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Tuesday, April 30, 2013

Gaining Momentum


Update from Denver:

I toured 3 makerspaces today.

Club Workshop - Very spacious 2-level warehouse facility with a LOT of metal fabrication equipment. Some automotive work. Also has woodworking, an electronics station, and some 3D printing. LLC. (membership is $99 per month)

Den Hac - Much smaller space, Much less fabrication equipment (one LulzBot 3D printer that looked good). The space is more software/tech oriented, and hosts a lot of servers, reference books, and a Radio DJ station doing online music streaming (and I was told they are looking into broadcasting). They are a 501c3. (membership is $60 per month)

Concoctory - Very new (opened this month). DIY electronics sales and more of an artistic emphasis than the other hackerspaes I've seen.

Next up, I want to meet up with the Denver people behind this new project:

http://opentechforever.com/



I have made some very good friends and co-conspirators at a local tech-club:

http://geeklunch.org/

Geek Lunch meets every Tuesday at noon at the Manhattan Mall Food Court.

Members of the local Linux User Group and Manhattan Area Amateur Radio Society are also regular meeting attendees.


I have made some positive connections with several professors on KSU campus, and there is discussion of adding a makerspace-esque addition to the new Engineering building, as well as the possibility of $10,000 worth of personally and specifically selected equipment being available to the KSU makerspace group very soon.
The new makerspace KSU group 'Free-Source Makers and Inventors' will soon be doing promotional activities and possibly hosting events in the very near future.


There are currently 2 discussion groups available for the Manhattan Makerspace:
https://plus.google.com/communities/104541870107014403605

https://www.facebook.com/groups/309702565756153/


Recently I have also gone to the Dallas Makerspace, SpaceUP unconference and I am making connections with the KCCC makerspace 'Kansas City Computer Congress'.


My next major move is to look into some property around town, acquire non-profit status, and pursue various funding options available.


In times like these, the entrepreneurial spirit is vital and the inventive mind critical.

Do something great. Let me know if I can help. :)