Contents

Time and Location: 

Call to Order: 

Approval of Prior Minutes. 

Consent Agenda. 

Officer Reports. 

Committee Reports: 

Unfinished Business. 

New Business. 

Open Discussion. 

Closed Session. 

Adjournment 

Time and Location:

Makersmiths Leesburg Lower Classroom and on-line

7pm ET, Virtual Meeting at https://meet.google.com/cih-ehxi-wbc

Call to Order:

Meeting called to order by Evin Grano at x:xx  pm.

Approval of Prior Minutes

2025-02-25 Meeting of the Board of Directors

Motion by Evin to approve prior meeting minutes

Second: 

Vote:   

Consent Agenda

Any Board Member may make a motion in the Consent Agenda.  The purpose of the Consent Agenda is to propose motions that have been discussed by Board Members in advance and/or are expected to pass without objection.  If the item does not fit this description, it should be proposed in New Business. Discussion of Consent Agenda items should be done via Slack prior to the meeting.  Any Board Member present at the meeting may request that an item be moved from the Consent Agenda to New Business.  The motions in the Consent Agenda (after any items are moved to New Business) may be passed as a group if there are no objections.  Any motion that requests spending $250 or more must include a section on "Relevance to our tax exempt purpose".

CA1: Additional funds for Leesburg Copier

 Issue: Between the proposal, board approval, and attempted order the cost of the copier and toner increased.

Solution: Allocate an additional $150 for purchase of a multi-function copier/printer for Leesburg.

Relevance to Tax Exempt Status: None

Motion: Move to allocate an additional $150 for purchase of a multi-function copier/printer for Leesburg

CA2: Appoint Mike Brady as Fume Room Steward

 Issue: As a new Shop, the Leesburg Fume Room needs a Steward.

Solution: Appoint a Member interested in the use and upkeep of this new Shop as Steward

Relevance to Tax Exempt Status: None

Motion: Move that Mike Brady be appointed Leesburg Fume Room Steward.

CA3: Nominate Glenda Skelley as an additional Ceramics Steward (Jim)

 Issue: New Steward for Ceramics

Solution: Appoint Glenda Skelley as new Ceramics Co-Steward.

Relevance to Tax Exempt Status: None

Motion: Move to appoint Glenda Skelley as new Ceramics Co-Steward.

Consent agenda: 

Officer Reports

Chairperson:

Nothing to Report

President:

Not in attendance

Secretary:

Discussion meeting was held on February 10 on Cost-Sharing and our current method of collection.  8 members were in attendance for at least part of the meeting.  Resultant motion included in this agenda.

Treasurer:

Committee Reports:

Membership Committee (Ken Fuentecilla)

Report Received 3/19

 2026-03 Board Report.pdf

Marketing Committee (Vacant)

.

Leesburg Facility Committee (John Carter)

Purcellville Facility Committee (Dave Painter)

.

Scheduling Committee (Jennifer Chu)

.

IT Report

.

Newsletter Committee (Meaghen Flynn - pending)

Newsletter went out March 5^th.

Grant Committee (Jim Waldron)

Christopher Meid is looking into the Loudoun County Grant Training.

Standing Rules Committee (Jonathan White)

.

Finance Committee (Mary Waldron)

No Finance Committee meeting was held.  Nick Leshock and the Treasurer worked on updating the Square cost-sharing items and ways to pay through QR codes.

Unfinished Business

 OB1: 

Issue: 

Solution: 

Relevance to Tax Exempt Status: 

Motion: 

Second:

Vote: 

New Business

NB1: Leesburg Wood Shop Dust Collection (Jonathan)

 Issue: Leesburg Wood Shop Dust collection needs improvement.

Solution:

Relevance to Tax Exempt Status: None

Motion: Move to approve $816.20 to upgrade the Leesburg Woodshop Dust Collection with funds to be allocated from the Equipment Reserve budget. Project to be completed by May 31, 2026, with any remaining funds returned to the Equipment Reserve Budget.

Second:

Vote: 

NB2: 3D Shop Expansion (Bo for Bryan)

 Issue:   Additional 3D Printers for our 3D printing spaces in Leesburg and Purcellville.

Solution:

Relevance to Tax Exempt Status: None

Motion: Move to allocate $4,536.00 for the purchase of 2 Bambu Lab H2S w/ AMS Combos and 2 Bambu Lab P2S w/ AMS Combos. Allocate $83.96 for the purchase of 4 0.4 Hotends for machine maintenance. Allocate $190.34 for consumables for a total purchase amount of $4810.30. Funds will be drawn from the Equipment Reserve Fund and will be spent before 04/30/2026 with any unused money returned to the Equipment Reserve Fund.

Second:

Vote: 

NB3: Raspberry Pi Kiln Controller Test (Jim for Glenda)

 Issue:   We currently do not have remote start/stop/monitoring of our ceramic kilns, (or only primitive monitoring by video that does not allow remote control). 

Solution: Bring one of the not operating ceramics kilns (Skutt) into operation.  Use a Raspberry Pi and Kiln software to evaluate this solution for our other kilns.  If this works and is acceptable we will be able to remove start/stop/monitor the kilns.  A control box will be created containing all the electronics.  A keyboard, mouse, and monitor (we expect to find these as donations) will be used to control an almost unlimited number of kiln cycles.  If accepted, this prototype will serve as the sample for construction of additional units for our other kilns.

Relevance to Tax Exempt Status: None

Motion: Allocate $350.00 from the Equipment Reserve Fund to build and test a Raspberry Pi solution as a Kiln Controller.  Funds will be expended by May 30 with any remaining funds returned to the Equipment Reserve Fund.

