[757labs] 757rb users group

[Ed Park]

Ethan,

Lurker here. Thanks for the info. Also heard about this place from
757rb list.  I'm also interested in possibly joining after I figure
out if I've got the time/resources to do so.  Hey don't forget the
other costs of running a place like that besides rent. I imagine
electricity and heat can get expensive in such a large place unless
this is covered by the landlord.

Other possible ways of earning income to pay bills in addition to memberships:

Maybe running some kind of concessions at the place - sort of scouts
honor thing so no one has to man it.  Monthly runs to sams/costco for
sodas/snacks should be all that's needed.
Charging for one time/half day passes when members  want to bring in a
friend or two.

Charging for one time events/training.  Maybe you can get members to
volunteer their time to set up a training class.  I would love to get
some lessons on basic electronics/soldering.

Anyways, I think you guys are providing a service/place that is
desperately needed and I'm sure with a little good pr and the right
product/service mix, you guys could really do well.

Ed P

On Fri, Feb 12, 2010 at 11:28 AM,  <ethan at 757.org> wrote:
>> I was an attendee at the 757rb users group this week, and am very interested
>> in what you guys are doing.
>
> Great!
>
>> You ready for any "outsiders" getting involved yet?
>
> I think we're there! The lab is 43 days old or such.
>
>> We have a couple of AIX boxes (F-40 and a B-50), several elderly HP Intel
>> servers, etc. laying around that need a new home if you are interested. Is
>> the wishlist on the wiki current?
>
> Interesting. Are the HP Intel boxes Itanium, or standard Pentium/Xeon type
> stuff? I've got one 2u rackmount AIX system that I was going to around out
> there, but figured I'd wait to try to get a feel of what members are
> interested in doing.
>
>> I don't see a calendar anywhere to show up for an open lab day, but I'd love
>> to chat with you guys and find out a little more about the kind of stuff
>> you're working on, plans for memberships, etc.
>
> Skhisma is working on the wordpress theme thing for the front page, and
> google calendar, and other things. I guess I need to make him an account
> on the server if he doesn't have one.
>
> Skhisma can correct if I'm wrong, but the way we've talked of doing
> membership so far is that it's $60 a month for the full membership thing
> with a key. Members are free to work on projects and use resources. I
> don't think membership will entitle anyone to their own plot of land, but
> there will be storage in the back for projects, and if there is a bigger
> project that needs more space temporarily (I guess set a horizon or
> something) then that is doable (assuming it wont kill the use of the space
> for everyone else).
>
> It's a bit hard to lay down exact rules right now because there aren't any
> actual members, and outside ideas for projects haven't really started to
> show up yet. You know? We've got a growing list of projects already, and
> then there are some meetings and social things being discussed as well.
>
> Upcoming (soon) will be microcontroller meeting, HRGeeks 2nd monthly
> meeting, and looking at doing a movie night as Misfit has some
> documentaries that ran recently on Apple Computers. Also a Cray day, when
> we start to get serious about getting the Cray system online.
>
> Open to ideas for other things as well!!!! Just need input from others.
>
> We need to hear what other people's ideas are for using the space.
>
> We've also thought about some sorta student rate, or also maybe an open
> donation box.
>
> Rent is $1000/month, which honestly, isn't much given what we get. It
> increases to $1040 next year, then $1080 3rd year. Unless we need to (or
> want to) move.
>
> It's kind of a balancing act, been thinking about it a lot but hard to
> come to conclusions yet since things are still in their infancy!
>
> I should be there this evening at around 6 to 7pm or so. When in doubt my
> mobile # is 757 four oh tree, nine fo' 6 0.
>
>
>
>
> --
> Ethan O'Toole
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