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Board Updates

by Patrick Marstall and Kathryn Schiller

Greetings from the Board of Directors!

Over the last three months the Board has held monthly meetings and has formed several additional working groups on operational and strategic priorities. These include 1) keeping Nova Labs safe and healthy; 2) shifting the work of the Board from tactical to strategic; 3) developing stronger operational processes to keep the organization running smoothly; 4) fundraising efforts including grants and the Nova Labs 3.0 capital campaign; and 5) making Nova Labs a more inclusive environment.

1. First and foremost, we have been concerned with COVID and have worked with the Executive Director to make sure that Nova Labs is a safe place for all who use it. We have monitored local infection rates and federal, state, and local guidance and regulations, and adjusted the Nova Labs COVID policy in response. In making these decisions, we feel it important to keep the doors open for those who need to use the space while balancing health and safety. We appreciate the daily efforts of all our members to keep our community safe and for your flexibility and understanding around the restrictions. Here’s hoping we will continue opening up for more making in the next few months.

2. The executive committee has been hard at work codifying a revised organizational structure for Nova Labs. The intention is to provide a slightly more formalized structure to the various shops, teams, programs and initiatives that currently make up the beehive of activity that is Nova Labs. Nova Labs has grown radically in the last few years, but we have maintained the relatively flat management structure that has been in place since its inception. It has become apparent to the Board of Directors that the day-to-day management of the organization cannot be efficiently overseen at the tactical level by the Board itself. Moreover, the successful execution of the strategic plans laid out by the Board and presented to the membership will require that the directors focus less on tactical matters going forward. The Board of Directors will vote on the new structure in the next month.
3. The Board is very grateful for the team of volunteers that have put in many, many hours transitioning our membership and events system to Wild Apricot. Our treasury team and Vice President Bradley Matthews have also been working to develop better financial processes and controls. Streamlining these operational processes will make us more efficient and help us grow.
4. Fundraising will be a priority for the Board this year as we look forward to a potential move and Nova Labs 3.0. In the last few months, we have submitted grant applications for our robotics, education programs, and general funds to Amazon Web Services Imagine, Rebuild VA, FIRST Robotics, the National Geographic Educators Fund. We have several more in the works for February. We are seeking more community and corporate donors, and are planning for a NL3.0 capital campaign. If you have ideas for programs or potential donors, please post on the #grants-or-funding Slack channel!
5. The Board has a committee on Diversity, Equity and Inclusion which has recently been re-invigorated under the leadership of Margaret Kostich. We are brainstorming ways to highlight the incredible array of diverse talent in the maker community and ensure that all members feel included and respected at Nova Labs. If you would like to participate in these efforts please join the #diversity-equity-inclusion Slack channel.

Finally, the Board is working to improve communications and transparency. We will strive to provide more regular updates and minutes. We started a Slack channel #board-feedback which any member can use to provide input, or you can email the Board individually or as a group at directors@nova-labs.org.