Announcement from Mad Dog Hall, Executive Director of Linux International

[gaf at zk3.dec.com (Jerry Feldman)]

> Subject: The Boston Computing Society closes its doors
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> Date: Thu, 12 Sep 96 09:29:00 -0400
> From: "Jon 'maddog' Hall, USG Senior Leader" <hall>

> Ladies and Gentlemen,
> 
> Some of you are probably not aware of the Boston Computing Society, but at
> one time (and for that matter it may still be) it was the largest non-profit,
> non-affiliated computer society in the United States.
> 
> They have over 100 different groups dedicated to different machines and
> operating systems, different geographic regions, different uses (end user,
> programming, system admin, database, business specific, electronic publishing,
> WWW, etc.)
> 
> They gave classes on the use of different commercial packages,
> charging a minimal price (or free).  For example, there is one class called
> "So you want to be a Consultant".  It was three hours and cost $25. for members
> and $50. for non-members.
> 
> They put out three monthly publications, one for MACs, one for MS products,
> and one for "general interest/cross-platform information".
> 
> Fifteen years ago I bought an Osborne I computer (ah yes, .25 Mip, 64K RAM,
> two 90K floppy disks and a 4" color "green and white are the only colors"
> screen, but it was *portable*) and went to BCS meetings to swap software,
> get help in making it work, etc.  Today the Osborne group is gone, but
> others have taken its place.
> 
> Now the organization feels that it has "accomplished its task" of promoting
> the use of personal computers.  Between that and organizational issues,
> they are closing their doors, although some of the existing BCS groups will
> continue on.  We will hope that the BCS web group and the BCS Linux group
> will survive.  I will be talking with Jerry Feldman, one of the organizers,
> to work with the Greater New Hampshire Linux User's Group.
> 
> Without a doubt, there has been a "rift in the Force".
> 
> Warmest regards,
> 
> md
> 
> P.S.  To see the level of organization and work that existed, take a look
> at their web pages at http://www.bcs.org
> - -- 
> =============================================================================
> Jon "maddog" Hall                     Internet: maddog at zk3.digital.com
> Senior Leader, UNIX Software Group    Executive Director, Linux International
> 
> Digital Equipment Corporation         Linux International
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