Health and Safety
- COVID rates remain low in Dallas County. Members encouraged to stay home if sick and get recommended vaccines.
- Doorbell system reviewed with reminders on how it functions and when to use it.
Facility and Room Changes
- All 3D printing equipment will be moved to the laser event room.
- Vinyl cutting equipment will be relocated to the current 3D printing area.
- Stitch Lab reorganization is ongoing; vinyl removal is necessary for expanded knitting equipment.
- Electronics will be relocated to better utilize space.
- Ceramic materials, currently unused, will be removed to reclaim space.
Financial Update
- Current bank balance: ~$26,000 after November rent cleared.
- Rent is increasing to $3,500/month (from $3,000); board is negotiating due to unsustainable costs.
- Additional grant funding from the City of Richardson is pending based on occupancy anniversary.
- Membership dues and fundraising are critical to sustaining operations.
EPICS Student Project (UT Dallas)
- Student team progressing on kiosk and calendar projects.
- Final presentation due in December.
- Lab will share open house details once finalized.
Raspberry Pi 5 Event (Dec 2)
- Event to showcase Raspberry Pi 5 capabilities.
- Hands-on demos planned (e.g., computer vision, GPIO, home automation).
- Raspberry Pi Foundation is supporting the event with giveaways and promotion.
Membership and Billing System Overhaul
- Transitioning from WHMCS to Stripe and DocuSeal.
- Legacy systems being sunset to save money and improve usability.
- Members will be migrated in phases; some may experience interruptions.
- Refund policies clarified: responsibility remains with members to manage subscriptions.
External Partnerships
- Richardson IQ was considered for relocation but space was not a fit.
- City remains supportive and open to collaboration and grant assistance.
Event Participation and Future Outreach
- Makerspace was invited again to participate in CodeLaunch and FinCon in spring.
- Decision made not to attend CodeLaunch this year due to bandwidth constraints.
- FinCon participation confirmed for February 2024.
Open Volunteer Roles
- Increased need for volunteers to assist with events and facility rearrangement.
- Call for engagement ahead of Raspberry Pi event and December showcase.
Closing Notes
- Discussions ongoing about long-term sustainability and potential dues increases if necessary.
- Transparency and accurate reporting of membership numbers remain top priorities.
COVID conditions are stable; masking is optional. Doorbell procedures reviewed.
Major room reorganization planned: 3D printing, vinyl, electronics, and ceramics being moved.
Financial balance is ~$26,000; rent increasing to $3,500/month poses concerns.
City of Richardson may assist via grants; membership growth is vital.
EPICS students continue working on kiosk project, final deliverables due in December.
Raspberry Pi 5 event scheduled for December 2, includes demos and a giveaway.
Stripe and DocuSeal to replace outdated billing/waiver systems; member migration underway.
Refund policy clarified—members must monitor their own payments.
Richardson IQ partnership remains positive; future collaboration likely.
Makerspace confirmed for FinCon (Feb 2024); skipping CodeLaunch this year.
More volunteers needed for upcoming events and space improvements.