OBXDIY Makerspace May 2015 Newsletter
News from That Maker Guy
One Million Ideas. I think that best sums up the experience of starting a makerspace, at least for me. Or maybe Free-Range Ideology. Quick - go grab that domain name, we could start a new…!
Over the period of time when I was DIY’ing the renovation of the facility with Andy, TerrBear, Ashley, and Sumeyra, many people were asking questions about just what the heck we were doing and what was coming to Kitty Hawk. That usually happened when I was covered in fiberglass insulation or sheetrock dust and 5 feet up a 6-foot ladder.
For those that know me, they know I love talking to just about anyone that’s interested in new things and innovative ideas, so I’d stop, take off the tool belt, and try to explain the concept of what my vision of a makerspace should be. Invariably, I’d find myself coming back to the one universal description that seems to get the point across every time: It’s like a community center with tools where you make things, learn to make things, and get involved in fun and useful things. I think the recipe for success is as follows:
• Premix 3/4c. of motivated, innovative, fun, and caring People To Run It
• add 1c. of How To Do Things
• sift in 2c. of Helping Hand to new start-ups and existing local businesses
• blend well at low speed
• bake at 98.6 degrees continuously
• when heated through, liberally sprinkle Cool Tools and Lots Of Fun on top
In order to get to where we’ve arrived in 3 short weeks after opening the door – and it is an awesome place to be with almost 2/3rds of our initial planned capacity of 2015 Membership Teams defined and signed - it took a bit of explaining, but very little convincing once everyone got the simple concept. I want to thank all those that supported us and those that will support us in the future. There are too many names to list here, so I’ve put that Thank You on the website permanently as I want to keep the newsletters short and to-the-point, so please go check out obxidy.com/thankyou.
There’s lots more info to impart today, but it’s not my place to do so. It’s the privilege and responsibility of our Membership Teams, and what follows is a brief overview of each team’s mission and functionality within OBXDIY Makerspace. What you're about to read in the next section are the basic descriptions of the first seven teams that we think are important to the local community in many ways. The mission, composition, and capability of these teams will change and grow over time, and we eagerly anticipate the future of OBXDIY Makerspace and the wonderful things we know will happen here with all of them and all of you participating.
We look forward to seeing everyone in our tight-knit community at many of the upcoming classes, maker events, camps, and special events in the near future. See you soon at The Space!
**We'll be doing a round-robin for the Newsletter foreword section from each Member Team, so you'll get to see and experience a new and different perspective each issue.
Eric Holsinger,
Custodian, OBXDIY Makerspace