Member Handbook

Members Hard at Work at OpenWorks

Our Purpose, Mission, Culture, and Vision

It’s important stuff, so we have a full page on our purpose, mission, vision, and culture.

House Rules

We’re not big on rules. Rule 1 and Respect for others pretty much covers all aspects of fostering a productive community. That said, here are a few specifics worth mentioning:

  • Rule 1: Leave things as good or better than they were found.
  • Don’t abuse the internet bandwidth.
  • Zero-tolerance for illegal file-sharing or abusing the utilities for activities like crypto mining.

Leave things better for the next person, they do the same, and the cycle continues.

Simple Examples: Push in chairs, put ink or paper in the printer, clean spills, remove refrigerator clutter, put dishes in the dishwasher.

Sound Level

  • Expect the sound to oscillates between library and coffee shop throughout the day.
  • If it’s noisy, and / or you need to focus, then put on headphones or grab a booth.
  • Try not to interrupt someone wearing headphones.
  • Desks calls are fine, but please keep the volume at or below the level of a coffee shop conversation.
  • Speakers should not be used.

Membership Rates and Benefits

We’re always striving to improve the value and experience, so see our “Become a Member” page for current rates and member benefits.

Synergy Mill Corporate Membership

Active members may access the Synergy Mill maker space for free via our corporate membership and after a $50 one-time setup fee due to OpenWorks.

How to Join Synergy Mill

  1. Fill out our interest form
  2. AND, tour with Joey Loeman by signing up for an “Open House” or “Hack Night” event. If you can’t attend during one of these scheduled evens, then try to contact Joey directly at (makers [at] synergymill.com.
  3. After touring Synergy Mill and deciding to join, contact ops [at] joinopenworks.com and we’ll send the one-time $50 setup fee invoice.

Gym / Fitness Center

Gym access and daily-use lockers on our floor is free for members.

Members should follow the sign-up instructions, which include filling out the gym waiver and sending it to the building management.

Payments

  • Invoices are auto-emailed the 1st of the month and should be paid electronically by debit or credit card.
  • Click “View & Pay” in the email and the top-left corner of the website has links to Print and download (PDF). The payment form is on the right side.
  • Automatic overdue reminders are sent after 3, 7, and 14 days.

Desks

Full-Time Desks

  • The space above and below the footprint of the desk and chair is yours. Cabinets are fine, but they must remain within the footprint to avoid crowding the walkways.
  • Members with 3 or more full-time desks may use up to 16″ of space to the side of the desk if the desk is on the end of a cluster / pod of desks.
  • OpenWorks now provides 60″ x 30″ desk with each full-time membership. Please try to avoid stains, pen marks, and other damage to the desk.

Want a standing desk?

You find/build your own standing base to go along with the 60″ x 30″ desk top we provide. We expect black legs that fit within/under the footprint of the top.

Members have used systems like:

Events and Meeting Rooms

Rooms available to full-time members include:

A full-time member should be present in the room when any guests or part-time members are using a meeting or conference room.

The reservation system has a couple quirks, so please see our tips for reserving a room if you’re having trouble with the interface.

What is Considered Fair Use of the Reservable and Shared Spaces?

Spaces are typically shared with other tenants of 3rd floor, fellow OW members, and sometimes with building tenants from other floors.

We expect members to consider the following guidance when determining what is fair use of the reservable space during normal business hours. Nights, weekends, and other off-peak times are usually much less of a concern.

1) Events or reservations may be over the line of what is considered as fair use if they exhibit certain features. Please contact us with any questions before booking an event that answers “yes” to any of the following questions:

  • Is it frequent, like,
    • is it more than one 3 hour event per week?
    • is it 4 or more hours and happening more than once a month?
  • Is it all-day?
  • Is it multiple-room?
  • Is it multi-day?

2) Hosting outside communities on nights and weekends should be limited to non-commercial activities, such as meetups or community groups. A member should be present when hosting and should follow the guidance about hosting and sponsor outside events.

