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Members Manual

The purpose of this manual is to help explain operation of our space as well as many of its features. If there's something that you are unsure of and can't find it in this manual, please let us know. We might even ask you to add it to the manual once you find out what you needed.

Space Access

Finding Us

Surely by now you know how to find us. If not, or you're a prospective member reading our manual, we'll go over it anyway. We are in the Business Development Center (we call it the BDC) located at the corner of Cherokee Blvd and Manufacturers Rd. You'll want to enter the parking lot from the Manufacturers Rd side. Once there, our door is on the parking dock close to the road.

Parking

Parking is one of the most common questions we have to answer. The BDC parking lot is by permit only during business hours. After 5pm or on weekends, it is okay to park there. You won't be towed. During business hours there are other alternatives including the triangle lot across the railroad tracks (near FoodWorks), the Republic Parking lot which you can stay all day for $6. But Please do not park in the BDC lot during business hours. You will get towed, and our landlords will not be happy. We want to be honorable tenants.

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2017/08/28 15:14

Getting In the Door

If you are a member, you should have been given an RFID fob or card that will get you in. Just put the fob near the RFID reader, listen for the click and pull the door open. If you are not a member, see if our door is open. Or knock to see if anyone is there. Our doors will always be open during our open meeting nights and special events. Check our meetup page for details of these events.

Lights

If the lights are off, you'll find a light switch just to the right of the entrance door - you'll have to reach past the shelf that partially blocks the switch. Our other light sources are:

  • BDC Hallway door, one toggle switch and one dimmer switch (push up on dimmer and toggle switch below the slider).
  • Loading bay light inside loading bay under the center portion metal storage on the right wall.
  • Metalshop on the left as you go in.
  • LED lights above central tables that require plugging into outlet.
  • Also, the soldering workbench has lights when you turn on the power strip.

If you are the leaving and no one else is present, please turn out the lights. We don't pay for electricity but we don't want to be wasteful.

Unlocking Front Door

If you need to unlock the loading dock door, you can do so, but PLEASE remember to re-lock it when done. To unlock the front door (at the loading dock) do the following:

  1. Open the door.
  2. Push in the latch (the plunger that goes in and out) with your thumb and hold it.
  3. Rotate the lock tab from the interior knob counter clockwise a quarter turn. It should pop out about 3/4 inch.

To re-lock the door, merely push in the lock tab and rotate it clockwise a quarter turn.

Space Layout

Here are some details of our space. It's 3,000 square feet and has the following areas:

  • Meeting Space
  • Metalshop
  • Loading Bay
  • Corridor
  • Woodshop
  • Office
  • Storage

Meeting Space

This general area is where we meet, watch movies, host LAN parties, teach workshops or work on projects at a table or workbench. The configuration can change from time to time. Here are some of the features of this space:

  • Tables - The tables can be moved or removed as needed. Please make sure they're clean after you're done.
  • Workbenches - These benches allow for more robust work. One of them is used primarily for soldering and electronics.
  • Shelves - Our shelves have tools and materials available for member use. Return tools to their proper location.
  • Front Projector - There is a projector for multimedia presentations. See here for instructions.
  • Side Projector - There is another projector for an additional screen. See here for instructions.
  • Soundbar Audio system - The soundbar can be used for presentations or just cranking tunes. Instructions.
  • Fire Cabinet - All highly combustible items is to be stored in our flame cabinet. Keep door closed when not using.

Metal Shop

This room is where we do our metal work using some specialized equipment. The equipment includes:

  • Grizzly Metal Lathe

Loading Bay

This area is where we

  • Load large items from the street that are wider than 3 feet.
  • Store some of our long metal stock.
  • Do our general welding
  • Do our painting and staining of things that stink (stains, spray paint, etc).

When welding or painting/staining, there's a sliding door that can be pulled closed to prevent dangerous arcs from damaging others' eyes and to keep the smell limited to that area. The door can be opened as necessary to get fresh air to the person working.

Corridor

The Corridor is just a pass through from the BDC hallway to the main space, but we utilize part of this area for several items including

  • Snacks. Our snacks include a variety of things we buy in bulk and sell barely above cost from Sam's Club and a soda machine that has 10 options, each at 50 cents. Options include regular and diet versions of Coke, Mtn Dew, A&W Root Beer and Dr Pepper. We also have Sprite and Orange Crush. We use the honor system for payment and to make change for the soda machine. We skim the kitty every once in a while so we can resupply the sodas and snacks.
  • Member Storage. Each member is supplied a 27 gallon bin to keep their personal property and supplies. If you don't have yours yet, look for an empty bin with a blank label on it and write your name on it.
  • Boneyard Shelf. These shelves contain parts that we have been given, salvaged or dumpster dived. All parts are for your projects. Take it and make it.

