Member Guidelines
Before you become a member of Makerspace community, here are some basic principles we should all stick to.
- Be excellent to each other
- Failure is a means to success
- Lack of knowledge is an opportunity, not an obstacle
- Your experience here is what you make it
- Any and all illegal activity is strictly forbidden; any and all creative activity is strongly encouraged
- Pick up after yourself – this is a shared space.
Member Rights
- 24/7 access to the Victoria Makerspace workshop.
- Able to bring one guest into the space any time you wish.
- Allowed to make nominations and cast votes at the annual meeting.
Member Responsibilities
- Only members are allowed to access power tools
- Some tools require specialized training; only trained members may use these tools
- Personal items must be confined to your personal locker, lock box, or shelf space
- No animals (except service animals) in the shop areas
- No unsupervised children in the shop areas
- Be aware: lost and found items, animals, and children will be held for 7 days, then used for parts
- Members who profit from objects they manufacture are encouraged to reimburse the Makerspace for equipment use cost
Liability Waiver
I hereby acknowledge that I fully understand that woodworking, welding, and related activities are inherently dangerous and may require strenuous physical exertion. The areas where woodworking, welding, and related activities are conducted contain many known and unknown hazards. I acknowledge and understand that my participation in any activities at the Victoria Makerspace could result in my exposure to serious personal injury, illness, disability, or death. I also acknowledge that property losses can occur. I understand that Victoria Makerspace has guidelines for safe work practice. I agree to follow these, and maintain the highest level of safe work practices for myself and others.
In participating in activities at the Victoria Makerspace I acknowledge that I am 18 years of age or older. Also, I hereby for myself, my heirs, executors, administrators, successors and assigns, release and forever discharge the Victoria Makerspace, its members, board, and any other person or organization assisting it, from any and all actions, causes of actions, claims and demands for, upon or by reason of any damage, loss or injury to person and property which heretofore has been or hereafter may be sustained in consequence of any accident occurring during a Victoria Makerspace activity or my use of the facilities.
I am responsible for my own safety at the Victoria Makerspace, this includes safe tool operation, ensuring that tools are in proper working order, and that they are used safely and responsibly. Other members may advise me on safe work practices, but this does not constitute a supervisory relationship and responsibility for safely using the Victoria Makerspace facilities lies entirely on myself.
I agree that this waiver and the agreements it contains will be governed and interpreted exclusively in accordance with the laws of the Province of British Columbia, Canada.
I agree that if any portion of this agreement is found to be unenforceable, the remaining portions of this agreement shall remain in full force and effect.
I confirm that I have read and understood this agreement prior to agreeing to it.
I further confirm that the terms and conditions of this agreement will apply to any minor that accompanies me and that I am the legal guardian or parent of any such minors. Accordingly I have the authority to accept this agreement on their behalf. I agree to remain responsible for the supervision and safety of any such minors.
Code of Conduct
Victoria Makerspace (VM) is an inclusive community where all our visitors (both members and guests alike) should feel welcome. This code applies to everyone’s conduct on all VM-related communication channels (such as IRC, Slack, Talk/mailing lists, etc.), as well as the physical space including the entirety of the Vancouver Island Tech Park (VITP) campus.
This Code of Conduct is in addition to the Waiver, usage policy, bylaws and other rules, which cover safety and the ethos of the space.
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It is unacceptable to harass or discriminate against others for any reason.
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Keep all communication civil and keep swearing to a minimum; if you can’t make a comment politely and persuasively, don’t make it at all. Your conduct reflects on the image of the VM as seen by outsiders.
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Trolling is never appropriate.
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Personal attacks will not be tolerated.
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Members shall act in full compliance with all applicable laws.
Anti-Harassment Policy
Victoria Makerspace (VM) is dedicated to providing a welcoming and inclusive space for everyone, regardless of gender, gender identity and expression, sexual orientation, disability, physical appearance, body size, race, nationality, immigration status, age, or religion. We do not tolerate harassment of people at our events or space in any form.
Generally harassment can be understood as any improper conduct by an individual, that is directed at and offensive to another person or persons, and that the individual knew or ought reasonably to have known would cause offence or harm. It comprises any objectionable act, comment or display that demeans, belittles, or causes personal humiliation or embarrassment, and any act of intimidation or threat. It includes harassment within the meaning of the Canadian Human Rights Act .
Harassment includes but is not limited to:
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Offensive words or actions related to the identities, traits, and characteristics stated above.
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Gratuitous sexual or obscene images or behaviors on the VM premises or communication channels.
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Unwelcome physical contact or sexual attention without consent or after a request to stop.
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Deliberate intimidation by either words, gestures, body language, or menacing behavior.
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Stalking.
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Harassing photography or recording, including logging online activity for harassment purposes.
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Sustained disruption of talks or other events.
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Continued one-on-one contact or communication – either online or in person – after requests to cease.
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Deliberate outing of a sensitive aspect of a person’s identity without their consent.
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Deliberate misgendering. This includes dead-naming or persistently using a pronoun that doesn’t correctly reflect a person’s gender identity.
Consequences
People asked to stop any harassing behaviour are expected to stop immediately. Failing to cease behaviour immediately may lead to being expelled from the space or the event at the discretion of any VM member who is not directly involved in the incident. The member asked to leave is entitled to the resolution policy at a later date. Willingness to leave upon being asked reflects a respect for community values and will be considered in the Resolution Process.
Resolution Process
If a complaint is raised against you with respect to one of these policies you will be provided the opportunity to share your perspective either by writing, by interview or by electronic meeting. At this time our bylaws do not provide the functionality to suspend members. Expulsion is supported. If a member, after having their side of the story heard, is found to not be willing or able to follow the rules as set out in this code of conduct they may be expelled by a majority vote of directors during a director’s meeting
How to Report
If you wish to report harassment please do any of the following:
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Talk to any directors of the Victoria Makerspace
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Send a message to boarddirect@makerspace.ca
If you witness breaches of this code, or have any other concerns, please contact one or more directors through the channels above or in person. If you wish to remain anonymous please say so. All further escalations of the complaint will be done without identifying information if anonymity is requested.
All reports will be treated as confidential and will be investigated.