July 2026 - Member Meeting

July 18, 2026 - Member Meeting

July 18, 2026 - Member Meeting

Total Number of Members: 87

Total Number of Full Members: 20

Total Number of Full Members Present Including Proxy Votes: 11

Quorum was reached

Board of Directors Attending:

Meg has semi-resigned her position as Treasurer. John will be stepping into her role in the interim.

3D Printers - The Prusa Mark 3 has been updated to a Core1. We also have a Prusa index, which can print from 4 different nozzles containing 4 different filaments. The index is on load from Jake, with the option to purchase it from him.
Wood Shop - To start with, kudos to the Wood Shop Stewards. This is the hardest area of the space to Steward. The shop was rearranged to help improve the flow. Unclaimed materials were cleaned out. Brian plans to introduce butcher paper, or some similar spoiler-surface so less glue gets on the tables.
Laser Area - We're occasionally having trouble with the breaker tripping, but otherwise new laser is running great.
Metal Shop - Doing well; nothing to report.
Metal Lathe - Since Caroline left, this needs a new Steward. A few people have offered to help.
Auto Shop - The Steward is annoyed because 2 people recently failed to clean up after themselves.
Electronics Area - Matt has taken over as Steward of this, and the Battery Tab Welder. Brad has volunteered to be a trainer for the Battery Tab Welder.
Stained Glass Area - Connor added a tent for glass grinding.
Auto Shop - The air hose stopped winding up, so Dave replaced the whole assembly. We'll keep the old hose in case we want to reuse it.

It was emphasized that members should communicate via the proper channels. We have Slack, email, and the Google Group.
- Members are discouraged from leaving notes on things.
- A number of recent broken items weren't communicated. For example, someone drilled holes all over one of the tables in the Wood Shop.
It was also emphasized that all members should clean up after themselves, though it was also acknowledged that in this meeting that was preaching to the choir.
We've had a number of members leave our organization without taking their stuff with them. The idea of making an official policy on this was discussed.
The board continues to kick around the idea of hiring an electrician. John and Brian mentioned they knew a few people who they could ask.
It was emphasized that members should never feel ashamed to ask if they don't remember something.
The idea of doing a run of t-shirts with our logo was suggested. The idea of an on-demand option through our website was also floated.
Don and Dave have been working on IT stuff. They're adding some servers which may or may not have been dropped on the ground, also upgrading and adding more security cameras.
Don requested a complete list of all Tool Stewards and their areas.

The latest Space Clean Up Night had a good turn out, relatively speaking.
Some members have tried cleaning the Wood Shop using air compressors. The Wood Stewards want all to know that this is frowned upon.
It was remarked that emptying trash cans is one of the easiest cleaning jobs to do, and yet is seemingly done the least.
As a general note, the gate in the courtyard opens outward, not inward.

Late last year, member Ward passed away. Ward's sister went through his belongings and offered the makerspace what tools and materials he still had in his house. Among the bigger items we received were...
- Bench Top Metal Mill
- Metal Bandsaw
- Drill Press
- 2 metal carts

Vote to promote Zach B from Supporting to Full Member Yes: 11 No: 0 Result: Passed

Des Moines Concours d'Elegance car show - We're looking for volunteers to help staff a table. We'll be situated near the Des Moines Sculpture Garden, more details will be relayed when we have them.
Riverbend Block Party (aka. Near Northside Neighbors National Night Out event at Evelyn K Davis Park on August 4, from 5:30-7:30 pm) - We've been getting 1 or 2 people from this neighborhood visiting every month.

Board of Directors member Chris moved away in April. Since then the board has continued functioning with 6 members. This is in line with our Bylaws which specify some specific positions, but do not specify the number of directors at-large.
Since Meg is bowing out of her position as Treasurer, there will be 2 positions to fill in the next member meeting's elections.

"Don's only 13 minutes late." Don: "I thought you'd wait until 15."
Heard during the discussion on the new grinding tent in the Stained Glass Area: "Don't walk barefoot in that room."
Heard during the vote to promote Zach to Full membership: "How do you want us to vote?" "Vote your conscience."

Last updated 12 days ago

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