Hi Everyone, We've been remiss in announcing a new initiative of National VCF which aims to better deal with the increasing number of rescues that are coming to us at <info@vcfed.org>. A national subcommittee was formed consisting of several museums and a few members at large. This subcommittee is run by myself and Ryan Schiff of the System Source Museum in Maryland. Members include: LSSM - New Kensington, PA System Source Museum - Hunt Valley, MD VCF MA - Wall, NJ San Antonio Museum Science and Technology - San Antonio, TX Homecomputermuseum - NK Helmond, Netherlands Save the Machine Technology - North Carolina The logic is there are more and more circumstances where machines need to be rescued and no one organization is able to handle all of them. So, what happens is we get the email, Ryan and myself make a quick decision as to who to direct the donation to (which is often necessary as time constraints can be a very serious issue), and then we report to the committee (who hold us accountable). In the case of a serious debate about where things should go, we bring the decision to the committee for a vote (if time permits). Why two people? In case of any conflict of interests. To give you an example, a few months ago we got an email from someone who's father had passed away and the machines (from small to very large) had to be out within two weeks. The decision was made to have System Source make the pickup, they picked up the machines, and the machines were divided between System Source, VCF MA and LSSM. Particularly exciting is that System Source picked up an Altair 8800, dropped it off in the VCF MA warehouse at VCF East, where it safely sat until VCF MA delivered the machine to LSSM just this last weekend. Next time you're at LSSM, you'll know it took three museums to safely deliver that Altair for you to use. We also are working very hard towards sharing exhibits and artifacts and are pleased to announce the modem exhibit featured previously at the VCF MA Museum is currently being set up at LSSM. It is absolutely thrilling to be involved with the ever growing wave of collaboration in the vintage computer world! But, however, public service notice. Please please please, make and document arrangements for your collections in the event of an untimely demise. Best wishes, -Adam