I'll get some blank donation receipts drawn up so you can start to take advantage of your donations on your taxes.
On Fri, Dec 6, 2013 at 10:00 PM, Justin Herman <just...@gmail.com> wrote: > In the future any donations I make are to assimilated by the volunteer > maintainer of the domain of that item. The items I bring in are not JUNK > but rather raw materials to be used and/or blown up. > > https://synhak.org/wiki/Maintainers > > > On Fri, Dec 6, 2013 at 9:32 PM, Torrie Fischer > <tdfisc...@hackerbots.net>wrote: > >> On Friday, December 06, 2013 20:33:52 Justin Herman wrote: >> > First want to say that everyone I have ever met at synhak is cool. >> > >> > This is my POV so please take the little it is worth. >> > >> > >> > I would like to make it clear that I never intended to cause someone to >> be >> > upset by donating equipment. BUT I did donate it to SynHak not an >> > individual. I hope that everyone can understand the difference. >> >> You did. It went into SYNHAK's pile of hackable equipment. In the future, >> please let discuss@ know in advance and put some other sign on them if >> you >> don't want donations to be hacked, but have a specific purpose in mind. >> If no >> specific purpose is in mind, please ask discuss@ to see what people >> would want >> to do with them. Otherwise, that entire junk pile is fair game to all >> members >> of the hacker community, excluding those who have been banned from >> participating. >> >> > >> > If the items were deemed limbo property when given, they are NOT a >> > charitable gift. I do feel that synhak should help others with equipment >> > either by releasing it to individuals (selling and/or giving), Loaning >> > (under the membership loan a tool plan), or retaining it for a fixed >> > community resource (like the welder or lathe or 3d Printer) >> >> While the junk pile /is/ free for anyone to take things from, they should >> only >> be taken out of the junk pile for the purpose of making. If someone takes >> it >> and uses it wholesale for their personal gain, thats not excellent. If >> someone >> wants to make or learn with what they see, they should be free to do so. >> That >> is SYNHAK's purpose. I'd consider that a charitable gift since it furthers >> SYNHAK's mission of providing to the general public and environment to >> "provide an environment for people to educate, create, and share amongst >> themselves and others within the domains of technology, art and science." >> >> > >> > When I donate items to synhak I donate them to strengthen the >> hackerspace >> > community. I know that others (like Omar and others) will take the >> precious >> > time to sift through it and determine a good communal use. This communal >> > use may support others to come to the space work on projects and provide >> > their support. Together we all support each other. >> >> Just so its clear, the hackerspace community is a lot more than the 16 >> members >> who pay dues. The discuss list has over 100 subscribers, and our meetings >> regularly get 25+ people showing up. >> >> > >> > I see no reason that if a certain widget/part/item would help you in a >> > personal project why synhak (as a voting membership) would not grant >> that >> > property to be yours forever. BUT I don't assume anything (except >> > consumables and items deemed JUNK) as to mine when I visit the space. I >> > have access to them, can use them (if trained) but I don't own them. >> >> There is a difference between property being dropped off in the junk pile >> and >> being directly integrated into the infrastructure of the hackerspace. >> >> > >> > When I loan items to synhak (large fans and future items) I entrust the >> > community to be excellent and treat them like they would other more >> > expensive items (powertools, 3d printer, lathe) >> > >> > I hope everyone understands the place I am coming from even if you don't >> > see it the same way. >> >> I'm not sure you and I share the same definitions, so please tell me if >> I'm >> misunderstanding: >> >> "Hackerspace community", n - The people who use SYNHAK to be creative, >> whether >> it is through mailing list discussions, IRC conversations, experimenting >> with >> homebrewing, attending a class, or sharing ideas at a meeting. Able to >> exercise do-ocracy within the bounds of "Be Excellent to Each Other". >> Don't >> even need to be citizens of Earth, or biological constructs. >> >> "SYNHAK member", n - A subset of the above that has gone through the >> membership process. Doesn't get any special rights beyond being permitted >> to >> participate in our governance process through consensus, acceptance of new >> members to the governance process, holding office, key access, and minimal >> storage. >> >> "Donating to SYNHAK", v - Giving property to SYNHAK that further enables >> the >> organization's mission to provide an environment for people to educate, >> create, and share amongst themselves and others within the domains of >> technology, art, and science. >> >> "Tax deductable donation", n - A donation to SYNHAK that gets a reciept in >> return, and should be handled through the Treasurer. >> >> > >> > /end rant >> > >> > Much Love >> > >> > Justin >> > >> > On Fri, Dec 6, 2013 at 7:57 PM, Torrie Fischer >> <tdfisc...