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The first organizational meeting of the Maryland Patent Law Association was held November 7, 1979. The featured guest and speaker was Rene Tegtmeyer, Assistant Commissioner for Patents at the Patent and Trademark Office. The following members attended the inaugural dinner meeting:
Manuel Antonakas	Herbert Mylius
Marc Sandy Block	Joseph P. Nigon
James J. Brown	George E. Oram
F. B. Buchan, Jr.	Ronald G. Ort
Edward J. Cabic	Herb Patterson
Mark T. Collins	Philip M. Pippenger
Georqe R. Douglas, Jr.	Richard P. Plunkett
Jim Eisel	David Pollack
Walter G. Finch	Frank E. Robbins and wife
B. J. Goldfarb	Perry J. Saidman
J. Bruce Hoofnagle	Louis A. Schlolz
Alan J. Kennedy	Avrom David Spevack
Donald A. Kettlestrings	Robert G. Sterne
William Kovensky	Cameron K. Weiffenhach
Eckard H. Kuesters
Although Commissioner Tegtmeyer lives in McLean, he was ably lead out to the wilds of Columbia by Manny Antonakas, one of our members, who works in the Commissioner's office and who lives in Columbia. Since our speaker arrived early at 6 p.m., he had a full hour to meet with our members socially and learn that many members wanted to hear more about the new rules relating to the Rule 56 practice. Commissioner Tegtmeyer acknowledged these requests at the beginning of his talk and said he would amplify his remarks on this topic.
Among the many points discussed included were:
The delays in services and patent printing due to budget cuts.
The new computer facility and bar coding machines which will increase automation in the Office.
The increased level of filings for PCT which are now up to 120 per month.
The new rules including statistics on the number of protests, reissues, and courts granting stays.