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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)

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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 91^st 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 12^th 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 116^th 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 116^th 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 116^th 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.

“I realized that we needed to create a "win - win" situation to secure a long-term commitment on the part of the school,” he said. “During initial discussions, Sylvia mentioned that one of her pet projects was a reading-assistance program. One of my key interests at the time was providing a minimal cost program to help mothers trying to re-enter the workforce. I proposed to Sylvia that we could help with the reading program; and use our facilities after hours for community training to develop computer skills for the parents. We couldn't move in until the end of the school year.” Thus was born the successful Granpals program, directed by Virginia Fusselman. Members volunteered to work with the elementary school students at least once weekly in the classroom for about two hours or so.

In a Seattle Times article on seniors learning computers, Hernandez commented on the growing interest in learning how to operate computers, with a special tribute to SeniorNet members and other active seniors:

“Some seniors never do anything more after they retired than they did before they retired. Others always want to learn new things.”

CRANDALL KEEPS COMPUTERS OPERATING

At the new school site, succeeding Pontecorvo as Facilities Coordinator, was another very knowledgeable, hard-working savvy member, Ken Crandall, a retired Boeing engineer. Crandall, as had Pontecorvo, somehow kept the aging computers operating with lots of patchwork repairs, replacing worn-out parts and tweaking the software programs. Aside from setting up the new classroom at the school, he faced the task of meshing in the variety of computers using the same programs, lessons, along with printers, one for two students. This involved, with the help of other volunteers, the formidable task of wiring the classroom.

A later development during the administration of Pres. Clif Wuesthoff, saw the decision to purchase a projector and a wall-sized screen, with the projector linked to the instructor’s computer, and most importantly, how to operate and maintain the setup.

And one of the big helps in teaching seniors is the group’s modern classroom, both in the old Phantom Lake School, and the current interim school, has each student actually working hands-on a computer at the individual desks. Most importantly, the classroom features a wall-sized projection screen for easy viewing. The instructors sit at his/her own computer linked to the powerful projector, making it easy for students to follow every tapped key, or clicked cursor in mastering the many programs being taught. That makes for fast and comprehensive learning.

Crandall and his crew of dedicated helpers in 2002 had the challenge of packing up their old classroom when the school made its interim move to the Bellewood School, during the razing and building of a new larger structure on the same site... Here, classes were moved to a large portable building, with the task of repeating the wiring, installing computers, setting up the projector. With the expansion of online programs, additional wiring was needed to link the computers. In addition to his heavy volunteer workload, Crandall also worked closely with Jay Schlechter and Hal Mozer in setting up the group’s new information-loaded website.

And most recently, in line with SeniorNet’s dedication to helping current and past students further enlarge their skills, Crandall announced in January, 2003: “We are going to conduct an experiment looking into the feasibility of providing a weekly "Laboratory" time period where present and past students can come to the classroom and get assistance (often one-on-one) with questions relating to their computer programs (either the operating systems [Win 95, Win98, Win ME, or Win XP] or application programs [Microsoft WORD or other classes that we teach])..”

The four-week trial period, held once weekly for four weeks, began Friday, Jan. 24, 2003.” If there was enough interest, the special lab program may be continued, he said. With Hesketh at the helm, the emphasis is on always being ahead of the teaching curve as new software programs are developed, requiring new courses.

THE BUSY, EFFICIENT DELORES DAVIS

One of the big annual socials is the Brown Bag Luncheon first conceived and organized by Delores Davis after she and then Pres. Clif Wuesthoff discussed organizing an annual social event. The discussion first examined the idea of dinner at a restaurant. But that was too formal. Then came the idea of holding the social at the Phantom Lake School, outdoors, under the big covered play area. Bingo! Members and interested non-members would bring their own brown bag lunch, with refreshments provided by the group. Members were also invited also to bring special dishes for all in a sort of a potluck fashion.. And it worked, with increasing attendance each year, with Davis reminding members personally and via email alerts. This is only one of the many volunteer tasks Davis has directed, including the overall volunteer program. At the monthly membership meetings, she introduces and welcomes newcomers to the group.

