While the computer industry, its schools and companies, conveyed varying messages about the roles women could and should perform in the field, women took it upon themselves to form communities that supported their interests and met their needs. The communities took place in person, in print, and online. Organizations like the Association for Women in Computing were formed. Founded by fifteen women in Washington, DC in December, 1978, the national organization had 1,000 members from thirty states by the end of its first year. The first newsletter appeared in February 1979. They held their first national conference in June 1982 in Houston, Texas and soon after published the proceedings titled Addressing Our Goals in the 80’s.
