SENIORNET HISTORY 1986 - 2004
(SeniorNet
Computer Learning Center of Puget Sound)
BY
PHILIP R. SCHEIER
This history is dedicated to Phil Scheier
who compiled and wrote this over the past several years. He has
captured the early beginnings by having those pioneers of over
fifteen years ago put down on paper what they each remembered as
well as the leadership up through 2004. Thus as you read you
receive a flavor of what transpired in those early years as well
as through the years until the present time.
SeniorNet is deeply indebted to all of the
leadership and wants to say thank you for all of your insight and
vision over the years. You and your spouses are very much
appreciated.
Helen Hesketh, President
March 31, 2004
Voice
Mail: 206-232-5892;
Email:
senior@seniornetps.org;
Classroom
at Phantom Lake Elementary School, Bellevue;
For
detailed Information, Class Schedules: www.seniornetps.org
SENIORNET
HISTORY 1986 - 2004
(SeniorNet
Computer Learning Center of Puget Sound)
BY
PHILIP R. SCHEIER
(Includes
an earlier comprehensive written history by Hal Mozer,, and later
personal recollections provided by early members including our
SeniorNet founder Jiggs Clark; Former Pres. Eugene Rauscher;
Molly Brackett; E.A. Brown Ph.D ; Former Pres. Lyle Hernandez;
Former Pres. Clif Wuesthoff; Pres. Helen Hesketh; Bob Swenson;
Joe Pontecorvo; Harry Sully; Bill Urich and Ray Hansen. Where
available, additional detailed recollections are included at the
end of this history, under the byline of those early members)
----------------------------------------------------
Don’t
look now, but the good news is that every seven seconds, someone
turns 50 in the U. S., according to the U.S. Census Bureau. Which
means that lucky person is now eligible to sign up for
inexpensive hands-on computer training with any of the 237
SeniorNet Computer Learning Centers worldwide, and particularly
here in Bellevue, WA.
And closer
to home, this focus is on the all-volunteer, non-profit Puget
Sound Center at the Phantom Lake Elementary School. And then
there are the more mature, seasoned seniors who reached the age
of 50 long before computers became a household word. And many in
this more adventuresome group are even more eager to take on new
challenges.
For
example:
When a
typical long-time SeniorNet member Betty Strandberg recently
approached her 91st birthday here, she did what comes
naturally to those eternally young: she signed up for additional
classes at the group’s classroom.
Strandberg
wanted to learn how to write her life story, taught by Delores
Davis, using computer-available help. That’s the way things
go at the very active SeniorNet classroom where each student has
a desk and computer to learn a wide variety of interesting
programs.
Back
in 1986, it was only by chance that SeniorNet became a reality
here. An investment consultant, Jiggs Clark, happened to
pick up a magazine in his Bellevue office.
His
interest aroused about those still relatively unknown computers,
Jiggs was reading a magazine, known as A.P.P.L.E. , dedicated to
the sciences. No connection to those new Apple Computers. And
Jiggs was a person interested in everything. The magazine
featured an ad asking senior readers if they were interested in
learning how to start an all-volunteer computer training program
for other seniors. In those days, a very bold challenge. The ad
was placed by the University of San Francisco’s Technology
Department, and was inviting seniors to take part in its new
project, “Computers for Kids Over Sixty.” Now you only
have to be an immature kid of 50 to qualify.
ENHANCING
LIVES OF OLDER ADULTS
The
project was researching how computers could enhance the lives of
older adults. And when the ever-curious Jiggs (Always fondly
referred to only by his first name) answered that ad, a new era
for energetic seniors here was about to erupt. Jiggs, in 1986,
according to Hal Mozer who wrote the local group’s first
history in 1998, (Included below) to mark its 12th
anniversary, reported: “At that time, Jiggs was among the
first 20 members in the country. He held that position for five
years and built a learning center that was a model for other
learning centers established throughout the nation.”
Ironically,
Jiggs is also a graduate of the famed Lakeside School here, where
many years later, two other graduates, known as Bill Gates and
Paul Allen, later founded a company they named Microsoft. And at
last report, it is still around.
As
with Strandberg continuing to take computer classes at SeniorNet,
there are so many other alleged seniors, not far behind her at
that age, along with younger seniors, jumping onto the computer
bandwagon. They also want to reach out to long-absent family
members, far and near, other relatives, old friends and new
friends via email, and to especially explore the rest of the
world through the Internet. These achieving seniors make the
point that a late start is no problem in mastering computers.
Another
90-Plus senior and former SeniorNet student, Sarah Efron, has
increased her considerable computer skills as she pushes ahead
with her autobiography working at home on her souped-up computer.
Like so many others, Efron also has volunteered as a Granpal,
working one-one in the classroom with the young students to help
polish up their reading skills. And Efron who had given up
driving her own car, always plenty of offers from fellow members
for a ride to classes from her nearby home.
Many
older Americans hail the fact that learning computers from other
seniors, particularly when their teachers are all volunteers and
not paid by the hour with a rigid time schedule, is a relaxed,
comforting and rewarding experience. At SeniorNet the approach is
always friendly, with understanding teachers never rushing beyond
the comfort-level of the class, and always using plain English
and avoiding technical jargon. When a tech term is used, it is
always explained in down-to-earth English. And lots of time is
allowed for questions.
The famed CBS program, 60 Minutes on January
12, 2003, featured the growing activities of seniors no longer
willing to just sit back and “retire.” Many are
returning to paid work as employers seek more mature, responsible
and skilled workers with that old-time work ethic. Featured on
the program was one elderly worker who actually forced herself to
operate a “feared” new computer to handle the job. And
now, she said with a proud grin, “loving it.” And her
comment: “It makes the work easier.”