Second:

Vote: 

NB4: Replacement Wiring for the Powder Coat Oven (Jim for Dave)

 Issue:   Wiring for the Powder Coat oven was not of sufficient gauge.  This was discovered as the result of and overheat event (we hope the oven was not damaged).  It was wired with #8 wire on a 50 amp breaker and needs #4 wire on a 70 amp breaker.  The 50 amp circuit and outlet was part of the original wiring to the Paint Booth area.  We do not know who put a plug on the Oven and plugged it into the outlet.  In any event, we need to run a new circuit of the proper capacity (and copper is very expensive right now)

Solution: Run a new 70 amp circuit in conduit with #4 wire and disconnect box for the Powder Coat Oven.  We need the Circuit Breaker, Wire, Conduit, and a 70 amp disconnect box.

Relevance to Tax Exempt Status: None

Motion: Allocate $1,000.00 from the Equipment Reserve Fund to wire the new circuit.  Funds will be expended by May 30 with any remaining funds returned to the Equipment Reserve Fund.

Second:

Vote: 

NB5: Fume Room Project (Jim for John C)

 Issue:  We have recurring issues with Members using odorous adhesives, paints, and resins in general areas.  We also have issues with glue-up and resin projects in the Woodshop.

Solution: 

Establish a new Shop at Leesburg to provide Members a dedicated, clean, well-ventilated, area for resin, glue-ups, can spraying, airbrushing, vapor smoothing 3D prints, and other odor mitigation.

     Our intent is to clean out the room adjacent to Woodturning, duct the spray booth directly out the back of the building, update ventilation & lighting, provide basic PPE, and add a metal shelving rack for short-term drying storage of projects.  The room will also house the flammables storage box that is taking up space in the alcove between the Woodshop & Woodturning.

     Thanks to the generous donation of this spray booth, the largest expense for the buildout of this  Shop has been taken care of.  An equivalent model purchased new today would cost roughly $3000. We’ve also been able to provide a number of smaller items needed to finish the buildout of the Shop at no cost.  Below is a list of components that still need to be purchased.

     Annual operating costs are expected to be quite low.  Members will be responsible for providing their own respirator filters as well as any resins or paints.

     Providing this Shop will also open up the opportunity for new resin and painting related classes that Members and non-Members ask for frequently.

Relevance to Tax Exempt Status: None

Motion: Approve Project Budget of $1500 to come from the Equipment Reserve Fund for purchase of the listed items to establish Leesburg Fume Room with any remainder to be returned to the Equipment Reserve Fund by May 31st, 2026.

Second:

Vote: 

NB5: Test for Emergency Call Button (Jim)

 Issue:   In an emergency injury situation, dialing 911 might prove difficult.

Solution: I'd like to get some parts to build and test an Emergency Call Button prototype.  Create an Emergency Call box with a big red button that will text a 911 message to the 911 center (Bryan, our 911 center member, is getting details). Pressing the button will send a text to 911 requesting ambulance assistance at our facility.  Box will have a red flashing activation button, and a green heartbeat light.  Heartbeat will go solid green on text message accepted.  Will use BulkGate SMS service.  Not free, but has a charge of only $0.02 per message sent, no recurring subscription.  If the 911 center will not accept a text message, this project will not be started.  (We'll confirm it's possible first - we believe it is, but we need to check and confirm.)  We'll placard the box with the necessary instructions and admonitions (and a note indicating that message delivery is not 'guaranteed' (any emergency notification system always has a chance of failure) and a follow up 911 call should be made if possible.)
This project suggested by Ra Walmsley.  If successful, we may want a few for other shops.  Cost per unit can be significantly reduced after the prototype stage.

Relevance to Tax Exempt Status: None

Motion: Allocate $100.00 from the Equipment Reserve Fund to wire the new circuit.  Funds will be expended by June 30 with any remaining funds returned to the Equipment Reserve Fund.

Second:

Vote: 

Open Discussion

Injury Report. On March 16 a member was injured at Purcellville when his right hand came in contact with the jointer cutter.  He was transported by ambulance to the hospital for evaluation and treatment.  Ultimately, no stitches were required.  Full range of motion is retained by the hand but he managed to joint the right outside part of the side and heel of his right palm.

While jointing a piece of wood, after the piece had passed over the jointer cutter, the member indicated that he had lost balance causing the outside heel of his right hand to come into contact with the jointer cutter.  The cutter guard was still partially open by the work-piece.

The incident was reviewed with a board member and the following adjustments were made and recommendations received.  All guards were in place and proper pusher tools were in use.

There was a fair amount of bleeding prompting another member in the space to call 911.  There was a somewhat lengthy explanation required to explain our location to the emergency responders.  This other member also cleaned up after the fact.

The Jointer guard was operating properly however the spring return was adjusted to add more force to the return position.  This adjustment might have mitigated the injury but would probably not have prevented it.

The following recommendations were made by the member:

Put down floor tape to show where you should stand when using the Planer.

Insure the First Aid kit is complete. (I believe that Dave has a person doing this at MS-P)

Emphasize location of the First Aid kit at Member Orientation and all Red Tool classes.

Add a First Aid Class.

Install an Emergency Call button in various shops to call for aid.  No user involvement beyond pushing the button.  Do show and tell in Red Tool classes.  (Jim is in conversation with Bryan, our 911 center member, about how this could be done.)

Front door should stay unlocked when building is occupied (Auto locking may prevent emergency personnel ingress during an emergency.)

Emergency Services should have information on our location, layout, and how to gain access.  (Jim is in conversation with Bryan about how to disseminate  this information.)

Executive Session

Adjournment

Meeting adjourned by Evan at x:xx

Next Board Meeting will be April 29th.