Woodshop

Office

Storage

Planning Events

As a member, you're more than welcome (and encouraged) to use the space for maker-related events. This section will give you information on what to do when you do so.

Check the Schedule

First, check out our Calendar to make sure that time is available. You probably should check our meetup page as well.

Clear it with Someone

Talk with the current president, or whoever appears to be in charge to make sure it doesn't violate any of our bylaws or club standards. Types of things that we like to support are:

  • Technical special interest groups.
  • Art related topics.
  • Workshops related to making stuff.
  • Demonstrations of new making techniques.

Things that can violate our charter and we do not allow are:

  • Commercial promotion of a product (sales pitches).
  • Religious organization meetings/events.
  • Political related events.

If this meeting request is from an external organization that isn't sponsored by a member, they should fill out the following Meeting Request Form

Put it on the Schedule

Once you get an approval on the date/dates, it is your responsibility to update the calendar and other websites that reserve your date and/or advertise to others.

Google Calendar

This update is required. You can access the Calendar here. If you have issues updating it, we may need to add you to the permission list. Contact whomever you got approval from to do this.

Meetup.com Page

Also, update the meetup page page if your meeting is open to the public or you are looking to get RSVP from your members.

Facebook Events

Here also, this will help get your message out. If you have access issues to do this, talk with the approver and we'll get this set up or add you to the manager role on our Facebook page. Here's a direct link to our Facebook Events

Special Project Funding

February 20, 2018 - The board of directors of Chatt*lab is pleased to announce a new program that allows Chatt*lab members the ability to nominate projects to fund from allocated membership dues. Since we are in the black and starting to accrue extra income through our membership contributions, we are adopting a program where members can optionally allocate a small portion of their membership towards projects that the members promote to the group.

The current allocation percentage for 2018 will be 10%, or $5 from a $50 membership, or $2.50 from a family/student membership. These funds will be allocated on a monthly basis to accrue towards approved projects. Members who have prepaid their membership will have their fund allocation applied on a monthly basis based on a per month value of their contribution.

Members can also throw in an amount above and beyond their existing 10% if they like, they can also increase their monthly paypal amount with the excess over their membership being applied to their allocation along with their base 10%. So if a member wants to increase their recurring payment to $60, they would be able to allocate $15 per month towards projects actively seeking funds.

Example projects could be something like

  • Bike repair station
  • Nice workstation and LCD for a solidworks computer
  • Set of Arduino kits for workshops
  • Big laser cutter
  • A walking robot
  • Large format printer
  • Rolls of PLA for Prusa printer

How it works

Project Nomination.

A member can suggest a project to the group via the email list providing the following information:

  1. Project description: (e.g. “A bike repair station”)
  2. Proposed budget amount with a breakdown of costs. The member can propose a basic amount and a “reach” amount, which can cover a basic solution, and the ultimate solution.
  3. A deadline to receive funds by. The project has to be funded by this target date.
  4. A list of other member sponsors and perhaps a project team. Basically, who is going to see this through and implement it.
Group Discussion.

The project put forward can be discussed in the open meeting(s) and email list over a 7 day period after which a vote will be requested by the board, or when a sponsoring member calls for a vote prior to the 7 day period. During this period, the proposed project budget can be altered by the sponsoring member based on member input, or possible materials that might be donated towards the project.

Member Acceptance.

If 5 or more members vote yes on the project (via email or voice vote), the project is adopted and is on the approved list.

Member Allocations

Members can indicate to the Chatt*lab treasurer a breakdown of what projects they want to support on a percentage basis. This amount will carry forward each month until they change it, a project is fully funded, or a project is rescinded for any reason. In the event a project is rescinded, the member can allocate those funds to another approved project, otherwise they will remain part of the club coffers.

Monthly Updates

The treasurer is responsible for tracking the allocations each month and reporting to the club the current state of each project.

Project Funded (or not)

If and when a project meets it’s goal, the treasurer will use the designated funds to purchase the item(s) or reimburse the member based on receipts. If the project never reaches it’s original goal by the original stated project goal date, then the funds will either be funded to other projects (as designated by members who contributed) or the funds will be kept within Chatt*lab. The project sponsor has the right to petition the board for allocation of additional funds to meet the goal, a reduction in the original budget goal, or both. The board would meet to decide by majority vote of the board members at the next board meeting.

Notes:

The end project, tool or asset will become the property of Chatt*lab and would not be considered anyone’s personal property.

The board reserves the right to veto any project if it is deemed too dangerous, anything that might violate our lease or can threaten our 501©3 status (such as a political or religious things), that unnecessarily duplicates existing space features, or deemed in poor taste.

This program is subject to review on a monthly basis and can be eliminated if it is determined that we don’t have the funds to continue it due to any unexpected club costs, or changes in club revenue due to membership reduction.

Current Projects

At this time, there are currently no nominated or approved projects.

2019/08/28 17:35 · admin

General Policies