That fateful magazine ad Jiggs spotted in 1986 included two paper color swatches, one yellow and the other red. Those responding were asked to return the red color if they already had a computer, and the yellow if they did not have a computer. Not only didn’t he have a computer, he had yet to see his first real wonder machine. He wasn’t even sure how it worked. What he did know was that the machine required electricity to operate. Jiggs sent back the yellow swatch, not knowing, not suspecting this reply would lead him into a new and exciting lifestyle. He was in the investment consultant business with an office on 116th Ave. NE, Bellevue.
THE
MYSTERY CARTONS ARRIVE
A few
weeks later, he recalled, four big cartons were delivered to his
office, one atop the other, measuring six feet high. Jiggs saw
the name SeniorNet printed on the outside. This was the first,
but not the last time he would see that name. This was a new
organization. Clark started to open the cartons, saw it contained
an Apple computer, plus the monitor and the printer. And oh, all
those frightening wires.
Alarmed
at all the cables and serious-looking fittings, he anxiously
called the national headquarters in San Francisco, and spoke with
the then head of the organization, Fran Middleton. He confessed
he didn’t have the slightest idea how to even start
assembling the equipment. Over the phone, he pleaded, “What
should I do with this?”
Back
came the terse reply: “You compute!” And then she
hung up. Clark still chuckles at the memory, and shakes his head
in disbelief.
It was
exactly May 18, 1986 when the Apple computer arrived, he recalls.
This was the time that computers were just starting to emerge on
the public conscious. There were such interesting stories about
the mysterious and wonderful things that could be done with this
electronic marvel. A methodical person, he went to work. After
much studying and carefully and patiently reading the manuals,
“I learned how to operate the equipment.” Along with
the computer were instructions for starting up a SeniorNet
Computer Learning Center. Little did Jiggs realize he was about
to start up the national group’s third such center in the
entire country, and which was also later to be named the No. 1
site in the nation..
“It
was an Apple2c, one of the first so-called laptops available.
But, after you put the darned thing on your lap-- along with the
adapter and the plug-in converter, and the cable connection to
the printer, you were literally locked in place,” Jiggs
said. “Those guys in the ads who looked so casual
holding the alleged laptop computer in their lap, with their feet
up on the desk, really were as uncomfortable as anyone could
be.”
But
SeniorNet here later focused entirely on the IBM-compatible
computer, known as a PC. For a time in the early days, SeniorNet
was affiliated with a group at the Forest Ridge Academy of the
Sacred Heart in Bellevue, where the Apple computer was used. The
affiliation ended many years ago, with SeniorNet here deciding to
focus all its energies on the IBM-compatible PC.
URICH
AMONG FIRST TO MASTER ONLINE
”Believe it or not,” Jiggs said, “Bill Urich, one
of our early instructors who also took on the job of curriculum
coordinator, managed to teach us how to go on the internet long
before anyone in the city really knew what the darned thing
was.”
Urich,
one of the very early students and later curriculum coordinator
joined the group about the same time as Rauscher arrived, and
remembers it well: “I recall that it was within the first
year that Gene Rauscher and I joined up, that Gene took over the
SeniorNet management. From there, things really got moving and we
later relocated from Jiggs office to Dr. David McIntyre’s
office building.” Dr. McIntyre became a benefactor and for a
while the sole funding source for SeniorNet.
As an
additional help to SeniorNet students, the local Learning Center
classes often have teaching aides ready in the rear of the
classroom. If a student needs some help, a mere glance towards
the back and the aide comes up to huddle quietly with the
student. And, in most cases, the brief one-on-one session,
usually helps solve the problem.
Today,
the local SeniorNet Computer Learning Center with some 500
members which includes current and past students, is one of the
largest such chapters in the country.
The
current Computer Learning Center at the Phantom Lake School in
Bellevue provides 12 late-models, high-speed computers, with
17-inch monitors and shared printers for its students. Each
two-hour class is held on a weekly basis, and continues for
varying periods, depending on the subject.
Many
similar all-volunteer operations across the country are linked
together by one main SeniorNet headquarters office in San
Francisco with a professional paid staff. Just about everybody
else involved with SeniorNet is a volunteer. All regional
learning centers are self-sustaining via nominal fees along with
help of possible sponsors, fund grants and the hard work of the
volunteer teachers and staffs.
Following
the founding of SeniorNet here in 1986 by Jiggs, he was followed
in that top office by an impressive array of dedicated computer
enthusiasts who also, fortunately, came with solid organizational
and management skills, right up to and including the current
president, Helen Hesketh.
SENIOR
NET’S MAGNIFICENT LEADERS
1986
–1991: JIGGS CLARK, our first site coordinator, who
launched Puget Sound organization, nursed it through those first
five very lean years, and by dogged perseverance and the aid of
other dedicated seniors, set it firmly on course. But it was a
difficult learn-as-you-go process for all involved, with classes
first held with two available computers, and students taking
turns at the new wonder machines. With great perseverance, Jiggs
was able to acquire additional computers and equipment and most
important—additional volunteer instructors.
1991—1994:
EUGENE RAUSCHER, the second site coordinator brought
his businesslike approach to growing the organization, acquiring
more computers, attracting experienced tutors, attracting hordes
of new eager students and set up operating procedures, organizing
needed office procedures with Secretary. Molly Brackett. But its
very success forced the group to close down for a short time when
students took over available parking spaces designed for building
tenants, and Dr. McIntyre needed the free space he provided the
group, to expand his offices.
1994
–1996—LYLE HERNANDEZ, becomes Site Coordinator for
the then non-operating SeniorNet, with the challenge to find a
new classroom site. In addition, he had the problem of acquiring
additional computers, desks, chairs, since much of the original
equipment belonged to Dr. McIntyre. In short, Hernandez took on
the awesome task of reviving SeniorNet. No easy task. But with
the help of members, he was able to find a needed free site for
the classroom, and able to round up needed computers and other
equipment.
