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At the last meeting it was agreed, I think, that in future the "newsletter" will only be a simple notification of the next meeting but can still be expanded when I have something to write about. I will do my best to carry on as usual but after 21 years there is not much I can write that would be of interest to members. Most members are mainly interested in the internet these days and I am not particularly. As my time is running out I have a lot more that I hope to cram into the time I have left.
Having written all this, after the last meeting I investigated the reason for the issue number of the newsletter (printed copies only) being at odds with the actual number of letters sent. The reason I find is that for a while ordinary letters were sent and these of course had no number. I also found that on two occasions the issue number jumped back considerably to previous issue numbers. The reason for this is that I used a previous issue of a newsletter as a template. I used the first issue that came to hand, deleting the text and filling with the latest news. On these two occasions I used newsletters several months old and forgot to change the issue number, the following newsletter then carried on from the previous number in error.
I found that in going through old newsletters it was very interesting to note the changes that have come about through the years. For instance in 1988 the newsletters mainly consisted of a list of the considerable library of programs that the club offered members. We also listed items that members had to sell. In these early days we were all eager to try something new. These old programs are still available on CD which was produced by Bryan Coleman but I am sure that they would not be of interest now as they are mainly DOS programs. However these are the days that I personally found most interesting. Members would pay about a £1 for a program and would give their opinion of it at the next month's meeting. Some programs were rubbish but some were very good.
In 1988 we offered 5.25 inch floppy discs at 40p each and the High Density version at 45p each.
In 1990 I reported that we had about 100 members on our books and that as we never saw most of them I would stop sending a newsletter. I reported that I did not mind subsidising the club to a small extent but suggested that there should be an annual fee of £2.50 and £1 fee for members attending meetings.
In February 1990 I reported that member Richard Starkey who had a computer business was willing to sell 32 meg hard drives to members at a very special price of £125 plus tax. The next month I reported that the deal had fallen through because the supplier had wanted the money "up front" and as over 20 members had said that they wanted one neither Richard or I were willing to part with the amount of cash required. Members naturally wanted the goods before parting with their cash.
In July 1990, a member advertised an Amstrad 1640 with a 20 meg hard drive for £700.
I could go on and on but perhaps more will be interesting reading in the future.
Finally, I note the following dates current members joined the club.
1988 - Reg Featherstone - Ken Miles - Nigel King
1991 - Bryan Coleman - Peter Welch
I cannot thank them enough for their continued support.
| IF YOU CAN TALK ABOUT OR DEMONSTRATE ANYTHING PLEASE LET ME KNOW |
This meeting notice/newsletter, was based on that produced by Ken Miles, and sent by snail mail, to members of the SPCUC a few days before each monthly meeting. Comments about the club's web pages, to the webmaster.
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