Meeting Notes 2022 02 01

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These are the notes from the The 664th Meeting of Noisebridge.

• Live notes
  • https://pad.riseup.net/p/nbmeeting
• Virtual Meeting (jitsi mic/cam off by default)
  • https://jitsi.noisebridge.io/hackitorium#config.startWithAudioMuted=true&config.startWithVideoMuted=true&userInfo.displayName=%22n00b%22

Date: 2022-02-01

ALSO EDIT PREVIOUS AND NEXT DATES IN THE WIKI LINKS BELOW

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Note-takers: Farley, Alex

Moderators: Mcint

• One or two bullet points of high-level meeting summary.

Meeting Summary

FIXME FILL OUT AT END OF MEETING AND SEND TO MAILING LIST TLDR what happened at the meeting:

• Fundraising Update
• Announcements:
• Finances:
• New members:
• New philanthropists:
• Consensus Items:
• Discussion Items:

Introductions

• McInt: bit of sewing recently, looking forward to do infrastructure stuff again
• Emeline: sewing
• Tyler: visiting, fixing jeans
• Daniel. fixing jeans just graduated biomedical engineerring
• LXPK: I do gamebridge game dev wednesdays and I also do wiki/metaguild/fundraising stuff for the space.
• farley: Web developer in the space primarily in the space learning stuff, hanging out, ocassionally participating with projects. I've been learning Linux recently and today I'm applying to become a philanthropist. How much do I donate and how and who is the treasurer?
• TJ: Tyler, I'll put it in the chat, we generally ask for $80 but if you're not able to do that you can do $40.

Does AI stuff

• Carl: writing mobile apps, works for the internet archive
• Nthmost: just learning math and holding Philosophy Guild 9:45pm Friday nights.

Short announcements and events

• Upcoming fundraiser. 2/13 Sunday.
• MNT hackerspace in Germany. Laptop design & modification. Friday, 3/4.
• Board elections. Liz, supposed to happen 1/22. Requires advance notice.

 * 3 weeks from now, End of Feb: Board Election.

https://www.noisebridge.net/wiki/Meeting_Notes_2022_01_25#Short_announcements_and_events

Monday is Circuit Hacking Monday and Communication Dojo events at 7PM. Communication Dojo prep session is at 6:30-7:00 on Discord. Tuesdays is sewing meetup at 6pm in peron. Class on Reinforcement Learning at 7PM Wednesday Turing on Discord. Thursdays is To-do-ocracy at 6pm. Fridays is chess night. SFWEM is now BAM, Bay Area Mesh, they have a montly meeting with a Net on 70cm followed by a zoom. Accessibility guild is meeting Thursdays during To-do-ocracy to plan space improvements and plan the Elevator installation and fundraising.

BOARD ELECTIONS are coming up!

In order to nominate someone (including yourself) for the 2022 Board of Noisebridge, sign up to run for the board! https://www.noisebridge.net/wiki/2022_board_election We have board insurance so you'll be less at risk if you join the board.

Noisebrew is starting soon and accepting funding and equipment donations! Add your name to the wiki page if you're interested in participating or helping. ONGOING

Fundraising is planning a NB14 14th anniversary grand reopening fundraiser. Groups at Noisebridge can prepare and exhibit things for it. Add your ideas to the wiki. Help plan at fundraising meetings during Doocratic Thursdays 6-9PM. ONGOING NeurotechX hacknights- Thursdays 6-9 pm check the meetup for if it is happening https://www.meetup.com/NeuroTechSF/ (no upcoming events on meetup)

Excellence

Our One Rule is to Be Excellent to Each Other.

(What does that mean? Everyone is expected to follow the Anti-Harassment Policy, please familiarize yourself with it.) TWO MINUTES MAX https://www.noisebridge.net/wiki/Anti-Harassment_Policy

New members/philanthropists

Farley - sponsored by TJ (culteejen) Emeline - sponsored by Sophia (Sophia Wisdom)

Financial Report

Anarchist societies under a capitalist state need money to survive and thrive, yo.

• Funds in bank:

   cash-309,106.45
   crypto-3.25 bitcoin (125,388.25)
   total-434,494.70
   

• Noisetor (See the bulletpoints at the bottom of http://noisetor.net/finances/#summary):
• Any other details by those participating in handling our financials
• The latest financial reports from the treasurer are available at https://noisebridge.net/wiki/Finances

Apply to be a treasurer, if you can help us handle money and are well trusted.

Spending Needs

Gotta spend money on XYZ (i.e. Gate, wiring etc.). WHO CAN SIGN THE CHECK OR LEND THE CREDIT CARD!?!?! It doesn't matter if we agree to do something and it can’t be paid for.

none

Fundraising Update

How's it all going

2/13 front of noisebridge, set up (like for HackComedy) set up stage for talks and presentations.

Big C Consensus Items

Nobody likes 3 hour meetings, only explain if people ask

Consensus Items

Only for talking about Big C consensus items, small c consensus items should be discussed with people at the space at the time of the change/new item.