@hackerbots.net>wrote: >> > > On Friday, December 06, 2013 15:43:22 Omar Rassi wrote: >> > > > Philip, >> > > > >> > > > First, you are right about the confusion about the junk pile and >> > > >> > > donations >> > > >> > > > pile. I discussed this with a Champion and we are clarifying this >> VERY >> > > >> > > soon >> > > >> > > > because it is very important to avoid this kind of confusion. >> Second, to >> > > > dispel any feeling that anyone was worried about you, that is >> false, I >> > > >> > > put >> > > >> > > > it back in the storage room because that is our storage room for >> member >> > > > projects and synhak property. The recent donations had not gone >> their >> > > > because they had not been sorted yet. >> > > >> > > Except it isn't SYNHAK property. It is stuff that *nobody* wants to do >> > > anything with. If someone claims something from the donation pile, >> then >> > > they >> > > are free to do whatever they want with it, but it needs to leave that >> > > area. If >> > > their next step is to fit it into SYNHAK's infrastructure, then it >> remains >> > > SYNHAK's. >> > > >> > > If their next step is to make something, then I feel that they're >> free to >> > > claim it as their own, *regardless of membership status*. Seriously, >> you >> > > don't >> > > need to be a member to stop in one day of the year and happen to see >> the >> > > exact >> > > hardware that you need to finish your project. >> > > >> > > We are an infrastructure provider for creative people. Part of that >> > > infrastructure is having a physical location for people to drop off >> unused >> > > equipment and others to use it to continue to create. >> > > >> > > We are not an infrastructure provider for members of SYNHAK. Members >> of >> > > SYNHAK >> > > support the hackerspace. They are not the hackerspace. They provide >> the >> > > funds >> > > to keep the lights on and have the right to shape the space through >> direct >> > > involvement, as opposed to trying to convince someone who can to do >> it for >> > > them. >> > > >> > > > I was not able to get to the rest of the computing equipment until >> the >> > > > festivities were over and I have done so, though the desktops have >> not >> > > >> > > yet >> > > >> > > > been looked at. I have no issues with helping anyone with their >> computer >> > > > equipment and answering questions and I am more than happy to help >> you >> > > >> > > with >> > > >> > > > your HP as I'm an experience repair technician however, that >> particular >> > > >> > > HP >> > > >> > > > that was in the donation pile is of great use to synhak and should >> not >> > > >> > > have >> > > >> > > > been left at the junk pile (the differentiation between junk and >> > > >> > > donations >> > > >> > > > will be rectified). >> > > > >> > > > Of the donation of those computer equipment, I have already >> identified >> > > >> > > some >> > > >> > > > things that going right back to the junk pile as it is just too old >> to >> > > > be >> > > > of use to synhak, newer equipment may be put to use as a computer, >> for a >> > > > project or resold to maintain our operating funds. I expect that >> this >> > > >> > > will >> > > >> > > > be an important topic of discussion this coming meeting, fleshing >> out a >> > > > clear and precise donation/scrapping procedure (I hate the word >> policy). >> > > >> > > I >> > > >> > > > was a manager for a thrift store for a time so I'll see about >> drafting a >> > > > generic procedure for the membership to modify as we choose. >> > > > >> > > > The basic foundation of all donations to Synhak is that it belongs >> to >> > > > Synhak until we (by we, I mean any member, it doesn't have to be me, >> > > >> > > I.E. A >> > > >> > > No. No, no, no, no. Please see above. The stuff in the junk pile is >> *not* >> > > automatically SYNHAK's property! Just because it shows up doesn't >> mean it >> > > is >> > > instantly part of our infrastructure. This is a very dangerous