UPDATE: As of March 1, 2021, Decatur Makers has returned to a Beta Phase Opening.
The Board Executive Committee (which has been given power to make decisions on Opening Phases by the full Board) and Staff continued to meet weekly during the more restrictive Pre-Beta Phase which started on December 21, 2020. We kept an eye on Covid cases in Georgia, DeKalb County and Atlanta and have seen the consistent downward trend this month. The Exec Comm also discussed input from members, considered CDC recommendations regarding inside and outside activities and current City of Decatur recommendations, and looked at how other makerspaces are conducting business safely across the country to consider how we may safely move forward with more open Phases.
The decision was made on February 25 to return to our
Beta Phase of Opening beginning Monday, March 1. This phase of opening is
only for our current members; We are NOT open to the public at this time (but keep an eye on our MeetUp calendar for virtual events that are accessible to all makers!)
For our members while in the Beta-Phase:
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Staff or Supervisors will be present to let members in and maintain safety protocols; List of protocols are on the Members tab of our Decatur Makers wiki.
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You MUST reserve a shift using our Sign Genius in order to enter the Space (this is found on the Members tab of our Decatur Makers wiki and pinned to the #general channel on Slack)
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If the area you would like to use is full for a shift you are interested in, please check for another convenient time and date and don’t come into the Space. The number of Shifts have been carefully calculated to ensure proper social distancing.
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Shifts will be available at hourly increments:
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Shifts include:
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1 spot for the Woodshop (includes use of the CNC)
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2 for the Outside Pad area*
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2 for the Inside Main Area
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3D printing project files can be sent to info@decaturmakers.org and we will print those for you to pick-up at a later date.
* we have a portable SawStop tablesaw and our other portable tools/equipment that can be used outside so the Outside Pad Area is available for metalworking, woodworking, and other projects.
**There will be a cutoff for using loud tools on the Outside Pad Area at 8pm.
Please take good care, wear your mask, and wash your hands!
Questions? Please email info@decaturmakers.org.
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Posted December 21, 2020:
As of December 21, 2020, Decatur Makers has moved to a Pre-Beta Phase Opening.
The Board Executive Committee (which has been given power to make decisions on Opening Phases by the full Board) and Staff have met weekly since we closed at Thanksgiving. As predicted, we have seen that covid cases have gone up in GA. The Exec Comm also discussed input from members, considered CDC recommendations regarding inside and outside activities and current City of Decatur recommendations, and looked at how other makerspaces are conducting business safely across the country to consider how we may safely re-open.
The decision was made this week to move to a Pre-Beta Phase of Opening beginning Monday, December 21 with additional levels of protocols in place. This phase of opening is only for our current members; We are NOT open to the public at this time.
A more strict and restrictive version of our Beta Phase, the Pre-Beta Phase includes the following additional safety levels:
== Members will be asked to read and sign the attached Check-In List for EACH space visit which requires a NO to these additional questions:
• Have you traveled out of state in the past 2 weeks?
• Have you been to an event with more than 5 people from separate households in the past 2 weeks?
• Are you awaiting results from a Covid test?
== Members MUST wear a KN95/N95 mask OR 2-ply fabric masks (no 1-Ply masks) that cover your nose and mouth AT ALL TIMES while inside or around the outside of the Space (even if you’re socially distanced or alone in a portion of the space.) Also, no vented woodworking masks. If you need one of the approved masks, we have some for you.
== Shifts will only be available on Mon, Wed, and Fri from 10-12:00, 12:15-2:15, and 2:30-4:30, and Saturday from 12:15-2:15 and 2:30-4:30. Breaks are for sanitizing and safety. Members may sign up for consecutive shifts.
== Shifts are for ONLY 3 areas: 1 spot for the Woodshop (includes CNC use), 1 for the Glowforge, 1 for the Outside Pad area.
== No guests allowed.
== If you sign up to use an area, you are required to use ONLY that area during your reserved time. We can not accommodate individuals using multiple areas at this time.
== We are adding a HEPA air purifier to the bathroom.
As a friendly reminder:
== Staff will be present to let members in and maintain safety protocols including washing hands, taking temperatures, wearing masks, and socially distancing.
== Do not come to the space if you’re not feeling well (such as coughing, shortness of breath, fever, etc.) or it’s been within 2 weeks of you having been exposed to someone who’s tested positive for Covid19,
== If you have been exposed to someone who is positive for Covid-19, you MUST quarantine for 14 days from the date you found out about the exposure, and test negative for Covid-19 before you can return to the Space.
== Please consider staying home if you are part of an at-risk population (ie/ elderly, immuno-compromised, etc.)
== You are REQUIRED to sign up for a shift to enter, do not drop by. Link to the SignUp Genius was emailed to our membership.
== Members who have been in the space, and then test positive for Covid19, must let us know immediately for contact tracing purposes.
== 3D printing project files can be sent to
info@decaturmakers.org and we will print those for you to pick-up at a later date.
Also, keep an eye on our MeetUp calendar for virtual events to keep our community connected.
Please take good care, wear your mask, and wash your hands! We look forward to offering the creative expression and inspirational learning that comes with building, sharing and exploring in our makerspace as soon as we can.
Questions? Please email info@decaturmakers.org.
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Posted November 21, 2020:
As of November 26, 2020, we will be temporarily closing our makerspace due to the pandemic.
As the impact of COVID-19 continues into this holiday season with cases on the rise, the Decatur Makers Board and Staff made the difficult, preemptive decision this weekend to temporarily step back from our Beta Opening Phase and close our makerspace, effective Thanksgiving Day, Nov 26 through January 14.
However, we will continue to assess the pandemic situation during this period, and will return to our Beta Opening Phase again as soon as we feel it is safe. We will keep you posted!
Also, keep an eye on our MeetUp calendar for virtual events to keep our community connected.
Please take good care, wear your mask, and wash your hands! We look forward to offering the creative expression and inspirational learning that comes with building, sharing and exploring in our makerspace as soon as we can.
Questions? Please email info@decaturmakers.org.
