Msg: 5217 *Conference*
07-27-94 23:29:38
From: RICHARD HANSON
To : BILL EVANS
Subj: REPLY TO MSG #5216 (MEMBER?)
---- That's an appropriate question, Bill. What is involved in being a member? Perhaps a short history is in order. When the Model 100 arrived on the scene in 1983, I almost immediately re-postured this BBS to its support--as a hobby. The BBS had been online since 1979, used for business and education but now it would be know as the Club 100 BBS. Also, since from the mid-70's I'd been involved in microcomputer user groups, so creating a Model 100 user group was only natural. Way back then, Club 100 held physical meetings, as well as BBS discussions. And, true to form, we charged a little bit to access the BBS for general purposes and file access. Funny, though, we never did establish a "dues" structure to our association--unlike all the other user groups of that time. In retrospect, I guess we just didn't want that much structure in our lives--talking about those of us in the "club" from the beginning, like the late Bill Templeton and other professionals drawn to Model 100 computing. We just wanted to get together and share skills, ideas, news, etc. Anyway, it worked. As the years went by, the concept of being a "member" of Club 100 developped into just a state of being. Frankly, we stated that all Model 100 owners were already members of Club 100. Our job was to reach out, find each one, and warmly welcome them aboard. Thus, there was no "in" group, no elite--everyone was equal--we just did't know each other, yet. The concept stuck, and moved along through magazine articles, e-mail conferences on Compuserve, GEnie, etc. Around the end of the 80's, Club 100 became a commercial venture with a club posture. We function as a club but are funded by mail order sales. It's that simple. I, personally, am the sole proprietor of this venture--chief cook and bottle washer, so to speak. You should also know that, until about March 83, I was an educational contractor at several colleges and universities around the SF bay area--including but not limited to: San Jose State, John F. Kennedy, Golden Gate, Columbia College (both Treasure Island and the Federal Prison), as well as the PC training contractor for the Presidio of San Francisco, 6th Army. Club 100 was a side hobby/part time mail order business. Even as I grew more and more commercial, I maintained the concept of all Model 100 owners as already members, i.e., they already deserved support just by the very fact of owning a Model T computer. Thus, functioning as a club first, sales second, we prove ourselves first, then "hope" that our good deeds entice sales. Does it work? Yes. So, to your question, "What's involved in being a Member?" I say, nothing. You owe us nothing. We owe you, and are very happy to meet, yet another, fellow Model T user. So, welcome aboard, Bill. At your service... -Rick-