Ready to take on all challenges, Davis has been an instructor in several courses, including writing, particularly life histories. She is the mother of six children, and the grandmother of 20. She holds a Master’s Degree from Boston College. She was a medical and social worker for 21 years at the University of Washington Hospital, along with teaching hospital students in the medical disciplines. Davis stepped back from the Brown Bag assignment in 2002. Adella Granger cheerfully said “Yes” to coordinating the Brown Bag and has continued to increase the popularity of this social.

GRANPALS PROGRAM HELPING THE KIDS

When SeniorNet moved to the Phantom Lake School, Hernandez, citing the appreciation of the SeniorNet group to the school for providing free classroom space for the computer program, worked out a novel plan with Principal Hayden. SeniorNet members would volunteer to work one-on-one for short periods with the young elementary school students in helping them learn reading, math and other subjects.

Thus was born the SeniorNet Granpals program, headed originally by Virginia Fusselman. She rounded up volunteers, worked with the teachers who were seeking student mentors, and kept track of new requests for mentors. The help program continues to grow, with seniors also learning from students. Others that have stepped to the plate to coordinate these volunteers are Pat Fitzgerald, Pat Herzog and Nancy Harsh who in 2004 supervised 30 granpals. They are all part of the VIBES program in the Bellevue School District and receive training several times a year.

HI!!  PULL UP A TABLE AND SIT DOWN!

Years earlier, at the McIntyre Building, the smaller second room had developed as an informal social meeting site for students to meet with each other, with coffee and lots of computer talk. This beneficial social interchange unfortunately ended with the move to the one-room classroom at the school. What to do?  Sully—yet again came up with the answer: He proposed a regularly scheduled no-host gathering at the nearby Crossroads Shopping Mall and Food Circus. “As we were not able to visit and socialize as we had at the Dr. Mac office, I figured we needed to continue the get-together feelings and proposed the first Tuesday for the monthly Koffee Klatches (for lack of another name) and it has worked out very well.”

And so every first Tuesday of every month at 11:30 am, at the mall’s food circus now known as Crossroads Bellevue), you’ll find 10-20-30 members and newcomers pulling tables together, having coffee or lunch, and just talking. But being the special group it is, the talk is mostly about computers, as well as cementing friendships.

VISIT OUR EXCITING INFO WEB SITE

A permanent and easy-to-view SeniorNet information center is the group’s outstanding website, created, organized, constantly updated and maintained by Schlechter, Mozer and Crandall. This is the place to go for the facts. The site lists the wide variety of programs offered to students, schedules, registration information, the classroom site, driving directions to reach the school, list of instructors, phone number, photographs and other information. Plus, the latest issue of the monthly Online Newsletter. To access the very informative and helpful site and to check on courses and schedules, click on: www.seniornetps.org

As more information was added Chuck Goldstein and Bill McPherson joined the website team. In 2004 Mozer almost single handedly reconstructed the website to include more pictures and easier access to the information.

WUESTHOFF PUSHES INNOVATIONS, EXPANDS ONLINE

During Hernandez’s very busy 1994-1996 two-year term, he revived the shut-down organization, finding a new home, successfully searching around for needed computers, furniture and supplies and getting operations up to speed, even as he himself taught classes. One of his very active assistants at that crucial time was Clif Wuesthoff, who was to succeed him as head of the organization.

Prior to Wuesthoff’s retirement in the early 1990’s from the presidency and principal partner in Westingcounsul, Inc., a commercial real estate appraisal firm in Seattle, he had some moderate exposure to computers in his office. But with time on his hands, he thought it a good idea for some formal training. An article in a newspaper describing the SeniorNet training opportunities attracted his attention. He sent in his check for $25, and called the designated phone number and left a voice message.

No response.

