2010-09-14 Meeting Notes

Agenda Items

• Electronica Fest
  • Saturday, Sept 18, 1:30 PM - 8:45 PM EDT, National Electronics Museum 1745 West Nursery Road, Linthicum, MD 21090
  • Advertise, notify membership
• Getting a faster internet connection? Does we need 'em?
  • Matt: I think we need it.
  • Adam: I don't think we need to spend more money on it.
  • Members have noticed at events.
  • We're currently spending $30 a month.
  • Who would we get it from? Wireless seems like the best option.
  • We might be able to bump Clear up.
  • Local file server might be handy.
• Cleaning up
  • recycling: Alan said he'd take it tonight.
  • garbage?
  • STUFF - cleanup, destruction, remove?
  • Someone will set a date, they will tell people, and then it will happen.
  • New Kindle derails meeting catastrophically.
  • We have too much and it's not organized.
  • Sisson Street dump will take the electronics garbage.
  • Be it resolved sorting of will happen during Open Hack on September 23, take-away will happen on Saturday, October 2. Anything in the scavenge or trash categories will be disposed of. http://wiki.baltimorenode.org/index.php?title=Things_to_fill_the_Space We voted, passed.
  • Bins for members?
• Add space per Sherwin?
  • As long as it's not just to hold more junk.
  • Do we need it?
  • Matt: yeah. At a busy workshop, we run out of space at about 10 people.
  • Events could be better advertised, we could reach out to other groups.
  • Clutter and disorganization makes discussion difficult.
  • What do we want to have and what do we want to do?
    • Meetings + Workshop. These scenarios do not seem to be compatible in the current space.
  • It is impossible to have 30 people.
  • Ben: Do we want a new space, or would it make more sense to rent a space as needed? Like, find a space that has room for people and use it when we need it.
  • Matt: we can have events in our space which is good, because that's the reason for having space: to put people in the space.
  • Kelly: could we organize to make room for more people?
  • Consensus: unlikely
  • Adam: "Build it and they may come." It was the same when we started the space.
  • No action items, but it was a rousing discussion.
• Getting active (Where have we been?)
  • What's the scoop? Is something missing?
  • Is stuff getting in the way?
  • It has pointed out that node-discussion-list has been inactive.
  • Members oughta BE MOAR ACTIVE, just put stuff out there.
  • Workshops, going good. Keep going. Add to them.
  • Has once a month business meeting caused a drop-off? Nope.
• Taxes
  • Still gotta pay 'em. Waiting for Jon.
• 501c3
  • The thing keeping us from doing a 501c3 is money and time.
  • We have people to work with. A committe shall be organized.
• Money for Wes?
  • We already approved the money and already have the stuff. We just gotta get him the money.
• baltolug - baltimore linux users group
  • loose affiliation of linux fans
  • Mark has a dude coming by to check out the space, Brian H.
  • Concerns: no one to open up, 'cause we're a private space.
• Unallocated Space - new hackerspace forming, leased space near BWI. 1600 sqft and outdoor space.
  • Collaboration - lightning talks, workshops, other events. We should pay attention and cross-promote.
  • Should we start or seek a Mid-Atlantic mailing list or discussion forum? Baltimore region? Where does a "techie" in Baltimore go for this kind of discussion. We should pick this up on the discussion list.
• DIY Fest
  • October 23, 2640 St Paul.
  • We have a table and time for workshops.
  • ADAM will send a message to solicit workshop ideas.
• New stuff
  • Electronic components, we have 'em.
• Remington Science Camp? See the mailing list.

Special Agenda Items

• Pete visited, dev with Skyline. Interested in being a member. We voted, he's in.

Standard Agenda Items

• Financials
  • Monies In
  • Monies Out
• Memberships
  • Surprise! New member.
• Upcoming Events

Attending

• Adam
• Alan
• Ben
• James
• Jon C.
• Justin
• Kelly
• Mark
• Matt
• Pete