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Reopening Fab Lab ICC

Jim Correll, director Fab Lab ICC at Independence Community College, Independence Kansas 

It’s been a wild, unprecedented and stressful three and one-half months since the Lab was closed, along with the rest of the ICC campus, due to the pandemic. 

Now, after a dizzying array of Kansas re-opening phases, modified phases and decimals of phases, I am announcing our plan to reopen the Fab Lab on a slightly limited scheduleThe directive came from ICC administration as part of developing a plan they felt in the best interest of the college that Fab Lab ICC can re-open to members on July 6. 

Before I lay out the plan, I’d like to make two points: 

We will begin extending by 5 months, all paid memberships without charge. This is to help compensate our members for this period of time the Lab has been closed. 

Since we can’t be open in June, we’re offering curb service to our members that are small business owners. Contact me for details. 

Special Hours July 6 – August 15 

Monday, Wednesday and Friday, 1:00 – 5:00 

Tuesday and Thursday, 1:00 – 7:00 

Saturday, 9:00 – 1:00 

Required will be the wearing of masks by everyone in the Lab as well as social distancingmaintaining 6 ft of distance. 

Occupancy will be limited to no more than 8 people in a given room; no more than 20 in the entire facility at a given time. 

We will develop the stay-open plan for August 17 and beyond as we observe what happens with the pandemic and local/regional cases of corona virus over the summer, following guidelines set by ICC administration. 

Even though no one knows exactly what to expect this fall after August 14, I thought I’d outline some of the activities that we are cautiously optimistic we can plan for the period. We will follow the health and safety guidelines in effect at the time. 

Maker Space Boot Camp-Sep 15 - 17 

Held twice per year since February 2018, people come from around the state to see and hear how we started Fab Lab ICC with the hope and inspiration to go home and begin working on creating a maker space in their communities. The camp also includes hands-on making activities. Seating is usually limited to 16 but may be limited further due to social distancing guidelines in effect at the time. 

Growing Rural Business (GRB) 

This 8-week, one evening per week (Thursday) small business training series focuses on business management strategies that can be used by existing business owners not only to recover from the pandemic, but to grow and prosper. Facilitated by Wichita State University’s Center for Entrepreneurship, the sessions are interactive, different and very helpful. GRB has been offered across the state of Kansas over the last few years and evaluations by participating small business owners are consistently positive. While we have not made the formal announcement, we will try to start the sessions early in September. The seating target will be 18 and limited to no more than 25. 

Guitar Fabrication  

From the earliest known public mention of an electrically enhanced guitar, appearing in Wichita, Kansas in October of 1932, to the news in 1940, that Les Paul created "The Log," a guitar whose strings and pickups were mounted on a guitar body carved from a solid block of wood, electric guitars have captivated every generation since. (By this point in history, bands playing acoustical instruments were having trouble being heard above the ambient dance hall noise of the day; fights, brawls and general commotion. Electronic amplification provided a solution.) 

Build and keep a real, custom, playable electric guitar. No experience necessary and you don't have to know how to play. We'll have, available for purchase, a selection of kits that includes everything you need. Current plans are for the class to be held on Wednesdays from 5:30 to 8:30 PM starting August 19. 

Entrepreneurial Mindset 

Over the years, we’ve learned that the mindset of entrepreneurs, specifically the way entrepreneurs think about and solve problems, is a huge, sometimes life-changing, benefit to people of all walks of life. We see it with every class; most everyone says it changes the way they think, making them better problem solvers and one or two usually say it changes their lives. From our flyer, we say Gaining knowledge that can change your mindset, your heart, your intentions and motivations can change your actions and lead to a more successful and fulfilling life. 

Mindset will be held on Wednesdays from 6:00 to 8:00 PM starting August 19. 

What Classes Would You Like? 

We’re building a wish list of non-credit classes people would like to see us offer. You can see the list, or add to it, by clicking the Wish List tab on our home page at www.fablabicc.org. In addition to seeing the list, we’d like you to tell us up to three of the classes on the list you’d like to take. We’ll monitor the results and add new classes bases on interest. Anything that could be offered at or in conjunction with the Fab Lab can be added to the list. Cooking, sewing, welding, photography, introduction to podcasting; the list can be almost endless. 

As I said in my letter to members; “I’ve grown weary of We’re all in this together,’ so, how about I say, We’ll all get through this one way or another and we hope to see you at the Lab soon.” 

Jim Correll is the director of Fab Lab ICC at the Center for Innovation and Entrepreneurship on the campus of Independence Community College. He can be reached at (620) 252-5349, by email at jcorrell@indycc.edu or Twitter @jimcorrellks. Archive columns and podcast at jimcorrell.com. 

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