Even Google and Facebook decided to split business concerns as operating platforms of a parent company through name changes. Google is lead by Alphabet Facebook is lead by Meta I'm sure other examples could be furnished, too. The point is, that each of the above reserved an original, popular name for its active platforms, moving the business side of the service(s) to a differently named entity. So let's look at this as a second chance to do it in a commonly practiced way. MARCH missed the opportunity to remain what it is, under the same name, when the Vintage Computer Federation (VCF) was incorporated (so to speak) under a parent name. VCF is a parent organization. VCF-MA became a platform. If following the practice that bigger corporations use to split management and platforms, then MARCH could have remained the current name, instead of being changed to VCF-MA. MARCH would still have been doing the same thing, and would not have even been subjected to the identity crisis it has now. A crisis reported on through the use of REAL anecdotal evidence provided in this thread from ACTUAL members who have actively tried to explain to others what the difference is between the two entities. So let's jump in the Delorean (Tardis for you Gregg), jump back to that split in time, cast off any biases or bad vibes the MARCH name may have been subject to at that moment, and run with keeping that name as a "platform entity" of VCF, with one less thing (a new name) to have ever had to worry about. I doubt doing so will go against the Temporal Prime Directive (had to fit Star Trek in there somewhere). Jeff Salzman On Wed, Oct 30, 2024 at 10:59 AM Connor Krukosky via vcf-midatlantic < vcf-midatlantic@lists.vcfed.org> wrote:
As others have said multiple times, the name VCF-MA or VCF ANYTHING is confusing… Talking to people about the local club became near impossible… It a mess to explain too: "Oh you mean the shows!” “No the local chapter in Wall Township, NJ.” “VCFed? The group that runs the shows have a museum?” “Well no… yes?” etc...
Its just a mess. It got this way because originally the exact same people ran both orgs, which is the ENTIRE point of this reorganization and rename in my view. To help separate these missions and try and prevent the confusion. Even if some of the folks are involved still involved with both. Both orgs are important, and I think both should get the focus and attention they deserve. And separating them more should help with this, as those who focus on MARCH can focus on MARCH and those who focus on VCFed can focus on VCFed.