Information for new members

What's this?

This page tries to give pointers for new members on the workings of the Techinc hackerspace.

What do I need to do?

First, become a member! and then reading this document is an excellent start!

Probably the most important is to know our "Rules".

What's happening?

Look at the Events page:

How do I get in contact with other members?

• Subscribe to our general mailing list. This is our official communications channel. We (foolishly) assume every member follows it. What you send there will be read by many members (and some non-members ;) ). Organisation/Mailing_Lists has the details
• Add yourself to the People page (and create a wiki account if you didn't have one.)
• Quite a few members are available in realtime via IRC chat. You can access this communications channel directly from your webbrowser. With an IRC client, we're #techinc on the OFTC IRC network.

Can I ...

The short answer: Yes! but don't forget to use common your sense...

... and follow the rules.

Does the board do... ?

The answer is: No. The board does not do that.

Allow us explain: Techinc is a "vereniging" by choice. The board consists of seven regular members that have committed to taking on the administrative chores that are expected of a vereninging (such as paying the rent). Board-members are voted on by the other members at a General Member Meeting. In their role of "board member" they do the least possible. However, as regular members they might quite active in the space.

Don't expect "the board" to organize events, order the drinks, vacuum-clean or arrange for your personal Nirvana. It's the members (which probably includes you by now) which together make anything and everything in our space happen.

You should contact the board for financial issues and things of administrative nature.

Doing projects

Most work in the space is organized around "projects" being done by one or a few members.

Organizing events

As a member, you can use our space to organize, events, workshops, trainings, get-togethers, gaming nights, etc., in our space.

All events are member organised, the exception being the General Members Meeting (ALV). As a member, you are encouraged to organize events as long as they:

• don't conflict with other previously scheduled events
• are open and free for all members. We encourage you to make them open and free to the general public as well.
• have a non-commercial goal.

To organize a normal event:

• Send an email to the member Mailinglist with your idea.
• Create an event page.
• Pick a date
• Do the awesome event!

For more details and hints the Events has some and for workshops there's a specific page on Organizing workshops.

Picture policy

• Feel free to take pictures of _things_ in the space. But you have to explicitly ask permission before taking pictures of _people_. See our Huishoudelijk_Reglement#Usage_of_photo.2Fvideo_equipment_in_the_space.

Voting at an General Members Meeting (ALV)

All attending members can vote at an General Members Meeting. If you cannot make it, you can empower a fellow member to vote for you. See Statutes#Artikel_17_.E2.80.93_Toegang_en_stemrecht and Voting for the gruesome details.

Being the last member in the space

Just like only members have keys, when the last member leaves, any guests need to leave with him/her. The space cannot remain open without at least one member present.

There's a detailed checklist on what to do for ACTA/Closing_up.

Who do I ask to... ?

• ... learn about a certain tool: Ask the member that owns the tool or is the "guardian" of that tool. This is especially true if it is a potentially dangerous or expensive tool. If you don't know, ask to the mailinglist or on a social night.
• ... add my widget to the vending machine. The vending machine was acquired by user:Einstein and he's the care-taker. Please consult with him

I have a problem with...

• ... my financial member obligations: please contact the board.
• ... A fellow member. Use common sense, try to talk about it with the member. If that's not possible for whichever reason, there is a dedicated group of members that have stepped up to form the Dispute Resolution Group. See SubGroups/Dispute for more information on how to contact them.