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WHO ARE WE?

Folks who share your fascination with consumer electronic technology and personal computers, including those that "do Windows," Macs, Linux, Android and iDevices. Our purpose is to further the use and understanding of personal computers and related technologies, including video / TV, digital photography, tablets, smart phones, and whatever comes next! We're big enough to give you the help you need, but small enough to be friendly! Our Society is a member-supported, non-profit, educational organization with roots back to 1977 and the first Commodore 64 and Radio Shack Model I computers!

The Potomac Area Technology and Computer Society, Inc. is an all-volunteer Virginia membership corporation. The Society sprang from a merger of two long-established technology and computer user groups. Our primary goal is helping each other learn about how to use and benefit from computer-based technology, regardless of platform. Included are software and hardware that runs on Windows, Internet topics, Linux, Android, iOS, open source software, and computer-related technology. The POSTS newsletter and our meetings include discussions on a broad array of topics, including the Apple ecosystem and iDevices.

PATACS is an IRS-recognized, 501(c)(3) non-profit organization, to which tax-deductible contributions may be made.

A Brief History - 45+ Years and Going Strong!

PATACS was formed in May, 2012, with the re-naming of the National Capital Technology and Computer User's Group, Inc. (NCTCUG), into which merged the Washington Area Computer User Group, Inc. (WACUG). These groups had been sharing equipment and programming resources for more than ten years, and had several officers and directors in common at the time of the merger.

NCTCUG was founded in May, 1978, as the Tandy Computer User's Group (TCUG), shortly after Radio Shack's TRS-80 Model I computer was introduced. That name was revised in 2004 to reflect the reality of computer technology then. For a bit of (personal computer) historical perspective, the Commodore 64, Apple II and the TRS-80 were all introduced in 1977,  four years before the IBM-PC hit the market.

WACUG was originally formed in the early '80s to support the venerable Commodore 64. WAC expanded its scope over time to include the Amiga line of computers and IBM PC compatibles, Linux, and open source software.

Historical Records

Organizational Milestones

  • August - 1977: Introduction of Radio Shack TRS-80 Model I microcomputer.

  • Fall of 1977 - Interested users of Model I begin meetings to learn about this computer.

  • May 1978 - Organization formalized as Tandy Computer User's Group (TCUG)

  • State of Virginia Incorporation - January 19, 1985 as National Capital Tandy Computer User's Group, Inc. (NCTCUG)

  • United States Internal Revenue Service Recognition - October 16, 1989
    • 501(c)(4) Status - June 19, 1985 - January 29, 1987 - Non-Profit
    • 501(c)(3) Status - January 30, 1987 - Non Profit Educational (Contributions Deductible!)

  • 501(c)(3) Status confirmed - May 27, 2003   Status Letter (232K PDF file)

  • Name changed - National Capital Technology and Computer User's Group, Inc. October 6, 2004

  • WACUG begins joint meetings with OPCUG, the computer club of OLLI-GMU January 2009.

  • Name changed - Potomac Area Technology and Computer Society, (PATACS) May 2nd, 2012

  • Merger with Washington Area Computer User Group, Inc., May 19, 2012

 

Officers and Directors of TCUG, NCTCUG, and PATACS

PRESIDENT

Rod Wright 5/78 - 11/79

Roy Soltoff 11/79 - 1/82

Richard Hanson 1/82 - 9/82

Jon Eklund 9/82 - 1/84

Will Monahan 1/84 - 11/85

Karl Hessinger 11/85 - 10/86

Ronnie Bell 10/86 - 11/87

Paul Howard 11/87 - 10/89

Charlie Biggar 10/89 - 10/91

Paul Howard 10/91 - 10/93

Roy Bowman 10/93 - 10/99

Jim Rhodes 10/99 - 10/16

Paul Howard 10/16 - present

 

VICE - PRESIDENT

Don Farnsworth 5/78 - 11/79

Bruce Copping 11/79 - 12/80

Jon Eklund 1/81 - 9/82

Marc Leager 10/82 - 1/84

Rich Deglin 1/84 - 11/85

Ron Schmidt 10/09 - 05/12

 

1ST VICE - PRESIDENT

Bill Chirolas 11/85 - 8/86

Ron Schmidt 10/86 - 10/09

Ron Schmidt 05/12 - 1/11/22

Nick Wenri (Acting 1/22 - 10/22)

Nick Wenri 10/22 - present

2nd VICE - PRESIDENT

Paul Ledford 11/85 - 1/87

Paul Howard 1/87 - 11/87

Roger Fujii 11/87 - 11/88

Charlie Biggar 11/88 - 10/89

Nick Wenri 10/89 - 10/94

Maralee Johnson 10/94 - 10/96

Roger Fujii 10/96 - 10/09

Mel Mikosinski 05/12 - present

 

 

 

 

 