1996
–1998—CLIF WUESTHOFF, elected President, the title
change reflecting the increasing responsibilities of the fast
growing organization. When he first learned of SeniorNet earlier
from a news item, and joined up with his own earlier experience
working with computers at his own company, he soon took on
additional duties, volunteering as an aide to Hernandez. And when
Hernandez went searching for a successor, like all good leaders,
he sought out those who had demonstrated their working and
leadership skills. Thus was Wuesthoff tapped.
1998
– 2004—HELEN HESKETH, elected President, and now
completing her third two-year term. She had the challenging job
of supervising the temporary move in 2002 from the original
Phantom Lake School, while it was being torn down with a new
school being constructed on the site. The interim site is at the
former nearby Bellewood School. Although wanting to step down
after her first two very successful two-year terms, she agreed to
take on her current third term, which has been marked by the
interim move, along with many honors granted her for her
SeniorNet leadership achievements, and for SeniorNet.
JIGGS
CLARK STARTED IT ALL
“Jiggs
Clark indeed was the “spark” that set the flames in the
creation of SeniorNet here in motion, “ Urich recalls,
“and of course there were other people involved,
particularly Gene Rauscher, who took over from Jiggs, spurring
the great growth of the group.
As
Jiggs told his alma mater, the Lakeside School in Seattle,
according to the earlier history written by Mozer, since getting
that first computer, “Life has not been the same.”
The
national head and founder of SeniorNet in San Francisco, Dr. Mary
Furlong, wrote of him: “Jiggs dedication, enthusiasm and
wisdom served as a source of inspiration to me personally in
those early days. Jiggs has a wonderful ability to learn
continuously and is very strategic in his thinking.” From
the perspective of the growing national organization, Dr. Furlong
added: Jiggs is one of the five people who have made the most
difference.”
The
first SeniorNet classroom site was on 116th Ave. NE,
Bellevue, where seniors sat around a large conference table,
learning basic computing on the Apple. The group in 1990 then
moved a short distance away to larger office space provided free
by Dr. McIntyre, a prominent ophthalmologist, who played a key
role—including funding--- in the organization’s
survival and growth.
“If
my memory serves me correctly,” Urich recalled, “the
troops, who were there when I came on board were: Jiggs,
Abe Gordon, Dr. E.A. Brown, Ph. D., Dick
Aroner, Donna, and the two back-room people whose names I
can’t recall. Those were the only early participants that I
can say for sure. Erv Vernon, I believe, came in within a year of
my arrival.
“The
courses we were teaching were MS Works which included word
processing, spreadsheets, database management. In addition we
taught telecommunications.
“I
remember,” added Urich, “that it was within the first
year that Gene Rauscher and I joined up, that Gene took over the
SeniorNet management. From there, things really got moving and we
later relocated at Dr. McIntyre’s office building at 1920
116th Ave. NE, Bellevue.”
Rauscher,
the second SeniorNet leader, and who succeeded Jiggs,
remembers well those early times: “Those first years were
marked by struggle to get fully organized, keep afloat, find
additional computers that worked, plus programs and
supplies,” he recalls. “When they were planning the
move to the McIntyre Building, at the rent-free invitation of the
owner, plans were approved for the classroom, and the adjoining
office to provide practice space, with use as an office and
conference room.”
In
those days, it was a laid-back, hard-working operation, with very
little formal organization, with Jiggs and the then members just
trying to stay afloat. There was very little money, no real
equipment. There was just the firm determination to get the
non-profit, all-volunteer enterprise going, despite the odds. And
more and more queries for classes were coming in from other
seniors who learned of the project from various sources. Art
Connelly, for example, read about SeniorNet in The New York
Times, signed on, and remains an active teacher.
There
was very little in the bank account, with members sitting down at
meetings in what developed into casual sessions, with lots of
discussion on computers, programs and how best to operate them.
All agree it was the truly fun years as they explored and learned
the wonders of the computer.
DR.
BROWN AMONG FIRST TWO INSTRUCTORS
One of
the two original SeniorNet instructors, Dr. E.A. Brown, Ph. D.,
in 1988 read an article in The Seattle Times describing how a man
name of Jiggs Clark was setting up a non-profit, all-volunteer
SeniorNet learning center in the Seattle area. “I was
planning on retiring shortly, and thought helping seniors get
started with computers would be a neat thing to fill in my free
time. I recently had become a computer addict, and had some
teaching experiences, so I should be a natural to help.”
So
Brown phoned Jiggs, indicating his interest in the computer
teaching project for seniors.
And
Jiggs warmly replied, explaining the project in detail, adding he
was trying to get sponsorship to set up a teaching site here.
Brown
gave Jiggs his name and phone number.
And
the instructor-in-waiting sat back and-- awaited the call.
“It
wasn’t until the next year, after I had retired, that I
heard back,” he said. Those indeed were the early casual
days.
Brown
was invited to an open house at the new SeniorNet site being
sponsored by Dr. Mac on 116th Ave. NE, in Bellevue, which he
attended, and impressed, signed on.
“Abe
Gordon and I were the first two instructors,” he said.
“We had two 286-model computers donated by Dr. Mac, along
with a room in the same location as a computer data base business
operated by Allen Porter. The business was in some way supported
by Dr. Mac, so we shared the facilities with the proprietor and
his son. Along with the computers and the space, Dr. Mac also
provided a phone line not only used for incoming SeniorNet calls,
but also for our telecommunication efforts. The SeniorNet folks
in the Bay Area had adopted Microsoft Works as their basic
teaching tool, so we did likewise.” Microsoft Works then,
and now, includes a suite of programs, featuring word processing,
database and spreadsheet operations, and is less expensive than
the Microsoft Office suite of similar programs.
