The DEC Connection: A premier interactive networking organization for former Digital Equipment Corporation employees

This website is dedicated to the memory of our founder and hero, Kenneth H. Olsen (20 Feb 1926 - 6 Feb 2011).

Welcome to The DEC Connection!

The DEC Connection is an association dedicated to preserving the unique culture of Digital Equipment Corporation by reuniting the Digital family through face-to-face events, intra-personal and group communications, and joint activities. We want to preserve Ken Olsen's cultural, technical and management legacies. We promote events of local ex-DEC clubs. Membership is open to all former employees and contractors - JOIN HERE! To submit content, email webmaster.

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Headlines

News At A Glance

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Go to our online Newsletter archive.

Events

An Afternoon at a BBQ and WooSox Baseball Game - on Father's Day!

For our main event this summer, we have purchased a block of 40 tickets for Sunday, June 19, 2022 (ballgame vs. Charlotte) starting 1:05 pm, at the brand new Red Sox minor league ballpark, Polar Park in Worcester. This is a BBQ event for DEC Connection members and their guests with a ballgame included. This will be a fun afternoon with great food and entertainment, subsidized by The DEC Connection.

The basics:

We will have a PRIVATE AREA at the ballpark. It is nicer than your normal baseball seats. There will be tables and plenty of room to mingle.
BBQ Food: The price of the tickets includes all-you-can eat hamburgers, hot dogs, cole slaw, mac & cheese, buttered popcorn, watermelon and berries, brownies, and water, tea, and lemonade. Of course you can buy alcoholic beverages at their concessions.
Not just for members: You may invite non-members of all ages on guest tickets.
In addition, we will have a raffle for free DEC memorabilia.
Tickets are $20 for each paid-up member and $30 for non-member/guests. DEC Connection is subsidizing the true cost of $41 per ticket.
Click here to purchase the subsidized tickets on our website.

NOTE: We may be having a temporary issue getting to the ticketing page. If you want to buy tickets but can't write to us at info@decconnection and we'll let you know when this is fixed.

Also, please email your name, phone #, and # of tickets you purchased to info@decconnection.org. You will receive tix by email 2 weeks before game.

Each group must include at least 1 paid-up member so join DEC Connection here if you haven't joined and want to participate.

Deadline for purchasing tickets is May 31, 2022.

DEC Tech Talks

Zoom Wrap-Up

Tech Talk #1: Bob Anundson, a DEC Connection member from Washington state, kicked off this series with a presentation and discussion on February 19. He focused mostly on his Maynard experiences in Product Marketing using the PDP-11/10, 11/40, RK05, VT50/VT52, and software licensing as examples between 1969 and 1975, in the context of Digital culture. See the Tech Talks page for links to the video recording and Bob's written story.

Tech Talk #2: Nathan Teichholtz Brookwood on RSTS and DECnet - TBA. Stay tuned!

Reunions

Upcoming:

Phoenix AZ luncheons - ON HOLD pending safe covid-free environment for get-together. info: galendavis@aol.com

Past:

Sun., Sept. 19, 2021: Maynard MA Sesquicentennial (150th Birthday)
- 11:30 am - Tour of Mill for paid-up members only
- 1-4 pm, Parade/Maynard displays and events
- 4-7 pm, DECconnection Dinner at Maynard Elks Lodge with Ray Humphrey
- Videos of events have been added to this page.
- For EVENT WRAP-UP, CLICK HERE.
Fri. July 30, 2021, summer get-together at Kimball Farms.
Sat., 2 Nov. 2019, Phoenix AZ luncheon
Recap from our Summer Italian Festa in Marlborough MA at Bob Alessio's home Sat., August 17, 2019
Sun., 2 June 2019 Management Sciences Consulting Group
Thu, 25 Apr. 2019, Colorado Springs Annual
DEC Connection Summer BBQ-Picnic on Sat. afternoon, Aug 18, 2018 in Marlboro at the Hunters' house
Maynard Mill get-together at the Battle Road Brewery House was Sunday, May 20, 2018. See the writeup and photos here.
Sun., Aug. 20, 2017 Kimball's Summer Get-together
Sat., Oct. 8, 2016 BBQ and Tour of Mill and Main
CLICK HERE FOR RECAP and Photos.
10/18/16 Beacon-Villager coverage of our Event
Visit "Mill and Main" online:
http://maynard.wickedlocal.com/article/20150618/NEWS/150616023
http://mill-and-main.com/

