RefreshBCS

My name is Dan Cary. I co-manage the .net users group here in B/CS. I also have limited participation in some of the other local IT groups.  In managing this group, I have constantly run into location scheduling problems. In addition, I have had friends(limited computer users) ask me to teach a course on various topics. When I first heard about The Creative Space, I thought yes, this is the place. But, that ended up being a little different than I had expected it to be. Not to diminish the efforts of Cody, Roby, et al, they did bring co-working to B/CS, but I feel like we need to expand this concept.

So, I was talking with Robert Stackhouse about my plans to build a warehouse type facility where people could schedule usage for free or nominal fee. Robert  mentioned to me that there are other people in the community who are interested in low cost communal IT socializing facility. So, I am going to try to help organize efforts to see if we can bring these people and their ideas together with this goal in mind.

My Ideal location Requirements:

• Central to B/CS
• Free / Cheap
• wi-fi
• Food Preparation Area (small kitchen/fridge/coffee maker)
• Alcohol is OK (for socials)
• Has couches and tables

Usage:

• Co-working during normal business hours.
• Local IT professionals could hold classes.  I have seen interest on even ones most basic computer usage.
• Professionals teaching professionals. If cost were low enough, people could just put together a sessions(e.g. ROR, Unit Testing, CSS, Class Design, Reporting services)
• User group usage(this is where food prep area comes in, Even just the use of a stove for cooking pizza or something to bring food cost down. I know this is not realistic but I thought I would include it.)

Ideas for securing a space:

• Tax Dollar Funded Community Center (perfect)
• Donated Commercial location (We could convince a landlord that is having trouble renting space to donate the usage of that location. It could possibly be a tax right off if any non-profits use the facility.) I have some friends who own property. I could ask them if there would be any incentive other than cash that would be acceptable.
• Interested participants put some money together and by a location for this use. I know of a 4-plex for sale @ 60k. (sorry, just brain storming.)
• Create a non-profit IT org that might be able to raise tax deductable donations and grants for such a location.
• Get a list of restaurants that are have facilities for use and convince them that this is good for business and ask them to wire the room for wireless.

This is just a start. I would encourage others to add to the list so that its comprehensive even if you don’t thing you desires will match with others.  Maybe someone could post some of this information on a refresh related blog so that other could contribute in the form of comments.  I am honestly not very good with blogs and social sites.

Thanks for your time, Dan Cary

This entry was posted on Tuesday, September 30th, 2008 at 12:27 pm and is filed under Uncategorized. You can follow any responses to this entry through the RSS 2.0 feed. You can leave a response, or trackback from your own site.