TWiki> Main Web>HackerHive>HackerHiveFieldTripIdeas>HackerHiveMakersLocalFieldTrip (03 Mar 2010, CathyHall)

NOTE: This wiki is no longer editable. It is here for archival purposes only. Perhaps you want to check out the NEW WIKI.

Trip Report:

We met with the Maker's Local 256 folks for about 5 hours on Saturday and learned a lot. I wish I had taken notes. I will try to summarize some of the stuff we talked about here: ML256 doesn't have dues for membership. Instead they ask people to make a monthly pledge (a required donation suggestion, if you will). This loose structure results in some folks pledging as little as $10/month (plus donated labor) to as much as $300/month. The advantage of pledges is that they are all tax deductible (unlike dues). Another advantage is that it allows someone who can afford to and wants to, to pledge more. The disadvantage is that it could result in less stability for our budget. Will write more later. (501c3, membership probation/trial period, etc) -- SimonDorfman - 10 May 2009, resume writing service

What:

A field trip to Maker's Local 256, a hacker space in Huntsville, Alabama.

When:

  • Leave Friday, May 8th, in the evening after we get off work. It's a 6-7 hour drive, so we'll probably arrive late--midnight-ish
  • Stay in Huntsville Friday & Saturday night and write research papers in Education IV.
  • return sometime Sunday, May 10th, afternoon/evening
  • Meet up with Maker's Local folks at their space on Saturday at Noon
    • bring $5 each for pizza

Where:

How:

We're taking 2 separate cars and organizing pickup logistics and shared gas costs on a per car basis. We're also organizing hotel reservations on a per person (or per car if people want to share rooms) basis.
  1. MarkAnderson is driving and can seat 4 comfortably (vehicle=Jeep Patriot, located in Uptown area)
    1. MarkAnderson (own room)
    2. SimonDorfman (sharing room)
    3. BenjaminEckel (sharing room)
    4. HunterKing (sharing room)
  2. MikeHeckman is driving and can seat 4 comfortably (Located in the Marigny/Bywater area)
    1. MikeHeckman (own room)
    2. PaulSieberth (sharing room)
    3. TrayTorrance (sharing room)
    4. MichaelDeese (sharing room)

Why:

  • to meet a bunch of like-minded folks and see how they're organizing their space
  • list of questions for them:
    • how do you handle your finances? (auto-paypal monthly? quarterly dues?)
    • is a non-profit worth it? ($750 fee, have you gotten any grants/donations?)
    • can you show us some of the projects you've done together, especially infrastructure projects
    • insert other questions here
  • idea: bring video camera and record answers to questions so we can bring the info back to NOLA folks who couldn't make the trip
  • ask them to show us some of the projects they've done so far
  • insert other reasons here

Old Stuff:

  • It is 6-7 hours to Huntsville. Might be good to combine with other event like Bamalama Fest June 4-6.
  • I My Space Bamalama Fest
  • Sent email to person at Maker's Local 256 so see if they would be interested in showing off their space and any suggestions about good time to visit the city to make a long trip more of an adventure. -- MarkAnderson
  • BenjaminEckel wrote to the email list:
Hey everyone, Last night I got in touch with Greg Brown at Makers Local 256 in Huntsville Alabama. It is one of the closest and they really seem to have their stuff down. I told him about us and that we are interested in seeing their operations. Here is his response: Hello and welcome! We would be delighted to have you over. In fact, you are in luck as we are currently in the transition from our old shop to a much larger one. For the next month or two you will have the opportunity to see how a shop is put together and what (or what not) to do for your own place. The easiest way to get in touch with us would be through the #makerslocal irc channel on Freenode. We can coordinate accommodations for you and anyone else you would like to bring. Greg I am going to talk to him in IRC in the next couple of days and ask when which weekend we should go. In the mean time, any recommendations on dates? Any idea how many people want to go? I think we should try in do it sometime in the next month. I'll reply to this email when I get more information.
From Benjamin Eckel via the email list: went in the makers local IRC today and met a bunch of their hackers. It seems like they are a big group, they had at least 15 people in the chat and 4 of them were participating in the convo. Pretty unexpected for a Wednesday afternoon. Anyway, they were all cool with the dates we set for the visit. BTW, for anyone who missed it or forgot, these were the plans:
  • May 8th -- leave in the late afternoon and sleep in Hunstville.
  • May 9th -- visit their space and members, ask questions, etc. check out the city
  • May 10th -- ride back to NO.

We also planned to take my car and Mike's car. I forgot who in particular wanted to go but I remember it being 7 of us. Please replyif you guys still agree with this plan so Jessica and I can make further arrangements. Anything else to add?
Personally, I'd prefer a hotel room to crashing at the HackerSpace and I noticed a pretty good deal on Priceline: http://travela.priceline.com/hotel/rateSelection.do?key=ftump4if&propID=55073&occ=2&resetRate=Y&jsk=1f03010a2203010a2009042223005890Bf11325864&plf=PCLH -- MikeHeckman
I'm excited! I was thinking it would be more fun if we could all ride in one vehicle and enjoy group conversation and whatnot instead of having two separate cars. I looked online for a car rental quote that would fit 7 (mini-van). Alamo has an 8-passanger mini-van with unlimited miles for $221.78 for those three days. Divided by 7 is $31.68 each... Plus gas. Google says it's 444miles. Guessing 23/mpg, Guessing average gas price $2/gallon. So total cost round trip: (888/23*2) $77.22 Divided by 7 = $11.03 I wouldn't mind a hotel room either. That link didn't seem to work, but I looked on priceline too and saw rooms for $43/night at a Super-8. Probably 2 rooms times 3 night = $258 total divided by 7 = $36.86/each Add those three up and we're looking at about $79.57 each. -- SimonDorfman - 23 Apr 2009
Putting 7 full size adults (plus their luggage) into a minivan for a 6.5 hour roadtrip is IMHO a bad idea. Even Alamo's website shows only 6 adults (and 5 bags) in that vehicle, additionally there's $70 in taxes and fees to consider.

If renting a vehicle is really desired, then the Chevy Express full size van is more appropriate for the group. Its $348.43 after taxes for the two days and gets 16mpg ($49.78 per person). Of course it has to be picked up and dropped off at the airport. Assuming a 12 mile round trip, we're looking at (900 miles / 16 mpg) * 2.00 dollars per gallon = $112.50 in gas or $16 per person.

The link I saw on priceline was the Extended Stay America Huntsville which are suites with a mini-kitchen for $49/night (plus tax, of course). If people are willing to buddy up, I think we need at least 3 rooms for 2 nights (Fri & Sat), so we're looking at ($49 per room + 15% tax * 2 nights * 3 rooms) = $338.10 or $48.30 per person. Total would be $114.08 per person. The mini-kitchen can be great for saving money on eating meals out. At the very least it should help give people more space. Keep in mind that you really need to add $15.53 per person to your values above for taxes on the suggested room and vehicle. Making my suggestion only about $19 more per person. This of course, eliminates the ability for folks to stay only a single night as we discussed in the last meeting. -- MikeHeckman - 23 Apr 2009
 
This site is powered by the TWiki collaboration platformCopyright © by the contributing authors. All material on this collaboration platform is the property of the contributing authors.
Ideas, requests, problems regarding TWiki? Send feedback