Memorials

click on link above for details

Carl L. Crockford, 74, Goffstown NH, 1 March 2022
Ron Bowser, 76, Colorado Springs, 17 February 2022
Bill Avery, 81, Stow MA, 15 February 2022
Bud Messar, 75, Ashburnham MA, 13 February 2022
Henry Crouse, Boston MA, 6 February 2022
Jack Burness, 75, Colorado Springs, 20 January 2022
Paul Guest, 77, Paris France, 20 January 2022
Bill Long, 89, Bourne MA, 9 January 2022
Duane T. Napp, 88, Houston TX, 7 January 2022
Jack Duffy, 80, Andover MA, 3 January 2022
Bill Seitz, 77, San Tan Valley AZ, 23 December 2021
Charlie Perrell, 72, Los Altos Hills, CA, 10 December 2021
Richard Pfender, 68, Pittsburgh PA, 6 November 2021
Edward J. Faryniarz, 72, Harwinton CT, 1 January 2020

Info

David Mark's Zoom lecture on Digital History (14 June 2021) - here is link to recording on YouTube. About 200 DECcies tuned in. Link to their stories in the zoom chat is on our DEC Stories web page.

Medicare 2021 - Materials updated

http://www.decconnection.org/medicareqa.htm

Where to Sell or Donate your old Digital hardware

Where to purchase official Digital logo products - from DEC Connection member Jack Rahaim

DONATING OR RECYCLING COMPUTER EQUIPMENT

It's that time of year when you may be thinking of donating older electronic equipment to a Charity. For those who have already done this, let us hear from you on the organizations you would recommend. For Massachusetts readers, it has come to our attention that there is a local cancer charity that you may want to put on your list. This charity is 100% run by volunteer cancer scientists, survivors, and information technologists.

The name of the organization is Recycle Computers4 Cancer [www.recyclecomputers4cancer.org]
and it donates all proceeds to help Cancer patients and their families through the SMCAC (Scientific & Medical Coalition Against Cancer). They have securely erased all data on hard drives that are donated for the past 12 years, including major pharmaceutical companies, banks, individuals, law firms, and financial institution. Also, all computer donations are tax deductible with no donation considered too small or large. Equipment can be dropped off or arranged to be picked up. Items accepted for donation are listed at www.recyclecomputers4cancer.org/items-accepted-donations-recycle-computers-4-cancer/

For free pickup, fill out and send in the donation form at www.recyclecomputers4cancer.org/free-pickup-request-form/

The contact for RC4C is Eric Grund at eric@smcac.org.

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November 2018: Thanks to Jackie Kahle for submitting this article about Admiral Grace Hopper’s long association with DEC, and about her experiences when Adm. Hopper was her customer at DEC in Washington, D.C.

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VAX and PDP-11 still live!

-Thanks to Sue Yarger for sending in this note from the UK Register:

NASA dusts off FORTRAN manual, revives 20-year-old data on Ganymede - Analysing Galileo's Jovian moon results

-And thanks to Jack MacKeen for this gem, same source:

Das blinkenlights are back thanks to RPi revival of the PDP-11 Retro computing fans wrap classic DEC fascia round world's fave hobby machine

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HAPPY 60th ANNIVERSARY DIGITAL! See article in the Telegram for pics and nostalgia.

HP Connection

Medical Plan Enrollment Info for DEC/HP Retirees
Handy Reference Chart: info on Retiree Benefits, Stock Plan
Need Retirement/Pension info?

Fidelity Investments still handles all DEC pension plans for HP that have not been withdrawn or started income. However, if you have been receiving income from your DEC pension, that responsibility has now been transferred to Prudential Insurance Co. and you should still be receiving those payments.

- HP Retirement Services Center at Fidelity 1-800-457-4015

- Prudential Pension Department: 1-877-778-2100
Need Stock Plan info?
- First try: Morgan Stanley, Employee Stock Plan Service Center at (toll-free) 1-866-722-7310. You input your social security number and then a person will answer.
- or this website for access to stock plan accounts. Employee StockPlan Connect tech support for N/S America for website is available at toll-free: +1 866-722-7310. Europe: +1 801-617-7700.
DEC Retiree Benefits include the HP Employee Purchase Plan
Retiree Purchase Plan - Go to: http://www8.hp.com/us/en/jobs/retiree/epp.html

and click on the link under “US Alumni Product Purchase Program”. Then follow the instructions to register for the program.

HP Alumni also suggests reading feedback:

There are lots of moving parts involved in HP product discounts (and discounts on non-HP products). Suggest you refer your members to the HP Alumni Association pages on discounts: https://www.hpalumni.org/discounts

Know someone who is leaving HP? Please pass the word to anyone leaving HP to use the HP Alumni Association's "ASAP Checklist" immediately. It has advice and mutual help -- developed by HPAA members -- on the many things you have to do before you lose access to HP's internal systems. Thanks to Curt Gowan for this info. Go to http://www.hpalumni.org/asap (HPAA membership not required.)

Digital_Man/Digital_World

The first PBS showing of Digital_Man/Digital_World was 21 Feb 2012 in Indianapolis - here is a link to the 57-minute video on their website to watch on your computer!

http://video.wfyi.org/video/2282149336/

The DVD of Digital_Man/Digital_World is no longer available.

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