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DMA® Membership Benefits

What is DMA®?

What we do

Computerfest®

Internet access

OTAP

SIGs

Purpose

Discounts

Affiliations

Contacts

Find Us

DMA® Bylaws

Dayton Microcomputer Association (DMA®)

DMA® is the oldest club if its kind in Southern Ohio. Founded in April of 1976, it is also one of the first computer user groups formed in the nation. DMA®, originally established by a small band of computer hobbyists, has since become an association for novice and professional users alike.

DMA® is an organization with no special emphasis on any specific hardware platform, operating system, or software application. DMA® is able to "round out" the membership's knowledge by dealing with all aspects of computing, ranging from presentations of the latest in software and hardware, to ethics and trends in the computing world.

National Cristina Foundation logoThe Ohio Technology Access Project (OTAP) is a recognised partner of the National Cristina Foundation. OTAP places computers with people who have handicaps, limitations, challenges, or special needs and to schools and other institutions which serve these individuals. OTAP is soley sponsored by DMA®.

DMA® provides judges for the Dayton Area Regional Science Day, where it sponsors several awards for computer related projects.

DMA® was a long-time sponsor of "Computer Chronicles®" seen on Think TV, WPTD, Channel 16 until the show was terminated at the end of July 2002 by PBS. This show helped improve computer literacy for those in the Dayton metropolitan area who aren't able to attend our many informative meetings. Stewart Cheifet brought the Computer Chronicles crew to Dayton and televised the Spring 2000 Computerfest, which is described here and may be viewed here.

Club Activities

The General Meeting is held at 7:00 P.M. at Huber Heights Athletic Foundation Hall, Huber Heights, OH the last Tuesday of each month, except December. The meeting consists of a brief opening, SIG reports, announcements, a 60-90 minute program by a guest speaker, followed by door prizes and open discussion. Guest speakers have included representatives of Microsoft, Intel, Broderbund, Motorola, PGP, US Robotics, etc. Our monthly newsletter, The DataBus, informs members of upcoming DMA® events, industry news, and humor. Here are reports of some of our recent meetings.

Guests are always welcome.

Pizza is enjoyed at the Pizza SIG immediately following each DMA® general meeting. Animated exchanges of opinions and follow-up discussions regarding the night's presentation, and many other subjects, are also part of this valuable (although unofficial) knowledge gathering event. It has become a tradition and is open to all.

Computerfest®

DMA® proudly presented Computerfest® for nearly 30 years. This event, held annually from 1976 through 1995, was sponsored exclusively by DMA® since 1982. In 1996 it became a biannual event, held Spring and Fall. Computerfest® was the oldest and largest computer show of its kind. It was comprised of commercial vendors and manufacturer representatives along with individual resellers. Beginning with the August 2004 show, it returned to an annual event, and it continued to be run exclusively by volunteers until the last show in September 2005. We're looking for ways to revive this show.

Internet Access

Since 1993, DMA® has provided free, text-based e-mail, shell access, and personal web pages for its members, and provided text-based e-mail to the public.

Ohio Technology Access Project (OTAP)

DMA® works with organizations such as the Ohio Department of Education to place technology in the hands of special needs people. DMA® volunteers refurbish the equipment before it is redistributed.

The Dayton Microcomputer Association worked closely with the National Cristina Foundation to create the Ohio Technology Access Project (OTAP). OTAP receives computer equipment donations from generous local individuals, businesses and other institutions. Since both DMA® and OTAP are 501c(3) non-profit organizations, many of these donations are tax-deductible. In addition to furnishing warehouse, workshop and training space, DMA® volunteers teach other volunteers how to evaluate, upgrade and repair computers and computer peripherals. Working computer equipment is then distributed to people with handicaps, limitations, challenges, or special needs and to schools and other institutions which serve these individuals.

Special Interest Groups (SIGs)

The Amateur Radio SIG meets the first Tuesday of each month at 7:00 P.M. to discuss how to use computers to enhance the enjoyment of Amateur Radio.

The Apple Computer enthusiasts meet the third Monday of each month at 7:00 P.M. to discuss all things Apple.

The Certification SIG met from 7 to 9 P.M. the second Tuesday and fourth Wednesday each month, at 119 Valley St. to study for various certifications. It morphed into the Hands-On SIG in January 2005.

The Classic Computer SIG meets the first and third Saturdays of each month at 3:00 P.M. at the Sugar Grove Bible Church, 7875 S. Kessler-Frederick Road, to discuss the care and feeding of various orphaned computers.

Dayton Perl Mongers met at 7 P.M. the second Wednesday each month at 119 Valley St. to discuss the Perl programming language. It has expanded to include other languages and morphed into Dayton Dynamic Languages Users Group and continues to meet at the same time and place.

The Digital Photography SIG meets the fourth Thursday each month at 7:00 p.m. at Wright State University to discuss all aspects of digital photography, scanning, printing, & editing photographs and videos.

The Genealogy SIG meets at 119 Valley St. on the first Thursday each month at 7 P.M.

The Hands-On SIG meets the 2nd Tuesday and the 4th Wednesday of each month at 119 Valley St. at 7 P.M. to gain practical experience with computer hardware and software in a mixed OS network environment.

The Linux SIG (Dayton Linux User Group) meets the third Thursday of the month, at 7:00 P.M. at Wright State University to discuss the UNIX and Linux operating systems.

The Software Development SIG (formerly Greater Dayton Delphi Group) meets the 2nd Thursday of the month at 7:00 P.M. to discuss topics related to all aspects of software development.

Visit www.dma.org/sigs.shtml for the latest news on DMA® Special Interest Groups.

Club Purpose

Member Discounts

Thanks to the hard work of our previous membership chairman, Carol Ewing, DMA® members may enjoy the following discounts by showing their membership card at the following businesses. Pick up your card at the main meeting at U.D. If attending the meetings is inconvenient, send a self-addressed stamped envelope to:


DMA® Membership
P.O. Box 4005
Dayton, OH 45401-4005

Discounts last updated April 6, 2006.

Please check back periodically for updates. Discounts are subject to change without prior notice.

Affiliations

Association of PC User Groups (APCUG)

As a member of the Association of PC User Groups (APCUG), DMA® is closely linked to over 400 user groups worldwide.


Dayton-Montgomery County Convention & Visitors Bureau

DMA® is associated with the Dayton-Montgomery County Convention & Visitors Bureau and the most recent recipient of its Ambassador's Award.


Dayton Area Chamber of Commerce

DMA® is also a member of the Dayton Area Chamber of Commerce.


Points of Contact

General correspondence       Membership application / renewal
The Dayton Microcomputer Association, Inc.
PO Box 4005
Dayton, OH 45401-4005		       The Dayton Microcomputer Association, Inc.
PO Box 340402
Beavercreek, OH 45434-0402
membership form

How to find us

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Web Site Contact: For questions about, or suggestions for this web site, please write to DMA web team Thanks to Stephen Sullivan for site design suggestions.
Subscribe to dma-announce@dma.org for occasional correspondence regarding DMA® activities and meeting topics here or any of our Special Interest Group (SIG) mailing lists here.
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This page was last modified 10:50pm Tue, Jan 15, 2008 EST.