OUR STORY
Are you a technology enthusiast, a tinkerer, a tech guru, an aspiring engineer? You are not alone! Join our community where you can grow yourself and inspire others through effort, ingenuity and creativity. Build awesome projects and explain (brag!) them to others.
Our next meeting could be your next meeting!
A long time ago I read the book called "The Autobiography of Benjamin Franklin". Ben Franklin is one of the founders of the U.S. Constitution and also the inventor of the modern library. One of the reasons why the library was created is because not everyone can afford to own and house the huge collection of books you'd normally find at the library. However, as Ben wrote, the library also turned into a gathering place for people who wanted to discuss the books, create new ideas, and innovate. It was never intended to be used for the sole purpose of being a book warehouse.
I have a degree in Computer Engineering, but outside of the workplace and social media, there aren't a whole lot of opportunities to interact with other technologists. I have visited the Maker Fair, which happens once a year. I also visited the Makerspace which provides tools to its members and also charges a hefty monthly membership fee. I wanted a solution that was both less expensive and closer to home. I came to realize that I'd have to start a technology club at a local venue that can provide a meeting area for the club.
I have been attending other Grafton library events and decided to ask about the possibility of having the club at the library. The helpful staff at the Grafton library helped us find the right meeting room, provided a projector, and even invested in learning kits including Arduino and Raspberry Pi boards. We started to hold regular club meetings and have been growing ever since.
Currently we are focusing on Raspberry Pi projects simply because the Pi is inexpensive. We have several members who built and operate their own 3-D printers, build custom computers, and also robots. One of our major projects is building a chess robot and it's proving to be quite a challenge to get all the parts moving correctly.
Unlike other robot clubs, we are BYOD and member funded. This is not a huge problem for us since our members own their projects. However, this also means that the bulk of the work is done at home at your own expense. Other than a meeting area, we currently don't have any sponsorship. Maybe this will change in the future as we grow.
We accept donations but don't charge any membership fees to make the club more accessible. Spend the money on the parts instead. Being located at the library also allows to easily request books or research a topic quickly.
Our goal is to provide a friendly atmosphere to exchange ideas, build projects, talk about technology and have fun.
Join us and let's get it to work!
Dmitry L. - Club President