Spring is arriving, vaccines are rolling out, and more people are able to imagine restarting their lives. For the makerspace, that means we are able to consider starting up some classes in a limited, safe fashion.
We have had requests for welding and woodworking classes particularly, and we are thinking about what we can offer. We are also planning a class sponsored by Partnering with Abi, details to be determined and announced later. Let us know if there’s something you’d like to learn!
As usual, our calendar is updated with our training classes and orientations. Stay tuned for new classes for both members and non-members.
https://bereamakerspace.org/calendar/
Membership Discount Options
We have been in existence for a year and a half now, and have been in the black for one year! Thanks to all of our current and past members and donors for making that happen.
Because we are meeting our expenses, we are introducing 5% and 10% discounts for members who pay their memberships 6 or 12 months in advance, respectively. This option won’t appeal to everyone, but we wanted to make it available and our membership voted to introduce it. Monthly memberships at $35 for individuals and $55 for a family are still available, of course.
Makerspace Upgrades
We have kept busy through the winter and have made some improvements to the space.
We cleared out the front room and resurfaced the floor, creating a much brighter space that is easier to clean, with more room for general purpose making. In the process we continued the reorganization elsewhere and have cleared out some of the cluttered corners that made the space look cramped.
In the wood shop we have gotten the router table up and running with dust collection and a beefy 3.5 hp Milwaukee router in a router lift, and built a downdraft sanding table to reduce dust when hand-sanding.
We rebuilt the blacksmith forge and cleaned out and reorganized the metal shop with more material storage and easier access to machines. There is a new fuel line for the forge so gas can be stored outside of the shop.
Jess has acquired and set up a large format 3D printer and a resin printer. Classes are on the calendar.
Upcoming projects include a new kids’ area and general-purpose tables to fill out the clean area. The space is always changing as our members have new projects and ideas. Come join us!
Victory Garden Blitz
Sustainable Berea’s annual Victory Garden Blitz is coming up soon, and volunteers are needed! https://www.sustainableberea.org/victory-garden-blitz
Every year Sustainable Berea helps to bring awareness of and solutions to food insecurity through its Victory Garden Blitz by constructing 3×5 raised garden beds for people to grow their own food. This year Berea College is unable to participate and there is a shortage of volunteers. Here’s a blurb about their needs:
We’d like to get a few volunteers to help the Berea Urban Farm with their Victory Garden Blitz. It is scheduled for Friday March 26 from noon to 4 pm, and Saturday March 27 from 9 am to 4 pm. Volunteers for just part of the time are welcome, too. The Urban Farm gets about 200 8 foot, 2×6 cedar boards delivered to them. They need a few folks to help cut them into one 5 foot piece and one 3 foot piece, then bolt them into a 5×3 rectangle, If you are interested contact Ed Clautice.
Home email – Clautice@verizon.net
Phone – (703) 463-0490
If you can lend them a hand, contact Ed!
One last note:
We are now using mailing list software to send emails, so we have an Unsubscribe link below if you don’t want to get these updates anymore.
Stay safe, and Happy Making!
Brian, Meg, Joe, Jess, Ria, Leah