BoardMeeting202603

Minutes

March 15, 2026 virtually via Big Blue Button

• Start time: 4:00 PM
• Attendance: Issac M., Sue J., Jondale S., Tracy H., Billy H., Daryl H., Sean S., Russell P
• Eleven general members also in attendance

Votes

• Voted unanimously to bring on Mandy as new 3d Printing Czarina! Yay!

Meeting end: 4:55 PM

Supplemental Notes

Issac: President

• Spark news: progress on the lease but now stalled again, we're working with our lawyer to present a new copy and hope we can get it all set in the near future
• Some people have asked - can we mount a mesh antenna on the roof? Whatever we do, it should be that people can access it while still being only on open source tech. We'll see what happens after we get on with fixing the roof. Other than that, no concerns.
• Maker Market: Not much to say - will keep it on the agenda so we move it forward
• Board Retreat this month! Don't forget to be there!

Sue: Treasurer

• Building fund trucking along, got some donations this past month - yay
• We're paying more for some things but our insurance has ended up lower than we estimated so it is a wash

Tracy: Membership Director

• Members: 413
• Fundraiser update: Really have to ping BKS and make it a weekly reminder
• Applied for two grants last night - one for $15k and one for $10k, found two more and a list that I'm going to look into
• Wondering if the love.knoxmakers.org page is updating with total - there were two donations this past month and I think some people turned on auto-donate

Russell: Community Director

• Met with Elena and made some ideas how to redesign and update the space -especially making the entrance more inviting
• Talks and Crafts: Full calendar on Tuesdays!
  • Possibly talked about the Fifth Tuesday being Tech Stuff Office Hours (but not this month, it's already booked)
• There is a newsletter going out soon
• There is a new Tool Instruction sheet for bandsaws - hoping to work though one per month

Jondale: Tech Director

• KMIT has been looking at cameras - putting an order in to give more coverage
• Looking at changing the TPU unit - will check that out on Tuesday
• Ordered some units to help increase internet to the Blacksmith (and cameras)
• Mayor's Maker Council - last meeting was cancelled, next one is this Tuesday

Daryl: Communications

• Needs to sit down with Jondale and meet about how the new website and Jondale's fancy goodies can work together

Sean: Creative Director

• Sean's cat literally just threw up as his turn came up
• Submitted Market to couple of community calendars
• Pitched a story for Inside Knoxville to visit on a Tuesday - will keep bugging them - they haven't visited since 2017
• Ideas about Community Installations (like the Suttree's Landing Park thing that is happening right now)
• Any tomfoolery? Pi Day was fun!

Billy: Facilities

• Roof update: Russell usurped Billy on this one - he has a proposal he will forward on to the board for consideration
  • Still not sure on handling the trees overhanging the roof
• Possibly room for more member storage in Woodworking
• Matt wants to add a gallery wall back against the Member Storage but some finagling must happen first
• Bathroom light is about to need fixing

Other stuff

• Nothing!