Then
to make sure he could properly teach this program, Brown bought a
copy to load in his new personal Northgate 16 Mhz, 386. “I
remember I paid nearly $1,000 extra to get four Megs of RAM
memory, rather than the standard one Meg of memory. I had
agonized whether to buy a 286 model—somewhat less
expensive—or go whole hog and get the latest
state-of-the-art 386.” Brown says he still has that early
computer which he does use at times, “…but oh, is it
slow!” By comparison re memory prices, this writer in 2003
upgraded his original 192 Megs of memory computer with another
256 Megs of memory for around $50.
And
thus Brown and Gordon, with the two 286 computers using MS Works
programs, began the first two SeniorNet classes. Recalled Brown:
“I was able to stay ahead of the students, and develop
answers to questions by using Works, its tutorial, and a very
good Works book by the Cobb Group at home with my 386. It was
great fun, and as an instructor, I met many very interesting
people. I even had several recently retired Boeing managers who
had not earlier had the time to learn how to operate
computers.”
WITH
JUST TWO COMPUTERS, STUDENTS TAKE TURNS
As
Brown recalled, “Teaching was much different in those days.
We only had two computers so the students had to take turns at
the keyboard. Most of the students did not have their own
computers, so the progress was very slow. We made no attempt to
segregate students by skills and experience. I remember a class
in which I had one student that had great difficulty finding any
given character on the keyboard, and an executive secretary who
could type—approximately-- 6,000 words a minute. This was a
first exposure by many to computers; they were very timid about
them. We had to tell them that they couldn’t break it, so go
ahead and try!
Another
problem for the students: “Most of them didn’t have
their own computers,” Brown said. “We were getting many
questions about to buy. To help with this, I set up a course on
‘How a Computer Works’ to provide information on the
options to help the computer buyers. Allen Porter would open one
of the computers he had in the backroom, so we could show every
one of the major parts of a computer. Being much more
knowledgeable than the rest of us, he was a great help in solving
our computer problems.”
But
the avid students wanted to widen their skills. Some took the
first course over again. “But others wanted to develop other
skills. Our first expansion was into telecommunications,”
Brown said. “Erv Vernon was one of our first telecom
instructors, and he is still around and active. And as time
passed, we added a number of other courses.
“It
was clear, as student enrollment climbed, that we needed
additional computers so students could spend more time at the
keyboard, Brown added. “Dr. Mac came through with two more
model 286 computers. This helped considerably with the teaching
and allowed us to have larger classes. We subsequently moved down
the street to the second floor of Dr. Mac’s office building.
Here we had additional space, including room for a separate
office area and a larger class room,” Brown said.
“It
was about this time my daughter was closing out facilities of a
recently-sold computer software business, and offered to give us
their surplus model 386 computers. Even though these were old, we
were able to patch together several more computers. In this way,
we could increase our class size again, and provide a computer
for each student. We also set up a separate practice area so
those who didn't have their own computers, could have access to a
computer without interfering with the classes. This also gave us
the opportunity to have the newly developed Windows on some of
our computers.”
And
with the additional computers also, they were able to add more
courses. By 1993 the SeniorNet group added such programs as
“Introduction to DOS,’ “DOS Shell,”
“Manage Your Money,” and a portfolio management program
(PFROI), in which Brown himself was actively involved. Others had
added classes on “Database Management;” “Spread
Sheets;” and “Desktop Publishing,” Brown said. As
time passed, courses in the new Windows replaced DOS and DOS
Shell. Quicken replaced other older programs, and Internet was
added to the telecommunication offering. And, students received
this training free.
In
a vivid description of the busy time those pioneers had revving
up SeniorNet, Brown said, “In the early days, Jiggs chaired
the Leadership Committee. It was composed, in addition to Jiggs,
the instructors and other volunteers who helped with the phones,
registration, publicity and advice on how to run the operation.
Early on, one of the major issues was whether we could charge
tuition for the courses. It was contended that the
information from SeniorNet headquarters in San Francisco, to the
members, indicated that classes were free to members.
“We
were supposed to get part of the membership fee back from
headquarters, to help with local costs. But that never quite
seemed to happen. This meant we spent an awful lot of time
worrying about funding. Dr. Mac again jumped in to help, and
covered the major expenses such as the facility, computers, phone
lines and access to a copy machine.” But, as Brown recalled,
“That still left us the problem of covering the cost of
classroom supplies, primarily computers disks, mailing expenses,
coffee fund and promotional expenses.
“It
was finally agreed that we could charge a ‘lab fee’ to
help cover our expenses. We quickly found that nearly all of the
students were more than willing to donate $5-$10 for our
operating fund.”
NEEDED:
NEW COMPUTERS TO DO WINDOWS
While
this was very helpful, Brown said, “It did not solve the
problem of acquiring new computers. Several of the computers were
old and failed frequently during classes. More important,
however, was the need for computers capable of using the new
Microsoft Windows operating system. Many of the students came to
class owning a new computer with Windows as the operating system.
“It
was about this time that Jiggs—with SeniorNet a going
operation-- decided to step down as site coordinator, and Gene
Rauscher became our fearless leader,” Brown said.
“We
had grown to the point that we needed a more formalized
structure. Gene brought his organizational skills to set up a
structure to handle keeping track of all our software. It also
insured that each computer was set up properly, with another
person to take care of the computer hardware, plus setting up an
office staff to handle the growing workload there. And very
importantly, setting up the treasurer’s office to handle our
money and pay bills.
“We
survived all of these growing pains, expanded the number of
courses, and increased the number of instructors and the other
volunteer staff to make things run smoothly. The real trauma came
when it was time to leave Dr. Mac’s protective wing. By this
time, Lyle Hernandez had taken over the tiller and successfully
led us through the anxious search for a new location, which we
now occupy.
“I
know I have left out the names of many very important
contributors, such as Molly Brackett, Betty Kennedy, Bob Swenson,
Harry Sully, Joe Pontecorvo as well as others who are no longer
active, as Bill Urich, and others with names I’ve forgotten.
