help_outline Skip to main content

The Lounge

The Future Of Kamloops Makerspace
Author Last Post

I've also reached out to my shop teacher friend at Sahali, to see if we can collaborate on getting some young, responsible creatives in the door, or a at least introduce them to the space so that it's there in their minds for the future.

We could reach out to TRU clubs and see if they would be interested in memberships? I know the TRU Phi-Six club would be excited to do this!


Hi Ray. You are definitely welcome to be at our open house every Wednesday from 5-9pm. It's our give back to the community. Some of us have been or are broke so we totally understand. We have some members who do Wednesday only and that's just fine.


I like your list of potential groups to reach out to. It's hard to remember that it takes constant effort to stay in people's minds. Thank you for the reminder that we need to start pushing the Open House message again.

I definitely see your point. If all possible ways of changing the cost have been looked at, let's look at ways to get it to the people for whom the cost isn't a barrier.

I'm not sure what groups would be in the position of needing a workspace and also able to pay a membership, but I think some folks in the geeky/nerdy spaces I'm aware of may want to be able to make custom stuff, but that's about it.

What groups do we know of that like to make stuff?

Maybe the car guys in town would appreciate the pain spray area?

Uh.....






I definitely see that as a potential opt-out for people. You wouldn't have to pay a month membership if you only need it for a week. And a week is long enough to get a TON done.

The amount of funds it takes is definitely a barrier for me, and the only reason I haven't bought a membership already. I'm forum only so far.

However, I wasn't aware that Wednesday nights was available again/still, though I don't know how I missed that. Is there always someone there on Wednesday evenings? Advertising that might be a good way to go, but like... targeted advertising ... posters/advertising with laser cut MTG frames and geeky saying decals at all aboard, or pottery, sewing, and chain link at the SCA events and larp events, possibly warhammer40k lasercut or CNC-d terrain or paintbrush rests at Octane, potentially 3d printed or CNCd custom Catan tiles at the lounge, I haven't been there yet.


I don't want to make it harder for existing people. I also want to make it easier access to become familiar with the makerspace. I had to *search*, even though I knew it existed because of Nicholas.

We have discussed passes before. The consensus was that it would encourage members to swith to buying passes instead of paying monthly. Someone would be less likely to use up one of the passes to do volunteer work. What we need are people who are willing to pay $80 per month and contribute to keeping the space running. It would be hard to build community based on a punch card system.


As for other incentives we have felt that they quickly become disinsentives. Two people are mopping the floor. One of them is being rewarded, the other is not. The person not being rewarded feels ripped off and stops mopping. The other person who is getting a reward for mopping stops when the reward runs out. Why would you mop for free when you used to be paid to mop?


We used to have a keyholder and non-keyholder membership level. The non-keyholder members didn't stick around because access to the makerspace was spotty. Discounted memberships that rely on volunteers to let people in haven't worked.


We have our Wednesday open house nights for people who cant afford a membership to be able to participate.


The Co-op model has also been discussed. A co-op would require a certain number of voluteer hours be put in to maintain the membership. It was decided we would just loose members rather than gain volunteer hours.


There are two conflicting views of the makerspace. One veiw is that the makerspace is like a gym membership. The other veiw is that the makerspace is a clubhouse. The gym membership view presupposes that there is a staff to maintain the facilities between uses.


What we need is more people paying memberships. Some of those people will be the clubhouse type and some of those will be the gym membership type.

What about doing a day or week pass?

The "free membership" compensation wouldn't be for their volunteering in general. It would be as a sort of carrot to entice someone to be available 40h+ a week whenever folks wanted. That's not something most of our volunteers are capable of, as they work, and probably not something that someone who works (and therefore has income) would be able to do, only someone in retirement, disabled, or with a trust fund. A trust funded person could buy their own shop if they wanted, but a retired or disabled person would be unlikely to be able to afford a membership outright. It would also be an overall income generator, not an income detractor, if the makerspace was then in use more than 10h a month under that person. (See previous math regarding hours to a membership) We would still expect the same amount of volunteer time from a member who was given membership this way.

Hello Rae,


Interesting suggestions all, one thing to note however is that Makerspace is an entirely volunteer run organization, with a small number of volunteers (who are all paying members) who put in well above a few hours per month. If they were to be compensated by free membership their compensation would be equivalent to a few $/hour.


Of course there are some who use the space regularly and don't give back their time, creating a challenging imbalance that can at times lead to feelings of resentment.


Perhaps there is a way to better balance this, as it varies from individual to individual whether time or money is their most available asset.

This is gonna sound really weird, but bear with me:

If we found a person who couldn't afford a membership but had the knowledge and free time,

And then if we/the board could vet them appropriately,

And then if folks around town needed to use a workspace for just a little while, like an hour or 2 at a time,

We could give someone a free membership in exchange for supervising folks coming in and using the space for a fee/honorarium of 20 or 25$ for an hour, and basically make up the deficit in memberships with one time payments.

Selling point for memberships: a membership all month is less than paying for 5 hours, and then you're not restricted to when people are available to supervise.

Also, making posts around town or social media reminding people that a forum membership is free. If they are invested in the makerspace's existence, they may become interested in introducing people, may get a membership when it becomes financially feasible, etc.

