Editing Version Zero (section)

==== The Initial 10 and the Next 6 ====

My two cents on Adams suggestion. [[User:Kellyegan|Kellyegan]] 04:33, 10 July 2009 (UTC)

I think $800 RUI is very possible. 

Let's assume a starting membership of 10. If we set dues at $50 and ask initial members to donate $30 extra a month for the first couple of months. That is $2.66 a day. I can skip the coffee shop for a couple of months to see something this cool happen. It has to be better than the cable I am watching. Each new member we add after that would reduce initial members extra donations by $5. At just 16 members we have no more extra donation and every member after that will be adding funds to our bank account each month. Can we convince 6 more people to join after the initial 10? I think we can. The initial 10 would also have a big monetary incentive to convince the next 6. After that we could survive for a while without anymore membership. 16 to survive.

I think all other costs including incorporation, equipment purchases, etc. be paid for with specific fundraising. The first fundraiser, perhaps a big party, could be used to give us some toward a 3-months rent fund. If we handle these costs with fundraisers we will reduce the burden on the initial members.

Without going through complicated demographics DC is a bigger market and HacDC was out of the gate first. If HacDC has 40 members after a year we will have somewhat less. I realize there are many possible mitigating circumstances which may mean we are more or less successful. I think 25 to 30 is a safe estimate of amazing success after a year. This number doesn't include all those at workshops or other events just those paying monthly dues. But I also think that that means that we can definitely get 16 and probably at least 20. At 20 members we would be bringing $400 a month extra which could go for equipment, events or rainy day fund.

DC has 40 members with very little expensive equipment. Just a small drill press, some power tools and used electronics testing equipment.

I think a space of 700 sq. ft. would be more than doable for 16-20 members. Even at 20-30 I think it won't be as cramped as you might think. You have to remember that whole membership would only be there in the same place for important meetings and big events. Most of the time it would be 4 - 5, possibly less. This would allow ample room to work on a project that may need a little more room. By the end of the year we can reassess our space needs in relation to our actual membership. If we outgrow our space sooner we will be successful enough to afford any move out cost.

Also it is clear that one of HacDC's initial problems was too much stuff. We should make sure that the Node doesn't fill with everybody's old CPUs. We should have basic supplies, stuff being used for active projects, tools and equipment and furniture. This is not going to be a storage locker or a junk shop. This has to be a place where things get done. We should be ruthless with junk, each member has a small storage space and has to take the rest home.

So who wants to be the initial 10?