Mail and Package Delivery

There are no mailboxes available to members. Please do not send mail to 101 North Main. If you need to send a one-time item, like a Google Local validation postcard, then give a heads up to [ops] @ joinopenworks.com

If package delivery is necessary, then please use the following format:

Person’s Name
Organization Name
101 N Main St
Third Floor Suite 302 Area {insert your area code, based on the overhead lights}
Greenville, SC 29601

Parking

Parking is not included in Membership. However, we do maintain a list of nearby parking, which anyone can edit.

Biking

Bikes can be locked up:

  • outside on one of many plaza racks
  • inside OpenWorks on the wall rack. Bikes should enter / exit through the 3rd floor, and not the lobby or elevators. Wall racks are for daily use. Overnight or weekend storage should be the rare exception, not the rule.
  • under covered / indoor racks on the plaza-level of the Aloft parking deck.

Trash & Recycling

  • We have centralized trash under the community printer. If a personal can is needed, then expect to dump your small can it into this can. Housekeeping is not expected to service personal trash cans.
  • There is a trash compacter / dumpster behind the building on Richardson St.
  • The building no longer recycles, but we have an aluminum bin in the kitchen area. Please consider bringing cardboard, paper, or other recyclables home with you.

Dogs

Members bringing a pet dog must read and comply with all rules setforth in Schedule 1 of the License Agreement between OpenWorks (the licensee) and ROIB 101 North Main, LLC (the licensor, aka RealOp). Further, members agree to accept full responsibility, hold OpenWorks harmless, and cover any harm or damage resulting from their visiting dog.

OpenWorks may allow well-mannered dogs with no history of aggressive or damaging behavior.

Dogs may only enter / exit through the parking decks and should remain in OpenWorks’ area.

Dogs must not be left unattended and they must be on a leash when outside suite 302.

We have an exception from the building owner, so please use it but don’t abuse it.

Please keep fur off the couches and use the vacuum behind the phone booth if there’s an accumulation of fur within the space.

Business License

The City of Greenville expects businesses to obtain a business license. Tax abatements (discounts) are available for non-profits, certain “high-growth” industries, and for new organizations. OpenWorks’ occupancy permit # is 15-1854.

Key Fobs, Door Access, and Insurance

  • The last member out of the OpenWorks room (suite 302) is expected to close our door.
  • Building hours are Mon-Fri 8AM-6PM. However, full-time members have access 24/7 to the 3rd floor and OpenWorks.
  • Member property is NOT covered by OpenWorks insurance – you are encouraged to purchase your own insurance if you have things worth insuring.
  • One key fob for each full-time paid desk since we expect one person per membership.
  • Members may loan their key to a friend/guest if/as needed, but the member agreement makes a member liable for guest actions.
  • Fee for lost key fob is $35.00
  • Key fobs are to be be returned to OW when members leave or downsize.
  • OpenWorks’ door will lock when closed, but we like to keep our door propped open when there are multiple members present and no external problems.

Security, Emergencies, Fire & Life Safety

Sharing Ideas or Maintenance Requests

  • We use Basecamp for chat, ideas, and managing tasks tasks.
  • Maintenance / Repairs – something broken? Please email ops @ joinopenworks.com and we’ll create a work order for the building.
  • Security and building contacts are listed under the glass near the community printer.

Moving In

The lobby elevators should not be used. Please use the Richardson St or Aloft parking deck entrance.

Power

For fire code reasons we’re not allowed to use extension cords of any length. Only UL approved power strips with over-current protection may be used. All power strips should be plugged directly into the 4-outlet power blocks coming from the overhead reels. If all 4 outlets are in use then we have, or will add, additional 25 foot power strips to supplement.

Personal heaters and most appliances are not allowed, per our lease agreement.

More Details

Lots more nuts and bolts information is available in our General Notes.

Becoming a Member