He called back the next year, and this time received a catalog. And a short time later when he was still undecided what courses to take, since he had some experience with those programs then being offered, he got a phone call from Hernandez. The site coordinator outlined plans for additional courses and invited him to attend the next monthly membership meeting to be held at the Bellevue Public Library. Here he learned of new Window courses being offered, which he described as “an eye opener,” since he was still using the old DOS  (Microsoft Disc Operating System) system.

And Hernandez, with an eye out for all available talent and aides, got him involved as his aide in his publishing class. And later Ray Hansen, Curriculum Coordinator, asked Wuesthoff to take on another challenge to help at registration.

Wuesthoff developed a computerized registration procedure which did just that. When Wuesthoff became president, the title change reflected the growing complexity of the post. Also, as Wuesthoff sharpened his skills at email, he decided he would email out the monthly meeting minutes to save lots of time and expenses using paper mail. At that time, he recalls, only about 12 of the members were using email. But in time, more and more members went online with their own computers, making for faster communications among members. Another innovation was his decision to send out as needed, what he called Electronic Newsletters to further speed up information for members.

Another Wuesthoff innovation was the construction of the teacher’s new podium holding its own keyboard which was linked to the portable cart with a new high-powered computer and projector. Every keyboard move or cursor click by the instructor was flashed on the wall-sized screen. A huge step forward for both the instructor and students.

This early unscheduled online newsletter, Wuesthoff said, led to his idea of having a regularly scheduled monthly Online Newsletter to bring members closer together via organization news, schedules, personal anecdotes, computer tips etc. He later approached Scheier in late 1999, spelling out the value of a monthly online publication. Scheier agreed, but asked Wuesthoff to handle the task of mailing out via email, the monthly publication. He agreed. And after turning out the monthly newsletter for three years, with more and members signing on for free subscriptions, Scheier stepped down with the December, 2002 issue.

US PAY RENT?  WE’LL MOVE REGISTRATION!

To spur registrations, twice yearly public registrations were originally held at the Bellevue Senior Center. There were often long lines of students helped by the SeniorNet members in getting needed information on courses which would best fit each person’s skill levels and future plans. In later years, impressed by the growing registration by seniors interested in learning computers, the Bellevue Senior Center decided to start its own computer-training program. It decided to charge SeniorNet a fee to use the site for the few hours required. This forced SeniorNet to find a new centrally-located no-cost registration site.

The solution came—again from Sully: ”I contacted Crossroads Shopping Center, 156^th Ave. NE., Bellevue, as they had worked with my Lions Club on other projects. We talked it over, and they agreed, and that is when we set up our first registration at the roomy Crossroads Mall, and I think that has worked out very well.” For a short interim period, registration was moved to the Factoria Mall, but later returned to Crossroads Bellevvue, where monthly membership meetings are also held in the community room.

HOW JOE PONECORVO GOT HOOKED ON COMPUTERS!

BY JOE PONTECORVO

(When Joe Pontecorvo joined SeniorNet here, after retiring from his executive post at the Federal Aviation Administration, he literally arrived going full speed with his infectious enthusiasm, and has yet to slacken up. When Joe joined, SeniorNet here was operating with whatever aging computers it could find, and he took on the task of Facilities Coordinator. This meant it was his responsibility, as it is now Ken Crandell’s responsibility, to keep the computers operating. No easy task given the workover the computers receive from students.)

When I retired in 1990 after a lifetime spent in the aviation industry, I was looking for some computer training, as I had received a used IBM XT computer the previous Christmas and needed to learn how to use it. I looked into the Bellevue Community College and other places. Then I read an article about a national all-volunteer organization called SeniorNet, headquartered in San Francisco, with branches opening up around the country, each founded and operated by volunteers. 

I called and found out about the Bellevue Learning Center, which was located at 116th Ave. I contacted the center and enrolled in a Computer Basics course taught by E.A. Brown. To this day, EA, as he was called, has been an inspiration. I then volunteered to answer the phones and then monitor the lab at SeniorNet where students could practice on certain free days.

