New Member Orientation

From Pumping Station One

Last Edited: 02/20/2014 Frequently_Asked_Questions


How to Join

You can join by following the steps , which are, in short:

  • The first step should be to check out the space. We have a public meeting every Tuesday at 8pm. Please come introduce yourself.
  • If we didn't scare you off, you can start your membership by beginning a paypal subscription on the website.
  • You'll then need to attend either a Tuesday meeting or a New Member Orientation. Before your membership is official, two board members will need to check a government-issued photo ID. Either of these events is an appropriate place for that. Once your ID has been verified, you'll get a door code and will be able to start learning to use tools.
  • Once you've received your welcome email, you should go to our member site and activate your account. This account will serve as your Wiki account as well as your log in for computers around the space. Do this as soon as possible.

But you've got concerns, let's address them:

  • I have a project I need to get done on a very short time frame, is there any way to get in before next Tuesday?

Sorry, no. Unfortunately we are not a job shop, fab lab or tool rental company. You're going to need some patience. We are 100% volunteer run.

  • How do I get certified on the laser cutter?

Good question. The laser cutter is our most popular tool. Our CNC area host, Elizabeth, holds regular office hours. Check the member's mailing list, she posts regularly.

How Do I Get Certified?

Most/many tools require certification. Certification requirements vary from thing to thing, sometimes have prerequisites and sometimes can only be done by one or a small set of trainers. Information about how to get certified may be explained in deteail on the tool's wiki page, and is likely to be discussed on the mailing list/Google group. For some of the more common certification schemes, here is a quick reference:

How_Do_I_Get_Certified

Pumping Station: One Is ...

A Do-ocracy

That means whoever's doing something is the person who decides how it gets done. If you want to do something, you can basically Just Fucking Do It.

An organization of individuals doing their own thing

"Pumping Station: One" doesn't do anything besides pay the bills. Any group projects, building/planning new space facilities, etc. all gets done because an ordinary member thought it was important, got people excited about it, and followed through.

Entirely run by volunteers

Our Board of Directors, Area Hosts, people offering training on the equipment, and anyone who looks like they're doing anything remotely official are all volunteers. That means if you ask them nicely for something they'll probably help you, but you should do what you can to make their job easier.


How to get Involved

All of these are optional ways you can get involved at PS:One.