By a vote of the Board of Directors, December 1998 was the Pi's 20th Anniversary. So the November 1998 General Meeting was also a time to party. The date was picked out of thin air in the hope that someone who knew better would come forward with the real date. Nobody did, but some records at Apple's headquarters in Cupertino say the Pi registered with them on October 26, 1978. This still doesn't address the question of when Washington Apple Pi was founded.

Some time over the next 20 years, somebody should work on finding the correct founding date. Most of us, however, will be too busy playing with our computers to investigate.

Logo by Dave Ottalini

Brighid Brady-de Lambert, Apple User Group Program Manager, said she was delighted to be at our 20th anniversary meeting. She was even more delighted after Don Essick, Pi Vice President for Macintosh programs, gave her a huge reproduction of the U.S. Capitol -- made of chocolate.

Hundreds of hungry eyes followed Brighid on her way out of the auditorium. Outside of lobbyists and politicians, few locals usually think of that building as edible.

Photo by Dave Ottalini

At the November General Meeting the Pi gave away free Macs to several of its more noteworthy volunteers. This Macintosh didn't survive the day.

Incidentally, if you have a list of who received awards, please mail it to webmaster@tcs.wap.org. Only some of the award recipients are shown below.

Photo by Lawrence I. Charters using Kodak DC50

Vice President for Macintosh programs Don Essick introduces the Pi's camera-shy office manager, Beth Medlin, to the crowd.

"They didn't tell me they wanted me on stage. I didn't even have shoes on. You don't think anyone noticed?"

Nah. Nobody noticed. Nice toes.

Photo by Dave Ottalini

Longtime Pi Director Tom Witte presents a certificate to Dave Ottalini, honoring Dave's service to Washington Apple Pi. As a Board Director, as Chair of the Apple III Special Interest Group, and as a publicist and occasional photographer, Dave's influence is widely visible, even if he is rarely seen.

Photo by Lawrence I. Charters using Kodak DC50

Tom Witte presents a free Macintosh and certificate to Don Essick, the Pi's Vice President for Macintosh programs. Don has been a Pi member so long that his membership number has just three digits. Like many members, Don has computers older than his children.

Photo by Dave Ottalini

Tom Witte presents a certificate and free Macintosh to Jon Thomason, the Pi's resident telecommunications wizard. Jon has literally spent half his life involved in programming projects for Washington Apple Pi.

Photo by Dave Ottalini

Brighid Brady-de Lambert, Apple User Group Program Manager, sent an oversized Mac OS 8.5 box to help celebrate the Pi's 20th anniversary. Tom Witte brought a special camera to take pictures of anyone who wanted to be a cover girl or cover boy.

Photo by Dave Ottalini

A hole in the box allowed those who wished to appear on the box, much like sports stars on Wheaties. Here, we have twin stars, Colleen and Mary O'Brien.

Several Pi members wondered what we could do with the box after the meeting. Use it as public housing? Set it up outside the courthouse where the Microsoft anti-trust trial was being held?

Photo by Dave Ottalini

What is it like to star in a major advertising campaign? This is the view from inside an oversized Mac OS 8.5 box. Tom Witte, on the right, took pictures of potential box cover celebrities.

Photo by Lawrence I. Charters using Kodak DC50

After twenty years of Washington Apple Pi, it was definitely time to let them eat cake. (Yes, it is a bad pun, but who could resist?)

This is one of several served after the November meeting.

Photo by Lawrence I. Charters using Kodak DC50

The November General Meeting was also a party, and what would a party be without goodies? There were four different cakes and a nice selection of soft drinks.

Photo by Dave Ottalini

A large crowd lined up to get copies of the brand-new "Pi Fillings: The CD, Version 4" and "Pi Fillings Goes to School" CD-ROMs.

Photo by Dave Ottalini

While some people waited to pose as "cover geeks" on the Mac OS 8.5 box, others lined up to get discounted copies of MovieWorks, one of the software packages demonstrated at the meeting.

Photo by Dave Ottalini

Pi members lined up to order discount copies of MovieWorks after the November meeting. This inexpensive package convinced many people that almost anyone can do desktop QuickTime presentations.

Photo by Lawrence I. Charters using Kodak DC50

It is never too early to begin planning the next party. "What do you think we should do for the 40th anniversary?" "We could invite all former Apple Chairpersons and Chief Executive Officers." "No; we need room for our own members."

Photo by Dave Ottalini

Personal computing has given birth to many new things, including this interesting example of digital art. On exhibit in the auditorium lobby of Northern Virginia Community College during the meeting and party, this sculpture is composed entirely of computer components: wires, resisters, transistors, LEDs and circuit boards. The entire sculpture stands on a pedestal composed of 5.25" floppy disk drives.

Nude sculptures of women are not rare, but such sculptures are not usually made of computer parts. Nor are they usually pregnant. Nor can you usually see the fetus, also composed of computer parts, inside the sculpture.

Several people thought this would make a fine addition to the hallway outside the Pi's office, until they saw the price. "Wow! For that much money, you could buy a Power Macintosh G3."

Photo by Lawrence I. Charters using Kodak DC50