I believe Gene Rauscher was the leader at that time. Our founder, Jiggs Clark, was around a lot. We did not have monthly meetings then, as everyone was just around ALL the time.

Concurrently I joined the Puget Sound Computer User Group and became very active in the Hardware Special Interest Group (SIG). The hardware SIG put together computers for needy people utilizing donated –essentially--junk. We never knew if anything we had was any good and we operated with a $0 (Zero) budget. This was a very educational experience since we also had some very sharp people in this group.

With my new-found knowledge, I volunteered to maintain the SeniorNet computers. 

In the beginning we had six or seven IBM-compatible computers designated as 286’s. The machines had up to 1 MB of RAM and 20-40 MB Hard Drives. That’s Megabytes (MB), not Gigabytes (GB). We later upgraded to 386’s and added some machines until we had 10. The students would constantly manage to mess thing up. The Hard Drives were the biggest problems. They were MMF drives, which are different from today’s IDE drives. The drives frequently required low-level formatting and analyses. This was done which special software called Spin Rite (that I still have today). 

In the beginning all the machines ran MS DOS and there were no mice yet available for easier operation. When Windows 3.1 came out, I installed serial ports in the machines that needed them in order to use our newly purchased mice.

I taught Introduction to Computers, Introduction to DOS, Windows Overview, and Quicken. Those indeed were fun days for all of us.

As a Beta tester for Microsoft software I was invited to the Launch event of Windows 95 on the Microsoft campus. At that time I met several SeniorNet dignitaries including Mary Furlong, our national SeniorNet leader.

HARRY SULLY RECALLS EARLY DAYS

By Harry Sully

(Harry Sully was one of the original hard-core SeniorNet activists from the earliest days, always helping to come up with decisions, or equipment, or a needed site along with his teaching assignments. When a call went out for volunteers for a specific project, Sully always has his hand up. Below, some early memories.)

I do remember those first lessons. We had three computers and we worked two people at a time. E.A. Brown was my instructor. After we had several lessons he said that the leadership had spent several dollars and they wondered if the students would pay "something" towards the classes. We all immediately dug into our jeans and contributed.

Among my best memories those days was our additional office space next to the classroom which wound up as our hangout, with the coffee pot always going. It was also our office, which we used as a small classroom as needed with about three more computers. It seemed to be a great place to drop in and visit with other students, share a cup of coffee, or go over some program with a student on a 1-1 basis.

When we did lose our donated space later, because we were too darn successful, with students virtually taking over all the available parking space reserved for clients of the paying tenants, it caused a temporary loss of our hangout. Later, we re-opened classes at the Phantom Lake School, also in Bellevue. But with only the one classroom now available, I proposed at a membership meeting that we meet socially the first Tuesday morning of every month on a no-host basis at the nearby Crossroads Mall, with its fine food circus.

We called it our Kaffee Klatch. And that turned out to be a huge success, giving us a chance to meet and talk with each other, something not possible during class sessions.  And with all the big variety of food stands available, it was one of our more popular gathering spots. Our Tuesday morning gatherings start at 11:30 am. As more people show up, we pull more tables together to handle the growing crowd.

HOW WE FOUND OUR NEW HOME

BY LYLE HERNANDEZ

(President 1994-1996)

(Former site coordinator who revived the then dormant SeniorNet Computer Learning Center of Bellevue, which had lost its long-time classrooms  in office space donated by Dr. David McIntyre. Rapidly growing enrollment had jammed the parking lot on 116th Ave. NE, crowding out patients and clients seeking to visit rent-paying tenants. Plus, the McIntyre clinic was expanding. Hernandez describes how a new Phantom Lake Elementary School site was found.)

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's.  Raymond was later elected to the school board. Based on Sully’s suggestion, I met with Sylvia Hayden, the then Phantom Lake School principal, a magnetic dynamo with a "can do" attitude.

Everybody's Schoolhouse used school facilities to support extended learning in the community. The initial focus was on after-hours programs. Negotiations led to the agreement that we could take over the teacher planning space adjacent to the library. Space for teacher planning was made in a support part of the gym.

