Virtual Meeting Updates

Posted on | by Jim Brain

While the club has utilized the BlueJeans video conferencing solution for a few years to hold virtual portions of our club meetings, we now have access to less expensive options (via discounts for non-profit organizations) including Zoom. Thus, starting for our April 2022 business meeting, we’ll be sending out a new video conferencing link directing folks to Zoom.

For those who would like to validate you have things configured correctly, we’ll be hosting a “test” meeting this Thursday at our normal 7:30 start time. Feel free to join for a bit and say Hi and test your system.

Jim Brain (GCCC ’22 President) is inviting you to a scheduled Zoom meeting.

Topic: GCCC Zoom Video Test
Time: Apr 14, 2022 07:30 PM Central Time (US and Canada)

Join Zoom Meeting
https://zoom.us/j/99249032946?pwd=SG5RUUMvalE4aFZwSG1BTDY5R2xQUT09

Meeting ID: 992 4903 2946
Passcode: glenside
One tap mobile
+13017158592,,99249032946#,,,,82591145# US (Washington DC) +13126266799,,99249032946#,,,,82591145# US (Chicago)

Dial by your location
+1 301 715 8592 US (Washington DC)
+1 312 626 6799 US (Chicago)
+1 646 558 8656 US (New York)
+1 253 215 8782 US (Tacoma)
+1 346 248 7799 US (Houston)
+1 669 900 9128 US (San Jose)
Meeting ID: 992 4903 2946
Passcode: 82591145
Find your local number: https://zoom.us/u/ab9cRFlQRo

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59 Days till The 30th Annual “Last” Chicago CoCoFEST!

Posted on | by Grant Leighty

We are now less than 60 days away from the 30th Anniversary of the “Last” Chicago CoCoFEST. I wanted to provide an update as we are still preparing for this year’s show. I will be at the Glenside meeting this Thursday, March 17th to answer any questions that you may have.

  • Tables have been in high demand this year. If you are thinking about getting a table to show off your latest project, and/or sell your items for the show, do not wait much longer. As of this post we only have 15 tables available. If you are interested in reserving a table, you can do that at TandyList.com.
  • We have also had a great turnout for presentations this year. We plan on having seven presentations on the latest projects, new hardware, and software. We will not be accepting any additional speakers for this year.
  • We will be hosting the traditional Saturday night dinner. I have requested for the latest menu from the hotel, and we will have an informal poll to provide feedback on our buffet serving options.
  • I am happy to report that things are returning to normal. As of this post there will NOT be any mask and vaccine mandates.
  • To both help speed up entrance at the show and to cut down on people standing in lines, we’re encouraging attendees to pre-register. Remember, this year’s show is free to attend.
  • To both cut down on paper currency handling at the show, we’re encouraging attendees to use electronic and/or credit card payment options. This also include the day of the show and the auction.
  • There are still hotel rooms left to reserve, but you have until April 29th to make your reservations at the discounted room rate of $99 a night. You will need to use the group code of COF.

We would love to have you attend the show this year, and remember it is FREE to attend. Please pre-register at TandyList.com for a table, the dinner, and to attend the show.  For additional information click here.

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Glenside Club Meeting: Thursday March 17, 2022 @ 7:30PM Central

Posted on | by John Mark Mobley

The countdown to the 30th Annual “Last” CoCoFEST! has dipped below 60 days, so if you’re still making plans, don’t wait too much longer. As always, we’d love to have you attend (free this year!), exhibit, and/or sell at the show. For all your CoCoFEST! Information needs, see here: https://www.glensideccc.com/cocofest/. During the business meeting, CoCoFEST coordinator Grant Leighty will update us on remaining tables and other preparations.

For some time, we’ve known we need to create and manage a yearly club budget, mainly to ensure everyone knows where funds come from and where they are used. This month, Treasurer Eric Canales will walk us through a first budget pass and open for comments. He’ll also share details on special reduced pricing for things like productivity software and video conferencing available now that we are officially recognized as a non-profit group.

We will open the call early at 6:30PM as in previous months for some time to catch up and say hello to new faces.

Meeting Agenda (https://docs.google.com/document/d/1k3K_t-wQq9dI34DoYc5iE5va1ifwKnIm/edit?usp=sharing&ouid=101249560154994960936&rtpof=true&sd=true)

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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Non Profit 501(c)(3) Status Official!

Posted on | by Jim Brain

While the Glenside Color Computer Club has always operated as a not-for-profit group, our constitution and by-laws state that we will be a federally recognized non-profit organization as defined by the Internal Revenue Service 501(c)(3) guidelines. Though the club was organized long ago, it had never filed the paperwork to officially be so recognized.

Before everyone gets concerned, this will not significantly affect club operations. Namely:

  • The club is prohibited from campaigning for political parties or candidates. I don’t think we’ve ever done so.
  • We have already been filing the postcard-sized 990-N federal tax return required by non-profit organizations receiving less that $50K gross annual receipts. We will simply continue to do so.
  • The club must keep financial records. We do this but were already working to mature our record keeping. The status creates another incentive to do so and report to the membership yearly financials.