COVID POLICY RENEWAL

Putting this as one consensus item for now, as the multi-consensus format seemed like a mistake. In any case, the last consensus of Noisebridge is this: - It is Excellent to be fully vaccinated before entering Noisebridge, and we will work to actively communicate such through signage and tours - Requiring vaccination records are more harmful in de-anonymizing people than helpful, since most anti-vaxxers stay away from vax-positive spaces anyways - Masks will be negotiated by small-C consensus of the people inside Noisebridge. This proposal is to either reaffirm these, or edit the proposal into something everyone agrees with.

Will be discussed more on discuss there will be links to the previous time that this was concensed to give context to the original discussion.

MEMBERSHIP POLICY REVISION

• NTHMOST introuced the consensus item last week, here are the discussion notes: https://www.noisebridge.net/wiki/Meeting_Notes_2022_01_25

And the Discuss page: https://discuss.noisebridge.info/t/consensus-proposal-philanthropists-becoming-members-need-only-1-additional-sponsorship-and-2-months-of-participation/2825/ LXPK proposed some additions:

LXPK-summarising stuff from the discuss thread

Philanthropists become Members when they satisfy the following conditions: 1 additional Sponsor signature (Member) on their application form. at least 8 weeks elapsed time since becoming a Philanthropist.

helps people automaticly apply for big M membership, and makes vetting people easier.

LXPK proposed some additions:

• General questions we would like to know about all prospective member’s aspirations for Noisebridge can be added to the membership application form.

• A philanthropist can fill out the member application form with an additional member sponsor and any additional questions on it. They become a member after 8 weeks of becoming a philanthropist and 4 meeting weeks of the member application being filled out unless a member blocks it.

• A philanthropy applicant can fill out the member application form at the same time.

• Everyone is encouraged to get to know new philanthropists that may soon become members and learn about them through socializing.

Discussion time

Pyconaut- I like the additions being a part of the item as it will keep this information form being forgot or from these points being changed randomly or by accident.

LXPK - I added my proposed addons in the Discuss thread: https://discuss.noisebridge.info/t/consensus-proposal-philanthropists-becoming-members-need-only-1-additional-sponsorship-and-2-months-of-participation/2825/12

• Nthmost: Members have ability to block consensus items for major decisions like financial expenditures, moves, etc. with a quorum of 3 members minimum (which is really low) in the meeting. Members are called to deliberate on consensus proposals. There's implicit knowledge that if they're able to block, it is imperative to convince people who are members not to block for an item to go forward. Some say "membership doesn"t matter" which isn't exactly true. It is true that some people decide never to be members and have influence how NB works which is cool. You can sense things to become true in that sense you don't need to be a member because we need quorum of members for decisions to be made according to our bylaws. Essentially, one needs to convince members of the worth of an idea. It doesn't matter as much if a nonmember disagrees since they're the ones who can block.

If member pool is increasing should we increase the quorum size as a percentage?

Nthmost: Maybe.

mcint: This was sice last week?

Nthmost: We can consider it today the first day in its current shape so it needs 2 weeks.

mcint: How does it consider current philanthropists?

Nthmost: From the moment someone fills out proposed questionnaire and gets a second sponsor, it would start from there.

Lxpk: Just 4 weeks elapsed after the form is filled out.

Pyconaut: And be posted in the space. More noticeable. Like "hey we have new members come read this". Most of the history, the binder has been somewhat hidden.

Nthmost: I don't know where.

Lxpk: Would it make sense for this reason to have the applications become in a digital form at least temporarily?

Pyconaut: We could do a google form. make it anonymous?

mcint: We could post pictures?

Nthmost: Reducing how many people can see it is an anti-pattern. Having humans handle the process is good.

Lxpk: It is an implementation detail we could improve in the future. We could figure that out later.

mcint: It sounds like there are no objections today.

Discussion

Discussion Item 1

mcint: It would be good for us to discuss cash flow changes rather than just balance sheet number.

TJ: Having more consistent active treasurer not in NE doing a startup would be first to give us weekly updates.

LXPK: On the subject of improving cashflow, I think the goal of participation increased by more membership, I think fundraiser can be a membership drive. And look at long term increases in classes and events and tools being used

pyconaut: I think it would be good. We have tried to move to full cashflow and not just balance sheets. The problem is that sometimes that can be very confusing because we have so many aspects of things that come in every week and quite a few different expenses. It is very helpful. Balance sheets are good when we apply for grants. For actually understanding where we need to improve, they aren't great. If we keep better tabs on this stuff, we can give community better idea of why donating to NB matters. If we fix the donation for projects and equipment specific system, people would be more inclined to donate if they know the money goes to specific things. We could get donations for other things too. People who use things might donate for the thing they used and made money with. We should try to have discussion about treasury stuff soon. I'm happy to help out a bit more. I need to be careful because I have too many keys of access in the space and that has been a thing I don't want to get many more. That's why I've avoided helping out with finances more.

mcint: For those interested in accounting command line, I can show people Beancount. I might do it on Friday.

