CommunityMeetingMinutes20250629 - DoESLiverpool/somebody-should GitHub Wiki

Link to join remotely

Attendees

  • Adrian, Kirsty, Lizz, Andy Green (Lighting/sewing). Julian, Chris T, Snoof, Chris H, Mike (Chair), Jackie. John McK (Minutes)

Actions from the last meeting

  • AV documentation (Adrian and Jake) #2045

    • Progressed, not finished, ducks are available for hanging headphones, microphone holder might be good. Jake has written some instructions. Setup definitely works.
    • Mike suggests a ring binder for instructions, it is recommended that he adds comments to the GitHub issue.

  • Post-induction emails, (Jackie)

    • Harder than it seemed, Jackie continuing to investigate

  • Induction processes to be reviewed (Mike and Jackie)

    • Post-makefest

  • Fibre arts lighting (Andy)

    • Halogen light fixed
    • Andy has added an issue about lighting but is concerned about cost
    • This meeting action considered DONE, will use the issue to track follow up

  • Print more flyers before Liverpool Makefest. (Jackie) #1985

    • Jackie doing them this week

  • Run more workshops (Everyone) #1985

    • To be discussed later

  • Find out what workshops people want to attend (Jackie)

    • To be discussed later

  • Ask Matt Murphy about viability of student summer workshop access rates (Jackie)

    • Jackie has mentioned it, he's not had chance yet, will chase him next week

  • Create events space booking document that can be used for promotion (Chris T)

    • No progress

  • Optimism (Adrian & Chris T)

    • Chris and Adrian spent an evening getting their dev setups back up and running, so some progress but definitely more to be done

  • MRWA grant for sewing courses (Fibre arts team)

    • No progress yet

  • Add /help page to website (Jackie to talk to Neil)

    • Appears to be done

  • Add repair cafe page to website (Carried over: Neil to talk to Mike)

    • Doesn't look like it's live yet

  • Investigate tap to pay device (Jackie)

    • Jackie has investigate a bit, thinks there might be an option to use a zetlle and phone so might need another phone and settle if it will work

  • Procedure to induct event organisers (Jackie & Mike)

    • After make fest

TEAM UPDATES

3D Printing

  • Marcus still not working, Jackie and Terry have tried their best but have run out of options. Would appreciate help from someone else, Chris offered to help.

Laser

  • Tony had a lot of work recently, rails were badly contaminated, impacting the axes. Spent a lot of time cleaning them, made a significant difference in the smoothness but still some accuracy issues. Need to order a replacement lens, Mike will make an issue.
  • Gerald had a couple of issues lately, found some missing screws from the carriage, been replaced now, carriage was out of alignment and that was now fixed. Still an open issue about doing a full realignment, which would take it out of service for a period. Setting needs updating as it's currently burning when moving between cuts (or engraves?). Config file disappeared so we need to update that.
  • Drive belt has been replaced on Sheila which was causing jumping issues, issue has now been closed. Not aware of any outstanding issues. Jackie reports it was cutting fine recently.
  • Extraction system needs more pipe, will cost £100 so will leave it for now as it's working.

Fibre Arts

  • No specific updates.

Somebody-should issue triage

  • Reviewing a half-dozen issues short-listed before the meeting
    • We didn't short list any issues

Specific agenda items for this meeting

When adding an item to the list please add your name, and give a brief overview of the item and the beginning of the discussion

  • How can we all bring more people into the space? We need to increase DoES' income. Another 4 desk members, or 10 workshop members, or 17 off-peak workshop members, or... How do we find them? What can you do to help with that? (Adrian)
    • John has investigated getting people to run regular courses with not much luck
    • Adrian has talked to Luke about him using some space here for 3 large 3D printers, or potentially renting Dinky
    • Birthday celebration - open house - Kirsty offering to help
    • We need a list of people to contact, Kirsty and John to arrange this.
    • A-board or external advertising suggesting that we have coworking here outside the. Kirsty will wear a racoon costume for a few days and tell people about coworking.
    • Bike advertising, car advertising, bumper stickers. Kirsty to lead
    • Flyers - we have an issue #591 to collect list of places to put them (add Screwfix). Kirsty to lead
    • Some feedback - Finding specific prices easily was tricky. Magna said the website looked great also gave feedback that the space is really messy when you turn up.
    • Out of hours workshop should become out of hours membership and be open to general coworking.
    • Discussed per-person prices for workshops, how people who already have a monthly membership of DoES technically wouldn't need to pay for the day price. Generally agreed that suggesting that workshops might have a "DoES member discount" which means they don't need to pay that part (note that the person needs to have an actual monthly membership, not just be a £10/month friend).
    • Need to tidy up, cable manage, make the space safer and nicer to give a better looking offering. Replace the curtains. Could ask Simon if they would be interested in helping with that. Agreed that next "Hack the Space" event we should blitz the event room.
    • We could check for a cheaper (potentially better?) internet provider.
  • Workshops. Related to the previous item, but focused on workshop events following the workshop survey (Adrian)
    • Jackie gives an update on the survey that she sent in.
    • People are interested in learning anything
    • ~40% of people are interested in running course
    • Lots of different topics suggested
    • Some suggestions around concessionary rates (DoES member options)
    • General preference for evening/weekend
    • Should consider beginners
    • Jackie has emailed people who are interested in running a workshop to ask if they had anything ready. Andy has suggested he has two around 3D printing that could be advertised at Makefest, might run them every month.
    • A selection of people have courses almost ready to go and that we can advertise at Makefest. If anyone else has ideas get in touch with Jackie by Thursday.
    • Adrian has been looking at a hosted software replacement for Meetup.com, is temporarily hosting something at events.mcqn.com
    • Mike suggests working on the process for running an event, probably post-makefest.
  • Safer Spaces request from Safe Space Merseyside (Snoof)
    • General agreement that we do want to be considered a safe space, only questions were whether we do enough.
    • Suggested it might be good if Safe Space Merseyside could run a session at DoES and advise if there's more we could be doing
  • MakeFest (Jackie)
    • Mike has offered to do some transporting of stuff from DoES
    • Jackie has copied the letter about how to set up
    • Kirsty has offered to help set up
    • Jackie outlines the setup for our usual horse shoe of desks
    • Matt will wander around and tell people about Birkenhack
    • Julian will do some VR stuff
    • More here https://github.com/DoESLiverpool/somebody-should/issues/1985

Any Other Business

  • None mentioned

Date of next meeting

  • 3rd August 2025 1pm, with the "Tidy up the Events Space" themed Hack the Space day before