Makership

This is the unofficial makership wiki page. It is a work in progress to describe what a makership is and what criteria should be used to judge the proposal merits.

First let's make it clear that LVL1 tries first and foremost to be a completely free resource for the public at large. We host many events that are open to anyone at no cost whatsoever. This discussion only applies to the rights and responsibilities of those wanting a full membership.

Membership costs meeting financial needs

The LVL1 membership has had many discussions on the best approach to reach out and extend membership to those with financial need. LVL1 is a hackerspace that relies on member dues to meet the recurring costs of rent, utilities, insurance and various other costs. Although the dues are low and comparable to a cable TV subscription, we recognize that for many aspiring makers/hackers it is still out of reach. Proposals of reduced rates for special cases, while obvious, do not seem like an ideal solution to this problem. Here are some of the reasons:

1. Reduced membership rates for students. While this seems obvious, it is not an ideal solution. Who's to say a student could afford the reduced rate as well? What about the financial needs of potential members that chose to take their education into their own hands? What about those who have completed school, but are are also in need of finances?
2. Reduced membership rates for lesser membership rights. Again, there's no reason to say this reduced rate would be affordable either. It also creates a 2nd-tier membership and inherent inequality. All members should be held in equal standing.
3. Reduced membership rates for hackerspace duties One more time, there's no reason to say this reduced rate would be affordable either. All of the membership should share in the more menial tasks of hackerspace upkeep. Again, it's a matter of equal standing. Plus, no member wants to be designated as taskmaster to make sure these duties are being fulfilled.

The ideal solution should meet the entire financial needs of a maker/hacker without making them a 2nd class member. Enter the 'makership'...

What is a makership?

A makership is a year's worth of membership dues and other resources, based on financial need and a solid project proposal. We want to put the focus on making. A makership is open to anyone with a good plan to engineer a project they've been dreaming about. It could be electronics, software, a project for the social good or (hopefully) a project we haven't imagined. We want to be surprised by creativity. We want LVL1 to be the place where these things are *made*. But wait there's more! Recognizing that financial needs extend beyond membership dues, we want to finance the project as well. Each makership includes dues for membership and an extra $400 to finance the project. This can be used for tools, parts, prototyping and workshops. It should be used for whatever is needed to get the project done!

The fundraising for this makership approach is completely independent of LVL1's finances. We'll take donations from whomever is willing to donate. It may take us 3 months to raise the funds, or 3 days. And we'll make as many makerships available as the donations will allow.

Judging Criteria

1. Financial Need
2. Project Proposal
3. Project Timeline
4. Social Good and the Hacker Ethic