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COVID-19 Updates, Press Release & More
November 2020:
Even though this year has been a great challenge for how we use our two site locations and hold events and offer classes, we currently have Membership 174 Members, 106 Memberships, 77.0 FTE, and 9 new members joined within the last month.
More than ever, we need to remain vigilant and continue to follow CDC and our state guidelines for group gatherings. Everyone must wear a face mask at ALL TIMES when inside a building. No more than 3 people to a large room. Classes can have 4 (instructor and 3 students). Be sure to maintain a social distance of at least 6 ft. The spaces may NOT be used for social gatherings, group recreational activities, as a substitute for a home office, work from home, or as a remote office. In many cases, given first priority is pandemic initiatives such as face mask, face shield, or other pandemic support activities. Located at each site are hand sanitizers and sanitizing wipes for use in the facilities. Each member needs to wipe down any parts of the facility used before and after use.
At this time, current associates can have door rights if they have taken new member orientation and at least one red tool class. If you are an associate member requiring access, please send an email to AugustAccess@makersmiths.org so we can set you up on the August smart lock. We will need your full name, cell phone number, and the first date you plan to visit the space. If you must drop your membership for financial reasons, let us know. We may be able to work something out but be sure to send us an email to info@makersmiths.org if that is the case.
Committees/Shop Stewards – Let me know if you are interested in continuing to lead a committee or area. Also, let me know if you would like to help with one. You will find a list of our committees in the chairman's message of the November newsletter. Most meetings can be held virtually through Google Meet, email, or by phone. We are going to lean on folks to provide a few things like goals and training schedules. I will be having a few meetings to help the chairpersons and shop stewards with their responsibilities. In particular, I am looking for someone to lead the membership, marketing, and new member orientation committees. Please contact me if interested.
John Dubelko
President
Makersmiths, Inc.
Current PPE Mask Count as of June 2nd, 2020:
- 1,024 PET/3D printed masks
- Around 1,000 Sewn Masks (we are still gathering data)
May 29th, 2020:
Greeting everyone,
Here is some updated guidance. As we said, as things change, we will adjust.
The new items are these:
- Everyone must wear a face mask at all time when they are inside a building.
- No more than 3 people to a large room. Classes can have 4 (instructor and 3 students). Maintain a social distance of at least 6 ft.
- We are targeting Mid to late June for bringing back small in person classes and open houses. We hope more restrictions will be lifted by then.
- The space may NOT be used;
- For social gatherings,
- For group recreational activities,
- As a substitute for a home office, work from home, or remote office.
We have provided hand sanitizer and sanitizing wipes for use in the facilities and request that each member wipe down any parts of the facility used before and after their use.
Your safety is of the utmost importance. You need to make the call on using the space. Remember that we can do a lot of things virtually. We are looking for content that can be used on our Youtube channel. Think about how you could host a virtual class. You are welcome to leverage our tools to host a virtual coffee break during the day or a cocktail hour at night. Slack and Google hangouts are available for your use. Let’s lookout for one another and get through this!
John Dubelko
President
Makersmiths, Inc.
May 19th, 2020:
the Coca Cola company donated three 374kg spools of PET (the clear plastic used on face masks) to Northern VA makerspaces, and we were one of the lucky recipients of a roll! This has allowed up to ramp up our PPE production tremendously.
We are thankful to the Coca Cola Company for the donation and Nova Labs in Reston, VA for organizing it all.
April 16th, 2020:
Loudoun Now wrote a fantastic article showcasing our PPE & sewn mask productions and more.
You can read it in full here:
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
Contact: David LangEmail:david.lang@makersmiths.org
Makersmiths Responds to COVID-19
Leesburg, VA, April 8, Makersmiths, a 501(c)3 non-profit makerspace in Loudoun County is building and providing personal protective equipment to health care workers and elder care facilities in response to the COVID-19 pandemic. The all-volunteer organization is focused on 3D printed solutions that members and friends can print at home and drop off at their workshop facilities in Leesburg and Purcellville where select volunteers inspect, assemble, and package the components.
“So far about 1,0240 face shields have been distributed to the Loudoun Medical Group, a Purcellville dentist office, Leesburg assisted living center, a North Carolina hospital and many more” according to Makersmiths President John Dubelko. “We also have 25 members in the process of filling requests from other local medical organizations and hope to eventually provide about 500 face shields to the community. All of this is being done out of pocket by volunteers, some of which are currently out of work,” Dubelko added.
For those wanting to help but unable to directly participate, Makersmiths is accepting tax-deductible donations to offset the cost of 3D printing and production supplies. Donations can be made through their website at https://makersmiths.org/Donate
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If you would like more information about this topic, please contact John Dubelko at john.dubelko@makersmiths.org.
March 31st, 2020:
Greeting everyone,
I have some new guidance that has been approved by the Board of Directors. As things change, we will adjust. For now, this is what our position is on using the space. We hope that everyone stays safe, and this will be over soon.
In accordance with the Stay-at-Home resolution for Virginia, Makersmiths requires the following conditions to be observed. Members are to use their own best judgment on accessing the site and take full responsibility for their own actions and exposure.
The spaces may be opened at any time by any full or associate member. The requirement for a full member to be present on site in order for an associate member to have access is temporarily waived. Associate members will be given full unaccompanied access.
-
- The space may be used for project work under the following conditions;
- no more than 6 persons may be in any one site at any one time,
- persons in the site will observe social distancing protocols.
- The space may NOT be used
-
- for social gatherings,
- for group recreational activities,
- as a substitute for a home office, work from home, or remote office.
-
- In many cases, the sites will be used for mask, face shield, or other pandemic support activities, and those activities will be given priority.
- We have provided hand sanitizer and sanitizing wipes for use in the facilities and request that each member wipe down any parts of the facility used before and after their use.
As stated earlier, your safety is of the utmost importance. You need to make the call on using the space. Remember that we can do a lot of things virtually. We are looking for content that can be used on our youtube channel. Think about how you could host a virtual class. You are welcome to leverage our tools to host a virtual coffee break during the day or a cocktail hour at night. Slack and Google hangouts are available for your use. Let’s lookout for one another and get through this!
John Dubelko
President
Makersmiths, Inc.
March 15th, 2020:
Greetings Everyone,
Due to the COVID-19 outbreak, Makersmiths has decided not to hold any events, classes or workshops over the next two weeks. This includes all weekly events such as craft night, open house nights, committee meetings, workdays and more.
These events will be rescheduled to April and May. Around the 29th of March, we will post the makeup dates and times. If you are not able to attend the rescheduled class or workshop, just let us know at that time. We anticipate there will be further developments over the next few weeks and we will adjust things accordingly.
John Dubelko
President
Makersmiths, Inc.