Out of nostalgia, I went spelunking through my old MARCH emails dating back to early 2014. It brought back some great memories and I found some interesting things relevant to this thread. If you read them, you'll see not much has fundamentally changed, save for our governance structure. You can see the old emails below, but the TLDR version is that we need not fret over reverting the local chapter's name to MARCH. We have always been MARCH in spirit and will continue to be. I think we can even leverage our leaning back into using the name to create some positive publicity. And I agree completely with Andy's points. As long as we do a good job of communicating, all of our activities are open to participation. You get out of our organization what you put into it, and I've seen evidence of that time and again over the years. Our mission is a good one, and it's gotten us to where we are now. Encouraging feedback and ideas from our visitors and membership will help us to continue along the right path. "*On Sunday, November 9, 2014, 7:56 AM, midatlanticretro@yahoogroups.com <midatlanticretro@yahoogroups.com> wrote:* *MARCH frequently asked questions -- updated Sept. 29, 20141. What is MARCH?MARCH is a user group for people who enjoy collecting, restoring, using, and exhibiting antique/vintage computers. Our name is an acronym for Mid-Atlantic Retro Computing Hobbyists. Our club's legal name has an "Inc." on the end because we're incorporated as a non-profit in New Jersey. However we do not yet have federal 501(c)3 tax status.2. Cool, I have some old-school Pentium IIs, and even a 486!Sorry, but that's not what we do. By "antique/vintage" we mean things that are far more historic. We start (with some exceptions) at the mid-1980s early GUI systems, go into early-1980s/late-1970s 8-bit microcomputers, back into mid-1970s homebrew kits and single-board computers, then find our way into 1970s/1960s minicomputers when "mini" meant as big as a desk or refrigerator. Finally, we're into mainframes of the 1950s and 1960s. Of course, we also focus on all sorts of books/magazines, cultural artifacts, I/O devices (teletypes, terminals) peripherals, software, storage hardware (keypunches, magnetic/paper tape, etc.), and everything from this realm. Not counting mathematical tools such as a slide rule, our oldest computer artifact is an IBM 082 punch card sorter, from 1948.3. I'm a nerd and live somewhere between Connecticut and Virginia, yet I never heard of you before.Andy Meyer reiterated his idea for a regional user group in the second half of 2004. Evan Koblentz started the Yahoo discussion group (http://groups.yahoo.com/group/midatlanticretro/ <http://groups.yahoo.com/group/midatlanticretro/>) in the beginning of 2005. MARCH became a legal entity later that year. Our expertise is technical, but we're not so good at marketing. Please help!4. So I have to live in the Mid-Atlantic part of the U.S. to join?Nope. That description just conveys where most of our members and activities are concentrated -- in the scalene triangle between Hartford, Pittsburgh, and D.C. -- but people from beyond these areas are certainly welcome to join us.5. What does MARCH actually do?In addition to the busy discussion list here in our Yahoo group, we also operate a bricks-and-mortar computer museum on the New Jersey shore. Currently our museum occupies almost 1,500 sq. ft. in a wing of the InfoAge Science Center, located in Wall Township, New Jersey. We also host various events throughout the year including the Vintage Computer Festival East (see question #11), technical repair workshops, and our legendary holiday party.6. InfoAge Science Center? What's that?7. InfoAge is a relatively new museum and 501(c)3 non-profit organization. Its construction began in the late 1990s and it opened in a "beta" mode in the mid-2000s. Its facility is a whole campus, not just one building. There is a very rich history here. The campus was built by the Marconi America Wireless Telegraphy Co. as a receiving station in 1912, was used as a communications laboratory by the U.S. Navy during WWI, and then was in private hands. It became a U.S. Army Signal Corps R&D lab just before WWII and remained so until the 1990s. Congress decided to close the lab and sell the land. Instead, local historians recognized its history and formed InfoAge. Now the campus is on the National Parks Service's National Register of Historic Places. InfoAge is also a Black History Site and had several other federal and state designations related to its service before, during, and after WWII. Public hours for our wing are Sunday from 1pm to 5pm. We're also open on many Wednesdays, and some