What about Sunday potluck? Its a low pressure social event. It would help build community and maybe bring some people back. It costs as much as a bowl of pasta and people can do their own dishes. I'm still 3ish weeks from home.

I will not be hosting a workshop on something I am not qualified to do.

I have already volunteered to host workshops on subjects I am.

I did not add fundraisers or workshops due to the fact we get lots of recommendations for other people to do things. There tends to be a tendency for things to be bottlenecked with the same few volunteers. While criticism or suggestions are often made with good intentions, they can be demoralizing for people who have been working very hard to make the space what they can.


Workshops were impacted due to some members abusing them to make a personal profit and negatively impacting the space. Covid also made them impossible to host for the past couple of years. Workshops have been identified as a key tool for moving forward. To that end, a guideline on hoasting workshops has been developed and passed.


Workshop Guideline


Garret, are interested in sharing some of your newfound knowledge in developing a workshop for the lathe? Is there anyone willing to help Grant with organizing this fundraiser?



Host workshops.


This isn't mentioned above and I really feel it needs to be included if Makerspace is to have and should have a future in town.


Education is identified in the Purppl report as being fundamental to the Makerspace's mission and yet it hasn't seem to be a focus at all over the past few years.


As an example the metal lathe that is sitting in the fab shop has had a "Do not use yet" sticker on it for well over a year. As I understand it the only thing required to have it "usable" is someone hosting a workshop on it. I would have loved the opportunity to participate in a workshop with it, sadly it never happened and I simply bought my own to learn on.


Pub night at Duffys is now Pub month. You can order a book of tickets and sell them. It's up to the purchaser to make reservations (Sunday to Thursday) for dine in or take out during the selected month. The next month available is July. If we sell all 150 tickets we will have raised $1500.


This isn't the get together I was envisioning but it is a lot less work. If anyone feels they can organize selling 150 tickets @ $25 each I will forward the email to you.

Well said. One thing we haven't done in a long time is pub night. It's a great way to invite people back to the social side of the space. I remember we had to

1) book a pub

2) sell tickets

3) have door prizes

4) have silent auction items.

And by we I mean someone else did all the work. It had a good return for the work involved.

Kamloops Makerspace like all Makerspaces or non-profits in general have ups and downs. Unfortunately, Kamloops Makerspace is in one of these lulls. Funds are dangerously low and so is participation in the tasks that our space needs to succeed.


Kamloops Makerspace is 100% volunteer-run. This means every single function from paying bills to cleaning toilets is done by volunteers. The tasks we all need to be completed so we can enjoy our creative space together are being done by a smaller and smaller group of people. This has greatly diminished their morale and willingness to continue to contribute.


Kamloops Makerspace is funded primarily through memberships. While fundraising, partnerships, and the occasional grant is a huge help. They are dependent on volunteer capacity. Due to the effects of the above volunteer deficit those who typically organized fundraising, grants, etc. are no longer able to do so. Kamloops Makerspace needs a minimum of 50 members paying each month to break even. We are currently around 30.


We need to seriously talk about the future of the Kamloops Makerspace. If there is no interest from the membership and the community at large to keep the Makerpsace alive we should consider closing the space. If there is we need all of you reading this to consider doing the following:


Keep your membership active.


We understand that times are tough and people are often too busy to make it to the makerspace. Please keep your membership active if you can.


Donate.


There are donation boxes in every room. That money stays in each room to improve each space. There is a box on the door of the office for donations to go into general funds to keep the space going. Our website has a donation page set up similarly. Now is a crucial time to donate if you can.


Be an ambassador.


If you are a member please give friends tours, tell co-workers, and encourage others to join or donate. If you know a former member, reconnect and encourage them to come back. Post on social media and our Forum


Clean the Makerspace.


Everyone has a different threshold to dirtiness. Leaving the space a mess discourages members from joining or staying. It also limits our ability to work with sponsors or partners. Every member is responsible for cleaning the makerspace. Not just their spot but the whole space. There are lists of tasks in each room that take about 5 minutes each to complete. Do as many as you can. If you are unable to do the other things mentioned here this is a huge help.


Be a conscientious Maker.


We are a community of creative people of all types and backgrounds. Consider how your interactions with others affect them. Snide comments, aggressiveness, rudeness, and gatekeeping discourage new makers and volunteers alike. Please consider the criticism or suggestions no matter how intended can discourage other members.


Limit storage.


We have limited space to store members' items. If you are not going to use something right away. Take it home. Members who do not have space to store work often leave. Do not store things long-term.


Don't leave things everywhere.


Do not store anything in any place not directly intended for member storage. Leaving things on tools, tables, and on the floor discourages other members from using the space. Drying items should be moved as soon as possible and not left anywhere that could impact another member.


Participate in meetings.


Members can share their input and find out other ways to help at our monthly Members Meeting on the first Thursday of every month at 6:00 PM. They will be in person at the Makerspace starting June 2nd


Hang out.


We have not been able to do this for a while due to COVID. However, now is the time. We are a community of creative people. Share what you are working on, passionate about, or just watch cool maker videos in the lounge.


Kamloops Makerspace will only survive to serve our community if every member and supporter does what they can to make our space an energetic and fun place to create.


Return to Forum