The following are some comments from Dick Rightmyer received on June 6, 2000 when I was doing some research on the history of NYSDB.

The organization was started in the summer of 1982. Ed Pfeffer, Mike Houser, Ken Prieser, Bob Trout, Dick Thoms, and I think Charlie Penoyer were the original planners and members.  I joined shortly after that, within a month or two. The conference at Ripley, WV was the starting point. This conference was held in 1982. I have most of the old newsletters on file. Out main focus has always been to educate the public and gain more members.

Ken Preiser also sent me some information about this time.