Open House type event?

[DigitalOSH]

I know I have quite a few friends interested in dropping by the space and seeing what we're all about, and we need some publicity to get some more paying members going, so I propose that we set a SOLID date for an 'Open House' day when we allow the general public to come check out the space. That means we need to:

-Plan what we want done in the space before an open house
-Plan our advertising
-Plan what type of events we would like to host during the open house (retro gaming/arduino intro/soldering class etc?)
-Get our ad copy up to snuff so we can have things to give people

I don't think we should wait too long to do an open house, but enough time to get the word out and get people who aren't necessarily in our direct group of friends to come out

Thoughts?

[thesaxmachine]

Do you need some random projects scattered about to show off?

[drostar]

I like the retro gaming idea.

Showing off some completed projects would inspire people to get their nerd on and join the club. For example, there are some sumo bots we put in a royal rumble demo if the owners are willing. I have one that's almost working.

[FingerTech]

Hopefully Al's and my minisumos will have returned from Ottawa by then!

[Bergo]

I'd say we do an open house for the august or september meeting. Gives us time to renovate/settle into the space. Also hopefully have some finished projects by then.
I think we should also contact some print media outets to possibly run a story a week or two prior, maybe in the sheaf, and SP? Could alos post a thread on Reddit, and send out an invite to the Linux users group or other groups that may be interested.

thinmgs I'd like to have done before hosting an event:

• *Paint the walls
  *Build the dividing wall
  8Projector
  *Mount LCDs on benches
  *build another great table
  *signage on window/door/220 common spaces
  *have workflow documentation for onboarding new members
  *improve website and wiki signup and content