To those I’ve left out, please forgive me for my limited
ability to remember. Long Live SeniorNet! eabrown@methow.com”
TYPICAL
1991 INSTRUCTORS MEETING
A
flavor of the problems and programs at the April 23, 1991
SeniorNet Instructors Meeting, is included in the session agenda,
one of the paper records made available for this history:
E.A.
Brown introduced the new instructors. Jiggs discussed site
operations. Other speakers included Dick Aroner, Brown, John H.
Davison, Abe Gordon, Class Coordinator Bob Swenson, Bill Urich
and Erv Vernon. Also discussed were item from the earlier
Leadership Meeting. This included the item of “Move
Date,” from the first site to the nearby larger site at the
McIntyre building. And of course talks centered on acquiring new
computers. The petty cash fund was a constant problem, since
students at that point were not being charged.
To
help with this problem, members discussed the solicitation of
donations from students. Rauscher briefed member re the donations
procedure. Ruth Bobbit was asked to prepare a briefing on the
upcoming internet developments. Swenson outlined the class
schedule and instructor assignment for May and June. Brown
discussed the identification of teaching-related issues.
Another
interesting document lists the SeniorNet staff as of September 5,
1995, provided by Brackett:
Dave
Binder, treasurer; Betty Block, instructor; Molly Brackett,
schedules; E.A. Brown, instructor; Art Conley, instructor; John
Davidson, instructor; Cy Garnett, assistant Instructor;
Ray
Hansen, instructor; Lyle Hernandez, coordinator/instructor; Betty
Kennedy, phones; Bill Kernant, assistant; Bud Parker, assistant;
Joe Pontecorvo, instructor; Phil Scheier, instructor; Jerry
Schroeder, instructor; Bob Steinberg, assistant; Harry Sully,
instructor; Bob Swenson, instructor; Derryck Turner, instructor;
Bill Urich, instructor; Erv Vernon, instructor; Tania Wilbanks,
bookkeeper.
For
current computer users, spoiled awful by the ease of operating
with the modern Microsoft Windows and desktop icons to bring up
programs, here are the approximate instructions around 1990 or
so, to use word processing when only DOS (Microsoft Disk
Operating System) was available:
“You
will learn to: Load programs from a (floppy) disk; move the
cursor using the keyboard, create and edit text. You will use
commands to name, save, load, copy, rename and delete files, copy
and move text within a document and to other documents and format
text to bold, italics etc…You will learn some basic computer
terms. Seven sessions. Prerequisites: some keyboard familiarity.
Since the years were rarely listed on these training documents,
just the months and days of the schedule, the exact year is not
certain.
THE
RAUSCHER ERA OF EXPANSION
When
Rauscher took over in 1992, his previous business management
skills came into play. He quickly set agendas for meetings to
cover specific needs and to make decisions, activated the bank
account and set minimal fees for classes. “I know we needed
to accumulate some working capital for our ongoing expenses. And
very important, we had to recruit more teachers and set up a
curriculum of studies,” he said.
Another
key development in raising funds came when the local group
applied for, and received, 5013C (non-profit) status for the
site, and organized a board of directors, with Rauscher himself
digging into his own pockets when finances became really tight.
“With
Molly Brackett’s great help,” Rauscher said,
“bookkeeping and filing system was set up in the
office.” Brackett signed on as a student and volunteer
office worker, but with her special skills, and with the growing
work burden, she was asked to take on more daily
responsibilities. “I either appointed, or we may have
elected, a full slate of officers, with each charged with
specific responsibilities,” said Rauscher. “These were
treasurer, secretary, coordinator of instructors and the like. We
also established a formal leadership committee which ultimately
grew to 30 members, with regularly meetings set. It was a growing
business. A non-profit business, of course, but there were
operating expenses”
At the
McIntyre site, to handle increasing enrollments, Brackett used
her persuasive skills to begin recruiting and training volunteers
to work in the busy office.
Brackett
served first as a volunteer with Rauscher pushing for growth,
more courses and more computers. As membership grew and classes
were added, Molly was asked to take on more responsibility. Under
this arrangement, she was asked to run the office several
afternoons a week for students wishing to come in and practice
outside of scheduled class hours. She also kept track of classes,
dues payments and assignments. As word spread among seniors of
the opportunity to be taught computer operations by other
experienced seniors, and all volunteers, class attendance
flourished.
THAT
OLD COMPUTER HANGOUT
This
second site expanded into two rooms. The larger classroom for
some 12 students, each with a computer, with a smaller adjoining
room for additional students. This smaller room was primarily
used as an office, with a few computers, and a gathering place
for seniors wanting to sit around, talk shop, enjoy a cup of
coffee, and was used by the volunteer teachers preparing for
their classes in the next room.
Brackett
recalls, “In those early days, with little equipment and
seniors yearning to learn computers, they only had a handful of
IBM-type XT computers. The shortage of computers required, at
that point, that two students be assigned to each computer. A far
cry from the current classroom with each student working on his
own assigned modern, high-speed computer.
One of
the memorable moments came, Rauscher said, “when Dr. Brown
was able to acquire six computers, our first modern machines,
which had the newly-developed hard drives instead of just floppy
drives, from a company in San Francisco. A triumphant Brown
personally drove his pickup truck all the way down there to get
them. Now, a long trip like that, there’s real dedication,
and typical of the group.
“Urich
taught word processing and also organized the class schedules,
something which had been lacking earlier. In addition, he was
coordinator of instructors and always available to keep the
computers operating. No easy task with those old computers.
One of
the early pioneers, Raucher said, was Bob Swenson, a retired
banker. “He taught data processing, and was always there
with excellent advice. I called him the ‘devil’s
advocate’ when we discussed new ideas. He needed solid facts
to justify what we were thinking of doing, and was a hard man to
convince. Another early member was Vernon, still active, a fine
technician on old computers with a special skill in being able to
keep them going. He also is one of our veteran teachers. Gordon
was there always with good advice on technical matters, as well
as teaching classes.”
