Lance R. VickDec 30, 2023

At #37c3 they have IRC, and Matrix for text and for voice they setup their own LTE/2G/3G/SIP/DECT network where you bring whatever phone-like device and pick a 4 digit phone number.

Meanwhile in the USA for #defcon they just paid Discord money and told everyone to accept their privacy policy, and even the DC Privacy Village asks people to sign up for Slack and Google.

People ask why I fly to CCC from the USA. It is because that is the closest place to find a thriving hacker culture.

Show threadLance R. VickDec 30, 2023
Related: if anyone in the central Silicon Valley that wants to start a corpo-free hackerspace where we favor learning and building over buying, hit me up.
Show threadChancerubbageDec 30, 2023
@lrvick I’m wish coooperative membership maker spaces were a common occurrence. Shared studios. Expensive equipment none could afford on their own but could as a co-op, printers scanners laser cutters vinyl cutters 3-d printers wondering station, kilns, tools.
Show threadlevampyreDec 30, 2023
@Chancerubbage @lrvick The CCC is a "Verein". That is like a non-government, non-profit organisation. We have members and members pay membership fees. There are local groups organised under an umbrella org. And we have membership meetings with democratic elections for board members and actions and distribution of money. Apart from that the Congress and Camp are organised by volunteers, people who have attended before and now have ideas about how to make it even better. It's a thriving community.
Show threadChancerubbageDec 30, 2023

@levampyre @lrvick

The what? The who? What question is this answering? The BLT is on the PDQ? Ok.

Show threadChancerubbageDec 30, 2023

@levampyre @lrvick

Oh maker space.

Apparently they make bylaws and initialisms.

Show threadjstsmthrgk
@Chancerubbage @levampyre @lrvick Well, most hackerspaces want to have their own legal entity, for example to pay rent as that and not just have some person renting the place for everyone. Therefor they found a Verein, which has to have bylaws.
Dec 31, 2023 at 9:22amWeb
Show threadlevampyreDec 31, 2023
@jstsmthrgk Exactly, I'm not sure an equivalent legal concept exists in the US. A verein is a non-profit legal entity. It can sign contracts and do business as a legal entity. @Chancerubbage @lrvick
Show threadLance R. VickDec 31, 2023
@levampyre @jstsmthrgk @Chancerubbage A 501c3 sounds closest.
Show threadlevampyreDec 31, 2023
@lrvick 🤷 I have to take your word for that. In any case, you wanna secure private individuals, so that they do not loose their livelihoods, when any part of the community project cooperative event management maker space whatever fails financially. @jstsmthrgk @Chancerubbage
Show threadChancerubbageDec 31, 2023

@levampyre @lrvick @jstsmthrgk

It’s nice to know a bit more of the possible pitfalls. It’s obviously not easy and possibly problematic. The most common trad variant I’ve seen is Art Guilds. Usually just shared painting & drawing space, fee shared studio, perhaps shouldered by single proprietor giving lessons and get together.
I’ve seen some ceramics guilds supporting a Kiln try pure commercial.

Prob some hot rod garages have loose partnerships.

Better eqpt needs resources of more than one