SPOKES MEETING 2025-09-11

Representatives: Jonah (speaker); daniel (notes); micro ("advisor")
Jonah questioned if individual working groups should establish an internal quorum so that their voting delegate can faithfully speak and represent the members of the working group. At this time, spokecouncil has not established any quorum-like mechanism to address this concern, but it could be useful in the future. For now, the delegates will cast votes reflecting the group to the best of their knowledge, and if specific group members are upset with the results then those people can get more involved and bring forward changes to address their concerns at a future Spokes meeting.
After last month's Spokes meeting, the council received feedback that they should allow for more dialogue and discussion among attendees. In response, they have begun considering establishing a parallel meeting format in the style of a community forum.
Legal updates:
There will be an MOU document produced and key access codes (and other powers?) will be given to people who sign.
In January, RC's insurance is due for renewal. Last year was $3000 and it is expected to increase from year to year. If we proactively create more waivers, it can help us secure a better price on RC's insurance plan.
Gym already has a waiver. Perhaps Basement "borrowed" a waiver from Hack Manhattan or another maker space previously. So far nobody has signed it!
Finance + fundraising updates:
RC now has a fiscal sponsor! They are not charging us any fee! 
Fiscal sponsor is Monkworks (Father Mike). Monkworks typically runs food pantries. 
RC has a bank account but at this time has no online banking credentials
RC now has withfriends: https://withfriends.events/o/ridgewood-commons/join/
this account was created by tech/comms group (not directly the finance group)
since being established yesterday, about $230 per month are being contributed
$7116 in bank account right now
CSA sales will begin in 3 weeks. If sales are consistent with last year, expect ~$2600.
The agreement between RC and woodbine left ambiguity about whether woodshop/basement owes money to RC
Facilities
if consumables are consumed or labor expended or non-negligible financial contributions are made, let Iris know 
There are now three separate digital forms that anybody can use to book the space for an event. Rentals are a major way to bring in $$$ to RC!
Tech&Comms updates:
find info here https://wiki.commons.nyc/books/rc-tech-comms/page/2025-09-11-spokescouncil-meeting-update 
https://ridgewoodcommons.nyc/
https://commons.nyc/ (this is micro's personal site, not official)
Should the current responsibilities of Tech&Comms be reorganized such that "PR" becomes a separate admin committee?
we're "coming out" tomorrow as Ridgewood Commons (?)
On Sept. 20th there will be an opening party 5pm-11pm
Proposals
Bathroom cleaning - there are amendments proposed!
Community announcements chat - approved!
Coordination chat - this has been withdrawn, as issues were raised and Ash (who wrote the proposal) was not in attendance to respond. ie. Does each working group need to have (at least) one member?
Physical calendar - approved!
Sunday trash - approved!
stopping rags in sink - its an announcement/demand. its approved, just barely. andrew is forcing the issue as a tactic for establishing a better channel for these types of announcements.
according to some past document, this type of announcement is a concrete proposal to the culture of our community 
WG announcements:
If we want to put any proposals forward next Spokes meeting, we should write them to be submitted within 2 weeks from now.