Rauscher
in looking back at the busy days, said “The following
members should be remembered for their great contribution of
personal time and efforts, especially during the early days of
organization and operation of the site: Harry Sully, Dr. E.A.
Brown Ph. D., Molly Brackett, Bill Urich, Joe Pontecorvo, Dave
Bender, Tanya Wilbanks, Abe Gordon, Bob Swenson, Dick Aroner, Erv
Vernon, Betty and Burt Block, Ray Hansen, Ruth Bobbitt, and many
others.” In those initial years, the local group also was
recognized by national SeniorNet as the No. 1 SeniorNet computer
learning site in the nation.
“The
first secretary of the organization,” Rauscher said,
“was Jan Graebers.” And with a chuckle, added,
“She always said I would be nothing without Molly. Very
true.
“Another
constant participant was Brown, an instructor with an impressive
scientific background, and one of the very early members and
teacher, who could usually come up with the answer to a computer
problem. In those early days, Brown learned there were some
computers available free for learning groups. But they were in
San Francisco. The unstoppable Brown drove all the way down his
pickup truck, returning triumphantly to a hero’s welcome
with the desperately needed computers.”
Another early member, Phil Scheier,
remembers always seeing Gene busy at the McIntyre office,
virtually every time he visited, either as a student or a
teacher’s aide to Bob Swenson, and later a teacher. Gene
kept a watchful eye on the class schedule, making sure teachers
arrived on time, worrying that the computers operated properly,
and checking with then secretary Molly Brackett, whom, Gene
acknowledged, really kept the operation going so smoothly.
Organizational meetings were held in the lobby of the McIntyre
Building, the only spot with enough space for the growing
membership to meet at one time.
It was
Dr. McIntyre, who also became enthused with the project. In
addition to providing office space, he virtually funded the
operations in those early days, until the group started charging
students very nominal fees to cover basic costs, and it became
self-sustaining.
But
those great growing years at the McIntyre building ended when, as
Raucher noted with mixed pride and sorrow: “We outgrew the
parking space at the eye clinic, and besides Dr. McIntyre was
expanding his clinic, and we hurriedly had to close down our
operations and just store the equipment until a new place was
found.”
SWENSON
LONGTIME TREASURER-INSTRUCTOR
Another
pioneer SeniorNet member, Bob Swenson, a retired banker, is the
longtime treasurer of the organization, along with his activities
as a teacher focusing on the database program. He also, along
with others, conducts the annual audits. It was his skilled
efforts in the recent past which helped produce a needed fund
grant which allowed SeniorNet to purchase 12 new, fast computers
and monitors, making the classroom one of the most modern in the
area.
Like
many others, Swenson first learned of SeniorNet from a newspaper
article. “My recollection of the early SeniorNet began about
the Fall of 1989. I read a brief news article in The Seattle
Times that a Jiggs Clark had been organizing a computer
networking class for neophytes. I called him at is office and was
overwhelmed by his enthusiasm and gratitude that some one had
actually caught the same vision. Jiggs had met Dr. McIntyre
through an optometrical association meeting in Hawaii. It was Dr.
McIntyre’s generosity which sponsored and underwrote our
office for several years at considerable cost to himself.
“Our
first meeting was a store front office operated by a contract
computer programmer who was retained by Dr. McIntyre to provide
accounts receivable and other such computer services. He also
provided occasional software and hardware help when needed.
“The
front portion of this office was assigned to SeniorNet and
included about three or four mature computers donated by Dr.
McIntyre, which included Microsoft Works software, as well as an
early model Apple computer, furnished by Jiggs via SeniorNet.
Early participants,” Swenson said, “included Dr. E.A.
Brown, a noted astronomer with multiple computer talents. He was
one of the first instructors, as was Bill Urich who became an
instructor when no one else showed up one day.
“Others
include Ruth Bobbitt of the University of Washington; our
secretary, Jan Graebers; Molly Brackett, registrar, motivator and
turn-to person, myself, and Abe Gordon, along with a few others
whose names I shall try to recall,” Swenson said. “Brackett
also recruited David Binder as treasurer, and Joe Pontecorvo
became a wonderful resource as a self-taught hardware specialist.
Even now, he continues as a lecturer to senior citizen groups
extolling the virtues and simplicity of computer operations.
SOMETIMES
CHAOTIC MEETINGS
“Those
early formation meetings were somewhat chaotic, with every one
including Jiggs having a good time, but lacking a real
organizational structure,” Swenson said. “Another early
member, Gene Rauscher later become our leader, and revamped
operations in a more businesslike manner. Things happened after
that.
“The
class format was a lecture about the mysteries of basic computer
operations, and then, hands-on demonstrations of word processing.
Dick Aroner, from Providence Point, introduced us to email, and
how to access web sites.
“One
of the best archivists of our organization was E.A. Brown, Ph.D.,
a noted astronomer,” Swenson added, “who still carries
a torch for us, and taught many classes, but now has retired to
Lake Chelan seasonally.”
As
an example of the interesting and productive uses of database in
handling lists, categories and the like, when student Phil
Scheier decided he had to learn database to work up a statewide
listing of names, addresses, which would also include matching
legislative and Congressional districts, he enrolled in
Swenson’s database course. The database listing he wanted to
create was for a statewide organization which was primarily a
parents’ lobby group working for developmentally disabled
citizens. With Swenson prodding him on mastering the art of
organizing and operating a database, Scheier made rapid progress.
Even before the course was completed, he was able to rough out
the basics of the database format he needed, and enter the names,
addresses and other information.
By
using the virtual magic of the computer, he learned, the
approximate 900-plus names on the list could be sorted by state
legislative districts, and also by Congressional districts. And
then it was a simple matter to match each parent/member with
his/her lawmakers, and their mail addresses, and phone numbers.