Discussion Item 2

TJ: In tangent to philanthropist/membership, what do you all think of people who can't contribute financially but want to become involved. I told a couple people they could not be able to contribute but it was held against them but they've done a lot for the space and I can't quantify it.

Nthmost: Everybody needs to read the Disposessed by Ursula K Le Guin because it was an inspirational play for NB's founding. Nobody should be excluded because of finances and if someone was made to feel bad about it that's sad.

Pyconaut: Something I've explained in tours, other than money, time or knowledge is very valuable at Noisebridge. Teaching a class is often more valuable than paying $40/month. If you're able to clean or repair equipment in the space. People have for years figured out what the monetary value of things are and time and knowledge are worth a lot more than what most companies pay. At Noisebridge time or knowledge should be encouraged especially from people who can't participate as much.

TJ: Putting time in the space right now is especially valuable because if we make space better such that others join, that compounds on itself. I was asking about a way to quantify that. If people believe someone is contributing, quantifying it may lead to worse outcomes.

Mcint: Maybe we learn how to tell good stories about it. And people discuss and agree what seems fair or not.

nthmost- we grenerally didn't hassel people about money

Lxpk: In the past, we said if you can't donate the usual monthly amounts just talk to the Treasurer and work something out (which is vague on pourpse).

Nthmost: People used to do things to help out like taking out the trash but we don't want people to feel like indentured servants.

Pyconaut: There's also been people who couldn't donate money but they donated equipment or hardware or food. We had people donate bagels or coffee or whatever. Generally, NB is very forgiving, especially now that we have money. We could change the bounds of our monthly donations. We could set a range to $20-$80. If you donate a lot, you are covering for people who can't donate as much.

Discussion Item 3

Sophia: Discuss item: We should do an NFT because it would be funny and make people mad and we wouldn't have to get donations because someone could give us a like $1million for it from people who like us. A series of NFTs that allow you to block consensus items.

TJ: If someone donates a million dollars for digitally distinct art, then let them. We get a million either way.

Sophia: But it has to be a real approved NFT consensed.

pyconaut: I like this idea, it is so stupid.

Discussion Item 4

Zach: I have discussion item. A small thing. A first timer recommended this to me. They told me it was intimidating coming to meetings because of amount of decision making. We used to encourage people to arrive half an hour early to socialize and learn about NB.

Pyconaut: I was one doing that beforehand. I should train other people to know how to do that. I have a document written up about it. I will share it arround.

LXPK: More docents, and having a social hour before the meeting would be very good.

TJ: About the concerns about needing social time and intros... People discuss things at meetings for a long time. If anything, we try to do away with the boilerplate about excellence and consensus to save time discussing those things before the actual discussion items that come after.

Mcint: We did have introductions at the start. In the future we'll try to do that more thoroughly.

Zach: Im relaying something someone brought to my attention. It was an online visitor. When I attend remotely, I could see that being a challenge. If you're new to NB and want to laern more, there might be a way to divy it up wtih a first half and a second half.

Mcint: Maybe we could do callouts during the meeting.

Pyconaut: Early on in pandemic I was doing this hour before meetings. I was on this Jitsi introducing people to NB. It was well received. Quite a lot of people stuck around for meeting. It could be brought back.Similar to physical tours but just introducing how NB works. someone could be on Jitsi an hour before.

Mcint: If people want to do that, feel free to do it.

Sophia: Introductions and boilerplate took a long time.

Mcint: Softer intro time before.

Do-ocratic Task Board

Participation also means doing stuff to contribute to the space. Propose new tasks or pick some tasks from Github, from what needs to be done around you, or whatever, and see if someone will sign up to work on that task. Anyone can sign up and it's a great way to show you are contributing!

End of Meeting

Note taker posts the notes

• Clean and tidy the meeting notes including removing all these really verbose instructions.
• Fill out the short summary at the top listing just announcements, consensus items, discussion topics, and names of new members and philanthropists.
• Copy paste the notes to the next meeting page. (They will become Last meeting at midnight.)
• Email the meeting summary to Noisebridge Discuss and Noisebridge Announce lists.
• CC on the email treasurer@noisebridge.net and secretary@noisebridge.net if there are new members and philanthropists.
• Edit the Current Consensus Items if anything is proposed for consensus next week.
• Edit the Consensus Items History if anything was reached consensus or failed to reach consensus this week.

Fun things to do after

• Reprise of the Hackernationale. [This is anarchy - we do what the wiki says!]
• PGP Key Signing could happen now (if it doesn't happen before any given Meeting). Ask others around the space or check the list to see who wants in on the action.

Example tasks:

• Collect all the trash in the space into the large bins on Sunday night!
• Document how one of the 3D printers works on the wiki, print out QR code linking to it & tape it to that printer!
• Find us a plumber to fix the toilet and hang out with them in the space while they fix it (Perhaps organizing an entire toilet replacement workshop!)