Make San Antonio Membership Drive Update

A big thank you to all those who have supported us, gave us feedback, suggestions and well wishes. We appreciate all the help during this membership drive. As our membership drive comes to a close, we're well aware that we will not be reaching our 100 member sign-up goal. Therefore we will not be charging the members who did support us. Although this is a huge set-back for us we are going to take what we've learned through this process, make any necessary changes to what we had originally envisioned, discuss with our team how to proceed and continue to update you on our progress.

What's Next for Make San Antonio?

• We are going to bundle all our progress and set-backs to this point and present that to prospective investors to gauge interest. There are several avenues we can pursue beyond this investment but we would love to have a local investor mentoring and backing us in this endeavor before we move forward.
• Our January Second Saturday event was postponed due to inclement weather but we have committed to participating in an upcoming Second Saturday so we will be curating an art show at the Lullwood Group on April 11. Mark your calendar! 

Here's a recap of what we accomplished during our short push to our membership drive and the all of the lessons learned.

Lessons Learned:
The concept of a comprehensive makerspace (that doesn't actually exist yet) is a hard sell. What we had envisioned was to sign up people who were already familiar with the makerspace model and were excited about this type of space coming to San Antonio. Instead we came across many people who were not familiar with what a makerspace is and the benefits that this type of space would bring to the San Antonio community. We were eager to share our knowledge and enthusiasm of makerspaces with all those willing to hear us out. Many people suggested that if we already had a space where they could visit, see our vision and use some of the tools they would be more willing to back us.

Pricing was a question that most prospective members had which relates quite heavily to the above. Asking for a signup of $55 without seeing the value returned in that investment was what many people had difficulties with. Our pricing for our membership drive was set based on comparable makerspaces around Texas and the nation but we have since decided to work on different methods of membership as an initial option. We want our pricing to be customizable so that as members grow into the space they can add or remove certain areas of their membership and grow their skill set accordingly.

Who are the people behind Make San Antonio?

Greg Reyes is an IT Engineer who is passionate about making. He grew up surrounded by tradesmen from ASE certified master mechanics to metalworkers to old carpenters who showed him a love for building with his own hands and taking pride in his work. His formal education in Computer Science allowed him to expand on his passion for making into software and engineering concepts. His experience and hands on knowledge of a vast array of tools, software and equipment will help Make San Antonio's members become more proficient makers.

Jennifer Herrera works for a local non-profit specializing in community outreach and public relations. She is a professional Pinterest pinner, and an aspiring maker. Her interests include photography, arts & crafts and upcycling projects. Jennifer is a Communication Studies graduate student at St. Mary's University, and volunteers with organizations such as spare parts, San Anto Cultural Arts and Gemini Ink. Her dedication to community outreach will help Make San Antonio truly become a community-oriented makerspace.

Mark Barnett is a long time maker advocate and educator. He operates a nonprofit in San Antonio that helps to provide opportunities for students to work with technologies like 3D printers, circuit boards and robotics. He also works on a National level promoting the idea of makerspaces in schools, libraries and community centers. His expertise in the Maker Movement along with his passion for education will help Make San Antonio be home for those who want to learn and grow.

Dale "Termite" Bracey is a Swiss Army Knife at work and in the community. Known for being a jack-of-all, his co-workers branded him as D.A.L.E. for Does A Lot of Everything. Over a decade at Rackspace, he spends his days promoting and dabbling in OpenStack on the Private Cloud side, and various other tasks. Award winning Artist. Education in design, photography, electronics, engineering, architecture, programming, computer science. Hobbies are collecting and restoring cars, building things, restoring his 1925 home, helping others, volunteering, and being social! His love for learning and teaching, community connections, social interactions, and just being D.A.L.E. are another wrench in the toolbox to help Make San Antonio make San Antonio!

We each have unique knowledge and experience that we bring to the table but the one thing that unites us is our passion for making. We hope to instill this maker passion in anyone we meet and we are all just as eager to teach as we are to learn.

Why Join Make San Antonio's Membership Drive Now?

We're a week into our membership drive, and we're at 9 percent of our goal of reaching 100 members within our five week campaign. Since we've kicked off our drive, we've been met with a few questions including; "Why join now when I can just wait until Make San Antonio opens their doors, and join then?" The answer is not as easy as it sounds.

