New Member Orientation
Last Edited: 11/5/2024 Frequently Asked Questions
How to Join
You can join by following the steps , which are, in short:
- The first step should be to check out the space. We have a public meeting every Tuesday at 8pm. You'll get a tour and if you join that night, it's a good time to get your ID checked. You could also come by any event that’s open to the public. There are many: almost anything on the event calendar that isn’t a tool authorization.
- You can apply for membership by starting recurring payments on the website. From the home page, look for the "Join" menu item.
- Find two board members or authorized membership admins to check your government-issued ID. To find them: attend either a Tuesday open house (8 pm almost every Tuesday, except for a few holidays) or a New Member Orientation. Before your membership is official, two board members (or one of the non-board authorized ID checkers) will need to check a government-issued photo ID. Either of these events is a good time for that. Once your ID has been verified, you'll get an RFID fob for door entry and will be able to start getting authorized to use tools and equipment. If you can’t make it to an open house or an orientation there are still many times you can have your ID checked; to arrange a time send an email to info@pumpingstationone.org
- Once you've received your welcome email, you should go to our member site and activate your PS1 account. This account will serve as your Wiki account as well as your log in for computers around the space. Do this as soon as possible.
But you've got concerns, let's address them:
- I have a project I need to get done on a very short time frame, is there any way to get in before next Tuesday?
Sorry, no. Unfortunately we are not a job shop, fab lab or tool rental company. You're going to need some patience. We are 100% volunteer run. Likewise, no day passes, no corporate memberships shared between several people. Not a good fit for this kind of place.
- How do I get authorized to use the laser cutter?
The laser cutter is our most popular tool. There may be an authorization session on the Events calendar, or one may be in the process of forming. There are a few recommended authorizers for the laser. Check the wiki page for the laser, as you would for any tool. There are more volunteer authorizers for laser cutters than ever before; scheduling a time won’t be hard.
How do I get authorized on tools?
- Check if there is a course on that tool and complete it with passing scores.
- Check this wiki for a page on the tool you're interested in. Look for an equipment label on the tool you're interested in for a QR code that will take you to its wiki page.
- Contact the area host and area authorizers through email, discourse, or slack to schedule a convenient time for an in person authorization.
- Make sure you understand the equipment well to avoid damaging it, yourself, and others. Let your authorizer know you want to meet with them or another volunteer again if you feel unsure in your abilities.
- Make sure the authorizer adds to your Wild Apricot profile that you're authorized on the equipment.
- Have fun and follow the scout principle of leaving your newly acquired tool area cleaner than you found it.
Most/many serious tools require authorization. This was formerly referred to as certification and some wiki pages still refer to it as that. Authorization requirements vary from thing to thing, sometimes they have prerequisites and sometimes can only be done by one or a small set of authorizers.
How do I get authorized? (quick reference, not a complete list)
Pumping Station: One Is ...
A Do-ocracy
That means whoever's doing something is the person who decides how it gets done. If you want to do something, you can basically Just Fucking Do It.
An organization of individuals doing their own thing
"Pumping Station: One" doesn't do anything besides pay the bills. Any group projects, building/planning new space facilities, etc. all gets done because an ordinary member thought it was important, got people excited about it, and followed through.
Entirely run by volunteers
Our Board of Directors, people offering training on the equipment, and anyone who looks like they're doing anything remotely official are all volunteers. That means if you ask them nicely for something they'll probably help you, but you should do what you can to make their job easier.
Except the people we pay to do things, who are probably not members. We pay a cleaning service to clean the bathrooms and an electrician to run wires. The building owner pays roofers to roof and something is going on with the front of the building right now.
How to get Involved
All of these are optional ways you can get involved at PS:One.
- Join one of the Email Lists, if you're so inclined.
- Volunteering at PS:One
- Contact one of the Area Hosts to discuss project ideas, get certified on some of the equipment, or anything else you might need.
- Teach a class
- Skills Exchange: List of members, what skills they can offer, and which they hope to attain.
- Project Incubator: We come up with a bunch of random ideas. Let's try to write them down so we'll be more likely to remember them.
- Interest Groups