How to Join Old

Asmbly Makerspace offers 8,000sf of creative opportunities and awesomeness, but is mostly volunteer-run.  So protecting equipment, prioritizing safety, and maintaining workshop harmony requires members to follow certain procedures and adhere to some basic operating guidelines.

That’s why we ask all prospective members to attend a New Member Orientation and Facility Tour.  This event is mandatory and offered on a regular basis.  Detailed steps to becoming a member are outlined below.  Please contact our membership team if you have any questions we haven’t covered in our FAQs.

 
NOTE: Asmbly now offers a fast track to becoming a member. If you’re excited to get started making ASAP and don’t want to wait for regularly scheduled orientation and woodshop safety classes, scroll down to the bottom of the page to learn more about our New Member Fast Track process.

 
 

STEP 1:  Create a Neon Account

 

Neon is a cloud-based system that we use to manage memberships, classes and lots more.  If you haven’t already created a Neon account, get started here.

Not sure if you already have a Neon account?  Click here to retrieve your username/password.

 
 

STEP 2:  New Member Orientation and Facility Tour

 

Learn more about Asmbly and see the shop with no obligation to join!  During these in-person sessions, we give some background on Asmbly – things like shop etiquette, communication channels, how to schedule general shop time as well as time on specific machines, etc. – followed by a tour around the entire makerspace with a focus on the nuts and bolts of using the space – where to park, where to take trash, location of first aid kits, fire extinguishers, etc.  

New Member Orientation sessions happen several days a week.  A complete schedule of New Member Orientation sessions is available on our Classes page under the “Orientation” category.  

  • Some prospective members are specifically interested in a tool or machine that requires a training class, e.g. the CNC Router.  Occasionally the required training class isn’t available for several weeks.  In this scenario, it’s entirely reasonable to take the New Member Orientation and then delay purchasing a membership until closer to the training class. 
 
 

STEP 3:  Sign Waivers, Join Discourse & Purchase a Membership

 

These are the next steps after attending a New Member Orientation:

  • Sign our Membership Agreement & Liability Waiver.
  • Join Discourse – our online forum and our primary mode of communicating with members.  Just click the “Sign Up” link in the top right corner.  If you’d like, take a minute to introduce yourself in our Member Introductions category and start getting to know our community!  Regardless of whether you join as a member or not, we’d love to have you stay connected with our community and participate in discussions.
  • Purchase an Asmbly Membership – just login to Neon and select “Purchase/Edit Membership.”  You may wish to wait until you have completed all required steps (including step 4) before you purchase your membership.
  • Create a Skedda account using the link that you will receive in your membership confirmation email.  Skedda is our online scheduling app.  You must schedule all shop/machine time in Skedda.

NOTE: Please use the same email address for your Neon account, signing waivers, joining Discourse and Skedda.  We synchronize these various platforms using your email address, and using different email addresses could result in a delay to your membership and access.

 

 

STEP 4:  Woodshop Safety Class

 

If you plan to use the woodshop (even for a single quick cut!), you will also need to take the Woodshop Safety class.  We require that all members take this class before using our Woodshop, regardless of experience level.  Why?  Because we’re a community workshop and it’s important for everyone to understand our safety expectations, as well as information that might be specific to our Woodshop – the dust collection system, where we store our dado stacks, etc.

Because Woodshop Safety is one of our most popular classes with new members, we generally schedule Woodshop Safety classes twice a week on Wednesday evenings and Sunday mornings.  A complete schedule of Woodshop Safety sessions is available on our Classes page under the “Woodshop Safety” category.

 

 

STEP 5:  Get Access

 

Access to the shop is provided through OpenPath which allows members to use an app on their smartphone to get in the building.  If you have completed the previous steps, an email invitation is sent for OpenPath with further instructions on setting up access.  All visits to the space must be booked using Skedda, our scheduling app.

 
 

STEP 6:  Start Making!

 

We’re so glad to have you as a member, welcome!

Most of our specialty shops require that members take an introduction or safety class prior to use.  If you ever have questions about the shop, don’t hesitate to post in our Discourse forum!  We have a very active and helpful community online that is eager to help each other find solutions.

New Member Fast Track — Woodshop

We understand that some people are itching to get making as soon as possible. To better serve this group, Asmbly now offers a fast track to becoming a member. Read below and follow the outlined steps if you wish to take this track. Since this 1-on-1 class is scheduled on an individual basis, Asmbly charges $75 to go this route. Completing the New Member Fast Track process will give you full member access the day you complete your session.
 
 

STEP 1:  Create a Neon Account

 
Neon is a cloud-based system that we use to manage memberships, classes and lots more.  If you haven’t already created a Neon account, get started here.
Not sure if you already have a Neon account?  Click here to retrieve your username/password.
 
 

STEP 2:  Combined 1-on-1 New Member Orientation and Facility Tour + Woodshop Safety Class

 
Schedule a New Member Fast Track session by booking a time slot using the link below
 
Go to the Asmbly store on Neon and purchase the New Member Fast Track – Woodshop item.
 
During these in-person sessions, we give some background on Asmbly – things like shop etiquette, communication channels, how to schedule general shop time as well as time on specific machines, etc. – followed by a tour around the entire makerspace with a focus on the nuts and bolts of using the space – where to park, where to take trash, location of first aid kits, fire extinguishers, etc.
 
Following the orientation portion, we will move into the Woodshop Safety Class.  We require that all members take this class before using our Woodshop, regardless of experience level (even for a single cut!).  Why?  Because we’re a community workshop and it’s important for everyone to understand our safety expectations, as well as information that might be specific to our  Woodshop – the dust collection system, where we store our dado stacks, etc.
 
 

STEP 3:  Sign Waivers, Join Discourse & Purchase a Membership

 
This step can either be completed at home before your Fast Track session, or on the computers at Asmbly at the end of the session. Either way, you will have full member access upon completion of Steps 1-3, and can begin using the Woodshop immediately.
These are the next steps after attending the 1:1 Orientation + Woodshop Safety Class:
  • Sign our Membership Agreement & Liability Waiver.
  • Join Discourse – our online forum and our primary mode of communicating with members.  Just click the “Sign Up” link in the top right corner.  If you’d like, take a minute to introduce yourself in our Member Introductions category and start getting to know our community!  Regardless of whether you join as a member or not, we’d love to have you stay connected with our community and participate in discussions.
  • Purchase an Asmbly Membership – just login to Neon and select “Purchase/Edit Membership.”  You may wish to wait until you have completed all required steps before you purchase your membership, or you can purchase your membership the day of your 1:1 session.
  • Create a Skedda account using the link that you will receive in your membership confirmation email.  Skedda is our online scheduling app.  You must schedule all shop/machine time in Skedda.
NOTE: Please use the same email address for your Neon account, signing waivers, joining Discourse and Skedda.  We synchronize these various platforms using your email address, and using different email addresses could result in a delay to your membership and access.    
 
 

STEP 4:  Get Access

 
Access to the shop is provided through OpenPath which allows members to use an app on their smartphone to get in the building.  If you have completed the previous steps, an email invitation is sent for OpenPath with further instructions on setting up access.  All visits to the space must be booked using Skedda, our scheduling app. As part of the New Member Fast Track session, we will ensure your OpenPath is setup correctly before you leave.
 
 

STEP 5:  Start Making!

 
We’re so glad to have you as a member, welcome!
Most of our specialty shops require that members take an introduction or safety class prior to use.  If you ever have questions about the shop, don’t hesitate to post in our Discourse forum!  We have a very active and helpful community online that is eager to help each other find solutions.