Re: Donations Link

[Jon Stockill]

On Wed, 17 Apr 2013 18:49:03 -0700 (PDT), Andy Irving wrote:
> Hi All,
>
> I would like to suggest a PayPal donate button on the website for
> funding equipment.

TBH I'd rather avoid paypal.

> A member kindly gave me a device this week which I would have
> normally
> had to purchase. I would be happy to put the cost of this device into
> a pot for funding equipment for the space.

Donations are always welcome, and general donations can always go in
the tuck shop pot.

> In addition to this there are items that the space could do with,
> such
> as a DIY CNC router for example ;) that I would like to put money in
> the pot for. Obviously funds for equipment would be released by
> member
> votes, but it's just an idea for starting a conversation about this.

Rather than have a general fund it possibly makes more sense to
generate funding for specific objectives, with that in mind I've created
a place to keep track of such things (see below).

> Is this possible? I don't know who deals with such things but it
> would
> be useful.

It's a do-ocracy.

I've just created this:

http://wiki.leedshackspace.org.uk/index.php/Pledges

Feel free to add extra items, or pledge funding for existing projects.

If anyone needs a wiki account then give me a shout.

--
Jon Stockill
li...@stockill.net

[Paul Brook]

> I would like to suggest a PayPal donate button on the website for funding
> equipment.
>

> A member kindly gave me a device this week which I would have normally had
> to purchase. I would be happy to put the cost of this device into a pot
> for funding equipment for the space.
>

> In addition to this there are items that the space could do with, such as a
> DIY CNC router for example ;) that I would like to put money in the pot
> for. Obviously funds for equipment would be released by member votes, but
> it's just an idea for starting a conversation about this.

I don't think we're organised enough to do this. To a first approximation we
don't have any way of making communal decisions. If we do acquire a pot of
money, we don't have any mechanism for doing anything useful with it, or even
figuring out what would be good things to buy. "funds released by member
votes" is easy to say, but my guess is much harder to implement in practice.

The 3D printer is a fairly good example. While nominally its a space project,
in practice it's Martyn's project with others contributing. He did the vast
majority of the research, badgered others to contribute parts/cash, sworn at
it a lot, and generally made it happen.

Paul

[Andy Irving]

I think that is great insight Paul and you are probably right, but I believe that your comments highlight a requirement rather than a problem.  The requirement being that each request/requirement for equipment needs a project leader.  The bonus of this system is that said project leader has the funds and or parts required to complete the project without having to ask others for cash or parts.

If someone puts a project up on the wiki that is going to be a useful asset to the hackspace as a whole then I am happy to contribute.  Obviously the biggest problem is who is going to manage the monetary side of things. Is there a treasurer for the hackspace or is the solution to give cash to the project leader and the project leader indicates on the wiki how much they have raised for the project? Donating parts is obviously easier but there is currently no mechanism for funding parts other than asking for people to chip in to buy said part.  In the case such as Nav's idea for a CNC router the parts require a substantial outlay and would obviously benefit from pooled funding.  

Equipment that benefits the space as a whole is obviously going to be more attractive to new members and old members alike.  As someone relatively new, this seems like a part of the puzzle that is missing.  If the space would benefit from some equipment, I would rather contribute to a pot than see the only solution is paying for the item myself.

Andy

[Andy Irving]

Hi Nav,

The wiki idea looks ideal.  Can you set me up on the wiki please?

What about bitcoin as a solution?

Andy

[Stanto]

I'd say bitcoin donations accepted but not as a replacement for cold, hard, physical-equivalently-accepted currency. ;)