[Sfbay-space] keep open space times and non-tenants to a schedule

Jeff jeff at whisperedmedia.org
Thu Oct 5 23:49:29 PDT 2006 

Hey Mark B ... I'm writing to just say that I (as just one tenant) think
that the Indybay/joint venture thing might really work. Bringing in
another group (if the group was legitimate and functional) would lend some
seriousness, regularity and legitimacy to what the front space actually
gets used for.

So, ... as long as it gets presented as an idea with specific staffing and
scheduling plans ...  I think it should be all good ... (just what I
think)

 ...  but, it is important to not promise too much up front to any group -
or anyone new - as regards to hanging out in the space or being there
during non-scheduled or non-event times. In other words, maybe all
parties could go into this new venture with the understanding that there
are plenty of times for group work hours, for staffed space hours to be
open to the public (perhaps?), for group meetings, skills's shares, event
organizing  ... etc. ... but, that these times be specified in some sort
of regular schedule format and/ (also important) -  that a calendar for
special events and crunch times be also maintained and stuck to ... 
Then, all parties should kind of agree to this schedule and agree to
posting special events on the calendar ... GOING IN to any new
arrangement ...

That way, everyone knows what to expect.

Tenants should not expect to see new-comer, relative strangers there by
themselves at all hours. And, new-comer, open-collective helpers should
not be surprised to find out that other tenants don't want them keeping
clothes there and basically using the space as a primary or secondary
residence. The newcomers will know when to feel it is appropriate to be
there and when it is not - right from the start of things. And, this goes
beyond just having some guidelines, keeping posted rules and such because
it actually specifies the appropriate times of access to suite 216 as well
- right at the beginning.  (thus eliminating another huge vague thing that
always becomes a major point of contention when some new, relative
stranger or someone misplaced from Roger's office starts to inhabit the
space with impunity and total regularity.) They will now know, right from
the start, that there are specified times and reasons for them to be in
the suite and that, beyond these - they really shouldn't be there. So,
these times and purposes of access to others (non-tenants and those who
show up solely to help the open collectives or groups that are making use
of the space) SHOULD ALSO BE SPELLED OUT CLEARLY - at the very start of
the new arrangement.

Many newcomers and open-collective helpers can simply be there during
staffed hours or as a guest of a present tennant or long-term key-holder.
If there really are staffed hours and scheduled events then, most
new-comers will never need a set of keys and should never be promised one.

But, over time ... some new Indybay space workers, and/or new real front
room staffers (who are not tenants of the suite or long-term regulars) can
be told that as comfort levels with other tenants and their demonstrated
needs to be there increase, that they then might need a set of keys (over
time) ... but, that they cannot give out any new sets of keys themselves
or expect carte-blance access to suite 216. Also, the suite manager should
be given information as to anyone new who is getting a set of keys. In
other words, there can be a key-holder list and no one outside of that
list should have keys. So, then, the new key-holder will know that they
can have keys and use the space pretty much as much as they might need to
... but, kind of keeping with suite rules and losely keeping to a schedule
and not really expecting to be entering and leaving and hanging out in the
space any excessive amout of time outside of the scheduled times and
public events.

And, the other side of this, is that the other tenants of the space could
then expect to see people there during those (scheduled) times or during
staffed events that are listed on the space calendar. But, the other
tenants could also expect to feel safe and respected ... knowing that keys
aren't radomly being handed out or that random newcomers will suddenly be
there by themselves hanging out for hours on end ... coming and going with
or without a deadbolt keys ... and so on ... So, I think if the other
tenants knew that non-tenant, open-group new-comers were not ever going to
be promised unlimmited access to suite 216 or given carte blanche to hand
out keys ... if all were assured that schedules and suite security would
be considered prime, then, they would certainly not have problems with
real and productive group use of the space.

