I appreciate the information, but when it comes to decision making like this, a cherry-picked data-set is worse then no data. I'd really like a proper set of statistics to work with.
There is one thing I do find interesting though. It looks as though the $10 reduced-rate members in Alberta have the same rights as our free guests here in Winnipeg. On Mon, Oct 15, 2012 at 4:23 PM, Roswyne <[email protected]> wrote: > I've been chatting with members of the hackerspaces in Calgary and > Edmonton (Protospace and ENTs), and they both have the reduced fees. Both > of their regular rates are $50/month and their reduced rate is $10/month. > > Neither of them restrict it to students, but the reduced rate does not > give the member a key, storage space, or a vote at meetings. They are > restricted to coming to the space when someone with a key is already there, > and aren't authorized to use some tools/equipment. > > Calgary also offers a student membership at $30/month which requires > proof of student status, and gives them a shelf and a vote. > > > Both Calgary and Edmonton offer a reduced rate (1 or 2 months free) if you > pre-pay for an entire year. > > > > The Baltimore Node does not offer a general reduced rate, but offers > reduced membership rates to additional members of a household, and reduced > memberships on a case by case basis. > > The Harford Hackerspace has multiple membership levels, which appear to > range from $85/month down, depending on category (regular member, charter > member, student, etc.), but their wiki has no other specific valued > mentioned. > > VHS (in Vancouver) offers 3 price points - $50 (regular member), $25 > (voting, no key), $10 (no key, no vote). > > > > This isn't a random sampling, really, but I've been to 2 of the three > spaces, and talked on irc to a third. > > > I think our members are honest enough that they will pay full rate or more > if they can afford it, and won't downgrade to a reduced fee unless they > have to. > > > > > > On Mon, Oct 15, 2012 at 3:26 PM, Jay Smith <[email protected]> wrote: > >> Totalitarian Treasurer checking in. >> >> Reduction for non-student/cash-strapped members: >> I will not support a membership fee reduction for non-students. We are >> already strapped for cash and we are not in the business of becoming a >> hostel. Non-student members who can not pay $40.00/month will be given two >> weeks warning to pay their dues or have their memberships and access >> revoked. I do follow the hackerspace patterns as close as possible and the >> line about being a "Totalitarian Treasurer" is near and dear to what was >> once my heart :-) >> >> If you are unable to pay fees, your best bet is to cancel your membership >> until such a time that you can pay. You're always welcome to reapply when >> you are able. >> >> Student Memberships: >> I have no strong opinion on the idea of student memberships. It's not >> much extra work and it does seem to be an accepted practice for most >> hacker-spaces I've looked into. If anybody can compile a current collection >> of fee structures from across Canada and the US for tomorrow's meeting, it >> would make for great research. I'm particularly interested in seeing: >> >> - % of hackerspaces with student membership options >> - Average student membership cost >> - Average full membership cost for all hackerspaces >> - Average full membership cost for hackerspaces that offer student >> discounts >> - Average full membership cost for hackerspaces that do no offer student >> discounts >> >> I'd do it myself, but I have to admit that I simply don't have time to >> compile even more data tonight. >> >> >> >> On Mon, Oct 15, 2012 at 2:47 PM, Ron <[email protected]> wrote: >> >>> -----BEGIN PGP SIGNED MESSAGE----- >>> Hash: SHA1 >>> >>> I think that's great advice. >>> >>> I've tried to follow the design patterns from hackerspaces.org as often >>> as it's possible and as often as it makes sense for us. It doesn't >>> always make sense, of course, but more often than not they're pretty >>> good. >>> >>> I'm not saying we should make policy decisions based entirely on the >>> pattern, just that if the patterns say it's a good idea, it might >>> actually be a good idea. >>> >>> Ron >>> >>> On 2012-10-15 14:38, Justin Lacko wrote: >>> > And FWIW the hackerspaces.org model has a few things that operate on >>> > the "paranoia" such as this one: >>> > http://hackerspaces.org/wiki/The_Sponsoring_Anti-Pattern so I wouldn't >>> > take that site as gospel. But what do I know? >>> > >>> > On 15 October 2012 14:35, Justin Lacko <[email protected]> wrote: >>> > > What kind of reduction are we looking at here? Is, say $10 a month >>> > > really the deciding factor for anybody for not becoming a member? >>> > > >>> > > I think $40 is already as cheap as we can go. If anything I'd say >>> make >>> > > $40 the student rate and re-jigger (Mak's word) the regular member >>> > > rate. $40 is incredibly cheap for ~4200 sq. ft. of 24/7 access to a >>> > > space with tools, computers, a lounge, a budding arcade, and >>> > > developing electrical. >>> > > >>> > > On 15 October 2012 14:28, Ron <[email protected]> wrote: >>> > >> -----BEGIN PGP SIGNED MESSAGE----- >>> > >> Hash: SHA1 >>> > >> >>> > >> Hey guys, >>> > >> >>> > >> I'm forwarding along a suggestion from David Stewart, who's not >>> > >> currently a member but is interested in SkullSpace. Based on what he >>> > >> says, and some reading I've done, I think we should re-visit the >>> idea of >>> > >> student