What’s Going On …

Posted on 6 Jul 2021 in Uncategorized | 0 comments

John Eyre here, original Oceanside Community Makerspace creator and project coordinator, on behalf of OBLT Society. IF IT IS NOT CLEAR, THIS IS NOT THE OFFICIAL CURRENT SITE OF OCMS, it is the official site of the OLD OCMS, that existed while I was there, from its creation and opening on 1 July 2017, until I left on 22 May 2020. As of 10 Aug 2021, I have been asked by the current President, to take down this site – I think it provides a valuable History of the Club and captures an attempt to bring more Science and Technology to the local area, with people sharing their skills and interests freely with each other – unlike now! So, I think this site will remain as a piece of history.

I have decided to re-host this original site of the Oceanside Community Makerspace Society (located in Parksville, BC), as the current OCMS Board of Directors have no web site available and almost no club details on their preferred Facebook pages.

At a Zoom Board Meeting on 22 May 2020, contrary to our recently agreed Dispute Resolution procedure, I was not allowed to present any documentary evidence or provide any discussion regarding a very significant dispute I was having, and had been trying to have the President deal with for approximately 18 months. This led me to resign from the Board and end my membership of OCMS. The Facilities/Membership Director was also forced to leave at the same meeting.

Although forced out by the previous President, I still provided him with all documentation, service user names and passwords, backup of the website, handled COVID discounts and rebates and continued to answer questions as needed. I heard that the President stood down in January 2021 and I became curious as to who would have taken over the various roles on the Board of Directors – this has led me to ask the BoD a lot a simple questions that any prospective member might ask, resulting in limited answers that raise further questions. The following messages will add some information – please let me know if any of my comments are inaccurate. Given evidence, I will be happy to update the details.

2021 Board of Directors

Posted on 6 Jul 2021 in Uncategorized | 0 comments

None of the following information can be found on the clubs Facebook page or its closed down replacement web site (even after me pointing this out, at the end of April). This information STILL NOT posted on their facebook page – 11 Aug 2021 …

• President – Valerie Harty
• Vice President – David Ireland
• Treasurer – Debe VanderHiede
• Secretary – Heather Simmons
• Membership Director- Justin Johnson
• Member at Large – Teresa Oaks
• You may reach any Director via the Makerspace email address: oceansidemakerspace@gmail.com

Membership fees appear to have been reduced drastically and combined in to a single class – “Family”, with one member paying the now extremely low amount of just $10/month (equivalent to just 2 half day drop-in fees), that allows partners to attend for free (no kids required, and too bad if you are single). See the Member page for previous levels (and complexities, requested by previous members). It also seems that there are no additional costs for getting a key-fob to access the Space when you choose to – but only Directors have this privilege at present.

UPDATE TO MEMBERSHIP – as off 9 Aug 2021, an email went out, announcing the “Opening” of Makerspace with membership fees set to $20 for individuals and $30 for Families. Although the email addresses ALL PAST MEMBERS, I didn’t get it and I know other past members that didn’t, and it’s not available on their facebook page – I do see more businesses offering courses in the Space though – nice little business incubator operation – “pay yourself first” is a standard business motto! $45 for a 2 hour course, rather than $20/m to join a group of sharing people?

There is no doubt that the Space looks much cleaner and more presentable now – much more “business” like.

In Memory Of …

Posted on 24 Jun 2021 in Uncategorized | 0 comments

Allan Zilkowsky (died while visiting family in Alberta, just as the Makerspace was opening – July 2017)

Tom Cmikiewicz (passed on 6 April 2020) https://www.bclocalnews.com/obituaries/thomas-cmikiewicz/

Norbert Erb (passed on 30 June 2020) https://www.yatesmemorial.ca/obituary/Norbert-Erb

Ted Vitanov (passed away 12 September 2020)

Malcolm West (died 27 September 2020) https://www.qbmemorials.ca/obituary/Malcolm-West

Terry Lyster (died June 2021)

All these very nice, friendly, happy, hardworking people were key members of the Makerspace, and gave their time and skills freely for the benefit of the club and its visitors. I (John) miss them all.

We have had many members that are no longer active at the Space and may have passed on, or may be in need of help and support – If you know of other past members that we should identify and remember, please let me know (use the contact form).

Creative Mind

Posted on 20 Feb 2020 in Uncategorized | 0 comments

Teen Challenge

Makerspace has an opportunity to GIVE AWAY 3 month memberships to the first 12 Youth Students to get in touch with us. Help start up a Teen session each week, to use our Creative facilities, such as 3D Printers, CNC Routers and Laser Engraver, Wood Shop, Arduinos, Raspberry Pi, MicroBits, Model Railroad Room, Metal Arts Studio and our Slot Car Track.

Get in touch by using our contacts form or email our President Directly: Jim – Jim.Bennett@Shaw.ca

Download Full Sized Poster

Soldering & Metal Arts

Posted on 26 Nov 2019 in Uncategorized | 0 comments

On the 6th November, the Makerspace hosted 18 Cub-Scouts and their group leaders, to learn about electronics and soldering, by making a tiny circuit board project with resistors, capacitors, transistors and LED (lights). The 7-10 year-olds successfully completed their projects and when connected to a battery, the 2 LEDs alternated between on and off – flashing lights. With so many youngsters in the Makerspace at one time, we had to split up the group, so half of them spent time in the Metal Arts Studio, making jewelry – copper pendents. We hope to have them back soon, in order to complete their group experience.

AGM Sep 2019

Posted on 20 Sep 2019 in Uncategorized | 0 comments

On Thursday 20 Sep 2019, the club held its first official General & Annual General Meeting, at the McMillan Arts Centre, at 7pm. We were treated to a summary report of the events of the last 6 months (and longer) from our Chair for the night – Jim Bennett, followed by an interesting presentation by two of our local youth, Robert LaFrance and Victor Kamel, from Ballenas Secondary School, accompanied by their Physics teacher, Carl Savage. They talked about their team project to test the growth of Alfalfa seeds in micro-gravity on the ISS (International Space Station).

Following this informative presentation, Jim lead the selection of the new Board of Directors, based on the previously compiled nominal list lead by David Ireland. Having no new nominations from the floor, the result was as follows:

President: Jim Bennett, Vice President: David Ireland, Treasure: John Eyre, Secretary: Chris Morrissey. Other Directors at large: Shawne Kallies,
Valerie Harty, Debe Vander Heide, and Tom Cmikiewicz

The Board would like to thank our Sponsors of the last 6 months (Kevin Kinnear – Parks West Business Products; Andrea Valis – Royal LePage; Clive Goodinson – Pixton Comics), and all those that have volunteered their time and efforts to keep the Makerspace open and providing useful and interesting maker services. We look forward to getting more local people involved, in the coming months.

Lego Robot Demo

Posted on 14 Jun 2019 in Uncategorized | 0 comments