HacDC Wiki - User contributions [en]

Talk:HacDC Museum

2008-06-13T11:36:03Z

Sarah:

Has anyone been to the Museum of Useful things in Cambridge? Unfortunately it's now closed, but it used to be a combined store and museum, with old and interesting gadgets displayed in cases and above head level around the store. It's the first thing that came to mind when Ben proposed a HacDC museum. The Museum of Useful Things still exists online, but primarily as a store. I couldn't find much on their site about the things in their collection, but there are a few pages ([http://themut.com/exhibits/2/ Example]).

One thing that I liked about the physical store is that they often displayed old and new versions of the same product (with the new version available to buy). For example, this [http://themut.com/zoomprod/product72/ staple-free stapler] was displayed under a model that looked more like one of [http://www.officemuseum.com/stapler_gallery_stapleless.htm these guys].

:Sounds like a really interesting concept. I'd love to aim for a more expansive display of artifacts, space permitting, and if the Museum is wildly successful, perhaps its own space someday in the distant future. The idea of a store is intriguing, as well. Perhaps as HacDC grows, there could be something akin to the [http://www.826valencia.org/ 826 Valencia] model, where a fun storefront (They have a Pirate Store, a superhero store, and a Bigfoot Research Institute) is the gateway to a spectacular hacking/teaching space and proceeds are used to subsidize the programs of HacDC. We're a long way from that, but it's something to consider. [[User:Ben|Ben]] 19:10, 11 June 2008 (UTC)

== Name Controversy ==

There's been some debate about whether to name the collection after our first large benefactor, and whether to identify objects in the collection as having been donated by certain individuals. A suggestion has been made by Derek Cooper to contact the benefactor's family to verify permission to use the name, but to avoid a potentially embarrassing situation, I think it would be wise to see if the group is in favor of naming a part of the collection after the benefactor before asking for permission.

Those '''in favor''' of naming the collection after the benefactor, pending permission from his heirs
* [[User:Ben|Ben]] 15:43, 12 June 2008 (UTC)
* [[User:Q|Q]] 11:49, 12 June 2008 (EST)
* [[User:Sarah|Sarah]] 16:23, 12 June 2008 (UTC)
* [[User:Katie|Katie]] 16:49, 12 June 2008 (UTC)
* [[User:Dcooper|Dcooper]] 00:47, 13 June 2008 (UTC)
Those '''opposed''' to naming the collection after the benefactor
* [[User:Bjorn|Bjorn]] 06:44, 13 June 2008 (UTC) - Anonymity was a good idea. We can have full disclosure of what is really too great a story to keep under raps. It keeps things impersonal, and I don't see what anyone has to gain from non-anonymous entanglement. Besides, I have other items I'd contribute, and I'd expect this sort of donation will become a regular occurrence - lets just keep things neutral. What Mrs. X did was very kind, but lets keep the exchange as agreed upon initially.

::I think that whenever possible, we should honor the wishes of donors (or their families, when applicable), so whatever we decide about identifying or not identifying this benefactor shouldn't determine what we do with future donations. If you were to contribute items and request anonymity, I don't see any problem with granting it. I would also disagree that removing the personal items would mean keeping a great story under wraps. We don't really have a story--we have some fun speculations about how the items in the boxes might have been used, with no way of substantiating them. While it's fun to bat around amusing theories, I personally wouldn't publicize this personal "story" even if the donor remained anonymous. [[User:Sarah|Sarah]] 11:36, 13 June 2008 (UTC)

=== Discussion Relating to Name Controversy ===

I think we can be selective about what we put in the "official" museum collection, but there is other interesting, amusing (embarrassing?) stuff that was in the boxes that has been photographed and put up on Flickr--and more that has yet to be photographed, no doubt. Even if it doesn't end up in the museum, it wouldn't be difficult for someone to go to HacDC's Flickr group and see the unofficial stuff mixed in with the official. Given the email from the widow, I do think it would be nice to name a collection or something after this guy, but if we do that, then I will take down my pictures of anything that I think might embarrass his family. [[User:Sarah|Sarah]] 16:23, 12 June 2008 (UTC)

Talk:HacDC Museum

2008-06-12T16:23:27Z

Sarah: /* Name Controversy */

Nate B Dues Waiver

2008-06-12T12:21:40Z

Sarah: /* Support */

This Dues Waiver is scheduled for consideration at the June 17, 2008 member meeting.

Nick Farr, Minister of Finance and longtime friend of Nate B's is proposing this dues waiver.

== Summary ==

'''Approve a dues waiver for Nate B through January, 2009.''' This waiver would relieve his standard obligation to pay dues and allow him to continue to contribute as a bona-fide member of HacDC. Since the waiver is based on merit, not hardship, it is subject to member approval.

== Justification ==

For the past two weeks, Nate has dedicated nearly every waking moment to infrastructure development of HacDC. He has built one wall of shelves, reinforced the other, purchased all manner of improvements for the space (boxes and bins, drawer hardware, etc), contributed to the wiki, promoted HacDC at the DC 2600 meeting, and pretty much done everything in his power to make sure this venture succeeds and thrives.

More from Nate: "I will return home to Detroit sooner or later. After another few days, probably. And I don't know when I'll be able to visit DC again. (But there's a chance it'll be nearly immediate; I'm having a blast!) I think I've contributed plenty of sweat equity, and I don't think a regular monthly paying membership is appropriate in this case. But I would like to legitimize my presence in the space, and on the mailing list, by requesting a membership with waived dues."

== Precedent ==

I believe Nate's activities in furthering HacDC's development set a very strong precedent for when and why we would grant a dues waiver. Nate's overall economic sacrifice in coming to DC from the Detroit, MI area in addition to making HacDC effectively a full time job for two weeks sets the golden standard for work in lieu of dues.

== Nate B's Biography ==

Nate has been active in the community for 12 years, primarily through the Michigan 2600 group. Nate's first contribution to HacDC was printing dot-matrix banners for our display at Notacon, and he's been interested in finding out what it takes to start a hacker space. It's a subject he's been interested in for some time, and he's very interested in opening some sort of community workshop in the Detroit area, where he lives.

== Support ==

I fully back this proposal, Nate has contributed prodigiously to HacDC. - [[User:Bjorn|Bjorn]] 01:16, 12 June 2008 (UTC)

I too support this proposal. - [[User:Katie|Katie]] 02:27, 12 June 2008 (UTC)

I rise to support the Minister of Finance's proposal. [[User:Ben|Ben]] 04:39, 12 June 2008 (UTC)

Yes. - [[User:Sarah|Sarah]] 12:21, 12 June 2008 (UTC)

Talk:HacDC Museum

2008-06-11T15:20:14Z

Sarah: New page: Has anyone been to the Museum of Useful things in Cambridge? Unfortunately it's now closed, but it used to be a combined store and museum, with old and interesting gadgets displayed in cas...