After all, the lawmakers controlled the funding and operations of
needed state programs. The database was then brought to a
specialty company which did the actual inserting of state
legislative and Congressional districts with the pre-inserted
addresses. In turn, via the sorting procedure, all names and
addresses in each district could be grouped for fast access.
With
this list distributed to members in these categories, an
aggressive letter writing and phone campaign (This was just
before the email explosion) could be effectively directed at
legislators by their own constituents. Thanks to Swenson’s
database course, Scheier was able to complete his work on his
database project, and one day mentioned this to his teacher. A
surprised Swenson swung his head around, pondered for a moment,
and asked: “You worked up a 900-name database?” It took
but a moment for him to work up a friendly, reassuring smile, and
crisply announce: “You will be my teaching aide to work with
some students who need a little extra attention.” And that
is how it works with SeniorNet.
MOLLY
BRACKETT SWINGS INTO ACTION
It was
in 1990 that Molly Brackett read an article in the newspaper
about SeniorNet classes in Bellevue. “I called, talked to
Jiggs, and signed up for Telecommunication. Probably because it
might have been the only class with openings. Dick Aroner taught
the class. Classes were at a commercial building about five
blocks north of Overlake Hospital.
“Dr.
McIntire was the sole financial support. He supplied the
computers and space. At one time Jiggs put a note out asking for
contributions for coffee,” Brackett said. “Other than
that, Dr McIntire supplied that also.
“The
classroom had three or four IBM-type XT computers. At that point,
we were forced to assign two students to each computer. Today, of
course, each student works on his/her assigned computer.
“Ruth
Bobbitt, I think one of the first in after Jiggs, called me to
see if I would mind sitting in the classroom for four hours on
Fridays. This was so people could come and practice. There had to
be someone there if the ‘lab’ was open. I did
this.” Said Brackett.
“I
took a class from instructor Abe Gordon. I think that it was Word
Processing. Then we were scheduled to move to larger quarters in
the McIntyre building. Don’t know the date but some time
around 1990 - 91. Ruth again called me to see if I would be able
to do something there. So I had my only interview. (In my
‘for pay’ job they asked me to work there so I
didn’t interview).” Brackett said. “So I met
with Gene Rauscher , mostly in the closet at Dr. McIntire’s
building. We were in the closet because while I was being
interviewed we cleaned out the closet which was full of medical
stuff. So I got the job.
“We
arranged to have office volunteers working from 10 - 12 , and
from 1 - 3. This was the time of the classes I think. Some of the
first office volunteers were Joe Pontecorvo, Seena Lally. We had
a room for the computers and a separate room for an office. Some
of the instructors were Bill Urich, E.A. Brown, Abe Gordon. Bob
Swenson was already there but not yet an instructor. The class
schedule was set up by Class Coordinator Urich.”
IMPOSING
FIRST FEE REALLY HURT
Brackett
recalled when the decision was reluctantly made to impose a small
fee. ”We started charging $10, I think, to cover copy and
postage costs. A reminder was sent to each student. This
continued until postage went to about 31c. SeniorNet supplied
‘Text Books’ on Word Processing, Data Processing,
Telecom, and a fourth subject. This subject—which I
don’t know recall-- was in the Microsoft Works Suite of
programs, similar to the current Works, and to Microsoft Office.
“Along
about 1993 Ruth Bobbitt, a lifelong employee of the University of
Washington, told us that the U wanted a group of senior students
to take a class in Internet. The requirement was that the
students had to have taken Telecom,” Brackett said. “So
I was to call everyone who had taken Telecom to get together a
group for Ruth. But in the middle of this effort, the Internet
explosion came along, hence, no class at the U. We started our
own computer classes. I think that Bill Urich and E.A. Brown were
the first instructors.”
One of
Brackett’s classes at the new site was Word Processing.
“The instructor was a young woman employee of Microsoft. She
had been hired to try to make Microsoft manuals more user
friendly. She was journalism major. Microsoft felt they could
teach her how to do Word Processing and she could write better
manuals,” Brackett said. “Betty and Burt Block
shared one computer. Joe Pontecorvo and I shared another. We had
about eight in the class. At the completion of the course, we all
went to Microsoft for a user test.”
JOE
PONTECORVO KEEPS ‘EM RUNNING
The
collection of elderly computers used in the McIntyre classroom
well served their purpose, but required lots of maintenance by
Facility Coordinator Joe Pontecorvo. “When Windows 3.1 came
out, “he recalls, “I installed serial ports in
the machines that needed them in order to use our newly purchased
mice. We later upgraded to 386’s and added some machines
until we had a total of 10 computers. “The major challenge
was to keep the computers properly operating, he said. “If a
computer went down, that student had to double up with another
student.”
In
an early Puget Sound Business Journal story
describing the SeniorNet classes, Pontecorvo, also an instructor,
was quoted as describing his own first brush with computers after
he retired from the Federal Aviation Administration: “When
Joe Pontecorvo got a computer for Christmas two years ago, he put
his floppy disks in the disk drive upside-down, lost files and
got frustrated.”
But
his skills rapidly improved to the point where he was taking
computers apart just to see how they were assembled, and
experimenting with various software programs. In a short time,
according to the news story, Pontecorvo was using his computer to
balance his checkbook, complete his annual income tax returns and
produce personalized greetings cards.” These days, of
course, he’s gone far beyond that early point.
The
big star of all the computers at the McIntyre site, at that time
was a shiny new, late model 386 PC used primarily by the office.
This was a gift engineered by Sully, from his supportive Lions
Club. This computer was the look of the future, and was used for
office business, but with eager and awed students experimenting
with the higher speed and bigger memory.
Early
members recall fondly the friendly, clubhouse atmosphere of the
second classroom, with the coffee urn, one or two members working
the computers trying out various programs, or teachers typing up
their lessons. And often there was Art Connelly, also an
instructor, taking a break, carefully reading his New York Times
spread out on a table, marking special stories for a second look
later, and thoughtfully sipping his coffee.
