Mechanics Minutes Jan 2006

1 Mechanics Meeting 1.1 January 23, 2006

• intro
  • call to order, review of agenda
    • *Space Search*
    • *Website*
    • *Agatha's Grantwriting Contract*
    • *Shop Responsibilities*
    • *Welding Shop*
  • proposal to use stack
  • accepted
• the state of the space search
  • Cat: no update she is frustrated at this point with lack of options. at this point, we should consider retail space. we have enough money for ~10 months rent. are we interested in partnering with someone (to find space)
  • Justin: suggests YMCA program. his bike program is looking for a new location and may be interested in a partnership
  • Mario: his father does AC transit planning
    • they host community programs like bk
    • bus lot is empty at night
    • downsides: not in mission, not scheduled until 2010
  • Alon: partnerships with other orgs are complicated - Cat agrees
  • Cat suggests establishing subcommittee
  • Jesse agrees, suggests 3-4 people
  • we need to make a decision about Cat's contract
  • motion to establish subcommittee seconded
    • initially formed: Cat, Jesse, Josh, Justin, Wu
    • Cat captains, resigns spacefinder responsibilities
• website discussion, transferring to the new host
  • Joel: currently transferring site
    • just a copy of the existing site, under his control
    • wants to move wiki and yahoo group functionality to webhost
    • soliciting suggestions
  • Mario: membership database with emails
  • Josh: needs to be updated frequently
  • Rafi: bilingual
  • Jesse: Ebbe's documentary
    • calendar (with email reminders)
    • links page (other community shops)
    • bike repair manual, e.g. conundrum of the week
    • photo gallery, and AV management system
  • Wu: robots
  • Alon: explains open, freeform nature of wikis vs. structured site
• Renewing Agatha (our grant writer)'s contract and her progress
  • Cat supports extending current contract (with stipulations) and wants to request extra hours go into soliciting private donations
  • Josh wants her to add a monthly report
  • Mario wants her to show up at meetings
  • Alon: why are we fundraising? do we want more legitimacy?
  • Cat clarifies: Agatha was hired to help with space finding
  • Jesse supports review of grant documents thus far, we need to clarify responsibilities: 2 months is too short, moves to extend contract longer
  • Proposal voted and passed
  • 3 month extended contract
    • monthly rate accepted
    • we want monthly reports, possibly attendance at meetings to be determined by financial committee
• shop responsibilities
  • Josh: we should establish roles for volunteers
    • 2 operations/inventory (orders, tools, donations)
    • 2 accounting
    • 2 programs (classes, welding, youth, mech development)
    • 2 volunteers (EAB, work nights, cleaning)
    • 2 paperwork (membership, sign-in, EAB forms)
    • 1 fundraising
  • Mario doesn't understand need for this
  • Josh: we can't keep waiting until things are out of control to address them
  • Distinction made between chores and initiatives -- mechs need to do chores to
  • Joel proposes: chores on whiteboard chart, initiative on website
  • wiki pages, one with list of initiatives, each linking to detail page that someone controls
  • proposal for whiteboard passed, Wu will purchase and bring it
  • web page proposal tabled
  • Brainstorming session for chores list
• welding update
  • Alon: now de facto welding shop guy doesn't have a lot of experience with that shop
    • comfortable with using tools, instruction, and safety
    • not ready for welding program initiatives yet
    • currently using welding shop during open hours
  • Josh: liability problem with open hours
• Meeting called to end with ringing bell!*