Rules & Policies

Using the Facilities

New Members must complete the membership orientation before accessing FCFL unsupervised.
Members agree to utilize FCFL only during normal operating hours.
All Members must complete basic usage and safety training classes before using the advanced tools, i.e. laser cutter, CNC Router, and stationary shop tools.
Members agree to observe posted tool reservations posted on the public calendar.
Members are allowed to store personal food & drink in the refrigerator. All food that is left overnight or is unlabeled may be disposed of without notice. If you use the refrigerator, please clean on a regular basis.

Personal Property

FCFL bears no responsibility in the event a personal item is lost or stolen on the premises.

Facility Management & Security

1. Keep the doors locked or supervised at all times. 2. Member may not admit anyone to the FCFL Property who is not their guest. Members need to purchase a guest pass for their guests, however guest passes are not required for giving tours. 3. Restore FCFL to its default state or the state in which you found it before you leave whichever is better. This applies to cleaning dishes, garbage removal and general cleanup. Abandoned messes will result a clean up fee of $50/hr. Clean up fees will be charged to the Members next billing cycle. Non-payment of the fee will void FCFL Membership. 4. Permanent improvements and beautification of FCFL by the Members is encouraged. Please receive prior approval for any changes that require financial investment or more than 2 hours of labor to be undone. 5. Please receive prior approval before bringing in any donated materials, tools or equipment. 6. Please turn off lights in spaces that are not being utilized and insure that all non-security lights are off if you are the last one to leave the building. Regular negligence may result in eventual loss of access privilege. 7. Respect all private and shared property. Damaging or misplacing said property will require restitution and may involve other penalties, up to and including criminal prosecution. 8. Be excellent to each other.

Privacy

Member permits FCFL to photograph or write about their activities at FCFL. FCFL is free to publish such materials in internal and external materials.
While the default mode of operation at FCFL is public, Members may request that specific conversations, activities, or documents remain private upon making reservations or by posting or announcing the request for privacy and confidentiality.

COVID-19 specific

This is a list of rules to mitigate the risk of spreading COVID-19. (Last updated: 2021/08/13)

1. All members must read and agree to these new rules to enter the lab. 2. Each time you visit the space, you may be asked questions regarding symptoms and record temperature. Please answer these as accurately as possible. If you have any doubt about your health condition or exposure status, please do not come to the lab. 3. Wear a mask. Ensure the mask seals over your face properly and covers your nose and chin. 4. Eating and drinking of alcohol in the lab are not allowed. - Will revisit 10/13/21 5. You are encouraged to wash/sanitize your hands immediately upon entering and before leaving. 6. Report symptoms or confirmed cases IMMEDIATELY to contact-tracing@fatcatfablab.org if you have been in the space in the past 2 weeks. 7. Recently sick? Stay away. Do not come until the following conditions have been met:

  1. 3 days with no fever and
  2. Symptoms improved and
  3. 10 days since symptoms first appeared

8. Be responsible for enforcing these rules and keeping each other safe. If you see someone breaking these rules, say something to them or to the board@fatcatfablab.org. 9. Members are responsible for reserving for their guests. No public visitors. (Exception: prospective members that have a reservation through a member, contractors performing work or building managers.\) 10. If a member is caught violating these new rules, they will be notified and reminded to follow these rules. After 3 notices, your access will be temporarily suspended for 7 days. Repeated violations could result in suspension of membership. 11. Note: These rules may change, with or without notice, in order to comply with local, state and national regulations and to implement best practices.

Thank you for helping to keep Fat Cat Fab Lab a safe place!

Public Events

At Fat Cat Fab Lab, we assume that most people are intelligent, well-intended, and respectful of others, and we’re inclined to give our community and attendees the benefit of the doubt that they act accordingly at our events or events we help promote.

However, recent incidents of bad or disrespectful behavior in and around technology events have led us to the conclusion that it’s sometimes necessary to spell out the pro-social behavior we support and behaviors we condone at our events.

Here’s the deal: We will do whatever we believe is necessary to ensure that a Fat Cat Fab Lab community event, conference, or training is a safe and productive environment for everyone.

We take issues of harassment and improper behavior very seriously, and we acknowledge that this is a long-standing issue in the technical community. It’s simple: we don’t condone harassment or offensive behavior, at our conferences or anywhere. It’s counter to our company values and our values as human beings.

Fat Cat Fab Lab expects the practice of appropriate behavior by all participants at technical events, including all our conferences, meetups, etc. It’s common sense and an issue for which we have a zero tolerance policy for those who choose to ignore or break basic rules of human decorum or decency.

We invite you to help us make each Fat Cat Fab Lab event a place that is welcoming and respectful to all participants, so everyone can focus on the conference itself, the great networking and community, and rich collaborations that can happen when we get together in person.

Our zero tolerance Code of Conduct includes, but is not limited to: Sexual or racist comments by attendees, sponsors, or from our speakers, including verbiage or imagery in speaker or sponsor slides. Put simply, you should use good judgment. If we hear complaints and we think they are warranted, you may not be invited back.

Stalking, offensive comments, and unwanted sexual advances toward attendees. To borrow a line from the Flickr Community Guidelines, which use the term Creepiness: “You know the guy. Do not be that guy.” If we hear that you are “that guy” (regardless of your gender\), we will investigate and take any action we feel is appropriate, including asking you to leave.

Diversity Statement

Fat Cat Fab Lab is committed to creating diverse and inclusive events and encourage people to apply to speak regardless of gender identity or expression, age (students and retired folks welcome!), family or marital status, national origin, physical and mental ability, race, ethnicity, religion, socioeconomic status, veteran status, or sexual orientation. We believe the best events are ones where all types of people feel welcome and included, and are represented in both the audience and the speakers. Please join us!

Please bring any concerns or occurrences of bad or offensive behavior to the immediate attention of our staff at info@FatCatFabLab.org.

We thank our attendees for their help in keeping our events welcoming, respectful, and friendly to all participants.