Saturdays. You can also make an appointment. For more about the museum and campus history please visit www.infoage.org <http://www.infoage.org/>.8. Okay, so back to this computer museum of yours. What's there?Our museum has five exhibits: Mainframes, minicomputers, homebrew-era computers, business microcomputers, and consumer microcomputers. We have many ideas for more exhibits, and we plan to implement those ideas just as soon as we move from our current space on campus into a larger building next door. That could happen in another year or so.9. Do the computers just sit there or can I use them?We strive to restore our systems to operational condition. Some computers, especially the microcomputers, are relatively easy to restore and easy to replace if necessary. Others, such as our minicomputers, require a more serious effort. We make every effort to have these computers available for our members' use and to demonstrate them for visitors.10. Can I help restore the computers?Yes! Join our group, get to know us, and volunteer to help out.11. What else does MARCH do?Lots of fun stuff. In addition to our discussion list and our museum, we also host special events. Our flagship event is the Vintage Computer Festival East. "VCF East" is a multi-day celebration of computer history! It includes a hands-on exhibit hall, lectures, consignment room, book sale, food, prizes, museum tours, and more. Our first edition of this hobbyist convention was VCF East 3.0, in 2006, because the first two editions were run by a different organization. VCF East 4.0 was in June 2007; VCF East 5.0 was in Sept. 2008, VCF East 6.0 was in Sept. 2009, VCF East 7.0 was in May 2011, and VCF East 8.0 was in May 2012. We skipped 2010 and 2013. The next show, VCF East "9.1", is scheduled for April 4-6, 2014. Details are frequently updated at http://www.vintage.org/2012/east/ <http://www.vintage.org/2012/east/> and at http://wwww.facebook.com/vcfeast <http://wwww.facebook.com/vcfeast>,We also produce smaller exhibits at other events such HOPE (Hackers on Planet Earth conference), NJ Science & Engineering Festival, Philadelphia Science Carnival, Trenton Computer Festival, and World Maker Faire. In addition, we have social events, tech days, museum days, a winter party, etc.12. I still don't get it. Where can I learn more about what's antique/vintage?Many places. Pick up a copy of the book "Collectible Microcomputers" by Michael Nadeau. Or for non-micro aspects, go online. Heck, go online anyway. Check out the classiccmp.org <http://classiccmp.org/> mailing lists; vintage-computer.com/vcforum <http://vintage-computer.com/vcforum>, old-computers.com <http://old-computers.com/>; and many, many, many others. (If you're interested in specific machines, just post your question to our discussion list and we can refer you to the best sites.)13. What's behind the scenes of this wacky endeavor?We have some de facto officers; an official set of bylaws and all that boring stuff is being worked on... we're just so busy having fun that we keep procrastinating. The officers are (Evan Koblentz - prez), Jeffrey Brace and Corey Cohen (VPs), and Justin Jernigan (treasurer).14. Members? Is it like just you and two buddies?We're much bigger than that! We have dozens of members, and around 300 people in our Yahoo group. Our youngest member is in his teens; our oldest is in his 80s.15. What's it cost to join?Nothing. MARCH membership is free (as in beer).16. So how do you fund the club?Our primary fundraiser is the Vintage Computer Festival East, during which we sell tickets, exhibit space, and various items. We also have an annual donation drive. Sometimes we also rent artifacts for use at film/television props.17. Can I make a donation of artifacts or funds?Yes! Contact us first, and we'll make arrangements. Info is in the very next question of this FAQ.17. I have a question.Okay. Reach out to us! Do so by posting to our message boards. Ask us anything, we're not shy! (And moreover, unlike some computer clubs, we're not cliquey. All are welcome here!)18. What else should I know before diving into MARCH?If you're a nerd who thinks really old computers and their related technologies were cool, then give MARCH a chance. You'll be glad you did. Also, if you were wondering, we're NOT a bunch of old farts who sit around and whine about how much better things used to be. Quite the contrary: we're a bunch of young and mid-life farts who ... ooooh maybe we said too much. :)19. What is your web site?We're at www.midatlanticretro.org <http://www.midatlanticretro.org/>*" ***This domain has been squatted :-( "*On Monday, July 27, 2015, 1:42 PM, Evan Koblentz evan@snarc.net <evan@snarc.net> [midatlanticretro] <midatlanticretro@yahoogroups.com <midatlanticretro@yahoogroups.com>> wrote:* *We heard back from Uncle Sam @ the IRS: MARCH is finally a federal501(c)3 non-profit charity.It took 9 years of prognosticating and 1 year of actual work. :)We needed to file using a different name than "Mid-Atlantic RetroComputing Hobbyists" so that's the other big piece of news here: Ourcharity's official name is:Wait for it ........."Vintage Computer Federation".We'll continue to do business as MARCH. The new name, which happens tohave the abbreviation "VCF" (get it?), allows us to potentially expandbeyond just a regional computer club. Stay tuned for more announcementsabout this.In the meantime, me / Jeff B. / Corey C. -- well, mostly Corey C. --have to finish some business stuff behind-the-scenes. Lots of details atthe bank, with insurance, and so on.*" "*On Monday, July 27, 2015, 2:07 PM, corey986 <no_reply@yahoogroups.com <no_reply@yahoogroups.com>> wrote:* *To be technically correct...This online community MARCH does not change. It is not officially part of the 501c3 charity and technically not even legally part of the legacy MARCH corporation.Vintage Computer Federation is not actually doing business officially as MARCH. The legacy MARCH is still a separate legal entity. VCF will take over VCF East from MARCH as our primary fundraising event and will be accepting vintage computer donations as part of it's charter to educate and preserve computer history.Cheers,Corey"* On Tue, Oct 29, 2024 at 10:57 AM Jeff Salzman via vcf-midatlantic < vcf-midatlantic@lists.vcfed.org> wrote:
That's all part of what's driving things like name changes, etc. I side with the idea that any (new) variation of name change involving the continued use of the letters 'V', 'C', and 'F' as part of the name will keep perpetuating the confusion. We already have the blessing of the VCF (official) Treasurer and occasional legal advisor that it's OK to use the former name MARCH as the acronym of Mid-Atlantic Retro Computing Hobbyists. MARCH is not a new name, as many of us older members are aware, but it is a recognizable name that we have the ability to use.
Really, why would we want to add a THIRD option (on top of VCF-MA or MARCH) to the history of this local chapter that can potentially cause even more confusion?
As to Ian's remarks, even this past weekend, several Steering Committee members in attendance at the Workshop were brainstorming additional event ideas that will operate at the local level, along with ways to promote outreach both for membership and the public. But it's a LOT easier as a separately defined entity to do so, especially when we start creating names for the events. Yes, we are still a part of the larger Vintage Computer Federation, but we still should have an easily identifiable, yet distinctive name.
Any of you parents can relate to this... when your child was born, I'll bet you didn't just jump into planning for its future and how you wanted to raise your child BEFORE you gave your child an easily identifiable name, correct? The same thought can be applied here. We finally want to name this baby and give it a good one to boot. However, naming ourselves with any variation containing VCF is like calling ourselves "VCF Jr.", and that's kind of what the current name depicts, and creates confusion.
This organization isn't looking to emancipate itself from the Vintage Computer Federation, but it can certainly be its own entity as a child of the parent organization.
Jeff Salzman
On Tue, Oct 29, 2024 at 10:13 AM Benjamin Krein via vcf-midatlantic < vcf-midatlantic@lists.vcfed.org> wrote:
As a new-ish member who ends up lurking more than participating, I wholeheartedly agree with what Ian just said. It's hard to know how to be part of the VCF-MA/MARCH "club" & what that means. Other than Festivus or volunteering for support are there other "club" functions, meetings, gatherings, etc.?
Ben
On Tue, Oct 29, 2024 at 10:05 AM Ian Litchfield via vcf-midatlantic < vcf-midatlantic@lists.vcfed.org> wrote:
Regardless of what we call ourselves.
The elephant in the room here is still apparent, and this is my opinion (I am sure many have seen it as well.)
We have not really acted as a club in a long time.
Besides Festivus, when is the last time we did anything club like? People show up to the Swap and leave immediately after many ignoring our post event workshops. The same 5 or so people show up to workshops monthly, barring the one right before VCF East which always has a higher turnout. Very few newcomers appear to stick around, and if they do they just lurk. How many are registered in the list again?
