Member Meeting Minutes Summary: November 2024

Student Project and Mentorship

* **Kiosk and Calendar Development:** Students working on the kiosk and calendar projects are putting in significant effort. They gained real-world experience, as the previous state of the calendar was in disarray, requiring them to figure out its workings from scratch.
* **API Access:** Mentors Cameron and Max provided the students with API access, enabling them to test and develop efficiently.
* **Demo:** A demo of their work was anticipated for the previous week but was delayed; hopefully, it will happen soon. The students are quiet but progressing well.

Ongoing Initiatives and Activities

* **Board System Familiarity:** There's a need for more board members to become familiar with the back-end systems used for member sign-ups. A separate time for this training is preferred due to time constraints during combined meetings.
* **"Reading" Area Host:** A new area host is needed for the "reading" section.
* **Toy Drive:** The makerspace is participating in a toy drive. This initiative is getting significant reach, with Poly Makers retweeting their efforts, potentially reaching 30,000-40,000 people. This could lead to increased visibility and engagement.
* **Local Awareness:** A challenge highlighted is that many people living within five miles of the makerspace are unaware of its existence, underscoring the importance of outreach and visibility.

Financial Overview

* **Positive Cash Flow:** The organization has been net cash profitable for August, September, and October, without a formal budget. This indicates a growing "nest egg" and a move toward a safer financial position.
    * **August:** ~$4,600 revenue, ~$3,400 expenses, ~$1,200 net increase.
    * **September:** ~$7,000 revenue, ~$3,500 expenses, ~$3,500 net increase.
    * **October:** ~$5,500 revenue, ~$3,900 expenses, ~$1,500 net increase.
* **CTO Budget Item:** A budget item for a new internet connection at $72.95 per month was presented by the CTO and deemed acceptable.