As noted last week, we have dipped below the 2 month countdown to the 2021 29th Annual “Last” CoCoFEST! and we’re in the home stretch of planning and organizing for the show. I want to thank Terry Steege again for his early 2021 work concerning presentations, and I’d like to thanks Tony Podraza who is handling much of the detail work concerning the show.

I also want to make sure folks know we’re soliciting nominations for the 2021-21 GCCC officer slate this month. We’ve enjoyed a very productive year of change, and I’d encourage each of you to consider running for one of our positions (even mine :-). I think helping manage the work of the club like GCCC (who has adequate financial footing, a well respected following, and a well-attended yearly event) offers significant rewards, and the work is pretty light.

On the first point, here’s some CoCoFEST! updates prior to our meeting, though I’m happy to answer questions about them at the meeting:

• As per last month’s decision, we’ve rented a third room at the venue to hold the presentations (we’ll use the next larger room as the auction space). The venue was nice enough to rent the room for $200/weekend, though I think it’s normally $200/day.
• A number of folks took a tour of the facility last weekend after the conclusion of VCF-Midwest. I’ll try to attach some pictures to the posting. I think we’ll have plenty of room for all of the activities and exhibits
• Power should be relatively plentiful, and they have 2 220V outlets int he room they will convert to 110V AC for more outlet action. But, exhibitors should definitely bring a power strip or three
• And, speaking of power strips, the organizers of VCF-Midwest believe they will have some of the long 6-8 ft TrippLite industrial power strips to lay at the edge of the room, which should put an outlet much closer to the tables. Many thanks to Michael Lee for the willingness to help. We will probably still buy some of our own strips and I’m suggesting we have VCF-Midwest folks store the strips and allow them to use them for future VCF-MW shows (they are bulky and hard to store, but VCFMW organizers Jason Timmons and Michael Lee bought a building very close to the show site which makes storage easier).
• A number of Glenside members attended the VCF Midwest show in person last weekend. As some have noted, there’s nothing that truly replaces a physical show (though I am glad we’ve all been able to stay connected virtually in the interim). I thoroughly enjoyed myself, and there were significant crowds. I can only theorize that people are eager to socialize and the cost of wearing a mask was not a significant concern. Kudos to the show attendees, as compliance was very high, and I didn’t see any altercations. This bodes extremely well for our November show, assuming the situation doesn’t change drastically.
• That said, we are going to livestream the show for those too far away to attend or who find themselves unable to attend for other reasons. It won’t be the same, and I’m still encouraging everyone to make attempts to visit in person, but we will try to put the presentations and auction online for everyone to enjoy.
• We still need to finalize exact times, but we do have the venue on Friday afternoon/evening for early setup. We will announce Friday setup times in the coming month.
• If you’re an exhibitor, note that each table will be adorned with a lovely black tablecloth, courtesy of the venue. Color code accordingly
• Folks who pre-register will have their badges already printed and ready to grab and go. Skip the line and pre-register at https://www.glensideccc.com/cocofest/ .

Now, while we prepare for this great event in November, we must turn our attention to elections in October 2021. As noted before, we’re actively soliciting for nominations for President, Vice President, Secretary, and Treasurer. There’s no onerous work needed to put your name in the running. Make sure folks know you’re interested, and I’d encourage you to attend this Thursday’s discussion to express your desire.

As I noted in a previous communication, secretary Richard Bair officially requested someone take over his position in the coming year. He’s faithfully held the office for some time, and I think he’d like to pass the baton to a new face in the crowd.

Once nominations are made, we will be sending out via our various channels the full list and voting will commence on TandyList. We will close the voting right before the October meeting and announce the new officers in October.

To ensure we have plenty of time for nominations and also to answer any questions about CoCoFEST! planning, we’re starting the meeting an hour earlier at 6:30PM. I hope you can join us for part or all of the discussion.

To join the Meeting:
https://bluejeans.com/889394355

You can call in: Phone Dial-in
+1.408.740.7256 (United States)
+1.408.317.9253 (Alternate number) (Global Numbers)
Meeting ID: 889 394 355
Room System: 199.48.152.152 or bjn.vc

Want to test your video connection?
https://bluejeans.com/111

For those unable to join us on BlueJeans or have prior commitments, we will livestream and have a replay available on our Facebook page (https://www.facebook.com/groups/290791956162) and our Youtube channel (https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCFk2dMxcjJcX2qbSqFHQMbA).

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I hope everyone stepped away from your Color Computer 1 chicklet keyboard long enough to enjoy the Summer weather, especially as some of us now hunker down for the Fall, especially as school discussions now fill the air. We’ll all have to adapt to younger children returning to school, young adults navigating college, and many of us needing to adjust to that part of the year when Summer help leaves and businesses start closing earlier.

While I am rather glad my principal educational career has long ago completed, I do try to stay engaged on new developments all over the spectrum. And, with the continued challenges in the world encouraging hobbies and projects that focus on individual contributions, I’m eager to see all of the developments the CoCo community has kept under wraps for the past year or so. Some have been unveiled, but I think others will make their appearance at shows like the 2021 CoCoFEST!

Speaking of the show, we’re less than 3 months away from congregating in the Chicago area for some community and collaboration. It’ll be the first year in our new venue, and I do hope you’ll consider joining us, if you can. I know politics intrude in the hobby at times, but I hope a majority of our membership (and visitors) can join us to belatedly celebrate the Color Computer’s 40th anniversary.

Even as we focus on the 2021 show, we’re making plans for our 2022 show in mid-May next year. I’m sure that will present its own specific challenges, but we’ll rise to them as well!

