By Kirk Cheyney
Yesterday was Veterans Day, as well as the 100th anniversary of the end of World War One. Both of these should be celebrated, and for much the same reason. No one likes war, but there are still things worth fighting for, and when those things are large enough, we need a class of people that are willing to fight. The US Military is a fully volunteer military (at the moment), and has been since the last draft ended on January 27th, 1973. This was 45 years ago, when my wife was 11 days old. This did not stop her from enlisting in the armed forces when she felt the call to defend our nation more than 20 years later. This has not stopped millions of other men and women from joining the military, to protect and defend not only our bodies and borders, but our rights and freedoms.
The US military is comprised of all types of people. From the left-of-gandhi democrat, to the so-right-they-are-wrong republican. Atheist, Catholic, Muslim, Pagan, Jewish, and any of the other hundreds of religions that infuse our world. Men and women, cis through LGBTQ, all the wonderful flavors of the American people join up to serve our country. Every person joins for a different reason, and each reason is personal to that soldier. They deserve our respect, they deserve our love, and they deserve to be recognized. If you are a veteran, I would like to thank you for your service. No matter when you served, and no matter what you did, you did it so that all of us, even those who disagree with you, can live a safer, happier life. So from the bottom of my heart, thank you.
As we move on to what has been happening at the Fab Lab, let me just put out there that our veterans and active service members also receive a discount on memberships to the Fab Lab, as well as police, firefighters, and EMT. For your bravery and selflessness (and because if an accident happens, I want as many of you around as possible) you can get 20% off of your membership at the Fab Lab (above the basic level). We do this year round, and have since the day we opened, because it is the right thing to do.
So what other news of the Fab Lab, you ask? We are getting the last pieces into place for the tutoring program, so look for an announcement soon, and if you know someone who needs tutoring in any of the STEM fields, write to us and let us know, so we can get you started! We are also going to have some courses coming up around the first of the year. A more in-depth 3D printing course, as well as courses in designing a prototype, creating a small business, learning to use engineering software to create digital 3D models, and a host of other courses that last from 2 to 10 weeks. Of course we will still be teaching one-night classes on a variety of subjects, from bath bombs to building your own furniture. If you would like to learn something, but don’t know where to start, drop us an email, and we will see if we can find an instructor for you.
Also make sure to mark your calendars for the upcoming Make Me a Holiday event coming up in early December! Our Holiday hours are pretty similar to our regular hours, as well. We know there are a very limited number of days to get your projects done, so we will be open every day except for Thanksgiving Day (November 22nd), and Christmas day (December 25th). Every other day we will have normal business hours.
Make sure to check our website for all of the holiday classes that continue to pop up! We are excited to be adding a second ‘Make your own Holiday Cards’ on the 27th of November, and we will soon be announcing dates we will have a green-screen set up at the Lab, with photo sessions for you or your family, to make your own holiday photos! If you know anyone who would be interested and is not signed up to our emails, let them know about us! The Fab Lab is supported by our members, and the best advertising we get is from all of you letting others know about the amazing opportunities you (and they!) have at the Fab lab.
Have a great week, and I will talk with you all again soon.
Kirk