, kind, or productive.

It is also disrespectful to Shaundra.

[Moheeb Zara]

deep inhale and exhale

TO THE ACTUAL TOPIC AT HAND. Being a board member is not about saying “oh that person is a great volunteer and has energy, let’s make them board.” That is how you burn out good energy. Being on the board is not glamorous. It is necessary for our non-profit status, but it is work. With leadership comes the responsibility to put personal issues aside, be a good custodian of the lab, and be kind and courteous even in disagreement. Sometimes you need to be firm and direct, but still constructive.

Leadership is not about who does the most or who is the most liked. It is about how you handle conflict, how you work with people you disagree with, and how you help resolve disputes between members. It takes maturity, effective communication, and the ability to foster and nurture members so they can grow as volunteers and as makers.

Leadership is not just having good ideas. We all have good ideas, which is why we have do-acracy. When you make nominations, think about who has the qualifications, bandwidth, maturity, and desire to take on each role.

If your main goal is to make projects, collaborate, and bring energy to the lab, you do not need to be on the board to do that. Board positions come with actual administrative and legal responsibilities.

I was nominated here and I have served before. I joked the other day that maybe I should serve again. Honestly I do not want to. My life is unpredictable right now, and there is a chance I will be on the road a lot in the next year. If members decide to vote me in, I will do my best. My style is to be as hands-off as possible and focus on supporting my fellow members, helping resolve conflict, and making sure people have what they need to make projects, events, and improvements to the space.

Ideally the day-to-day duties should be naturally picked up by members, with the board acting as a fail-safe for legal and financial matters. Sometimes that includes disciplinary action, which the current board has done a good job of outlining more clearly for everyone’s benefit, even if I personally think the bylaws were edited too much. That is a separate discussion and something for the next board to decide.

[Nate Caine]

I'd like to see each candidate give some background info about their skills and prior experience that will help them in these leadership roles.
Also, what you'd like to accomplish, as well as your vision and direction for HeatSync.

[Brett Neese]

After some discussion and thought, I've decided to throw my name in the hat for Secretary. I've got some unique qualifications and circumstances that make me a good candidate: when I was a teen, I helped found the QC Co-Lab in Quad Cities, Iowa; when I was a little older, I helped found the Area 515 Makerspace in Des Moines, Iowa, and when I was a bit older than that, my first "real" job was a partnerships manager for a STEAM non-profit called StudentRND (now known as CodeDay). I was then involved in CRASH Space in Los Angeles, CA for several years.

I'm also both new to the area and to the space as of May 2025. This puts me in a unique position; as of now I have minimal outside community commitments and I want to get more involved in my local community. I'm also fresh enough to not have been burnt out by previous lab drama (though I've seen some of the threads.) I also feel it will be a good opportunity to get to know the humans that make up the lab better as there are many good humans involved in the lab I have yet to meet.

My primary platform is improving lab communication, and I have been here both long enough to see existing practices but short enough to still have "beginner's mind" -- where are the meeting minutes (at least, ones later than 2012)? When does the board meet? Are they open meetings that anyone can attend? If so, how? If not, why? (This doesn't seem to be outlined in the bylaws - they do mention something about a yearly meeting in April and "member meetings" but it's not clear whether that's the same thing as HYH and clearly the board is making decisions outside of that once-a-year meeting). 

I do not know these things but feel every member, new or old, should or should be able to find out easily. What I've noticed is that in absence of that communication, conspiracies about decisions being made in smoky back rooms tend to form. This is toxic to the lab and something the Secretary is positioned to improve. 

Even something as simple as reminding people about HYH so we actually reach quorum and relaying the notes back here so members know what was discussed -- it seems this used to be done, but is no longer being done as much. This doesn't necessarily fall to the Board's secretary - in a do-ocracy, anyone can take on this role, so while I agree with Moheeb about the role of the board, I think there is also space for the board to provide examples and best practices for others to follow. 

(This is not to slander any of the existing board members - it's a big, thankless job. Thank you, board members!) 

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[Cprossu]

Glad to see your name in the ring, Brett! It has been a pleasure interacting with you in and out of the lab. Our minutes are generally on this google groups going back to I think 2010 and are searchable here: 

https://groups.google.com/g/heatsynclabs/search?q=board%20minutes

We stopped using the wiki for minutes years before I even visited my first time as far as I know.

I'd likely be running for a position again if I had the health, the stamina, the time I'd want to dedicated to it, but I know my current limitations would prevent me from doing the job the lab deserves and needs.


Thanks to EVERYONE running for a position this year. It may not be glamorous, but I assure you that it is essential to our existence.