Originally in Apple Orchard Magazine
V1N1 — March/April 1980
It is curious, in retrospect, to examine ones past and attempt to determine what went wrong or what went right. As one might surmise, there is no one single factor responsible for the current popularity of Apple Pugetsound.
Certainly there was no hope or expectation on behalf of A.P.P.L.E.’s founders that the group would grow to its present strength of well over 3000, or that it would achieve the measure of acceptance that it has, nearly strangling to death along the way, under the burden of a staggering work load.
If any single factor can be held to account, it would have to have been the news releases printed in the summer, 1978 issues of magazines such as Byte and Kilobaud, at a time when Apple users were starving for information of any kind about their new computers, and user groups were few and far between.
Even by June of 1978, Call -A.P.P.L.E., this group’s newsletter, had grown to 16 pages in size, and was acquiring some of the ear-marks of a “real” newsmagazine. No doubt the many sample copies mailed out at that time provided the impetus for the growth that was to come.
Also in mid-1978, A.P.P.L.E. implemented the concept of “Library Paks”, the popular format in which 20 or more assorted programs were made available to the members on a single low priced cassette. This author, in collaboration with Darrell Aldrich and numerous other individuals also conceived and wrote the “Programmer’s Workshop”, a collection of handy Integer Basic utility routines, one of the earliest of it’s type.
On April 10, 1979, Apple Pugetsound Program Library Exchange was incorporated as a Washington state non-profit corporation. That status continues currently, and none of the officers draw compensation for their services, despite the long and hard hours turned in by all. The membership and order office currently processes over one hundred pieces of mail daily, the routine portions of which is handled by a full time contract employee. The other divisions, production and shipping, treasury, and editorial are similarly staffed.
Today, Apple Pugetsound has achieved a vast reputation for its high quality software and documentation. “Call-A.P.P.L.E.”, now a.slick cover 56 page news magazine is available at computer dealers throughout the country, and is read by A.P.P.L.E. members in more than 20 countries. It too is known for its quality of content, and is considered by many as the authoritative source of Apple computer information.
Last, but not least, through the “Call-A.P.P.L.E.” hot line, the club provides its members with a useful inquiry and informa- tion service, ranging from answering or referring programming problems to current events and new product information.
It is not inexpensive to join, but the benefits far outweigh the cost. There is currently a one-time Apple-cation fee of $25.00 and annual dues of $15.00 through December, 1980, for a total of $40.00. Members joining at any time during 1980 will receive all 1980 issues of “Call -A.P.P.L.E” at no additional cost. Checks should be made payable to “A.P.P.L.E.” and mailed to our new address, which may be determined by calling (206)271-6939.
New members will receive by return mail an Apple-cation blank, order form and description sheets of the various software and publications available.
