Bill Ball’s Post

I've been invited to be on the program of the United Nations Association of Rochester's UN Day Conference, which will focus on climate change. Having done model UNs, worked with UNAs and studied at the UN in high school and college I am really looking forward to the chance to help out with the event. Come and join us. https://lnkd.in/egx32Esf

Calling all makers to share the cool stuff you create at Makerfaire Rochester! The Faire will be held at Gordon Field House on the RIT campus on November 16. To exhibit your work respond to the Call for Makers on the Faire website: https://lnkd.in/eqXmAsG

Maker Faire Syracuse is May the 4th! This annual celebration of creativity, invention, and general wackiness will be spilling out of the massive Horticulture Building at the New York State Fairgrounds with over 100 exhibitors sharing their work. Having been an exhibitor in 2023, and now both an exhibitor and on the planning committee for 2024, I am really looking forward to being part of this rapidly growing event for all ages. See you there. https://lnkd.in/eQFWSf5n

I'm leading a project of the robot builders guild at IBiB (www.ibib.us) to start a mini sumo robot league in this region. Mini sumo robots try to push each other out of a small arena in a form of friendly (and non-destructive) competition that challenges builders to develop skills in design, programing, and strategy. The project is in its early stages but we have a few prototypes up and running. We are looking for individuals of all ages and groups such as clubs and schools who might be interested in joining the project. We will be supporting builders in a variety of ways, including providing inexpensive kits. Our first public exhibition will be at Maker Faire Syracuse on May 4. If you are interested in this project, please get in touch.

Come by our booth at the Rochester Makerfaire this Saturday! I will have some gadgets and other geekery to play with at the It Begins in Brockport exhibit. https://lnkd.in/eqXmAsG

We have doubled in size at It Begins in Brockport! (https://ibib.us/) Come and check us out at our next open house on September 6 in this campus/community collaborative maker space. Admittedly, we have expanded from one small studio to two small studios. But it is still a significant expansion of this very new organization--and just in time for installing our new vinyl printer/cutter equipment and building our classroom space for adult workshops and STEM activities. With this expansion we are opening our full monthly memberships.

We have been busy this summer at It Begins in Brockport (https://ibib.us/) engaging the community in becoming active makers. Channel 13 reported on our intergenerational airboat building day (https://lnkd.in/gmgAttdX), we shared advanced 3D printing techniques at Brockport Merchant Association's sidewalk event, and IBiB President BoB LeSuer hosted 32 third to sixth graders in a morning of mechanical engineering at SUNY Brockport. We are hosting a laser cutting workshop this week and are preparing to release some big news next month on expansion and community memberships.

Curious about CAD? I'm offering a free public workshop on getting started with Computer Aided Design for 3D printing using the easiest of all CAD software: Tinkercad. This event is part of the first round of community events from It Begins in Brockport (www.ibib.us). The workshop will be Monday, June 12 at 6:30 at the Brockport public library. Advance registration is required as seating is limited: https://lnkd.in/etE-rZha

I'm excited to join the board of Brockport Original Builds, a nonprofit organization committed to the enhancement of professional development and creative play through digital technology. The new organization recently held a preview event of its community maker place It Begins in Brockport (www.ibib.us). I will be spending a lot of time at IBiB in the coming months, helping to build out the physical space and staff workshops and events. IBiB’s mission is to empower community innovation and learning through accessible digital fabrication. We are in the process of opening membership and offering our first workshops.