Ark-La-Tex ComputerFest History

The Ark-La-Tex ComputerFest, Inc. was founded in July of 1994 under these conditions

1) As an event, sponsored by local computer clubs (NW La PC Users Group, Commodore 2000 Club, & MAClan Users Group), where individuals and dealers could buy/sell/trade computer software and hardware. The event would be held 4 times a year in February, May, August, & November.

2) As a place where computer users could come to contact various users groups (NW La PC Users Group, Friends PC UG, & MAClan Users Group) and become better educated about computers and related items.

3) That all proceeds from the event be donated to a local charity. The ComputerFest would operate as a non-profit organization.

4) Our charity is the local Shriner’s Hospital for Children in Shreveport

5) The first event was held at the Willis-Knighton Education Center and raised about $550 with 15-18 dealer/vendors using 28 tables, with an attendance of about 275 through the door. It grew to the point in August ’95 of 23-28 dealer vendors using 45 tables, with $850 in funds raised, and an estimated 350 through the door. The Nov’95 event had about 450 through the door, 55 tables for 35 dealer/vendors not counting the SWEPCO donations; with $1800 in funds raised . In February of 1996 the event moved to the Bossier City Civic Center, using half of the hall. The February ’97 event had over 1000 through the door with 40+ dealers and over 100+ tables and booths; with AMD as the featured keynote guest showing their new processor technology. The May 1997 event had grown to the point of expanding to use the entire hall for the event.

6) KTBS indirectly helped get the fest started by providing airtime to promote the event for many of the ComputerFests.

7) Microsoft has been a corporate sponsor due to its many donations and coming three times to support our efforts with demonstrations and raffle prize donations, and by donating software that the fest will be using to operate with in the future.

8) Willis-Knighton helped start the event, by allowing us to use their Education Center to hold our first events. Horseshoe/LeBossier Hotel provided a new larger facility in their hotel for the Novvember 1995 event.

9) We scheduled seminars on "Keeping Kids Safe in the Cyberworld" to educate parents on how to protect their children from the possible on-line dangers as a public education tool at two of the ComputerFests. Other seminars have been given on various subjects on Desktop publishing, MAC products, Windows 95, & other public interest subjects.

Original Sponsors

Northwest LA PCUG

MAClan Users Group

Friends PCUG

Commodore 2000

Corporate Sponsors

(some are still sponsors)

REI/Datacom -for supplying use of their resources for mailings, faxing, and phone messaging.

MICROSOFT-by donating raffle prizes, by having a presence & demonstrating products at three of the events as an attendee draw, & by donating the software we will use for our databases and correspondence.

AMD/NexGen-By coming to two events and donating raffle prizes.

IBM- by having a presence & demonstrating product at two of the events as an attendee draw and donating raffle prizes.

KTBS-for all the media support that they donated to inform the public of the events and for supplying other resources to the event.

KEEL- for all the media support that they donated to inform the public of the events.

KSLA- for the media support they donated for the Nov’95 Fest informing the public of the event.

KRMD- for all the media support that they donated to inform the public of the events.

Novell/Word Perfect Corp.-for their donation of raffle prizes.

SWEPCO sponsored Nov’95 Fest by donating a large number of used computers & printers to be sold and the proceeds donated to the Hospital. We collected $405 from the donated equipment at that event. SWEPCO has since donated more equipment.

Shreveport & Bossier Chambers of Commerce-by helping us notify the local business community of upcoming events.

Kinko’s Copies-for supplying copies and enlargements of flyers.

Horseshoe/LeBossier-sponsored the Nov’95 event.

Shreveport on Line-for donating advertising to our event on their service.

Whataburger-North Shreveport for delivering food to the Nov. event.

LOCAL VENDORS/DEALERS

(who have been our sponsors)
(some are still sponsors)

REI/Datacom

Shreveport on Line

Information Management Systems

LDS - I America

Shreve Systems