[UCIMC-Tech] [Imc-bookkeeper] Status of the Production room

[Mike Lehman]

I want to echo what Chris indicated in his reply, but am copying this to 
the main IMC list so spokes, etc are aware of the issue. Donations _must 
_be brought to the attention of Tech or the specific group that is 
involved. Do NOT simply dump stuff in the Production Room or anyplace 
else in the building.

We actually have small, but very specific needs in terms of tech-type 
donations. Tech knows what's acceptable, if it's a general donation that 
someone feels may be of use to the IMC. If it is for the specific and 
understood needs of a working group, then that can be arranged with them 
and they need to find a place for it. But this needs to be determined 
_before _something is left on our doorstep in a basket, in the way in 
the Production Room, or just dumped wherever convenient in the building.

Please do not ever use the IMC for mere electronics recycling, as 
important as that is. I've made many trips over the years doing what 
some should have done in the first place -- hauling useless stuff to 
where it can be properly recycled because it was taking up valuable 
space at the IMC.

And it was only recently, with great effort, that the Production Room 
was made operational again by having junk cleared out of it. We do have 
storage available, if that's needed. And if you're not sure whether 
we'll think something will be valuable enough to put in storage, then 
that's probably a clue that it shouldn't be dumped in the Production 
Room or elsewhere in the first place.

As for the comments that run along the lines like "those people" or the 
IMC as an organization is actively non-communicative -- well, usually 
it's just one person who is somewhat misinformed that results in 
incidents like this. I wish I was so perfect that I've never made a 
mistake that irritated someone, but I'm not, nor do I assume that 
something that someone else does that upsets me is the result of their 
nefarious plot to make my life difficult.

Most likely, it was someone who exploited the same access that so many 
of us have to many places in the building. Sometimes it seems like 
everyone else who has such access is a spoiled, only child or something, 
but I think it's a lot more productive to communicate with each other 
before we do things that may impose on others than to try to fix things 
up once the deed is done.
Mike Lehman

On 3/8/2011 2:07 PM, Kristina Williams wrote:
> Last week (or was it two weeks ago), I took the better part of that 
> week to clean the Production, which had badly needed some cleaning. I 
> was very happy to have made some extra space for the equipment 
> check-out cabinet next to the Production computer.
>
> Before I had a chance to do so, the equipment check-out cabinet had 
> been moved into the recording studio and a giant printer (that only 
> copies) was brought into the Production room without my knowledge and 
> taking up the space I had spent so much time working to clear. Also, a 
> large box was placed in the public space where all my things had been 
> dumped.
>
> A few days later I walk into work and, not one but TWO more printers, 
> a desk, computer monitor, and a tower found its way into the 
> Production room, taking up more space.
>
> At that point, I talked with Brian and requested he let me know via 
> email if and when any computer equipment finds its way into the 
> Production room. A few days later, I walk into work and, to my 
> complete surprise, find a desk and ANOTHER printer in the production 
> room. In case you lost count, there are now FOUR printers in the 
> Production room, one that copies, one that prints and two that are 
> just sitting here. I have made several requests now to members of 
> Finance and Tech about the status of those printers. Tech says talk to 
> Finance. Finance says talk to Tech. Not my problem. blah blah blah.
>
> I don't care who decided to put these in the Production room, I want 
> the functionless printers out now.  I've asked several times now and 
> have been very patient. I willing to overlook how ridiculous it is to 
> have one printer that prints and one printer that copies, but I am 
> unwilling to ignore the fact that most people treat this as a 
> secondary issue.
>
> The Production room is not intended to be a dump site for 
> half-finished tech projects and recycled or donated parts. It looks 
> completely unappealing to visitors who tour the space, and considering 
> we call ourselves a MEDIA center, I am frustrated with how quickly 
> people are willing to throw the Production room into the latest batch 
> of failed/dormant IMC projects, considering this: The Urbana-Champaign 
> Independent Media Center is a grassroots organization committed to 
> using media production and distribution as tools for promoting social 
> and economic justice in the Champaign County area. <-- That's the 
> first sentence of the IMC mission statement. But do you know what the 
> most annoying thing about this whole ordeal is? That I have to write 
> this pithy email in the first place to get someone to listen to a very 
> reasonable request.
>
> In the future, please work with me when making changes in the 
> Production room. It's a very simple courtesy. I don't go into your 
> work space and move things around without your consent.
>
>
> -Kristina
> -- 
> Kristina Williams, News Media Coordinator
> Urbana-Champaign Independent Media Center <http://ucimc.org>
> kristinawho[at]gmail[dot]com
> 202 S Broadway
> Urbana, IL 61801
> 217.344.8820
>
> *Member of AmeriCorps <http://www.americorps.gov/>*
>
>
> _______________________________________________
> Imc-bookkeeper mailing list
> Imc-bookkeeper at lists.chambana.net
> http://lists.chambana.net/mailman/listinfo/imc-bookkeeper

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