Difference between revisions of "Blacksburg Hackerspace"

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This is a page for the planning of a [[w:Hackerspace|hackerspace]] in [[Blacksburg]].
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This is a page for the planning of a [[w:Hackerspace|hackerspace]] in [[Blacksburg]]. '''Everything has since been migrated to [http://hacksburg.org the Hacksburg wiki].'''
  
 
==Name==
 
==Name==
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* Blacksburg Lab for Objects ([[w:Binary Large Object|BLOb]])
 
* Blacksburg Lab for Objects ([[w:Binary Large Object|BLOb]])
 
* Blacksburg Object Fabrication Hackerspace ([[w:BOFH|BOFH]])
 
* Blacksburg Object Fabrication Hackerspace ([[w:BOFH|BOFH]])
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==Affiliation==
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Many interested parties have expressed interest in *not* being affiliated with [[Virginia Tech]], as some planned activities may conflict with university policy. Many hackerspaces have become 501c3 non-profits, but this requires a significant amount of paperwork.
 +
 +
==Potential Funding Sources==
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* Member dues - Ideally, we would be able to pay all monthly infrastructure expenses without external support
 +
* [http://kickstarter.com Kickstarter] - Potentially useful for raising startup funds
 +
* [[SEC|Student Engineers' Council]] - The SEC allocates a sizable budget, but accepting any VT funding may come with strings attached.
 +
** Correction: The Student Engineers' Council earns its money from the career fair and the funds are disbursed through its student leadership (with a faculty advisor). The only strings attached are spelled out in Articles X and XI in the [http://www.sec.vt.edu/index.php?option=com_content&view=article&id=23&Itemid=33 Bylaws]. Tapping into Virginia Tech student activities fee money is a different story, with different stipulations attached.
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* Corporate sponsorship
 +
 +
One idea proposed was to have the hackerspace unaffiliated with Virginia Tech and sell both individual and group memberships. A separate, SEC-funded RSO could then buy group memberships for its members and/or engineering students.
 +
 +
==Desirable Infrastructure Features==
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* Proximity to campus/[[Blacksburg Transit]] lines
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* '''Low cost'''
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* Fast (symmetric) internet connection, i.e. not NTC
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** [http://bnt.com/services/bandwidthsolutions.cfm Biz Net Technologies]
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* High-power service panels (220V? 20A?)
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* Noise tolerance
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* Ventilation
 +
* Floor space
 +
* Kitchen? (Some hackerspaces have found this useful)
  
 
==Links==
 
==Links==
 
* [https://www.facebook.com/groups/405322866198425/ Facebook group]
 
* [https://www.facebook.com/groups/405322866198425/ Facebook group]
 
* [[vtluug:Internet Relay Chat|IRC]]: [http://webchat.freenode.net/?channels=#hacksburg #hacksburg] on freenode
 
* [[vtluug:Internet Relay Chat|IRC]]: [http://webchat.freenode.net/?channels=#hacksburg #hacksburg] on freenode
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* [http://hackerspaces.org/wiki/Documentation Documentation on starting a hackerspace]
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* [http://alfheim.logomancy.net/wiki/ Hacksburg Wiki]
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[[Category:Community organizations]]
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[[Category:Featured content]]

Latest revision as of 01:26, 3 February 2013

This is a page for the planning of a hackerspace in Blacksburg. Everything has since been migrated to the Hacksburg wiki.

Name

The following names have been suggested for the hackerspace (feel free to add to this list!):

  • Hacksburg
  • Blacksburg Lab for Innovative Tinkering (BLIT)
  • Blacksburg Lab for Objects (BLOb)
  • Blacksburg Object Fabrication Hackerspace (BOFH)

Affiliation

Many interested parties have expressed interest in *not* being affiliated with Virginia Tech, as some planned activities may conflict with university policy. Many hackerspaces have become 501c3 non-profits, but this requires a significant amount of paperwork.

Potential Funding Sources

  • Member dues - Ideally, we would be able to pay all monthly infrastructure expenses without external support
  • Kickstarter - Potentially useful for raising startup funds
  • Student Engineers' Council - The SEC allocates a sizable budget, but accepting any VT funding may come with strings attached.
    • Correction: The Student Engineers' Council earns its money from the career fair and the funds are disbursed through its student leadership (with a faculty advisor). The only strings attached are spelled out in Articles X and XI in the Bylaws. Tapping into Virginia Tech student activities fee money is a different story, with different stipulations attached.
  • Corporate sponsorship

One idea proposed was to have the hackerspace unaffiliated with Virginia Tech and sell both individual and group memberships. A separate, SEC-funded RSO could then buy group memberships for its members and/or engineering students.

Desirable Infrastructure Features

  • Proximity to campus/Blacksburg Transit lines
  • Low cost
  • Fast (symmetric) internet connection, i.e. not NTC
  • High-power service panels (220V? 20A?)
  • Noise tolerance
  • Ventilation
  • Floor space
  • Kitchen? (Some hackerspaces have found this useful)

Links