Rules and Policies

Please see our Membership Levels and Benefits for pricing information

This document is a work-in-progress -- PLEASE HELP US MAKE IT BETTER! All members are encouraged to help write, define, and codify our operating rules and policies. Many situations arise that we may not have written rules for. The Rules and Policies set forth at Fat Cat Fab Lab are at the sole discretion of the Board. The Board may act to enforce rules, make judgement calls, or whatever else is needed to maintain a safe, functional space, and further the collective efforts of the lab members at large.

Rules & Policies Enforcement

Purpose

Fat Cat Fab Lab's successful operation relies on the values of stewardship and ownership of the space by its Members. Every Member is expected to be knowledgeable of the below set of Rules and Policies and follow them. In cases when these Rules and Policies are not followed by a Member, we have the following enforcement and consequences procedure in place.

Strike Policy

1. On a first offense of any of the below rules, Member will receive a verbal warning. This is not a requirement.
2. On a second offense of any of the below rules, Member will receive a first strike. They will receive a written notice of the strike by email from the Board of Directors detailing:

 a. The rule(s) offended
 b. Actions required to remediate the offense
 c. A date and time before which remedial actions must be taken 

3. If the Member fails to take the required actions by the provided time and date, a second strike will be given.
4. Three total strikes will result in a six-month temporary ban from FCFL Member Privileges. The strikes can result from one or a combination of the below Rules and Policies.

Temporary Ban

During a temporary ban the Member will:

• Lose total access to the lab with their RFID keycard and by any member or any other means.
• Need to empty the space of all possessions including projects, tools, and materials.

Working in the Space

• All members must store their belongings inside their bin when not present at the lab.
• Laptops and belongings cannot be left unattended longer than 1 hour -- no 'camping' or 'reserving' tables!
• DO NOT bring items in to 'donate' without preauthorization from the Board. If you bring it in, it is your responsibility.
• The lab CANNOT be used as a storage facility. Inactive projects and non-tool personal items left in public may be charged an extra monthly 'storage' fee until removed.
• If your project needs to be left unattended (say for glue to dry) you must leave a sign on it with the following:
  

 1. Your name
 2. Current time and date
 3. Date and time of completion

• • Project / materials must be stowed out of the way of normal lab operation whenever possible. Do not 'consume' a booth or work table for in-progress projects while not in lab.
  • Members should attempt, but are not required, to contact the project's owner (if known) before moving items deemed in the way of normal operation.
• Items left in the public spaces with no name, or are named but left for more than 48 hrs after completion date, may be moved to the owner's bin, 'lost and found', discarded, or deemed 'scrap' for use by any member.
• For bigger projects that cannot fit in your bin, members must apply for a Project Permit before materials are brought in or work begins.

Nobody's perfect, so members should use their best judgement in each situation. Whenever possible, help a fellow member out and alert them of items that are out-of-place before they leave the lab.

Lab Areas Cleanliness & Organization

• When you are done using a workspace, it is your responsibility to clean up after your project and put back all tools where you found them.
• Members should budget their time in the space to include clean up time.
• If you use a work area often, consider pitching in and bettering the area by organizing tools or improving storage space in the area.
• Members may be charged a $50 cleaning fee ($50/hr if more than 1 hour needed) to rectify any large messes left behind.
  • Repeated offenses may incur 'strikes' against your membership.
  • 3 strikes will trigger a review by the FCFL board to determine next steps or and possible termination of membership
  • Membership termination, should it come to that, is immediate and without prorate or refund.

Main Space Upkeep

• Sweep the floor
• Take out the trash on Monday and Thursday Nights

Laser Room Upkeep

• Sweep the floor
• Remove unusable scrap from the scrap pile.
• Cut up scrap into maximum 6" x 6" pieces on the bandsaw and dispose.
• Empty the small wastebasket
• Empty the vacuum cleaner
• Replace vacuum cleaner bag

Woodshop Upkeep

• Put away all tools in their places
• Vacuum the floor and work surfaces
• Empty the trash
• Empty the ShopVac

Events in the space

PROPOSED:

Approval

• Any event in FCFL's space that is not a Basic Usage and Safety class or previously approved Meetup workshop requires a minimum seven (7) days advance notice given to the Board of Directors, and must be approved by the Board.
• Requests can be made to info@fatcatfablab.org or to the #Operations channel on Slack.
• Approval of the event is at the sole discretion of the Board.
• A point of contact (POC) person must be established for the event.
• We always encourage events in the space that forward our mission of building the Maker community in New York City!

Clean Up and Garbage

• The POC is responsible for seeing that the space is returned to the state it was in prior to the event.
• The POC is responsible for seeing that all trash generated by the event is taken out immediately after the event. If the event does not fall on a Monday or Thursday, the POC must dispose of trash elsewhere and legally.

After Parting Ways - Membership Cancelation & Expiration

• Members are responsible for making arrangements to retrieve their personal property by the date of membership expiration.
• Any personal property not retrieved beyond 2 weeks after membership cancelation or termination will be considered abandoned.
• Any member-abandoned items that require special disposal (e.g. hazardous chemicals or large items that must be hauled to the dump) may incur cleanup fines and recovery costs for truck rental or cartage services.
• It is recommended that at least one Board member and one other member should be present during the exchange.