I realized that we needed to create a "win - win" situation to secure a long-term commitment on the part of the school. During initial discussions Sylvia mentioned that one of her pet projects was a reading assistance program. One of my key interests at the time was providing a minimal cost program to help mothers trying to reenter the workforce. I proposed to Sylvia that we could help with the reading program; and use our facilities after hours for community training to develop computer skills for the parents. We couldn't move in until the end of the school year.

As I recall, we needed to vacate the space at the eye clinic by the first of May. Dave Binder volunteered his basement as a temporary storage spot for our limited resources. When we were moving, we learned that the resources we had were less than we had planned. We could only take four of the computers and one desk. The rest of the resources had to stay at the eye clinic.

We had three 286 computers, one 386 computer, a desk, records and training materials, and a $3,000 bank account. We had floor space but few facilities. The future was looking bleak. The board decided that we had to gamble for survival. We decided that we had to own our own equipment to prevent future problems.

I went to an auction of re-manufactured computers and we were able to purchase five 486 (state of the art at that time) computers for about $2,000. I had to wait all day before the prices started to drop to our range. I think I picked up one of the last lots of the day.

We learned that we could get access to the school space only after the teachers moved out of the room. They had just completed the school year and clearing that space was not a top priority on their list. Molly organized a packing and moving party for the teacher planning room. She recruited volunteers and had everything packed and moved to the new location in about four hours.

We purchased the cheapest folding tables we could find and Harry and I went shopping for chairs at a used office furniture store. Our one desk went into some office space we were able to get in the Everybody's Schoolhouse temp building. The last of our cash was used to print and mail registration materials for the fall classes. The registration did generate some new cash flow to keep our heads above water. We were able to start our classes with eight seats in the classroom.

The Granpals program was developed over the summer and Virginia Fusselman had it ready to go when the kids returned in the fall. The pitch at that time was for our students to donate half an hour before or after their classes to help a child learn to read.
 

The principal said she was thrilled with the response.

We found that more of our students were buying their own new computers rather than starting with hand-me-down computers. The demand to move to Windows-based instruction was increasing sharply. After the spring registration, we rushed out and bought five more 486 computers. One was more fully equipped than the others so we could use it as an instructor's computer. This computer actually had a CD-ROM drive. We borrowed a projection LCD plate and overhead projector from the school. We started teaching Windows 3.1 in the spring.

I also started teaching evening computer classes for parents as part of the Everybody's Schoolhouse program. Several of the parents who took those classes were very active in the PTA.

After almost a year of negotiation with National SeniorNet, and threatening to leave the organization (we were one of their largest chapters at the time), National SeniorNet came through with a donation from Intel of five Pentium 90 computers. We were able to start the next fall session with a plethora of computers and enough telephone lines to start hands-on internet classes. And, very important, we were also able to expand our course offerings.

The primary contribution to future success really came with the key people who came on board during that period.  Delores Davis, Hal Mozer, and future Pres. Clif Wuesthoff.

After a year of living hand-to-mouth, we finally had a program that was current and worked. The school was thrilled with the support we gave them. This sealed our relationship with the Phantom Lake School.

I was tired.

CRANDALL LEARNED COMPUTERS AT BOEING

By Ken Crandall

(One of the busiest volunteers at SeniorNet, Ken Crandall, has the job of keeping those computers fully operating properly despite the heavy daily use by students. This includes installing—and maintaining—the special class programs in the prescribed student format. As Facilities Coordinator he also constantly seeks to upgrade the computer performance and dependability.)

I worked at Boeing for 37 years in the engineering department. I became a SeniorNet volunteer after my retirement from Boeing. I used computers for many years in my work at Boeing. I started with very simple computers where the user was required to write the programs to perform the tasks that they wanted to calculate. The many things that can be accomplished using computers always impressed me.

