MEETING: Towards MakerSpace Buffalo

[Scott Vader]

Hi All

We've arranged a meeting for Thursday November 6th 11 am to 12:30 pm at d!g at 640 Ellicott Street to discuss MakerSpace Buffalo. Folks from the Foundry, Buffalo Lab, University at Buffalo and Buffalo Niagara Medical Campus have already confirmed. The meeting is open to anyone who would like to be involved. We have limited seating so please RSVP if you plan to attend.

Megan McNally and I have met with one of the founders of Tech Valley Center of Gravity, the highly successful MakerSpace/business cultivator started in Troy, NY. They have submitted a proposal and agreed that we can share it with members of the MakerSpace Buffalo group. See attached Center of Gravity Buffalo Proposal.pdf .

Suggested agenda for Thursday:

1) Why does Buffalo need a world class MakerSpace and what does one look like?
2) What's happening around the Maker movement, urban manufacturing and manufacturing business incubation in Buffalo today and how would MakerSpace Buffalo collaborate with and enhance current activities?

3) Which organizations should collaborate on MakerSpace Buffalo? working document is attached
4) Which single organization should be the leader?
5) Is there value in getting the Tech Valley Center of Gravity to assist us along this path and if so, how would we raise the money to get started?
6) Any other topics?

7) Summary of the agreed on next steps

Hope to see you Thursday!

Scott Vader

PS Note that posts are available for everyone to view but you must be a member of the group to read and edit the group's documents. Let Kevin Hayes or me know if you would like to be sent an invitation to the group. 

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Center of Gravity Buffalo Proposal.pdf

[Scott Vader]

Thanks to everyone who attended the meeting: Megan McNally, Jessica Edwards, Steve Levesque, Zachary Vader, Chris Janson, Kevin Hayes, Pat Whalen and Doug Borzynski. It was agreed by all that we should collaborate in supporting the maker movement in Buffalo and that there should be a follow-on meeting with broader representation and greater depth of discussion. As the event host, I wasn't taking the best notes! Any other attendees want to share a comment?    

For those who couldn't make it, our slides are here: LINK to the meeting slides

This is a great foundation. Looking forward to our next meeting!

Scott