Moving the VCF archives

[RobertB]

     I received a message yesterday from Sellam Ismail, organizer of the Vintage Computer Festival.  He said that he needed help moving 200 tons of the computer archive from Livermore to a new location in Stockton.  With only 1/3 of the library and 1/8 of the hardware moved, he is hard-pressed to get it done by this Saturday.
     I offered to help out with the unloading when I get to Stockton this weekend.  It'll be good to observe what computer goodies are in-stock.  However, it would also give me a chance to ask him what is happening with the Vintage Computer Festival this year (no announcements) and with the branches -- VCF Europa (nothing happened this year), VCF Midwest (no news), and VCF East (no news except a date).

              Truly,
              Robert Bernardo
              Fresno Commodore User Group
              http://videocam.net.au/fcug
              July 25-26 Commodore Vegas Expo - http://www.portcommodore.com/commvex

[RobertB]

I offered to help out with the unloading when I get to Stockton this weekend.  It'll be good to observe what computer goodies are in-stock.  However, it would also give me a chance to ask him what is happening with the Vintage Computer Festival this year (no announcements) and with the branches -- VCF Europa (nothing happened this year), VCF Midwest (no news), and VCF East (no news except a date).

It was not meant to be.  I called Sellam Saturday mid-afternoon and offered to help.  He was still in Livermore, packing up stuff (including a forklift) at that end.  He wouldn't be in Stockton until Sunday, but that was the day I was attending Maker Faire.  Anyway, he said he would invite me to the grand re-opening of the VCF archives when they are ready.

                Truly,
                Robert Bernardo
                Fresno Commodore User Group
                http://videocam.net.au/fcug
                July 25-26 Commodore Vegas Expo - http://www.portcommodore.com/commvex

[RobertB]

     Just received another e-mail from Sellam.  He says that they are still in the process of moving, and help is still needed.  This is what he has to say --

We have a forklift on both ends and a 26' moving van with a liftgate
that can accomodate a small house.  We'll also be getting another
tractor trailor dropped off, probably early this coming week.

So if you missed out on all the fun over the past two weeks, here's
another opportunity to be involved in the toil, torture and torment
that is entailed by a move of 200 tons of vintage computing stuff
and its supporting infrastructure.

     I'll be over to Stockton in a few days, and then I'll give him a call to see if he can use my help.

                    Truly,
                    Robert Bernardo
                    Fresno Commodore User Group
                    http://videocam.net.au/fcug
                    July 25-26 Commodore Vegas Expo - http://www.portcommodore.com/commvex

[RobertB]

     I finally got together with Sellam and others to help move the VCF archives to its new location in Stockton.  This was the third or fourth trip to the new location for them and the first time for me.  10,000 square feet of storage space!  Enough room to set up computer workstations, partitioned areas for projects and meetings, and storage space for users (Sellam offered me storage space at 50 cents a square foot!).  Quite a difference from the previous VCF archive spot which offered only 4,500 square feet.
     Tonight we wheeled in huge computer units from the 1960s.  Hey, there was even a Commodore PET (either a 2001 with full keyboard or a 4032) among them and will take its place next to the two other Commodore PET 2001s (chiclet-style).
     I asked Sellam about the Vintage Computer Festival for this year, but he didn't seem too positive.  Let me just say that these troubling economic times are a factor.

                   Truly,
                   Robert Bernardo
                   Fresno Commodore User Group
                   http://videocam.net.au/fcug
                   July 25-26 Commodore Vegas Expo - http://www.portcommodore.com/commvex