established - Desktop Video Group

to the general public. People join at
the show; membership leaps to 225.
Things are getting unwieldy, and
Jonathan begins in earnest his solicitation
for volunteers, a perpetual appeal
that is to become one of the
hallmarks of the BCS.
An unofficial group of "organizers"
begins to meet regularly on
Saturday mornings at the Commonwealth
School. They bring lots of
cups of coffee, not to drink but to keep
their hands warm because there's no
heat. When Jonathan suggests spending
funds to put a phone in his bedroom
to handle calls about the
Home/Business show, the advisors
balk. Good God, such an expense!
What if it flops? What can this kid be
thinking of? But they say OK anyway.
(This is but the first of countless
initially-apoplectic Board reactions to
Jonathan's grand schemes; in time,
they get used to it.)
* * *
Volume 1, Issue 1, of The BCS Update,
a xeroxed monthly newsletter,
appears in November. It's the precursor
of what you're reading now.
1979:
Year of the
User Group
The Commodore PET Group, the
BCS's very first user group, meets in
May. The First New England Microcomputer
Resource Handbook, the
BCS's very first book, comes out in
June. Fliers announce 80/Boston, the
BCS group for TRS-80 users. This
group is soon publishing a regular
newsletter. The group also designs
the very first BCS T-shirt, a Frenchcut
number with glitter that all falls
off. Corporate membership is introduced.
A very special December
meeting features seminars, exhibits,
door prizes, and refreshments.
MARCH/APRIL 1987 85