Message From the President: December 2018

The updated and improved Greenway!

The Greenway roundup transformed the entrance to the shops into a gorgeous, functional, welcoming space to create! The teamwork that culminated in a full weekend of craftsmanship is a testament to the commitment to making Nova Labs a truly special place to come together. Read more about the latest Greenway over-the-top makeover.

An intensive board search drew to a close this month. We are thrilled to welcome additional members with complementary skills and a shared dedication to bring out the best in Nova Labs. Thank you to the committee who diligently worked to provide an outstanding number of skilled individuals who are excited to share their talents through board service.

The committee was comprised of Margaret Kositch (lead), Lieselot Whitbeck, Jeff Nicholas, and Jade Garrett. This provided representation from two members-at-large working alongside two directors. The committee held a weekly meetup to promote board service, promoted the search on the blog and newsletters, and engaged team leads throughout the process. The committee conducted over fifty initial interest interviews. The committee followed up with a number of in-person interviews at the makerspace and around the metro area. The work was divided so that interviews included a member-at-large and a director for a balanced representation. There were a number of highly qualified candidates presented by the committee to the board for consideration of which five were offered, and accepted, a directorship. The candidates and board met over a series of three in-person board working sessions for individual interviews. A world of gratitude is owed to the committee for their hard, innovative work.

The board recognizes Lieselot Whitbeck and Tom Welsh, who are rolling off the board. You can catch them both around the makerspace as their commitment is strong as ever to Nova Labs. We are grateful for Lieselot and Tom’s dedication service. Nova Labs is a richer, more vibrant space thanks to their many contributions.

Happy Making in the Greenway!

Board Updates

This month, the board voted to expand the total number of Nova Labs directors from seven to ten. Nova Labs has a lot of projects to tackle in the upcoming year and the expanded size will allow directors to share the workload, allow some members to focus on increasing our relationships with external audiences while others focus on improving the membership experience.

The board extended invitations to five new directors who will be joining the existing five directors. Brian, one of Nova Labs founders, is continuing for another year, providing continuity and steady, seasoned leadership, alongside the continuing members (Marybeth, Margaret, Jim, Sam). Please welcome:

• Shane Smith, a longstanding key member and previously Stewards Team Lead. Shane’s diplomatic leadership in the shops is well-respected.
• Karen Shumway, a longstanding key member who has demonstrated commitment to outreach in youth programs for several years.
• Yuri Beckelman, well connected with the maker movement on a national scale (read more below).
• Jeff Spugnardi, a highly skilled and award-winning artisan, who credits the woodshop at Nova Labs 1.0 with saving a work project awhile back.
• Daryl Peace, a successful entrepreneur, who established a solid reputation with Nova Labs’ partner, Women in Technology.

There will be opportunities to meet the incoming directors at the social time accompanying the upcoming member meeting and a later, informal meetup on Friday, Dec. 14: Meetup with Directors.

Officer elections and board appointments will be formalized at the December board meeting.

With respect to the open incubator, it is coming off the market at this time. Applications for a waitlist are being accepted in anticipation of a possible availability in a few months.

The Nova Labs Robotics program is moving out of the current dedicated space over the coming weeks. In the short term, the open incubator will house electronics and serve as a meeting space while the program searches for a new home.

>Provided by Sam Aparicio, Jim Girardi, and Marybeth Haneline

Director Spotlight: Yuri Beckelman

Yuri has been a big supporter of the maker movement both recreationally and professionally. As a the Deputy Chief of Staff for Congressional Rep Mark Takano, he has been the lead on developing the national maker caucus, hosting the capitol hill maker faire, and ensuring that Nova Labs and it programs are represented on a national level. I have known him for many years and my wife worked with him when she was on the hill almost 10 years ago. He was the guest speaker at the TOM:DC event and is a strong supporter of the E2M program. He is an avid maker, often showing off the projects that he makes as gifts for his family, and is really excited to have such a great workspace and community to work with at Nova Labs.

As LeVar Burton used to say on Reading Rainbow, “You don’t have to take my word for it”:

Bridgework

>Provided by Bo Pollett Wernick

Volunteer Recognition: Greenway Renovation and Shout-Outs

Our Nova Labs Greenway has always been our general purpose maker Mecca. It is the first shop a new member becomes part of before they find their tribe. It is our version of a welcome mat and entry way.

After the epic renovation of 2017, it never received the love it deserved. Well, no more!

