Charter
From HTink
TODO: new format:
Introduction Purpose Responsibilities Operation Meeting frequency Membership
1) The goal of the organization is to provide an environment where learning and collaboration are fostered and to disseminate critical-thinking targeted educational curricula through workshops for educators. See http://www.odysseyofthemind.com/curriculum.php for some examples.
2) Towards this end, chapters will be formed by group leads in different cities or regions, the group leads are responsible for fund raising and securing a space for meetings.
3) A donation will be requested from participants at scheduled meetings to provide for speakers and project materials, a donation is not required to attend, but requested to support the space.
4) Each meeting will have either a speaker, project, or both.
5) Membership is on a purely first come, first served basis with the understanding that if the local space is over filled, a drive will be made to get a larger space.
6) The local group lead has the right to refuse membership to anyone who is viewed to be making it difficult for others to learn, and may request anyone leave at any time.
7) Membership comes with increased dues and access to the group space, along with a secure locker for storing personal materials.
8) Any large collaborative projects using more than 3 members efforts become property of the club, to be used as decoration or if not practical to keep, sold to raise funds. If a member wishes to keep something that a team of people worked on, they must buy it from the chapter. This is meant to prevent disputes over projects, and it should be interpreted in that manner.
9) Computer crime will not be tolerated, supported, or glamorized by any chapter. The word hacker is meant to be interpreted as a talented technologist, with a marked desire for independent control of the technology that permeates modern life.
10) The CCC model will be adopted for voting in the short run, with a new model being designed before 11/01/09
11) To reduce liability, a waiver must be signed by everyone participating in a project or using any tools.
So basically, meetings are open to anyone, 10 dollars is expected from non-members, 50 from members (dues are collected at the meeting), but anyone may come.
The national group (HTINK-NYC) will assist new chapters based on review in paying the initial rent on a new space after 3/4 of the required amount has been raised. (needs review) This is meant to stimulate creation of new due paying chapters, so that the loan will be paid back and then recurring dues can help found more spaces.
Once a year we will attempt to host a conference starting 1 year from founding, and once a year we will attempt to organize 1 national project with all groups participating
Occasionally we will attempt to work with school districts to provide electronics and computer science curriculum designed to inspire young hackers via workshops for teachers organized at a district level. This inspired by Odyssey of the Mind and US First, programs that have demonstratedly improved science and engineering educational opportunities for children with different learning types.
While the primary focus will be on electronics and computer science, any practical science is an acceptable topic for a speaker or project
