[ExeterLUG] Fab Lab

[Rick Timmis]

Morning Tom

I have posted this to our mailing, list and will come back to you with a
Synopsis of the comments made

ATB

Rick Timmis

ExeterLUG List: If you could post your thoughts and ideas on the below
idea, that would be excellent, thanks

Rick

On Tue, 24 Sep 2013 08:37:18 +0100, "Tom Dixon" <tom.dixon at devon.gov.uk>
wrote:
> Rick, Simon - thanks both, sorry for my confusion!
> 
> I would like to attend on 11th, but unfortunately already have a work
> commitment that evening, apologies.
> 
> We're at a very early stage re: Fab Lab, and I need to build a business
> case and business model, but we do have space provisionally allocated in
> the refurbished Exeter Library for a fairly small space of c. 50m2.
> 
> I would be interested if LUG members have a view on how a Fab Lab should
> be run - i.e. pay as you go, membership, free(!) and subsidised by
business
> users (and is their enough demand?) - as there will be cost associated
with
> running a facility. The more we can reduce these with volunteer support
the
> better!
> 
> Will keep you both updated as this progresses.
> 
> Best wishes,
> 
> Tom
> 
> 
> Tom Dixon
> 
> Innovation / Business Support / Mobile Broadband / Devon Work Hubs
> 
> Economic Development Officer
> Devon County Council
> 
> Please note I do not work Thursdays
> 
> :: 01392 382744 (internal 2744)
> :: tom.dixon at devon.gov.uk
> :: Devon County Council, Economy & Enterprise, Lucombe House (AB2),
County
> Hall, Topsham Road, Exeter, EX2 4QD
> :: www.devon.gov.uk
> :: @tom_s_dixon
> 
> -----Original Message-----
> From: Rick Timmis [mailto:rick.timmis at abazander.com] 
> Sent: 24 September 2013 08:26
> To: Tom Dixon
> Subject: Re: Fab Lab
> 
> Hi Tom, Simon
> 
> I did get a copy of the survey on Fab Lab. My understanding is that
there
> is a good level of interest in such a facility.
> Currently the ExeterLUG has around 30 members on the mailing list, and
we
> get around 15 people to our monthly meetings.
> 
> We ran a celebration event for Software Freedom day on 21st September,
> which was an overall success and helped raise some additional funds for
the
> group.
> 
> The consensus, not as yet fully agreed, is to raise funds to buy a
Mendel
> RepRap, and there are other interests in and around the Raspberry Pi,
> Packet Radio Internet and Software development too.
> 
> Our next meeting is on Friday 11th October, from 19:30 at Exwick
Community
> Center, Kinnerton Way, Exeter and you would be most welcome to come
along.
> I would be happy to put Fab Lab on the Agenda for discussion.
> 
> Look forward to hearing from you
> 
> Best Wishes
> 
> Rick Timmis
> 
> On Tue, 24 Sep 2013 05:21:33 +0100, Simon Waters <simon at technocool.net>
> wrote:
>> Hi Tom,
>> 
>> as the Devon and Cornwall GLUG contact I can't speak for Exeter LUG.
>> Rick (copied) is your man for that.
>> 
>> Certainly other members of D&C GLUG picked up on your tweet, so 
>> clearly some interest, but I think the only way to know how many turn 
>> up is to arrange a meeting on the topic and see how many you pull in, 
>> as lots of folks will express and interest but not actually turn up.
>> 
>>  Simon
>> 
>> On 23/09/13 14:21, Tom Dixon wrote:
>>> Dear Simon,
>>> 
>>> “Exeter LUG have done some work with community groups. There is a lot
> of
>>> overlap between LUGs”
>>> 
>>> Thanks for adding your comments to the quick survey I’ve been running
> to
>>> establish interest in a Fab Lab or similar. Absolutely take your 
>>> point
>>> re: overlap with LUG. Any chance of fleshing out likely interest from 
>>> Exeter LUG – how many members, how many might want to use a facility?
>>> What structure would they like to see?
>>> 
>>> I’ve added Exeter LUG as a stakeholder to ensure I keep you up to 
>>> date with any progress.