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.