We're calling on our community, that means you, to help us get to a point where we can open our doors. We don't have a physical space so we need to demonstrate that San Antonio has a thriving community of makers to sustain a place such as Make San Antonio. We're kicking off this campaign as a way to show investors the desire for this type of space in San Antonio. This campaign alone will not be enough to get our space off the ground, but our final membership numbers will give Make San Antonio the backing to show that a makerspace is viable in our San Antonio community. Once this campaign is complete, we will have a better understanding of what our membership-base will look like and what size and scope Make San Antonio will be able to provide to our members and the community.

We're about building a community of makers. Our team is comprised of like-minded individuals with a vast array of interests from 3D printing to photography who want nothing more than to help provide a space for San Antonians to geek out over the same things.

Can we count on you to help us reach our goal? Join today at makesanantonio.com. Still have questions? Shoot us an e-mail at makesanantonio@gmail.com, and we'll answer any and all questions.

Tips from an old carpenter

My grandfather was an amazing man.  He would make you laugh when you were in the worst mood, then turn around and cuss at you all in the same breath.  He worked as a carpenter his entire life and he always had a wealth of knowledge to share.  That knowledge transfer would usually start by him saying, "No seas pendejo! Mira hazlo asi", loosely translated into English, "Don't be stupid! Look, do it like this".  He grew up in a culture and era where power tools were a luxury that he couldn't afford, but looking back at some of the things he accomplished with just hand tools, is amazing.  He had a mastery of Geometry, angles and mathematics that would rival most of today's college students, but he dropped out of junior high school.  So this knowledge wasn't something he learned via a formal education.  It was shared with him by other fellow makers throughout his working life.  You could give him a circle of any size and using an L-square and a Combination square he would find the exact center of that circle with a few pencil marks.

No mathematics involved!  In my grandfathers words, "Geometry is for people who have time to think about those kinds of things.  All the math is in the tools, you just need to know how to use them correctly to get things done."  Here's another example.  Those shiny hand saws you see at the store, if you thought they were good just for cutting, my grandfather would have a name or two to call you.  Flip them over with the teeth pointing away from the cutting piece and they become an instant square.  Use the reflection of the saw against the wood and when the lines of your cutting piece are straight with the reflection you have a square line across your cutting surface.

What if you wanted to cut a 45 degree angle?  Angle your saw until the reflection you see is perpendicular and you have your 45 degree angled cut line.

Seeing these techniques being applied when I was young seemed like magic.  Even though I didn't know any better at the time, my grandfather was teaching me the principles of mathematics as young as 6 years old.  This is what being a maker is all about, learning by doing.  I could read a hundred books on the subject of woodworking but never know these shortcuts existed if it wasn't for my grandfather teaching me, via hands on learning, what he had picked up throughout his life.  A makerspace thrives on building a community where you can teach others your experiences and learn something new from their experiences in the process.  In my grandfathers words, "Everyone you encounter throughout life will have unique and valuable lessons to share depending on their professional background, knowledge and upbringing.  You just have to be willing and open to learn."  What experiences or lessons would you be able to en-part on your fellow makers?

Free 3D modeling software for 3D printers

Our two favorites would have to be GoogleSketchUp and OpenSCAD.   OpenSCAD is completely free and has a solid base in CAD modeling.  OpenSCAD is a bit more complicated than Google SketchUp, when it comes to a learning curve, but you can do some amazing things once you learn how to use it correctly.  In addition you'll gain a bit of programming knowledge on your journey.  But don't be intimidated, making everything work together isn't all that hard once you dive into it.  The great thing is that there are plenty of documentation/tutorials to help you on your way.  You can get some inspiration and possibly some help accomplishing your learning goal by checking out Thingiverse (Anything tagged customizer = OpenSCAD).

Here are some models and ideas from one of our co-founders, Greg, made using OpenSCAD and Thingiverse's customizer application.  You can always download the OpenSCAD files from pre-made models and modify them to suit your needs.

• Concrete Mold
• PVC Inner Coupler

Google SketchUp, our first choice when modeling something, has a free version, SketchUp Make, and can be used for most anything you can think of.  Google has also set up some free tutorials on the subject.  The tutorials are a bit involved but once you have SketchUp under your belt you’re well on your way to becoming a modeler extraordinaire!  Both of these tools have their strengths and weaknesses, but together there really hasn't been something we were unable to design rather quickly for a 3D printer.  Here's a Google SketchUp design Greg made for a Roll-Out Pantry.

