I’m sad to hear you’re moving away from Austin, but excited for the city you are moving to and the wonderful things you will start there. Quick side tangent for those who don’t know, @mrflip is one of the founders of Vigilante Gastropub & Games. Most of the clever things you see in there were prototyped and/or made at ATXHS/Asmbly. Check out this thread for a June social outing @ashleyrlee is planning there and see the awesomeness for yourself in person – June Social Outing: Vigilante Gastropub & Games
I’m really glad you were able to come into the space and use the shop before leaving and deeply appreciate your reflections here. I’ve missed you and @kye 
1. Following a cohort of novice users
This is something we’ll actually be doing very closely in our first ever New Maker Scholarship Program which is providing a 3 month membership + classes and project kits to young adults transitioning out of foster care (or in extended foster care). The program outline here tells you more about it. We’re hoping in this highly structured setting we can learn a lot of lessons to apply to general membership to improve the new member experience and provide volunteers helping in this realm with more guidance and resources on how to help most effectively. We definitely still have room for improvement on documentation and tool organization which absolutely makes things easier for newbies.
2. Intermediate classes
This is one we’ve been working on for 6+ months in various forms. We’re trying to get inexpensive project kits created where members can buy a kit that contains everything they would need for a simple “next level” type project after taking a class to gain access to a tool/shop area including a QR code to instructions/video on how to do it (e.g. beer flight holder with glasses). We’ve also discussed having a project idea board with links to project plans to help members get inspiration for things they could make. In the Education department (where we now have 2 paid part-time staff!), we’ve been putting particular focus towards developing project-based classes so that members aren’t simply learning a machine but a specific application with that machine. @CLeininger has also been teaching 1:1 Woodshop Mentor classes that are student led (i.e. student chooses what topics are covered). The Education Team is also currently working to offer a clearer option for 1:1 instruction in other shop areas. I really love your suggestion on part of class being making a notable improvement in documentation for gotchas or under-documented steps.
3. Recognition
I wholeheartedly agree here and it’s on the list! Our current website – while leaps and bounds better than the previous – has a very transactional tone to it which is not at all what we’re trying to convey. We’re doing a website revamp this summer which will have a major community first vibe – we are creative people coming together to share space and tools for the joy of making! Thus far, most recognition occurs in our monthly newsletter, annual report, or here on Discourse (BTW, if you didn’t know we have @mrflip to thank for the existence of this forum – he brought us out of the Google Groups email thread dark ages 
). When it comes to ongoing volunteer positions and big volunteer efforts like work days, we plan to have lots of faces on the website showing that off while soliciting more volunteerism at the same time. We could certainly still do better on recognition today and I’m hoping we can add this sort of thing to the TV displays we have in the lobby and shop as well.
Some things you might enjoy perusing if you haven’t seen them already –
- 2021 Annual Report
- 2022 Annual Report
- First annual Asmbly Maker Market video
- 2023 New Maker Scholarship Program
Again, thank you for all you have done to help build the incredible space you see today. Your contributions and perseverance during those tough times helped this organization make it through (and me as well!). Really hope to see you again sooner rather than later 