I wanted to share a few thoughts on how we might support studio holders who are eager to volunteer and contribute in roles like tool testing and deskee positions.
First, I fully appreciate the intent behind keeping membership opportunities to non-members who might not otherwise be able to afford it—this aligns so well with our values of inclusivity and community support. At the same time, I’ve noticed that studio holders, many of whom are already balancing tight budgets to cover studio rent, are facing some added challenges under this policy. Holding a studio is a wonderful experience, yet sometimes it feels like the membership benefits available to us are limited compared to non-studio holding members.
For instance, when I first joined, I was really excited to volunteer as a deskee but found that priority was given to those who weren’t yet members. I totally understand the rationale, yet as a studio holder who wants to engage and give back to the community, it can feel a bit limiting.
It would be great if we could explore options to ensure that studio holders who want to volunteer have more balanced access to these rewarding opportunities. I’m optimistic that, together, we can find ways to better support everyone who wants to contribute while maintaining the spirit of inclusion that makes this community so special.
Thanks for taking the time to consider this, and I look forward to any ideas or thoughts on how we might address this.
Best,
Chris