Structure

General Information

Berea Makerspace is a member-run community workshop organized as a 501(c)(3) nonprofit. Our vision is for members to share responsibility for the space: shaping its direction, maintaining equipment, teaching skills, and helping others participate.

The board carries the organizational responsibilities described in our bylaws. Members contribute to decisions and the work that keeps the space running. Cooperative management means sharing that work and giving members a meaningful voice in how it is done.

Member Participation

You can help shape and maintain the space by:

• Proposing improvements to equipment, shared areas, policies, or programs.
• Organizing classes, workshops, and other activities.
• Helping with cleaning, documentation, and equipment maintenance within your training and authorization.
• Sharing skills and helping new members find training and ways to contribute.
• Participating in member discussions, votes, and board elections.

Ask in Slack or bring an idea to a member meeting if you want to get involved. Contributions can be small or ongoing; you do not need a board position to help.

Board and Member Responsibilities

Members help set the direction of the space and elect its directors. The board is responsible for keeping the organization operating and in good standing.

The linked bylaws, adopted in 2020, assign management of the corporation's business and affairs to the board. They also require written board permission for anyone to make a contract or other commitment that binds the organization.

Taking initiative does not by itself authorize spending makerspace funds, changing access or safety rules, or making commitments on the organization's behalf. Check the relevant policy or ask the board when authority is unclear.

See Board and Officer Roles for individual responsibilities. Formal authority and procedures are governed by the current bylaws and adopted policies; this page describes our structure and cooperative vision.

Decisions Affecting the Membership

Members make decisions about the use and direction of the space. Decisions affecting the whole membership are put to a vote no sooner than one week after the subject is introduced. Members are informed of an upcoming vote.

The General Policies describe the makerspace's approach to consensus. This page does not establish a different voting threshold or a new decision-making process. The notice rule for membership-wide decisions should not be confused with the separate board meeting procedures in the bylaws.

Bringing a Proposal

To help members consider an idea, include:

• What you want to change and why.
• Who would be affected and how they can contribute to the discussion.
• Expected costs, space requirements, and maintenance or safety implications.
• Who is willing to do the work and what help they need.
• How you would tell whether the change is working.

Start the discussion in Slack or at a member meeting. Ask which decision process applies before treating a discussion as approval.

Sharing the Work

Our aim is to distribute ongoing work so the space does not depend indefinitely on the same few volunteers. Cooperative management works best when people understand both their responsibilities and the limits of their authority.

As we develop volunteer roles and teams, we should:

• Describe each role's purpose, tasks, and decisions it is authorized to make.
• Make it clear how members can join, help, or take over a role.
• Agree on any budget or approval requirements before work begins.
• Document procedures and provide handoffs when volunteers step back.
• Review workloads and make room for different skills, availability, and levels of participation.

These are principles for developing shared management, not a declaration that new teams or delegated powers have already been established.

Transparency and Accountability

Our goal is for members to be able to understand how decisions were made, who is carrying them out, and how to raise concerns.

The bylaws provide for board meeting records and member inspection of corporate records. As a shared-management practice, proposals and decisions should also have an accessible written record of the outcome, the next steps, and who has agreed to follow through. Keep personal or sensitive information out of public records where appropriate.

See Meetings for meeting information and Financials for financial information. If you cannot find a decision or need clarification, ask the board.

Questions and Concerns

• Use Slack or member meetings for questions about proposals, responsibilities, and the operation of the space.
• Follow Safety for equipment hazards and safety concerns.
• Follow the anti-harassment policy for harassment concerns.
• See General Policies for the existing approach to member conflicts and board mediation.

Further Reading

These resources offer ideas for shared governance. Linking them does not mean Berea Makerspace has adopted sociocracy or another complete governance system.

• Dynamic Governance for Nonprofit Organizations - John A. Buck and Jerry Koch-Gonzalez, 2014. A practical discussion paper on volunteer participation, defined responsibilities, and shared decision-making within nonprofits.
• Makers Mill / GALA Strategic Business Plan - 2019. A makerspace example of shared governance. The Governance section on printed page 21 describes committees, consent decisions, and governance training as practiced and planned at that time.
• Design Principles for Local and Global Commons - Michael McGinnis and Elinor Ostrom, 1992. Research on sustaining shared resources through participant involvement, accountable oversight, and conflict resolution. Applying these principles to a makerspace requires adapting them to the local community.

Governing Documents

• Berea Makerspace Bylaws (2020)
• General Policies
• Rights and Responsibilities
• Board and Officer Roles