Volunteer Manual

Volunteer Manual

Refer to this manual for opening/closing procedures, regular volunteer shift duties, how to manage signups and money, and other things volunteers should be aware of.

Written by: Alex Nunn Last updated: August 15, 2017

General Operations

Getting started: To join the volunteer program, you need to talk to the general manager and find out what times are available to volunteer and what is involved. Then you will be asked to sign a Volunteer Agreement and go through a simple training session to get you acquainted with your duties.

Resources:

Volunteer Folder on Google Drive

Volunteer Contact List (requires authorization to view)

Opening the shop

For opening the space for business during regular hours, take the following steps:

• When first entering, unlock the door to the Classroom.
• Put your name card on the “Watching The Shop” board in the office
• Turn on the lights to the Classroom and Wood Shop.
• Clean up and wipe the tables and counters in the main shops, organize any tools left out.
• Go around the space and check on the equipment, clean anything that needs it.

Closing the shop

How to close up the shop, assuming nobody is around. If someone is around, check in with them and ask what they are using, and help them turn off anything else.

• Close the valve on the air compressor (turn from parallel to perpendicular). The air compressor is behind the woodshop, near the main breaker panel.
• Check the valves of all gas containers and make sure they are closed (oxygen, acetylene, propane, and various pressurized gasses are stored in the metal shop and/or auto bay. "Righty tighty" will close the spigot-style valve on these tanks). Tanks must not be left free standing, and always secured with rope or chain
• Turn off the lights in every shop, including in the warehouse area.
• Check and lock all doors, including garage bay doors. There are 5 garage doors and 3 regular doors to lock.
• Check all thermostats, ensure they are set to 40. There are gas heaters in the common room, wood shop, and warehouse space.
• Check for any potential safety hazards, such as equipment left plugged in/powered on, improperly stored materials, obstructed egress, etc.
• Lock the Classroom door.

New Members

If someone comes in asking about signing up for a membership, answer any questions they may have to the best of your knowledge. If they are ready to sign up, you can two different means of signing them up. You can go to the website's membership page and sign them up, or if they prefer to do it at home give them the card to sign up online.

For the current sign-up process, please see the New Member page and guide any potential new members through it.

Transactions

Transactions are primarily handled through our website. If they would like to look at our options, use one of the computers at the shop to guide them to our Membership or Storage pages and explain what is available.

If someone would like to pay with cash or check, we have a cash box and associated log sheet. This requires having permission from the Manager to access the cash box. When it comes to anything cash-related, make a record on the petty cash sheet, noting who it was, for how much, and for what. Follow the format that is on the sheet as closely as possible and include as much detail as the space on the form permits. We need accurate details for record-keeping.

For credit or debit cards we have a small POS setup with a smartphone and a PaypalHere bluetooth reader. This requires permission from the Manager to log in to the device. Note that Membership payments done through this are not recurring, so if someone wants to be set up on a continuous membership they will have to go through our website.

Tours

When someone comes into the shop and wants to check the place out, here are some guidelines on what to show them and talk to them about. There’s a lot! Tours typically begin in the Classroom or Office. Describe our available tools and resources in each shop. Mention a few highlights that people are generally interested in (3D Printer, Plasma cutter, machining tools)

• Electronics Lab: 3D Printers, soldering irons, microcontrollers, CAD computer
• Classroom: Open work space, projector, locker storage
• Wood Shop: Table saw, band saw, jointer, planer, belt sander. Consumables like glue.
• Metal/Machine Shop: MIG and TIG welders, safety helmets and gloves, plasma cutter, bridgeport milling machine, lathe, precise measuring tools,
• Auto Shop: Auto lift, TIG welder, Bicycle bench,

Here is some general info that you should make sure visitors know before leaving.

• Membership options and rates - Membership page on main site
• Project storage options - Project Storage page on main site
• Classes and public events coming up - Classes and Events on Eventbrite

Volunteer Tasks

A list of general and specific tasks to do on a volunteer shift. For the most up-to-date list, see the Volunteer Task List on google sheets.

Any day tasks:

• Give tours and info about the makerspace to new-comers.
• Answer phone calls and providing accurate info, writing down notes, refer to website
• Organize tools, materials, and untidy areas
• Sweep and Vacuum [Electronics Lab, Classroom, Woodshop, Metal Shop, Auto Bay, Warehouse]
• Clean tables, chairs, shelves, and anything that has dust/dirt on it.
• Use the Volunteer Log after doing something.
• Empty a full trash can and replace with an empty bag. Trash goes outside by the red chimney. New bags are near the bathroom.
• Every Sunday: Take all trash and recycling out to the curb.

Occasional Tasks:

• Update whiteboard calendars. Done at the beginning of the month.
• Winter outdoor cleaning: shoveling, ice-breaking, salting.
• Spring/Summer outdoor cleaning: gardening, weed-whacking, mowing.
• Sweep and mop the floor in one of the shops. Best time to do it is a quiet day.
• Brush and vacuum the walls in the woodshop.

Skilled Tasks:

• Social media posts about makerspace events, member features, project photos.
• Repair equipment. Please consult the manager or shop manager before doing.
• Help with a construction/deconstruction project.
• Manage and organize a shop improvement project.