We’re fast approaching the general vintage computing festival period, with shows like the Vintage Computer Festival Southeast occurring this weekend, VCF Midwest kicking off in September, followed by Tandy Assembly and VCF East in October, and CoCoFEST! in November. For those of us attending multiple shows, it’ll be a wild few months of activity.

Please join us this Thursday, August 19th, to get updates on the club and activities. And, if you’re interested in more social perspectives, please consider joining the call at 6:30PM Central (1 hour prior). It’s a great opportunity to visit with far flung members, watch some demonstrations, hear about projects, and just enjoy some humor.

To join the Meeting:
https://bluejeans.com/889394355

You can call in: Phone Dial-in
+1.408.740.7256 (United States)
+1.408.317.9253 (Alternate number) (Global Numbers)
Meeting ID: 889 394 355
Room System: 199.48.152.152 or bjn.vc

Want to test your video connection?
https://bluejeans.com/111

For those unable to join us for the meeting, we hope to have a replay available on our Facebook page (https://www.facebook.com/groups/290791956162) to help you catch up.

Prior to the formal business meeting at 7:30PM Central, we’ll be enjoying a time of demonstrations and discussion. If you’d like to show a project you’re working on, please consider joining us starting at 6:30PM.

Months that start on a Thursday always mess up my announcement timing, and I apologize for the late notice. I trust no one will be completely blindsided by the upcoming meeting. They come regularly, like clockwork, though you’d think I’d put a reminder on the calendar to ensure I didn’t get surprised by the date.

It’s roughly 4 months until our November in-person CoCoFEST! In fact, webmaster Eric Canales placed a countdown timer on the main web page showing the time left before show opening on Saturday morning. Project and presentation creation time grows short, but excitement builds as we count down to our first in-person show since April 2019. As I noted at the last meeting and in the recent newsletter, I’m eager to share this new venue with attendees, as I think it offers even more community and collaboration options than Heron Point.

Along with some more discussion around the upcoming show, we should start thinking about the 2022 show schedule and the options. As well, I’d like to gauge interest in a Q3 physical or virtual get together. In years past, the annual picnic/cookout happened in this quarter, though other options are also possible. Obviously, not everyone can drop by the Chicago area in the next few months, but perhaps a physical party with a virtual component might be of interest.

I hope everyone received the most recent club newsletter. I continue to revel in the work folks put into the quarterly publication, and I hope you found at least something of interest in the latest issue. As always, Steve his team eagerly appreciate submissions by our membership. No writeup is too small!

Please join us this Thursday, July 15th, to get updates on the club and activities. And, if you’re interested in more social perspectives, please consider joining the call at 6:30PM Central (1 hour prior). It’s a great opportunity to visit with far flung members, watch some demonstrations, hear about projects, and just enjoy some humor.

To join the Meeting:
https://bluejeans.com/889394355

You can call in: Phone Dial-in
+1.408.740.7256 (United States)
+1.408.317.9253 (Alternate number) (Global Numbers)
Meeting ID: 889 394 355
Room System: 199.48.152.152 or bjn.vc

Want to test your video connection?
https://bluejeans.com/111

Prior to the formal business meeting at 7:30PM Central, we’ll be enjoying a time of demonstrations and discussion. If you’d like to show a project you’re working on, please consider joining us starting at 6:30PM.

It’s 5 months and counting down to the the 29th “Last” Chicago CoCoFEST! 2021. While we will belatedly celebrate the Color Computer 1’s 40th birthday this year, I feel the celebration will take on dual meaning as a celebration of in-person discussions and community. To no one’s surprise, virtual events do not replace a handshake, chatting with someone while dining at Portillo’s for lunch, and/or visiting a vendor or exhibitor booth in person to ask one-on-one questions.

We hope to share more logistics details around the Fest at the meeting and get updates on travel situations. I also know our newsletter editor is hard at work with the newsletter team preparing the Summer 2021 periodical, so keep on the lookout for that.

Though Summer does not officially start for a few more days, I know many are already enjoying the better weather and potentially taking tentative steps into their local community as the Pandemic concerns recede. But, if you’re able to do so, please consider joining us this Thursday.

To join the Meeting:
https://bluejeans.com/889394355

You can call in: Phone Dial-in
+1.408.740.7256 (United States)
+1.408.317.9253 (Alternate number) (Global Numbers)
Meeting ID: 889 394 355
Room System: 199.48.152.152 or bjn.vc

Want to test your video connection?
https://bluejeans.com/111

Prior to the formal business meeting at 7:30PM Central, we’ll be enjoying a time of demonstrations and discussion. If you’d like to show a project you’re working on, please consider joining us starting at 6:30PM.

It’s less than 6 months until The 29th “Last” Chicago CoCoFEST! 2021, and I’m more positive than last month we’ll be able to meet in person (I’m even cautiously optimistic our Canadian friends will be able to join the festivities).

We’re entering the Summer months, so the meeting should be somewhat brief. We’ll share a few CoCoFEST! planning updates and take up any new member business.

To join the Meeting:
https://bluejeans.com/889394355

You can call in: Phone Dial-in
+1.408.740.7256 (United States)
+1.408.317.9253 (Alternate number) (Global Numbers)
Meeting ID: 889 394 355
Room System: 199.48.152.152 or bjn.vc

Want to test your video connection?
https://bluejeans.com/111

Prior to the formal business meeting at 7:30PM Central, we’ll be enjoying a time of demonstrations and discussion. If you’d like to show a project you’re working on, please consider joining us starting at 6:30PM.