Re: [DIYbio] Your biggest mistake

Someone asked me this same question via private email recently so I'll
copy-paste. Most of this stuff isn't specifically related to biology.
Just general problems that community based hackerspaces run in to.
This is from my perspective of running a membership-based, non profit,
community biology lab in Los Angeles. Your mileage may vary.

-cory

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Mistakes? We made lots of mistakes. Nothing that killed the group.
Overall I think we are doing pretty good. We have existed since 2010
and are slowly and consistently growing. But we have made plenty of
mistakes in my opinion.

1) We didn't initially create a leadership hierarchy thinking we
didn't need it since we were a close group of friends and
acquaintances. On paper we had leaders since the government requires
it, but we treated everything like an egalitarian utopia. That was a
mistake. Just pick someone to be the leader. Or multiple people if
they can get along. That person gets to make the final decisions.

2) Related to number 1, we didn't enforce rules very well. Even if
your group is a close group of friends, not having police inevitably
leads to people not following rules. Elect an enforcer.
Preferentially someone besides the president so everyone doesn't end
up hating or disrespecting the president :) Someone who doesn't mind
confronting others about their transgressions but who can also be
diplomatic. It's not a fun job. And people who enjoy that type of job
are not the best to fulfill it. Do not pick someone who likes
enforcing rules to be your enforcer.

3) We were too nonchalant about collecting membership fees. People
would disappear for months at a time and not pay their membership
fees. And then claim that they didn't use the lab during that time so
they don't owe any money. That would not be OK if you told your
landlord that you were on vacation for the month of July so you don't
owe any rent. Do not let that be OK at your biohackerspace. This
relates to number 2. Someone needs to enforce these rules and collect
the money.

4) We didn't initially set up automatic electronic payments, or at
least force people to use it. Yes, I know, Paypal sucks and its not
fun paying their fees. But losing the 2.5% to Paypal is way better
than tracking people down to get cash or checks every month. Paypal
will make your enforcer's job much easier.

5) Again related to not enforcing rules, we were not good an making
sure people who were using the lab were actually paying. A member
would bring their friend and the friend would not pay because they
were "only helping Member X with their project". There is no free
lunch and the bills need to get paid. People using the space need to
pay. Put it in writing that membership to your biohackerspace is per
person, not per project.

6) We were not diligent about writing down all the rules and making
sure everyone knew the rules. I suggest before you start offering
memberships to create documents that explain what membership fees
cover, what they don't, what the members' responsibilities are, in
very clear and blunt words. Make them sign it.

7) We didn't have a good system for helping new people learn. This is
still something that we're not good at. Lots of people will show up to
your biohackerspace interested in learning biology but with no
experience. Unless you are designing an entire education program for
beginners, you'll need some sort of mentoring program. I don't have
any recommendations for *how* to do this. If you find a system that
works, let me know :)

8) We were not good at kicking people out. 80% of your problems will
be caused by 20% of your members. Actually, probably closer to 90/10.
Do yourself a favor and get rid of people who habitually break your
rules, fail to act responsibly, or cause completely unnecessary
problems. They are not worth your time and they will never change.
"Firing" people has been a large source of stress for me personally.
It feels like telling a friend that you can't be friends any more and
it sucks. But you have to do it.


Some things that I think we did right.

1) Build the hackerspace around a community rather than trying to
build the community around a hackerspace. I would recommend having a
"sufficiently sized" group of interested and passionate people before
signing a lease or buying equipment. Let the community dictate what
kind of equipment you need. Build the bare minimum today and grow with
the demand. If you build a cathedral without a congregation, you will
get tourists instead of patrons.

2) Be diligent about sourcing free equipment. Putting a message on
your website that you are looking for donations will not get you a
single donation. If your city has universities and biotech companies
there is lots of unused equipment collecting dust. It may be old but
usually it requires very little work to make it functional. Become
friends with lots of people and tell them you will take old gear and
put it to good use (offering tax deductions is helpful if you are in a
position to do so). Many people are happy to part with their
microscope from 1992 once you show them pictures of children hacking
away at a cool biology project. Or they have a friend with old gear
that they can introduce you to.

3) Make friends with the local science crowd. Both industry and
university. Don't just exchange business cards and kind words. Friends
will help each other while acquaintances will just give you a thumbs
up on Facebook. Friends will be your greatest asset when it comes to
fundraising, scoring free gear, finding technical advice, people to
give lectures or mentor students. Facebook friends won't help with any
of this. Go out and make actual friends with people in the local
science community.

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