Sarasota Personal Computer Users Group

PAST PRESIDENTS - COMMENTS

Past Presidents – December 1989 Newsletter
by Jack S. Winberg, M.D., December 1986 - October 1988

Greetings to the members of the Sarasota IBM PC User’s Group. I recall first joining the group in 1984, shortly after moving here from the frozen Midwest and enjoying the help and companionship of a nice group - much smaller then. We were lucky to have 40-50 at each meeting, and things were very informal. Many initial presentations were by our own members, many of whom were quite sophisticated programmer types. The club gradually grew, and applications users started to ascend into the majority.

I assumed the presidency in December of 1986, and continued for about two years. At that point, the president did it ALL - the newsletter, the mailings, arranging the programs and keeping up the data-base. The library was, fortunately, manned by others and grew steadily. We also had a treasurer who collected dues and kept up with membership matters.

During my term of office we managed to get incorporated with the help of Barry Spivey and Alan Matlick - that had been a goal for quite a while. We had various programs, the most outstanding one that I recall was given by Bill Howard, executive editor of PC Magazine. He STRONGLY advocated 386 machines as the way to go, and I remember thinking that prices would have to drop a LOT. They have, but I still plod along with my good old 12MHz 286 clone.

Since then I have become deeply immersed in some other consuming interests. I am an avid amateur radio operator and teach classes for those wishing to upgrade their licenses to higher levels. I am also an avid chamber music cellist, and together with my medical background, was a natural for the field of music medicine. I have written a book about "Stretching for Strings" that is in the final throes of publication, and have become far more familiar with WordPerfect 5.0 than I ever wanted to be in the process. Writing a book is fun. The final details of editing, revising, illustrating and generating an accurate index etc. are NOT fun - but I have learned a lot in the process. (The book is intended to help prevent overuse injuries seen in string instrument players.)

The club has grown a lot, the various functions are now shared among many, and it is a vigorous and thriving operation. I wish you all well, and may the group continue to thrive and provide many with both help and enjoyment.

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