memberships. >>> > >> >>> > >> I was traditionally against it, but I'm starting to come around. It >>> > >> helps that I re-read the hackerspace design patterns and it includes >>> > >> this one: http://hackerspaces.org/wiki/The_Membership_Fees_Pattern >>> > >> >>> > >> Which includes the text, "Collect fees regularly. Make no >>> exceptions, >>> > >> ever. Choose an appropriate amount. Have discounts for students. >>> Have at >>> > >> least three months of rent on your account, all the time, no >>> exceptions. >>> > >> Elect a totalitarian treasurer." >>> > >> >>> > >> The issues I've had in the past with it - keeping everybody equal, >>> etc - >>> > >> I think we can set aside for the purposes of getting more members / >>> more >>> > >> interest / more events / etc. Another issue was how we manage it - >>> and I >>> > >> think honour system is fine. If you're going to school full-time, >>> and >>> > >> you tell us you are, that's good enough. If we don't believe you, >>> then >>> > >> you probably shouldn't be a member anwyays. >>> > >> >>> > >> It would create extra work for Jay - to switch members from student >>> to >>> > >> regular when necessary - so he definitely has a say in this. >>> > >> >>> > >> Students could, of course, choose to pay the full amount, if they'd >>> > >> like. :) >>> > >> >>> > >> Thoughts? >>> > >> >>> > >> Ron >>> > >> >>> > >> - ----- Forwarded message from David Stewart < >>> [email protected]> ----- >>> > >> >>> > >> Date: Mon, 15 Oct 2012 14:15:37 -0500 >>> > >> From: David Stewart <[email protected]> >>> > >> To: [email protected] >>> > >> Subject: Skullspace student/casual memberships >>> > >> >>> > >> Hello Ron, >>> > >> >>> > >> Over the past year I have sporadically attended various events >>> at >>> > >> Skullspace (Most notably Mak's C course) and while I would like to >>> become a >>> > >> full member, there has always been a few things that have held me >>> back >>> > >> (mostly due to lack of time). Compounding my existing lack of time >>> problem >>> > >> is that since have I started school full time at the U of M, the >>> amount of >>> > >> free time I have has taken a dive off a cliff. Furthermore, being >>> a full >>> > >> time student, has rendered me more or less broke. >>> > >> >>> > >> I would like to contribute to the success of Skullspace, but >>> $40 a >>> > >> month is beyond my reach financially for now, and quite frankly >>> with my >>> > >> dwindling free time I could hardly spend any time at all at the >>> space >>> > >> anyways. >>> > >> >>> > >> I'm sure you see where I am going with this, but I will ask the >>> > >> question directly.... Has there ever been discussion about >>> memberships for >>> > >> student/casual members? - Perhaps key less if need be, and/or based >>> on >>> > >> hours at the space per month, non-voting (or 1/2 of a vote), >>> without a >>> > >> dedicated storage spot etc. ? I realize that this has the >>> potential to be >>> > >> a slippery slope of "special treatment", but could a fair system be >>> hashed >>> > >> out? To me it seems that this could help to open up membership to >>> a wider >>> > >> audience and increase the amount of membership dues collected each >>> month >>> > >> without causing a significant increase in operating >>> > >> costs.......Additionally, this could help to make Skullspace a more >>> > >> inclusive community. (Not that it is particularly exclusionary at >>> the >>> > >> moment!) >>> > >> >>> > >> Anyways it's just a thought, I'll leave it to you and the >>> Skullspace group >>> > >> to make the decisions on this, but feel free to ask me questions >>> and I'll >>> > >> do my best to get back to you asap. >>> > >> >>> > >> Regards, >>> > >> >>> > >> David Stewart >>> > >> >>> > >> - ----- End forwarded message ----- >>> > >> -----BEGIN PGP SIGNATURE----- >>> > >> Version: GnuPG v2.0.19 (GNU/Linux) >>> > >> >>> > >> iEYEARECAAYFAlB8Y94ACgkQ2t2zxlt4g/QmTQCg3asSucA+sQ7tmhyg3OZmEgDn >>> > >> P+oAn0uoAcEd3CF8plbHAAwB5h0jbcPe >>> > >> =ju56 >>> > >> -----END PGP SIGNATURE----- >>> > >> _______________________________________________ >>> > >> SkullSpace Discuss Mailing List >>> > >> Help: http://www.skullspace.ca/wiki/index.php/Mailing_List#Discuss >>> > >> Archive: >>> https://groups.google.com/group/skullspace-discuss-archive/ >>> > _______________________________________________ >>> > SkullSpace Discuss Mailing List >>> > Help: http://www.skullspace.ca/wiki/index.php/Mailing_List#Discuss >>> > Archive: https://groups.google.com/group/skullspace-discuss-archive/ >>> -----BEGIN PGP SIGNATURE----- >>> Version: GnuPG v2.0.19 (GNU/Linux) >>> >>> iEYEARECAAYFAlB8aFcACgkQ2t2zxlt4g/RJrwCfTVP2eHyTJhtiVwU4FWP9N8hG >>> NBkAoM+pqgnRJ/mUuifs1/fMztlSTq7V >>> =iGqa >>> -----END PGP SIGNATURE----- >>> _______________________________________________ >>> SkullSpace Discuss Mailing List >>> Help: http://www.skullspace.ca/wiki/index.php/Mailing_List#Discuss >>> Archive: https://groups.google.com/group/skullspace-discuss-archive/ >>> >> >> >> _______________________________________________ >> SkullSpace Discuss Mailing List >> Help: http://www.skullspace.ca/wiki/index.php/Mailing_List#Discuss >> Archive: https://groups.google.com/group/skullspace-discuss-archive/ >> > > > _______________________________________________ > SkullSpace Discuss Mailing List > Help: http://www.skullspace.ca/wiki/index.php/Mailing_List#Discuss > Archive: https://groups.google.com/group/skullspace-discuss-archive/ >
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