peace, Jeff


> So far from this thread, we've had a couple of people offer (via
> private email) to chip in on a regular basis for space rent, so i
> don't think it's a money problem as much as a space collective
> problem -- finding enough people who are willing to be on the space
> list and attend the occasional meeting or workday.  I'd throw out 5
> people as a good minimum number..
>
> One idea that sakura had was to partner with some other local
> organization interested in maintaining a media lab in the
> neighborhood.  That way, it's not solely the IMC's responsibility
> to maintain and staff the space.  Of course, this idea would
> require finding that partner org and then getting approval from the
> rest of the suite for the new arrangement..
>
> --mark B.
>
> On Wed, 04 Oct 2006 13:04:41 -0700, podp wrote:
>> hey ya'll,
>>
>> this is just a very distant 2cents , as i am not
>> currently living in SF ...
>>
>> I really hope indybay manages to figure out how to
>> maintain a physical space...
>>
>> as mark says>
>> > to me, the space makes the imc a viable organization
>> > and a more
>> > physical part of the community, with space for
>> > training folks,
>> > access to computers and other stuff if they don't
>> > have their own
>>
>> as local cafes become wifi spots for the new wave of
>> "Lappies" surfing tribes and craigslist and myspace
>> wearing their new $1500 macbooks like a status check ,
>> what the community NEEDS is an ANTI-VIRTUAL library,
>> infoshop and local tech / media resource center for
>> computer access, trainings, and flow of humans to
>> inspire real interactions...
>>
>> it would be so cool if indybay provided that space.
>>
>> i have long felt that suite 216 is a very limited
>> space, but would be great to hold on to it in the
>> interim...
>>
>> BUT The idea that's ripe for indy expansion is to go
>> against the grain of "every child a laptop" crap, the
>> cubicled activist on every global corner sending
>> messages into the net traffic oblivion, rather to
>> create a digitally empowered Public LIbrary... for the
>> local community to gather and organize and learn the
>> tech tools.
>>
>> it's a big task... not easy ... but maybe there is
>> some cool land owner ( oxymoron , i know ) down with
>> the cause who would donate? subsidize ? a very visible
>> STOREFRONT for the cause...  ???
>>
>> OR ???
>>
>>
>> all the best,
>> Pod
>>
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>> --- mark burdett <mark at indymedia.org> wrote:
>>
>> > yeah i agree it seems like few are interested in the
>> > space (as we
>> > already figured out at the general meeting).  i
>> > would be willing to
>> > pitch in on rent, and i also got a nice computer
>> > donated that can be
>> > used for audio/video editing, fault lines layout or
>> > whatever else.  but
>> > if no one wants to do the space thing, we can't
>> > force it..
>> >
>> > to me, the space makes the imc a viable organization
>> > and a more
>> > physical part of the community, with space for
>> > training folks,
>> > access to computers and other stuff if they don't
>> > have their own,
>> > etc.  i've been willing to invest some time in it
>> > (especially now
>> > that i am working half time, for the moment).
>> >
>> > christina: i don't know why it's taken so long for
>> > you to get keys :( i
>> > asked ben to get in touch with you.  also, you can
>> > get keys from liam or
>> > me.
>> >
>> > --mark B.
>> >
>> > On Wed, 04 Oct 2006 02:02:02 -0700, crusty christina
>> > wrote:
>> > > <html><div style='background-color:'><DIV
>> > class=RTE>Okay,</DIV>
>> > > <DIV class=RTE>Rent has not been paid for this
>> > month.</DIV>
>> > > <DIV class=RTE>I am the treasurer and have asked
>> > Ben for copies of the keys and he hasn't replied to
>> > my emails.&nbsp; So I cannot enter or exit Suite 216
>> > to even pay rent at this time.&nbsp; </DIV>
>> > > <DIV class=RTE>In addition, paying rent is now a
>> > problem since ECR is still on lock out.</DIV>
>> > > <DIV class=RTE>Because of this, ECR has basically
>> > been disbanded.&nbsp; We only have a couple people
>> > left who are willing to pay dues.&nbsp; Since most
>> > are not interested in even using the space given the
>> > David Fernando-suite 216 conflict.&nbsp; So, ECr
>> > cannot pay rent.&nbsp; I don't know what our
>> > finances are this month, but it seems that
>> > Faultlines has the most dinero and if we were to pay
>> > rent, it would be out of faultlines money right
>> > now.</DIV>
>> > > <DIV class=RTE>No one seems interested in being in
>> > the space collective-to help manage the space,
>> > establish process etc for space use, except Mark and
>> > I.&nbsp; so, I'm wondering why should we have a
>> > space?</DIV>
>> > > <DIV class=RTE>mark, can you contact Ben about
>> > getting me keys?&nbsp; He's not repsonding to me, it
>> > seems.</DIV>
>> > > <DIV class=RTE>Can you all forward this to all
>> > other groups including Faultlines so we can figure
>> > out how to pay rent and if we should give notice if
>> > noone's going to help out with the space
>> > collective...</DIV>
>> > > <DIV class=RTE>&nbsp;</DIV>
>> > > <DIV class=RTE>Mark and I were thinking the space
>> > collective would also help with rent and would be a
>> > collective that all people within Indybay who want
>> > to use the space would be a part of and pay
>> > dues.</DIV>
>> > > <DIV class=RTE>&nbsp;</DIV>
>> > > <DIV class=RTE>-Christina</DIV></div></html>
>> > >
>> >
>> > > _______________________________________________
>> > > Ecr mailing list
>> > > Ecr at lists.indymedia.org
>> > > http://lists.indymedia.org/mailman/listinfo/ecr
>> >
>> > _______________________________________________
>> > Ecr mailing list
>> > Ecr at lists.indymedia.org
>> > http://lists.indymedia.org/mailman/listinfo/ecr
>> >
>>
>>
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