On November 17th and 18th, 62 members descended on the Greenway to build seven new work benches, clean, document, and re-organize tools and safety equipment, and revamp our freecycle, fastener, and chemical storage. Volunteers cleared the Greenway, etched, primed, and painted the floors, designed logos and signage, and developed storage systems. We excised old tools, tables, and demons.

We had a fantastic time. I can say, with no doubt, this is the the single greatest maker experience of my maker career. Thank you all for your time, talent, and commitment to a vision.

Special thanks to the following Green Way team members:

• Phil Gaudette for his many years of service shepherding Green Way to a point that this project was possible.
• Zack Borshuck for all the late night prep work and manning the table saw successfully.
• Doug Calvert for his photogenic smile, self-dyed Dickies shorts, and jointer knowledge.
• Curt Welch for leading the Green Way general crew, facilitating workflow, and attention to detail. It’s easy being the project manager when Curt cleans up all your messes.
• Bill Steinhart for leading all things metal.
• Gillian Webb for AMAZING signage in the halls and elsewhere.
• Bo Pollett for his incredible donation of a new fastener area (the rack of requirement).
• Adam Windsor for the new Green Way Mandala Logo. Incredible work!
• Steve Fritzinger for his new Composite Bench.
• Margie Foster for her fantastic woodworking knowledge and photography skills.
• Shane Smith for his great energy, his calm quiet, and giant trailer.
• Frank Hum for his truck and trailer and willingness to dump whatever we put in it.
• Siobahn Williams for her leadership, precision, and accuracy in getting six benches rough cut on time and on-measurement while leading a crew of Nova Labs miscreants.
• Daniel Schneider for his excellent cooking skills and doing whatever it took to get us to the finish line.
• Patrick Thompson and Patrick Marshall for being No. 2 and No. 3 Patricks, respectively. Patricks Forever.

Do you want a Nova Labs Bench? Check out the plans here: http://bit.ly/NovaLabsWorkbench

>Provided by Patrick Watters (Woodshopcowboy)

Highlights from November

Green Way Roundup

November 16-18 was the Green Way Reoundup.

This is the new Green Way mandala/logo designed by Adam Winsor

Happenings in December

Dec 1: Maker Market & Artisan Fair – Free Admittance

Make a dent in your holiday shopping! Be inspired by our talented artisans and entrepreneurs. Buy products or order a custom design. Crafting at Nova Labs is done either with hand tools or with our industrial machines, including 3D printers, metalworking, woodworking, jewelry, handmade wool items, soaps and bath products, scarves, painted glassware, door decor, stained glass, canvas paintings, masks, dolls, cards, personalized items, key chains, and much more!

If you want to make your own crafts for gifts this year, check out the following classes:

• Dec 2: Woodworking for the Kitchen
• Dec 8: Jewelry Making: Ring Soldering
• Dec 8: Chocolate Casting & Candy Making
• Dec 21: Cutting Boards
• Dec 12: Open Member Meeting

This meeting is an opportunity for Prospective, Key, and Associate members of Nova Labs to get updated on what is happening with the community, contribute, ask questions, give feedback to stewards, directors, and other team leaders. Prospective members are welcome to join in and learn more about the community. Please RSVP as dinner will be provided: Member Meeting

• Dec 16: Reception Center Build Out Listening Session

This is your space! We want to hear your ideas for a effective reception area and front desk. Everyone is invited to give input to this major Nova Labs project!

>Provided by Julia Smith

Call to Volunteers

Additional opportunities:

In addition, NOVA Labs is seeking volunteer help for the following:

• Programmer (Python) to work on Mailman list management
• Tech Comm – help pulling together requirements for membership management, reporting
• Website – site maintenance and upgrades
• Programmers needed for NOVA Pass development effort
• Front Desk person for Monday evenings
• Outreach team members – Help our team lead with website content, social media, pictures, marketing, and outreach to external communities
• Open-house tour helpers, 2nd Saturday of each month
• Winter interns at college and high school level
• Wiki information maintainers
• Graphic Designer for marketing flyers
• Crafter’s Cove: Administrative Steward to assist Carrie
• Safety Team Involvement

Contact volunteering@nova-labs.org if you’re interested!

NOVA Pass

NOVA Pass is an access control system for NOVA Labs tools. NOVA Labs members use their badges to activate the tools. The system checks the member database to confirm they are they are signed-off on the tools. The project will eventually be released to open source in the hopes that other maker spaces may benefit.

NOVA Pass is being developed in-house by software and hardware developer member volunteers. If you are a software or hardware developer and would like to help, we’d love to hear from you.