I particularly was impressed by the way that computers can aide communication between people(Email) and how word processors can help organize and spell-check my typing (anything that can fix my spelling must be good!). I decided that I would like to share my interest in computers with other senior citizens. Doris Ford, who taught computers at the Bellevue Senior Center and has taught some seminars for our Learning Center, told me about SeniorNet. I became a SeniorNet volunteer after retiring from Boeing in 1995.

My volunteer work with SeniorNet includes teaching and serving as the facilities coordinator. I have taught courses on using Windows 3.1 through 98, on using the computer’s modem to connect to the King County Library and other Bulletin Board Systems, and on using the Internet. I also have developed several workshops on using e-mail, on selecting an Internet Service Provider (ISP), on computer maintenance, and on Internet security.  I have found our students to be interested in learning and I have enjoyed teaching.

Prior to my retirement, I worked mostly with computer programs. I did a few simple hardware upgrades to my home computer (new hard drive, added a modem, added a sound card, and added some memory) but I did not feel relaxed while making these modifications. In my role as facilities coordinator, I had the good fortune to learn a lot of computer hardware basics from Gerry Farrell (another retired Boeing engineer who was willing to share his computer expertise even though he was very ill). Gerry helped me become more at ease in making hardware modifications. We added memory to all of the classroom computers and together setup a dual boot configuration for Win 3.1 and Win 95.

Since the early days as facility coordinator, I have been challenged by the students and other leaders. Clif Wuesthoff asked about systems that would allow the students to follow exactly what the instructor was doing. Initially I was concerned that a projected image would be too blurry, but others showed me projectors that worked great. I don’t think that there is an instructor that would like to go back to drawing images on the “white board” to represent things that the students should be doing. In addition, I learned a lot about computer networking when Clif suggested that we might be able to take advantage of the functions that that network would offer. I also have learned some new methods to maintain the classroom computers. 

The new “Deep Freeze” program (that allows a student to make changes to the computer during classroom exercises but always returns to a pre-set configuration at each new computer startup) and PowerQuest’s drive image software (which allows us to save an ‘image’ of all of the programs so we can quickly reload all programs if something corrupts a hard drive) are the latest maintenance tools that I have learned to use. In addition I have a chance to investigate some security issues associated with using the Internet.  It is the learning aspects of this job that make it so interesting.

It is hard to say what is more rewarding, the learning about new computer hardware and programs or teaching other seniors about these same computer topics. As an engineer, I have always enjoyed learning about technical topics. I can say for certain that I have found that I really enjoy teaching and being able to share what I have learned about computers.

WE EXPAND OUR ONLINE OPERATIONS

By Clif Wuesthoff

(President 1996-1998)

(Past Pres. Wuesthoff instituted many new changes when he took office, including making use of then fairly new email to provide closer contact and more frequent contact with members online, along with other innovations including the new instructor’s combination computer-projector training setup. Now living in Vancouver, WA. he retains his close association with SeniorNet.)

My first experience with computers was in the early 80’s when the one person in the firm that knew how to operate the “beast” took a three-month sabbatical. I developed a theory on how to learn about computers, which was to put butt in chair, put book in lap, turn on computer, read and practice page one, and only when you mastered page one, could you turn to page two. 

When I retired in the early nineties from the presidency and principal partner in Westingcounsul, Inc., a commercial real estate appraisal firm located in Seattle it seemed like a good idea to get some formal training on computers. Noticing an article in the local paper about SeniorNet I sent in my $25. An early action was to call the local learning center and leave a voice message. There was no response. The next year I called again and in due course received a catalog. I was not thrilled by the courses offered as I had pretty well done all that was being offered.

One day Site Coordinator Lyle Hernandez called and promised to send me a letter detailing what the local SeniorNet organization offered. Three weeks later I called Lyle back asking him, “Where was the letter.” Three days later I got a two-page letter from Lyle. From this beginning I attended the next meeting of SeniorNet at the Bellevue Library and two weeks later a training class for Windows 3.1.  This was a real eye opener for me as I was still using DOS for everything except MS Publisher.