We hope you enjoy making as much as we do.  You can learn more about us at makesanantonio.com.

Knowledge is Power - Francis Bacon

We've all heard the phrase quoted, "Knowledge is Power" but in my opinion it’s a bit misleading.  Knowledge is amazing!  Learning is what drives us to become who we are and what we want to be.  Prior to these last two decades however, an individual had to have a formal education in order to gain what was considered knowledge.  The great thing about learning now is that we've seen an emergence of the internet as the great equalizer.  You no longer need to come from a formal education to gain the knowledge needed to get ahead in the world.  Let me clarify, a formal education is not a bad thing, the more you know, the more opportunities present themselves.  But, this is the first time in human history where we are all on a level playing field when it comes to learning.  The internet isn't biased and won’t judge whether you're tall, short, purple, blue, rich or poor… If you have a computer and the internet you've got this treasure trove of knowledge available at your fingertips.  If you don’t have the internet, take your computer to a local coffee house, they’ll have free internet you can use.  No computer?  Head to your local public library, they’re sure to have one you can borrow.

So lets say we've learned everything there is to learn, memorized every single page of the internet, and can recite all of it word for word.  What good is all that knowledge if it’s never experienced or applied?  I've seen individuals who have had every privilege in their life but never amounted to more than a glorified chair warmer and individuals who from humble beginnings became millionaires.  What is the difference between the two?  How they applied the knowledge they had gained to better their lives.  “Knowledge is Power” is a great saying, used by many influential people, but not entirely true in this new era of human existence.  I think a better way to state the phrase would be “Applied Knowledge is Power”.  At Make San Antonio we’re looking to foster innovation, creativity and knowledge.  We will strive to maintain an atmosphere where you can gain knowledge and apply the knowledge you've learned in a creative environment, surrounded by enthusiastic and creative people.

What is a makerspace?

Make San Antonio of course! Well, that still doesn't answer the burning question. The best way to describe a makerspace is a gym for creatives. You become a member of a gym to use unique gym equipment, maybe take a few classes or training, and build your health. A makerspace has the same concept. At a makerspace you’ll become a member to use amazing tools, be able to cultivate your skills with general and advanced classes, maybe even start your own business or help someone else start theirs, but most importantly build your knowledge via the maker mantra of “learning by doing.” A makerspace is a DIY environment where members will be able to, after a familiarization class, use tools and software they would otherwise not be able to afford on their own and have access to a myriad of machines that will help them create anything they could imagine. Makerspaces focus on rapid prototyping and manufacturing, so a few common areas/tools a makerspace would contain would be:

• Woodworking tools
• Metalworking tools
• Textiles
• Electronics
• Rapid prototyping (3D Printing, Laser Cutting)

Each makerspace will be unique in what tools they provide for their members but all makerspaces thrive on building a creative community. You can think of a makerspace as a unique entity who is in essence owned by a community of creators. Makerspaces are a unique way for members to engage in a community of supportive individuals who can come together to create amazing things together.

What is a Maker?

You know when that kitchen appliance broke last month or when you really wanted to get something special for someone or you had a great idea about a new product and instead of going out and buying a new one you said, “Let’s see if I can fix/make/build this instead?” This is the essence of what being a maker is all about. A maker is a creative person who strives to create in a world that bombards him or her with consumption. A maker is a person who makes the conscious decision to re-purpose, fix, remake or reinvent something in their life. 

Our great grandparents were makers. Our grandparents were makers, and maybe even our parents were makers. They all sought to provide the best for their children and made do with what they had. If our current trend continues, our parents will be the last generation of people who actually made things with their bare hands. It was sometimes a necessity, other times pride but this knowledge of how things are made is being forgotten. We have strayed a long way from our ancestors path. We have all attempted to do better in our lives than our parents, but as a result, some of us have chosen not to cultivate our maker roots. It’s easier to pay for someone else to do it or buy it off a shelf. However, this type of consumer-based society has led us to miss out on amazing experiences. Letting someone else do the work has made us start to forget a big portion of how to make items with our bare hands. 

Make San Antonio seeks to regain that glimmer of a life where fixing things came easier, making things was a commonality and the pride you felt by accomplishing a project on your own was priceless.