On February 12, 1977, the Boston Computer Society (BCS) officially formed by a thirteen-year-old boy named Jonathan Rotenberg and another fellow named Richard Gardner. It’s original purpose was to be a resource for anyone interested in computer technology who wanted to exchange information with others. It became the largest such user group in the world, hosting major product announcements like the East Coast release of the Apple Macintosh in 1984 and it peaked at over 30,000 members around the world. Over time though, the purpose of the organization became obsolete as computers became more ubiquitous and the Internet became a major source of information computer users. After 20 years, the membership shrunk and as the organization ran out of money, the board voted to close it down. The BCS is remembered by the many computer pioneers who were members and the other user groups and publications that lived on after the organization ceased to exist.
Here are some of the BCS milestones compliments of Wikipedia:
1977: Founded on February 12th.
1978: Membership rose to 73. First mimeographed copy of BCS Update is printed. First BCS telephone line installed in Jonathan Rotenberg’s bedroom. First meetings are held in the Commonwealth School cafeteria.
1979: First BCS user group forms for the Commodore PET computer. First BCS book published; a directory of local stores, consultants, and services. Membership is up to 300. VisiCalc (first spreadsheet program for PCs) introduced at a BCS meeting by members Bob Frankston and Dan Bricklin.
1980: The BCS incorporates and rents a small downtown Boston office. Membership is at 1000 with nine user groups. BCS Update becomes Computer Update, a glossy 34-page magazine. In April, the Apple/Boston user group becomes part of the Boston Computer society. It’s first meeting was held in a hall in downtown Boston.
1981: First full-time employee hired. Official non-profit status granted.
1982: Membership grows to 3,000 with 13 user and special interest groups. Dues were $18. First electronic bulletin board started.
1983: BCS receives national media attention via the launch of IBM’s PC. Membership doubles to 6,300.
1984: Office moves to bigger space as membership hits 10,000. Resource Center opens. First Buying Guide published. The Macintosh computer is introduced at a BCS meeting and the Mac Group starts. First Microsoft Windows group starts.
1985: Membership at 17,000 with 41 groups.
1986: First overseas affiliation with the Denmark Personal Computer Society. Membership is 23,000 with $35 annual
1987: Tenth Anniversary. A special 132-page Computer Update published. IBM and Mac Group open offices. Search begins for new BCS Center. Membership at 26,000.
1988: Membership goes over 30,000. NeXT introduces its computer at one of the largest BCS meetings ever with almost 3,000 people lined up at Symphony Hall in Boston.
1989: Membership peaks in June at 31,100 with dues at $40 for an individual membership. Over 20 electronic bulletin boards and 700 activists. Revenues are over $2 million.
1990: Rotenberg moves from president to chairman. Tracy Licklider named president. Declining membership and local economics force scale back of BCS Center. Membership at 26,800. Dues reduced to $39.
1991: BCS office moves to One Kendall Square in Cambridge. Membership shrinks to 24,400. Joint publications (BCS Tech, BCS Professionals, BCS Computers) launched.
1992: Membership at 23,500. HP executive Bob Grenoble named president. Macintosh Group office moves from Somerville to Cambridge and their bulletin board logs its 500,000 call.
1993: Computer Update becomes a new flagship publication – BCS Magazine. President Bob Grenoble differs with BCS Activists as to BCS direction, tries to change computer platform emphasis – Mac, PC, Amiga, etc. Boston Globe quotes Grenoble as saying computers are not very useful to average person.
1994: Grenoble resigns. Eighth annual meeting has 10,000 attendees, 150 exhibitors, 150 seminars and workshops.
1995: President and Board find it difficult to cut back staff and operation to meet declining membership and revenues.
1996: Board votes to close BCS.
I can’t remember when I joined the BCS, but I do remember being sad to see it go. Through the society, I learned about Usenet groups and lots of other things. Also can’t remember when I first got a paid internet server connection, but it was somehow connected to BCS, and I stayed with whichever one it was through its becoming Mindspring and now Earthlink.
The BCS was godsend for newbies like me. Now even the grandkids think I’m an expert, except for the one who uses an Apple.