idea, >> as it >> > > restricts access to our resources to only people who pay their dues >> and >> > > have >> > > jumped through the hoops to become a full member. Again, >> infrastructure >> > > provider. Not members-only workshop. >> > > >> > > > member appropriated something from the recent donations for his own >> > > >> > > project >> > > >> > > > before I got a chance to look at it and therefore it is not >> included in >> > > >> > > my >> > > >> > > > recent report) can determine their future purpose, we are not a >> > > > recycling >> > > > facility for e-waste, but will work with members, the community, and >> > > >> > > local >> > > >> > > > recycling centers to ensure all donations get maximum use/reuse. The >> > > > general public may then use recent donations during our open hours >> once >> > > >> > > our >> > > >> > > > members have had enough time to figure out what these donations can >> be >> > > >> > > used >> > > >> > > > for, ALL of the equipment seen at synhak, computers, monitors, >> mixers, >> > > > soldering tools, welders, saws, power tools, projector, etc. were >> > > > donated >> > > > and then repaired/refurbished and then set up for public use. I >> promise >> > > > that everyone will get a chance to use donations including the >> general >> > > > public but we have to think about our members and our operating >> costs >> > > >> > > first. >> > > >> > > That is not the protocol. If it is, please correct me so it can get >> > > changed >> > > through the proper channel of a proposal. >> > > >> > > > I sincerely apologize for the confusion this has caused and I feel >> > > >> > > horrible >> > > >> > > > for the disappointment. I am working as quickly as I can to sort the >> > > > equipment so they can be put to good use. >> > > > >> > > > On Fri, Dec 6, 2013 at 2:54 PM, Philip P. Patnode < >> ppatn...@gmail.com >> > > > >> > > >wrote: >> > > > > *Suggestions for consideration by SYNHAK members -* >> > > > > >> > > > > *To avoid confusion, disappointment, and wasting time on projects >> that >> > > > > will never happen, I suggest that the JUNK PILE (clearly marked >> with a >> > > > > sign, usage policy established) be separated from the RECENT >> DONATIONS >> > > > > PILE >> > > > > (not marked, no policy) and I suggest **a formal SH policy be >> > > >> > > established >> > > >> > > > > for donations.* >> > > > > >> > > > > *In my opinion, two things need to happen at SYNHAK regarding >> future >> > > > > donations.* >> > > > > >> > > > > *One*, *the SH policy* on all donations - from any source, of any >> kind >> > > >> > > - >> > > >> > > > > needs to be clearly stated and communicated to all members and >> > > > > non-members, >> > > > > in print or by email or as added text on the SH webpage or all >> three. >> > > > > >> > > > > *Two*,* the physical location* at SH for recent hardware donations >> > > >> > > needs >> > > >> > > > > to be clearly marked with a sign/appropriate comments. For >> example, >> > > > > "Don't >> > > > > Take" or "Not Available" or "Death by Laser" or "To Be Evaluated" >> > > >> > > might be >> > > >> > > > > used to convey the message. >> > > >> > > >> -------------------------------------------------------------------------- >> > > >> > > >> -------------------------------------------------------------------------- >> > > >> > > > > ------------------ >> > > > > >> > > > > Here is the back story behind the suggestions. My apologies for >> the >> > > > > length and details necessary to tell the story. >> > > > > >> > > > > At about 7.15pm last night, because of the delay over the turkey >> > > >> > > cooking >> > > >> > > > > experiment, I spent some time taking a casual look at the >> contents of >> > > >> > > the >> > > >> > > > > hardware junk pile near the entrance to the main room. Looked at >> and >> > > >> > > dug >> > > >> > > > > through lots of boxes and shelves full of stuff, all under a sign >> > > > > indicating that all of it was in the correct place - the Junk >> Pile. >> > > > > >> > > > > Much to my surprise, I found a HP g7 series laptop that was very >> > > >> > > similar >> > > >> > > > > to the HP g7-1019wm that I had brought with me to SH last night, >> in >> > > > > the >> > > > > hope of finding someone to help me diagnose/identify the problems >> and >> > > > > guide >> > > > > me through the repair process. The HP I brought is a personal >> laptop >> > > >> > > and >> > > >> > > > > not an item I plan to sell on eBay or Craigslist. It has a bad >> > > > > cooling >> > > > > fan >> > > > > (does not rotate - ever), a glitchy on/off switch, and two keys >> > > >> > > damaged - >> > > >> > > > > the K and the L, and maybe other problems. >> > > > > >> > > > > A long-time full member of SH (not to be named) stopped by to >> chat and >> > > > > discuss the situation with me. During the conversation, he made >> it >> > > >> > > very >> > > >> > > > > clear that I could "claim" the donated item I found in the junk >> pile >> > > >> > > and >> > > >> > > > > use parts from it to fix my laptop. He was aware that I am not a >> > > > > sponsored >> > > > > member of SH, only a recent interested person who likes the >> concept of >> > > >> > > SH >> > > >> > > > > and has made an effort to swim with the rolling tide. As the >> turkey >> > > > > frying >> > > > > situation was still developing out on the loading deck, I spent >> the >> > > >> > > next >> > > >> > > > > 45 >> > > > > minutes doing some online research about the specs for both HP >> laptops >> > > >> > > and >> > > >> > > > > going through the HP support forums to read the comments about >> similar >> > > > > problems. I was on page two of my notes when a dark cloud >> appeared on >> > > >> > > the >> > > >> > > > > horizon. >> > > > > >> > > > > My joy of finding a possible solution to my laptop problem turned >> to >> > > > > serious disappointment and frustration when another long-time full >> > > >> > > member >> > > >> > > > > of SH (again, not to be named) approached and summarily declared >> that >> > > >> > > the >> > > >> > > > > donated item was not available to me or anyone else, but would be >> > > >> > > retained >> > > >> > > > > by SH to be diagnosed and possibly repaired and used by SH or >> sold for >> > > > > cash. There was no room allowed for any further discussion about >> the >> > > > > donated laptop. Do'ocracy in action? >> > > > > >> > > > > As a non-member, with no power, no influence, no ace-in-the-hole, >> and >> > > > > definitely no say about anything regarding anything at SH, I >> tried to >> > > > > minimize my comments and watched as the member picked up the >> laptop >> > > > > off >> > > > > the >> > > > > work area where I had it and proceeded to disassemble it on >> another >> > > >> > > bench, >> > > >> > > > > check out a few items, and put it back together again. He then >> moved >> > > >> > > to a >> > > >> > > > > back room, out of sight and out of reach, as if he was concerned >> that >> > > >> > > it >> > > >> > > > > would find a way back to the junk pile, or worse, out to >> someone's car >> > > >> > > and >> > > >> > > > > disappear forever. The series of actions by the member almost >> > > >> > > appeared >> > > >> > > > > as >> > > > > if he was worried I would run off with the donated HP moment he >> turned >> > > >> > > his >> > > >> > > > > back on it, although I might be entirely in error about his >> thoughts >> > > > > on >> > > > > the >> > > > > matter. >> > > > > >> > > > > The names of the SH members who were involved are not essential >> to the >> > > > > issue and are not the basis for the suggestions. Personalities >> play >> > > >> > > no >> > > >> > > > > part in my suggestion to take action on the matter of donations >> to SH. >> > > > > >> > > > > Only turkey feathers should be ruffled, as I am not making this >> an >> > > >> > > issue >> > > >> > > > > about any particular member. >> > > > > >> > > > > On a final note, I would consider buying the donated HP g7 series >> > > >> > > laptop >> > > >> > > > > from SH at a reasonable price to use for parts or repair, if it is >> > > > > available now or becomes available in the near future. >> > > > > >> > > > > In the meantime, I will avoid even looking at anything within >> 10ft of >> > > >> > > the >> > > >> > > > > combo donations/junk pile. I don't want to get my hope up and >> then >> > > >> > > have >> > > >> > > > > it >> > > > > dashed again. >> > > > > >> > > > > Philip >> > > > > >> > > > > >> > > > > >> > > > > _______________________________________________ >> > > > > Discuss mailing list >> > > > > Discuss@synhak.org >> > > > > https://synhak.org/mailman/listinfo/discuss >> > > >> > > _______________________________________________ >> > > Discuss mailing list >> > > Discuss@synhak.org >> > > https://synhak.org/mailman/listinfo/discuss >> _______________________________________________ >> Discuss mailing list >> Discuss@synhak.org >> https://synhak.org/mailman/listinfo/discuss >> > > > _______________________________________________ > Discuss mailing list > Discuss@synhak.org > https://synhak.org/mailman/listinfo/discuss >
_______________________________________________ Discuss mailing list Discuss@synhak.org https://synhak.org/mailman/listinfo/discuss
