Code of Conduct, Community Agreement, Members Handbook

The Decatur Makers Code of Conduct, the Community Agreement, and the Decatur Makers Member Handbook outline acceptable behavior expected of members, guests, volunteers of the Decatur Makers community.

CODE OF CONDUCT Decatur Makers works because of trust. We trust everyone will:

1. Be kind, respectful, inclusive and supportive of others at all times,

2. Learn and create through hands-on experience, in both success and failure,

3. Safely use our tools and equipment,

4. Abide by the Community Agreement,

5. Be accountable to the Decatur Makers Member Handbook,

6. Ask for help if they need it,

7. Check the Events and Classes Calendars for when we are hosting events in the space, and Equipment Reservation Calendar for when tools may be unavailable,

8. Tell Staff and Area Stewards if equipment is broken (also leave a note) and consumables need to be ordered,

9. Clean up after themselves (even better, clean up better than they found it!)

10. Have fun and make cool stuff!

THE COMMUNITY AGREEMENT

1. Safety first

• Emergency:

  • Dial 911 in an emergency. Our address is posted above the landline phone near the restroom.

  • Be aware of entrances and exits, first aid, and fire extinguishers.

• Power Tools:

  • Don’t use power tools if you don’t know how to use them.

    • Not sure how to use something? Take a Safety Check Class, ask for help from the Area Steward or Makerspace Manager in the space, or email [e-mail] and we’ll work with you.

• Alcohol and Drugs:

  • No alcohol or other drugs are allowed at Decatur Makers.

  • No smoking or vaping inside the building.

• Firearms:

  • Possession, creation, repair or modification of firearms, replicas, firearm parts, suppressors, silencers, ammunition, reloading activities and personal carry, as defined above, are STRICTLY PROHIBITED at any Decatur Maker’s facilities. Follow the Firearms Policy (see our Wiki.)

• Use Proper PPE:

  • Always: wear eye protection, closed-toed shoes, appropriate PPE, secure hair and loose accessories or clothing when using any of our equipment or tools.

  • DO NOT wear gloves when utilizing machinery with mechanical moving parts in the woodshop or in the inside metalworking area.

2. Respect the membership

• Harassment, Discrimination, Aggressive Behavior:

  • We do not tolerate harassment of members, guests, or visitors in any form.

  • Harassment includes offensive verbal comments related to gender, sexual orientation, disability, physical appearance, body size, race, religion, sexually explicit images in public spaces, deliberate intimidation, stalking, following, harassing photography or recording, sustained disruption of talks or other events, inappropriate physical contact, and unwelcome sexual attention.

• Equipment Reservation Calendar:

  • Members may reserve the Woodshop, CNC, Welders, or Glowforge laser cutter on our Skedda Reservation Calendar in the Member Portal on our website if they will be using the area for a longer period of time

  • Members with reservations have precedence to use the equipment, however, we ask that you remain flexible and courteous to others

• Events Calendar:

  • You’re responsible to check the Class/Event Calendars (website), our MeetUp Calendar, and our Equipment Reservation Calendar (Member Portal on our website) to plan around when areas will be busy. Regularly, we host Workshops/Classes and Outreach events in the space.

• Key Fobs:

  • Do not share your key fob with friends or other non-members.

• Guests:

  • You may bring guests to Decatur Makers, and you are responsible and accountable for the behavior of your guest/visitor (including your kids!) Follow the Guest Policy (check our Wiki.)

• Youth members:

  • All Youth Members and their legal guardians must read, sign and abide by the Youth Membership Agreement.

  • Youth under the age of 14 must be accompanied by a parent or guardian unless here for a class, workshop, or program.

  • Youth 14-17 MUST have permission from their parent or legal guardian to be in the makerspace by themselves.

  • Youth members between 14-17 years old who come alone may NOT bring any guests under the age of 21.

• Youth under the age of 18 must have an adult with them (buddy system) to enter the woodshop.

3. Respect the space

• Decatur Makers is a shared, community space. Respect the space as you would your own property, and be thoughtful about the needs of the person coming in after you:

  • Clean up after yourself, or better yet, leave it better than you found it.

  • Always report broken equipment (even if you broke it! No worries!) by emailing [e-mail] or letting Staff or Area Stewards know,

  • Always put a note on a broken piece of equipment,

  • Always let us know if consumables are empty by emailing [e-mail] or letting Staff or Area Stewards know.

• Power Tools Outside:

  • No use of loud power tools outside of the space between 8pm and 8am any day

  • No tools or group activities outside before 1:00 on Sundays (respecting the wishes of our neighbors and our landlord, The First Christain Church.)

  • Powered sanders (e.g. palm/handheld belt sanders) must be used outside the space.

• If expressly outlined on the labels, finishing with oil or solvent based paint, stain, lacquer, polyurethane, adhesives, or other chemical agents must take place outside the space.

• Project Storage:

  • Decatur Makers is not responsible for any personal equipment or materials you bring into the space, including storage in your Supporter bin.

  • If you have a large project that will require leaving it at the space, you must request approval before starting. Follow the Member Storage Policy (see our Wiki.)

  • If you have a project that is drying (paint or glue), it MUST go on the Progress-in-Process shelves and be marked with your name, date, and contact info. Follow the Member Storage Policy (see our Wiki).

• Last one leaving the space at any time of day/night:

  • Make sure all lights (except the row of lights on the 2nd floor) are turned off.

  • Make sure that all doors are properly closed and locked when you leave.

4. Respect the tools

• Several of our workshops require a safety check orientation. You do not have to be a member to take our online safety check, but members have to complete in-person safety checks to make full use of the equipment listed below:

  • Woodshop equipment

  • Joe’s large CNC

  • Lasers

  • Welders

  • Metal lathe

  • Metal Machining Equipment

  • There may be others, please check with Staff or Area Stewards

• If you are unsure how a tool works:

  • Ask for help from Staff and Area Stewards,

  • Take a class,

  • Read the Manual,

  • E-mail [e-mail]

• Only use tools for their intended purpose and design as described in the users manual - do not perform "experiments" with our equipment.

• Make sure a tool is in working order before using it.

  • If it is not, put a note on the equipment and let Staff or Area Stewards know or email [e-mail]

  • Do not attempt to perform a repair or maintenance on a tool or piece of equipment without approval from Staff or an Area Steward

• Don’t work alone if you aren’t confident to do so.

• Do not remove any equipment from the space without asking Staff or Area Stewards.

DECATUR MAKERS MEMBER HANDBOOK

Link to our Member Handbook can be found here.