This does, however, mean that fair market value of club donations can be deducted from the donor’s personal taxes. I don’t think folks were previously withholding donations from the club, but this provides just a bit more incentive. For donations over $250.00 (which could be common, given the current value of Color Computer items), a receipt must be provided to claim a deduction.

Many thanks goes to Rich Bair, our long time secretary, for pushing for this status and performing the early leg work involved. Thanks also to Brian Goers, current secretary, for arranging legal help on this matter.

For the record, the tax exempt status went into effect as of March 31, 2021, so it appears we can create receipts for many 2021 donations if folks want to claim on their 2021 taxes. Also, for what it is worth, 501(c)(3) organizations are classified as either public charities or foundations, and the IRS has classified us as a public charity.

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Fall 2021 Newsletter out!

Posted on | by Jim Brain

The Fall 2021 edition of CoCo~123 newsletter is now available for your reading pleasure!

Volume 41 : Issue 3Download

Our apologies for the delay. We want to thank Steve Strowbridge for handling newsletter duties recently, as Steve has stepped down as editor. Since the Fall newsletter was almost complete, I asked if he could finish it up so we could share the great work with all our members. Comments and feedback are always appreciated.

We are on the lookout for a newsletter editor. If you’d like to help with our flagship periodical, please reach out to one of the club officers.

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Glenside’s Future Goals?

Posted on | by Eric Canales

Hey everyone. This is the club treasurer here.

Recently I’ve been looking at ways that we can operate our club indefinitely. I asked in our meeting recently if anyone could help out in setting up something like a trust fund or investment account. One of our members, Bob Swoger, said something to us that took me a couple days to data process. He asked mainly if we’re allowed to do this. He said something like: “I’ve been in many ham and computer clubs and we never did anything like this.”

Of course investments in the future are what non-profits like ours is all about. But what did he mean, nobody else does this? It struck me that he’s looking at it through a lens of a modern computer club. Of course in any modern computer club, their mission would almost certainly not think 10, 20, 30 years down the road. They’d be looking at how to throw a great LAN party or something next year!

For me and I bet for others in the club, we are moving on from being a simple modern computer club to being more of a knowledge resource and historical society, one that will need to worry about how to keep things going if and when our membership dwindles or retro computing becomes less of a popular hobby.

I have some ideas for goals for the next 20-30 years. My current mission is I would like CoCoFEST! to some day become entirely self-funded. As in, nobody needs to pay anything to have a CoCoFEST! every year. This would mean that there would never have to be a “Last” CoCoFEST!

Is this something I should be focusing on? Do you all see us as a computer club or are we becoming something (should we becoming something) different?

Lastly, if anybody with some investment knowledge wants to help me figure out a proposal for the club to help shape a 20-30 year mission, please get in touch with me!

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Glenside Club Meeting: Thursday February 17, 2022 @ 7:30PM Central

Posted on | by Jim Brain

Are you showing your Color Computer some love on this Valentine’s Day holiday?

Our CocoFEST! Coordinator Grant Leighty is hitting his stride. After previously noting the hotel reservations are open, he and Randy Weaver have prepped and opened admission and table registrations this month. Solicitations for presenters (as I recall, slots are almost full) and donations (any exciting unused CoCo peripherals hiding in your home?) have been made, and Grant’s getting artwork prepped for banners and badges. For all your CoCoFEST! Information needs, see here: https://www.glensideccc.com/cocofest/.

We will open the call early at 6:30PM as in previous months for some time to catch up and say hello to new faces.

Meeting Agenda (https://docs.google.com/document/d/1k3K_t-wQq9dI34DoYc5iE5va1ifwKnIm/edit?usp=sharing&ouid=101249560154994960936&rtpof=true&sd=true)

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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CoCoFEST! now open for registration!

Posted on | by Grant Leighty

Hello everyone. We’re happy to announce we have opened up registration for CoCoFEST! 2022 in Elk Grove Village, IL. You can register now at TandyList.com.

This year admission will be completely FREE for all guests! There is a small cost for vendors, which also includes a years membership with our club. For those who wish to attend and also be a contributing member to our club, you will have the option to both register to attend and pay your yearly dues if you wish online. In order to minimize lines at the door, we ask all attendees to register even if you are only attending. We’re excited to have you and can’t wait to see you all!

If you have any questions, concerns, or trouble with registration, please reach out to Randy Weaver for technical support, or Grant Leighty (CoCoFEST! coordinator) for anything else.

More information about CoCoFEST! 2022 can be found here.

Registration for CoCoFEST! 2022 vendors and attendees can be found here.

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Now Signing Up For CoCoFest Presentations

Posted on | by Grant Leighty

If you would like to give a presentation at the 30th Annual “Last” Chicago CoCoFest, please contact the CoCoFest Organizer, Grant Leighty. We will try to accommodate everyone that wants to give a presentation this year. Please send an email to Grant Leighty at cocofest@glensideccc.com. So we can finalize the schedule for CoCoFest, please send an email as soon as possible.

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