RAY
HANSEN FINDS SENIORNET FUN AND STIMULATING
Ray
Hansen, another early volunteer instructor and curriculum
coordinator, with a long memory of those exciting and busy days
in the McIntyre building, particularly recalls the early-90s
staff meetings. “This was known as the leadership committee,
and consisted of maybe eight souls. Although jammed tightly into
the cubbyhole of an ‘office,’ next to the classroom at
Dr Mac's, they were, as yet today, fun and stimulating meetings.
Hansen, a West Point and MIT graduate, spent 24 years with the
Army Corps of Engineers, retiring with the rank of colonel. One
of the famous giant projects he headed was closing down the
American side of Niagara Falls many years ago.
He was
often described as the man who kept Niagara Falls from falling.
This allowed for a close inspection and repairs of the underlying
rock. It was earlier feared large chunks of time-worn rock might
collapse into the gorge, spoiling America’s famous waterfall
views and honeymoon haven. The temporary blockage of the American
side of the falls pushed the water to the Canadian side.
“Three of the strong vertebrae of our
backbone were Gene Rauscher, Bill Urich, and Molly Bracket,
“ Hansen recalled. “Hardly a meeting went by when Gene
and Bill didn't disagree on something, or suggest a different
approach on some topic. They'd go back and forth about it until
someone would speak up, usually Molly. She'd either get the
subject changed, or more often, state the topic in a way both
those guys would agree to. “The funny thing, too,”
Hansen added, “was that Gene and Bill's wordplays were
invariably productive, both airing good approaches. Guess it was
synergistic.”
Hansen
first learned of SeniorNet, like so many others, from an article
in a newspaper. “It was Mid or late 1991 and I’d just
retired. I hadn't yet found something to put me teeth into. Well,
I decided to stop in (we were at Dr Mac's, on NE 116th St, those
days) to see what this SeniorNet phenomenon was all about. I was
fortunate to arrive during one of its periodic
‘leadership’--aka staff--meetings. Actually, more like
a brain-storming session, but the enjoyable kind.
”I could tell right off I'd found the right combination of
nice people with stimulating brains and productive goals. As it
is still today,” Hansen said, “the group was a lively
one, full of ideas and magnetism. Fun people too, no one shy
about expressing opinions. (A welcome change from my old Army
days, where most staff meetings were to hear what the general had
to say.)
”These people were over my head as to computers, computing,
although I'd poked around on one since 1980,” Hansen
confessed. “They said my limited experience could help (N.B.
In those days ‘anybody’ with warm blood and ability to
find the on-off switch was grabbed up.) Even claimed my DOS and
word processing background were needed. Until they learned I was
a WordPerfect user, which even then was beginning as a minority
program. Microsoft's had found it could make a captive audience
out of (most) word-processor users—by integrating its
proprietary ‘Works’ application into, or at least
comfortably side-by side with, its MS-DOS operating system.
Cheaper too. No small matter.
”Unfortunately for the group, before long, the coordinator
of instruction (dear Bill Urich--who'd done a splendid job of
coordinating instructors and instruction, and setting up
schedules) decided it was time for a post-retirement career
switch. He had decided to learn the piano” said Hansen.
“Not sure how I got that job, except for warm blood, for
Bill was a tough act to follow. Nonetheless it was--indeed still
is--a challenging one. Best part was getting to know such a great
bunch. Gene Rauscher, a neat guy he was then our site
coordinator. He and the whole gang made work fun, not like work
at all.”
Later
in 1994, it was Rauscher’s tough call when he was forced to
temporarily close up the operation when Dr. McIntyre, announced
he was expanding his clinic, was running out of parking space for
his tenants with the growing SeniorNet operation, and reluctantly
asked the group to vacate the two offices.
The
sudden closure cancelled classes, with stunned students refunded
their fees, as the equipment was temporarily stored in
accommodating Dave Bender’s basement. At that point, the
outlook was bleak. It was a sad day for all--including this
writer, as a handful of us carried in classroom equipment to the
temporary storage site. We were wondering how long it would take
when we would be moving it back to a van and into a new
classroom.
Molly
Brackett also recalled, “there was another coordinator who
is never mentioned. He took the job when Gene retired. He came in
the next day and told me that he would be coming in and giving me
some dictation. I told him that if he had something to write down
he had better write it down himself in that I wouldn’t be
doing it for him. He quit the next day.”
HERNANDEZ
HUNTS FOR NEW SENIORNET HOME
Even
with the shutdown of the McIntyre office, members were regrouping
with Lyle Hernandez as the new site coordinator, who immediately
began the search for a new home. And it had to be a
rent-free site. No easy task during those real estate boom years
with commercial paid office space at a premium, let alone free
office space.
Hernandez
pressed ahead in his search for a new home. He placed an ad in a
newspaper seeking free classroom space. And yes, it pays to
advertise. Happily, he received a warm reply from the then
principal of the Phantom Lake Elementary School in Bellevue, Ms.
Sylvia Hayden.
Sully, a participant in the successful
search, which included Rauscher, recalls: “When we left Dr.
Macs we were desperate to find a new place. Between Gene, Lyle
and myself, we finally found Phantom Lake School.” But
Hernandez credits Sully with the first key development in the
search. “Harry Sully was responsible for the original
contact.
“One of the organizers of the
school’s outreach program, Everybody’s Schoolhouse, was
Margaret Raymond, a friend of Sully’s daughter. Raymond was
later elected to the Bellevue School Board.” For Hernandez,
finding the site was only the first step in getting back into
full operations.
There were the many problems in getting
started again, getting needed additional computers and other
supplies, calling back the volunteer teachers and staffers to
work, plus acquiring needed equipment, including chairs and
tables. As basic as that. An enormous challenge, but the always
determined Hernandez never slowed down until the first classes
finally resumed. He also was looking for a home they could count
on for a lengthy period.
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