squidwrench

Prepared by: Sean Swehla (thor)

Location: The Palace Diner

Notes/Decisions/Issues

1. The overall purpose of the organization is as follows:
   1. Provide a space for members to socialize and to work on various projects together.
   2. Provide the infrastructure necessary to execute those projects.
   3. Facilitate the exchange of information through informal interactions and also possibly through specific events or classes.
   4. To bring the benefits of this infrastructure and information exchange to the greater community.
2. Type of organization
   1. It will probably be in the members' best interests for the organization to become a legal entity eventually
   2. We do not yet know whether a for-profit or a not-for-profit organization would be most suitable
   3. Records should be kept in support of any form of incorporation at a later date
   4. The decision to incorporate, for-profit or otherwise, should be deferred until the group has begun to coalesce a bit more
3. Certain projects in the area may complement our goals well. We should look into potentially beneficial interactions with:
   1. Children's Media Project
   2. Nubian Directions
4. We should look into the Barrett Art Center in Poughkeepsie and define our group's distinguishing characteristics, if appropriate.
5. What will be our funding sources?
   1. Membership dues
   2. Grants?
   3. Nerd/Artist 'Bakesale'
   4. Other (post ideas in the comments here, or in the forums)
6. We need a space
   1. Abandoned warehouse?
   2. Check up on how firecodes will affect our ability to build out a space
   3. 29 Hamilton
   4. What kind of cost can we expect?
   5. What sort of budget do we think we can support?
7. People are willing to host/lead classes
   1. Intro to electronic music
   2. Cooking (possibly)
   3. Beginning language (Spanish, German, possibly more?)
   4. Learn a language from scratch meetup group (Mandarin?)
8. Varied interests are welcomed
   1. Computers
   2. Electronics
   3. Music
   4. Painting
   5. Dance (suggested but not representative)
   6. This is not an exhaustive list
9. Checkout middlemain.ning.com for potential publicity/suggestions/help/funding
10. Some possible additions to this website's capabilities
    1. Skills and/or talents as part of the user profile
    2. A questionnaire or other record of people's skills vs. interests
    3. The ability to add 'needed skills' to a project page
11. Maybe some merch or other promotional items are in order
    1. Shirts
    2. Flyers
    3. Cards
12. The website needs
    1. A custom and suitable theme idea
    2. A new logo
    3. One or more co-administrators (Tom?)
13. A mini-con or a 'Show & Tell' could be a good kickoff

Tasks

1. Start searching for potential spaces: size, cost, location, etc (everyone)
2. Find other orgs that might complement or compete (everyone)
3. Record the minutes (thor, done)
4. Create a page for presentation tips (Mike Buzzetti)

Next Meeting

1. The will be another Preliminary Meetup to cover similar topics on Thu Jan 21st at 9pm also at the Palace Diner
2. Other meetings TBD