List of VHS culture topics

[funvill]

This is a topic is a list of all the VHS culture topics that I have been posting. I have been making these posts to ensure that the history of VHS is documented somewhere. I plan to make one of these posts each week. I believe that VHS should grow with its membership and change over time. We are not a static organization and if something does work for us any more we should try something new.

If you don’t feel comfortable posting your own culture topics please feel free to PM me and I will add them to the list.

Disclaimer
I started these topic to have a conversation on the rules that we have at VHS. Within these topic I have described the history of why VHS originally made the original decisions that it did. Maybe this rule no longer applies to VHS as we have changed dramatically since the beginning. Please feel free to play devils advocate but be respectful! The people you are talking/chatting with are real live people that have feelings and are part of your community. Don’t be a Dick!

Can I buy/rent floor space at VHS to house my project?

Part of the VHS culture series VHS does not allow anyone to rent floor space for their projects. To my knowledge VHS has never rented floor space out to anyone for any project. When you work on a project you are suppose to pack it out at the end of the night. There are a few exceptions to this rule. When something needs to dry overnight, they need a car to pick up their project, or laser cutter materials. Originally VHS decided not to allow people to rent space or store their projects over ni…

Should we update the VHS Principles of Unity?

Part of the VHS culture series VHS Principles of Unity VHS strives to be inclusive to all people. We abide the following principles: Be excellent to each other. No racism, no sexism, no homophobia, no classism. VHS projects are group projects, not individual projects. Freedom is good. Group projects are open projects. Eager willingness to learn is all you need. Expertise is not required. It’s always OK to ask questions. Full Disclosure. Disclose your motives and affiliations. These pr…

Why do we have a 3 month waiting period to become a Keyholder?

Part of the VHS culture series Currently Currently to become a VHS key holder member you need to join VHS as a normal member ($25 a month). Wait three months, hopefully in this three month period you come down to a few open houses, events and make friends. After the three month waiting period you can apply in the VHS members section of the forums to become a key holder member. (please post a picture of yourself, it makes it easier to recognize you) If no one vets you, your application is rej…

Using grants to help pay for rent on an expensive space

Part of the VHS culture series Currently VHS does not search for grants to pay for rent and basic operating costs. This rule was put into place by the founding members (gray bears, and gray buns). They had seen other organizations that relied on grant funding to support their spaces. When the politics or government changed some of these spaces didn’t get their grants, lost their funding and hand to close up shop. This has happened many times in vancouver and is a real problem. At the start, VH…

[funvill]

DoOcracy doesn't scale!, What should we do?

This is part of the VHS Culture series This topic is to start conversation, I’m being a devil’s advocate. Currently VHS operates under the DoOcracy. Short version If you see something that needs to be done, You should be doing it. You have the power to change things at VHS and you should! You don’t need to ask permission you can just do it! If you don’t do it and no one else sees it as something that needs to be done, then it won’t get done. A few amendments to DoOcracy has become necessary…

[funvill]

Slave labor in exchange for free VHS membership

Continuing the discussion from DoOcracy doesn’t scale!, What should we do?: This happens is MOST of the other hackspaces that I have visited. I have been to about ~50 different spaces so far. Its a very reasonable option to have. Most notably is https://freesideatlanta.org/ Basicly every workshop/talk has a nominal fee of $5 per person. The presenter can set the cost of the workshop/talk to any value. If the workshop does not get more than 3 people to sign up it is cancelled. All workshops ar…

[funvill]

Money should not be a barrier to being a part of VHS

This is part of the VHS Culture series You should be able to participate in VHS even if you can’t afford the monthly membership cost. This has always been a core principal of VHS. This is accomplished one of two ways. No enforcement of the membership system Currently if you are not a member you can officially come down to the space on our weekly open house nights, use our tools, have conversations, and participate at VHS like any other member. We will suggest that you become a member to help …

[funvill]

How do I ban a someone from the space?

Don’t Panic ! This is part of the the culture topics and I don’t want to actually ban anyone from the space. I hope no one else wants to ban anyone either. We don’t have a standard process. This topic does not come up very often. When it does, it normally for a very clear and obvious reason. Good reasons to ban someone from the space. Racism, Sexism, Homophobia, Classism. Theft Violence Performing Illegal acts at the space - Assumed the space is bugged. Gross safety negligence after repeat…

[funvill]

Parts donations, and machine loans, and problems

This is part of the culture series tl;dr: VHS needs donations, some of it is trash but its hard to determine what is trash and what is useful. One mans trash is another mans treasure. Everything you see at VHS (with a few exceptions, see below) has been donated to VHS. All the desks, chairs, electronics supplies, tools, machines, flags, kegs, etc… We have many people and groups to thank for helping outfit VHS by donating their time or materials. Thank you ! Donations keep VHS interesting and…

[TomKeddie]

No sleeping at the space

VHS has a rule about people sleeping at the space, lets talk about why that is the case. Personally I think it is because it is unhygienic (we don’t have cleaners) and because sleeping somewhere creates a sense of ownership of space that everyone should feel like they can use.

[TyIsI]

[VHS Culture Topic]: Is VHS a hackspace or a makerspace?

Continuing the discussion from What do you want to work on at VHS3?: My gut feeling that this is the fundamental discussion between a hackspace and a makerspace… In the end, it all comes down to the same thing: Make awesome/amazing stuff. To me a hackspace(/hacker culture) is about the journey, while a makerspace(/Maker Culture) is about making stuff! VHS is about both and both concepts can (in my humble opinion - imho) co-exist within the same space. People come to VHS to explore “stuff…