TREASURER

C.K. Madhaven 5/78 - 4/79

Chris Burr 4/79 - 12/80

Steve Hill 1/81 - 1/84

Jim Fridie 1/84 - 11/85

Rich Deglin 11/85 - 1/87

Marshall DeBerry 1/87 - 10/89

Paul Howard 10/89 - 10/91

Fred Boots 10/91 - 10/92

Joe Mazur 10/92 - 10/97

Paul Howard 10/97 - 10/16

Henry Winokur 10/16 - 02/17

P Howard (acting) 2/17 - 10/17

Ruth Ruttenberg 10/17 - 10/18

Roger Fujii 10/18 - present

 

SECRETARY

Dick Stoots 5/78 - 11/78

Don Gruenther 8/79 - 1/87

Jerry Lolmaugh 1/87 - 11/87

Jack Maher 11/87 - 11/88

Frank Holeman 11/88 - 9/96

Fred Cook 10/96 - 10/99

Roger Arnold 10/99 - 09/07

Bill Walsh 10/07 - 10/18

Jim Rhodes 10/18 - present

 

RECORDING SECRETARY

Bob Markwith 11/78 - 6/79

 

CORRESPONDENCE SECRETARY

Charles Phipps 11/78 - 11/79

Max Freudenberg 11/79 - 12/80

Manuel Pablo 1/81 - 1/84

Marc Leager 1/84 - 12/84

Bill Chirolas 12/84 - 11/85

 

 

 

 

 


DIRECTORS

David Stanfar 11/78 - 11/79

Bruce Kriebel 11/78 - 12/80

Bruce Carson 11/78 - 4/79

Gerald Wolfson 11/78 - 12/80

Eleanor Clifford 4/79 - 5/80

Rod Wright 11/79 - 1/82

Max Freudenberg 6/80 - 12/81

Bruce Copping 1/81 - 2/83

Will Monahan 1/81 - 1/84

Roy Soltoff 1/82 - 1/84

Dave Christovich 1/82 - 1/84

Tom Quindry 2/83 - 3/89

Ronnie Bell 1/84 - 10/86

Karl Hessinger 1/84 - 11/85

Dick Gentry 3/84 - 11/85

Marshall DeBerry 11/85 - 1/87

Mark Gladstone 11/85 - 4/88

Paul Howard 11/85 - 1/87

Rik Karlsson 11/85 - 10/86

Brendon McCann 11/85 - 1/87

Buzz Piggott 11/85 - 1/87

Bill Lathom 10/86 - 11/88

Jim Ross 10/86 - 11/87

Olin Houston 1/87 - 11/87

Blair Jones 1/87 - 10/90

Jim Rhodes 1/87 - 10/99

Beverly Shively 1/87 - 1/89

Paul Ledford 11/87 - 10/92

Rich Deglin 11/87 - 1/89

Terry DeBiase 6/88 - 10/92

Barry Molefsky 6/88 - 10/90

Roger Fujii 11/88 - 10/95

Kristina MacGaffin 11/88 - 10/89

Ronnie Bell 10/89 - 10/90

Roy Bowman 3/89 - 10/89

Fred Boots 4/90 - 10/91

Arnold Austin 10/90 - 10/01

Mary Beth Landess 10/90 - 10/92

Barry Molefsky 10/91 - 10/93

Roger Arnold 10/92 - 10/99

Fred Boots 10/92 - 10/02

Roy Bowman 10/92 - 10/93

DIRECTORS (CONT)

Maralee Johnson 10/92 - 10/94

Blair Jones 10/93 - 10/04

Paul Howard 10/93 - 10/97

Nick Wenri 10/94 - present

Sy Fishbein 10/95 - 06/06/15

Joe Mazur 10/97 - 03/01

Bob MacFarlane 10/99 - 10/01

John Keys 10/99 - 01/07/11

Dean Mires 04/01 - 10/09

JJ Davies 10/01 - 10/07

Fred Cook 10/01 - 10/07

Bob MacFarlane 10/02 - 12/13/03

Bill Walsh 01/04 - 10/07

Charles Throneburgh 10/04 - 10/06

Mel Mikosinski 10/06 - 05/12

Lorrin Garson 10/07 - 10/11

Roger Fujii 10/09 - 10/18

Walter Fraser 10/11 - 07/15

Jorn Dakin 05/12 - 12/15

Gabe Goldberg 05/12 - 07/22

Mel Goldfarb 05/12 - 10/19

Geof Goodrum 05/12 - 10/17

Neal Grotenstein 05/12 - 10/27/12

Bob Rott 05/12 - 10/13

Charles Throneburg 8/15 - 6/17/23

Steven Wertime 8/15 - 1/23

Henry Winokur 10/15 - 10/16

Leti Labell 10/16 - present

Jim Rhodes 10/16 - 10/18

Kathy Perrin 10/16 - 10/17

Melvyn Sacks 10/17 - present

Bill Walsh 10/18 - present

Henry Winokur 10/19 - present

Geof Goodrum 08/22 - present

Mike Emery 08/22 - present

Frank Fota 10/23 - present

Kathy Perrin 10/23 - present

Initial Officer & Director Research gathered by Fred Cook, 8/98

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