June and July 2017 experiment with expanded hours open to the public

MakeICT was open for tours, questions, and for use by unkeyed members every Monday and Thursday from 7-9PM, for a two month trial. Refer to http://makeict.org/calendar for official times we are opened.

Maker Monday

Every 2nd and 4th Monday of the month was Maker Monday starting at 7, when we had a formal presentation, visits from area leads, and new member orientation. This was the best time for a new guest to come and really get to know the makerspace.

Other open hours

Other Mondays and all Thursdays we tried having the door unlocked and volunteer greeters to help. Starting with check in at the front desk. It was intended for members that hadn't applied for a key yet, this was a great time to come visit and use equipment you had authorizations to use. If you're weren't yet a member, we were happy to show you around the space and answer questions. Official tours and new member orientation were the 2nd and 4th Monday of every month at 7PM.

Door attendants were responsible for the space during this time and reserved the right to decide which unkeyed members or non-members could enter. Door attendants were empowered to require Photo ID.

Open Hours Volunteers

If you were a keyed member and wanted to help staff the door for a few hours a month, the sign up was at [redacted]. You would have been added by [redacted] to access our google calendar for assignments. If you couldn’t make your randomly assigned date, you were asked to switch with someone.

These were the Guidelines for Volunteers

• Open door times are 7PM to 9PM.
• First - thank you so much for volunteering!
  • Follow normal policies, like "Be not on fire"
  • Wear a MakeICT shirt (optional)
  • Wear a nametag (not optional)
  • Show up around 6:45, unlock door, put sign out
  • If you don’t know how to unlock the door, learn to unlock the door. Someone is surely around who knows. Otherwise you’ll have to monitor and let people in.
  • Sit at front desk table. Be smiley.
• When people show up say “Welcome! Are you here to learn about MakeICT?” (It’s nicer than the vague “Can I help you?”)
  • If they say yes, offer a tour!
    • There are two people assigned every evening, one to watch the door and the other to walk around
    • Explain that new member orientation is every other monday, but now that they’ve had a tour they can just come for the presentation
    • Explain that they should stalk the calendar and find classes to get authorized to make sure classes fit their schedule
    • Answer any other questions. Talk about their goals
  • If they say “No I’m a member here to use the space”
    • Ask where they’re going, explain that they’re sort of a guest so don’t burn anything down
    • Verify that they are familiar with policies and what authorization they’ve gone through
    • Keep an eye on them and shoo them out at 9pm, unless another keyed member is willing to take responsibility for them. Until then, they are your puppy.
    • Encourage them to get a key
  • Remember that you have the right to reject anyone at the door who does not have a key.
• At the end of the night, we filled out this spreadsheet with how we did. Spreadsheet numbers illustrated that the attempt wasn't effective.