Becoming A Member

Prospective members are encouraged to stop by on an Open Wednesday (a.k.a. “Open Hack Night”) and pick up a Membership Agreement or download and print one out. (add pdf linky here) With a signed Membership Agreement we require payment of the first month's dues. Membership is open to any person over the age of 18, although we reserve the right to refuse or terminate membership for violation of the Membership Agreement or Shop Rules.

Current membership dues are $55/month, due on or before the first of the month. Regular membership allows you to use any of our tools and equipment (after completing any orientation needed for some specialized tools). Membership includes:

• 24 hour a day, 7 days a week access to the Hack Factory (excluding some events)
• Discounts on classes (where applicable)
• Discounts at events
• Discounts at some local business
• A vote at Members' Annual Meeting and Special Meetings

To enter the Hack Factory, you can be admitted by another member, come during open hours, or use a personal key fob (electronic key device). Key fobs are optional, requiring a one-time $25 security deposit which will be refunded when and if you give proper notice about terminating your membership. A key fob allows you 24/7 access to the space.

Regular and Rockstar memberships are elgible for a “household” membership. Meaning that a primary member is eligble for shop access and voting rights, and a secondary member who resides at the same address would be eligble to for shop access. Additional key fobs are extra.

We offer a discount to students and persons on unemployment. The discount rate is $35/month. Please contact the Treasurer (treasurer[-at-]tcmaker.org) if you are eligible for this rate.

Members are allowed to have a guest in the space with them. Guests, however, are typically prohibited from using any tools or equipment, even if the guest brings their own tool(s).

If a guest wishes to use tools or equipment, we offer the option of a temporary Guest Pass. This affords the guest a temporary membership for 48 consecutive hours from arrival.

Some tools at the Hack Factory are restricted from general use without required training, or may not be used without direct permission from the person(s) who own those tools or oversee their use (i.e., experienced operators or shop managers). These tools require a “check out,” or request for permission to use. The guest is allowed to use any tools that don't require a check out, and is allowed to check out the restricted tools with proper clearance.

We allow each Member to sponsor one Guest Pass at a time. A Guest Pass user must complete a Membership Agreement, and pay a $10 fee for each consecutive 48 hours they wish to use tools and equipment. Members can fill out this paperwork and drop the fee into the lock box at the Hack Factory any time, although we request that they also email the Treasurer (treasurer[-at-]tcmaker.org] a notice of the Guest Pass application. The Sponsor Member is still responsible for all actions of the Guest, and Guest Passes do not gain any discounts.

We offer a discount to members who bring in new members. Essentially, if a new member tells us that you (a current member) referred them to us, you will get 10% of their dues taken off of your monthly dues each month they are a member, for up to 10 months. You can not earn negative dues, or store them up, but you can end up with a free membership if you bring in enough bodies who stick around.

For example, let's say that you pay $55, and you referred Jimmy No-Thumbs and Klumsy Hank. Jimmy is studying chainsaw arts at the local university and pays $30, where as Hank happens to be a dancer and will pay $55. After they've been a member for one month, your next month's dues will be $46.50. When Jimmy has an accident at school and drops his membership after two months, your discount for him would go away.

When paying dues by electronic means, be sure that the Member's name, a “for dues” message, and intended payment month(s) is communicated.

• Regular Membership (one-time payment)
• Regular Membership (automatic monthly payments)
• Discount Membership (automatic monthly payments)

treasure@tcmaker.org

You can also pay person at our Open Wednesdays. We are open from 7pm - 10pm most Wednesdays. Current members, or those sponsoring new members, can drop off completed Membership Agreements and/or payments in the secure drop box in the space. If you pay with this method, please email the treasurer (treasurer[-at-]tcmaker.org) to ensure prompt processing.

You may send your dues via postal mail to: Twin Cities Maker PO Box 2118 Maple Grove, MN 55311.