Hell it took me about a year to figure out how to even “join” the club because no information was out about how to get involved. I was told to talk to someone and wait for a phone call, which took over 6 months to come in. From what I have gathered, we have always regarded it as “If you are on the list, you are in” but that is a terrible way, especially for an organization that has grown to our size, as people have put it to keep a member log.
We want to grow the local community here, do some outreach, fund fixing the warehouse to protect our artifacts, and eventually expand our museum and assist the other local groups on campus at InfoAge. All of which requires having an active and informed local membership.
We are not renaming the organization here, not even the list. Specifically it is proposed to rename and restructure the local chapter that handles the local events, local fund raising, local museum, local warehouse, local artifacts, local workshops, etc.. Did I mention Local?
-Ian L.
On Tue, Oct 29, 2024 at 09:04 Tony Bogan via vcf-midatlantic < vcf-midatlantic@lists.vcfed.org> wrote:
We are, or were created as one in 2015, an extension/chapter/whathaveyou of VCF National.
We don’t necessarily need to remain that, but that is what we are at the moment.
Tony Bogan
On Oct 29, 2024, at 8:39 AM, Tony Bogan via vcf-midatlantic < vcf-midatlantic@lists.vcfed.org> wrote:
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-- - Benjamin Krein
On Tue, Oct 29, 2024 at 11:39 AM David Gesswein via vcf-midatlantic < vcf-midatlantic@lists.vcfed.org> wrote:
Might be good to do the opposite and say what you would like thats not currently happening. There was one group visit to the National Cryptologic Museum many years ago. Have been some local get togethers for a meal and whatever that aren't really the group but group members. These are nice but need additional people to organize. Problem with any group is only a few people want to organize things and they get burned out.
All I know of is the workshops, fetivus year end party, and occasional calls for special help. Also docent for museum and VCF east help may be concidered part of club.
On Tue, Oct 29, 2024 at 10:13:19AM -0400, Benjamin Krein via vcf-midatlantic wrote:
As a new-ish member who ends up lurking more than participating, I wholeheartedly agree with what Ian just said. It's hard to know how to be part of the VCF-MA/MARCH "club" & what that means. Other than Festivus or volunteering for support are there other "club" functions, meetings, gatherings, etc.?
Ben
On Tue, Oct 29, 2024 at 10:05 AM Ian Litchfield via vcf-midatlantic < vcf-midatlantic@lists.vcfed.org> wrote:
Regardless of what we call ourselves.
The elephant in the room here is still apparent, and this is my opinion (I am sure many have seen it as well.)
We have not really acted as a club in a long time.
Besides Festivus, when is the last time we did anything club like? People show up to the Swap and leave immediately after many ignoring our post event workshops. The same 5 or so people show up to workshops monthly, barring the one right before VCF East which always has a higher turnout. Very few newcomers appear to stick around, and if they do they just lurk. How many are registered in the list again?
Hell it took me about a year to figure out how to even “join” the club because no information was out about how to get involved. I was told to talk to someone and wait for a phone call, which took over 6 months to come in. From what I have gathered, we have always regarded it as “If you are on the list, you are in” but that is a terrible way, especially for an organization that has grown to our size, as people have put it to keep a member log.
We want to grow the local community here, do some outreach, fund fixing the warehouse to protect our artifacts, and eventually expand our museum and assist the other local groups on campus at InfoAge. All of which requires having an active and informed local membership.
We are not renaming the organization here, not even the list. Specifically it is proposed to rename and restructure the local chapter that handles the local events, local fund raising, local museum, local warehouse, local artifacts, local workshops, etc.. Did I mention Local?
-Ian L.
On Tue, Oct 29, 2024 at 09:04 Tony Bogan via vcf-midatlantic < vcf-midatlantic@lists.vcfed.org> wrote:
We are, or were created as one in 2015, an extension/chapter/whathaveyou of VCF National.
We don’t necessarily need to remain that, but that is what we are at the moment.
Tony Bogan
On Oct 29, 2024, at 8:39 AM, Tony Bogan via vcf-midatlantic < vcf-midatlantic@lists.vcfed.org> wrote:
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-- - Benjamin Krein