My first activity was being an assistant to Hernandez who taught the Publishing Class. I remember Ray Hansen asking for any assistance to computerize the registration process. I took a few notes and played around with a bar chart in Lotus 1-2-3 and in Word. At the next meeting Hansen gave his blessing to the project. That was the birth of the bar chart. John Wise has made some improving changes but the basic chart which lays out the class schedule is still in use today.

The next opportunity to work with Hansen was when he asked me to comment on the proposed bylaws. That review led to the current bylaws and the beginning of a more formalized organization of SeniorNet in Puget Sound, as we know it today. There have been a few changes but the basic structure is pretty well intact.

Hansen keeps being involved in my role with SeniorNet, as it was when he asked me to be a candidate for president, to succeed Hernandez who was retiring from the post. I indicated to Hansen that I believed there was a lot work to do and that it would take a lot of help from all members to do what needed to be done. He assured me there were many ready and willing volunteers to work for SeniorNet. He certainly was correct, as it has taken the work of many to build what we today call SeniorNet of Puget Sound.

The first task in April of 1996 as the new president was to fill out the appointments prescribed by the bylaws. With the good counsel from Hernandez, Molly Bracket and Hansen three members accepted the challenge: Hal Mozer as curriculum coordinator, Marilyn Emerson as Registrar and Ken Crandall as Facilities Coordinator. We were off and running. Many things happened in the next two years and only a few of the highlights are available from memory lane as we were all too busy to keep notes.

The current successful Electronic Newsletter evolved with the earlier emailing of meeting minutes. Early on I concluded the reading of the minutes at each meeting was a waste of everyone’s time. As soon as I learned how to email I started sending the minutes to the members by email. At the time there must have been all to a dozen of our members with email. Anyone not on email could pick up a hard copy of minutes when they walked into the room. Betty Block was the secretary, and she had at least 30 copies of the minutes available in the beginning. Within eight months she had reduced this to maybe five copies and generally she took five copies home with her. Soon thereafter we stopped offering hard copies as all members now had email.

During the later part of my term I sent out short letters called ‘Electronic Bulletins’ and suggested that someone might want to expand this into a monthly Newsletter. It took a while but one day several years later Phil Scheier accepted the challenge to create and write the publication, and for the next three years established an institution with the SeniorNet Online Newsletter which now goes to close to 400 members.

Then there was the time in a membership meeting when Delores Davis suggested a social function. I understood Davis had in mind something that involved getting dressed up for a sit- down affair. The problem was that SeniorNet did not have money for such a party. After this one meeting I talked to her out in the parking lot. I suggested that maybe we could have a low-budget affair where everyone brings his or her own food right here on the Phantom Lake School grounds. We now know this as the ‘Brown Bag Social’, which Delores guided into being another institution that has stood the test of time.

There was the year many members assisted at meetings presented by Microsoft and AARP to introduce Senior Citizens to computers. Our reward was three used Sony Computers. We were all happy to have the three new and grand computers added to the classroom. Today we just change all classroom computers at one time and assume it to be normal. SeniorNet was not always that well off financially. We have come a long way baby.

One of the problems tackled was finding a new place for registration when the Bellevue Senior Center started charging rent for the use of their facility. That is when we found Crossroads as a registration location. Of course Harry Sully had already found Crossroads for a social center that was an institution before I came along. Another innovation was to institute a training session as part of the membership meeting. Vice Pres. Derryck Turner was very instrumental in this activity. There were just too many great things done by various individuals to remember them all.

There were a few things I did on my own. Some examples of this were building the instructors’ podium used in the classroom, building the cart on which the instructional computer and projector rest, the freestanding outdoor SeniorNet Classroom signs and many of the signs used for registration. The introduction of Name Tags at our meetings was of special interest to me as I have a hard time remembering names.

The primary achievement was the organization of SeniorNet around a new set of bylaws and letting many folks have fun volunteering to make SeniorNet what it is today. It was the willingness of so many to participate and give of their time that makes SeniorNet what it is today. I chose not to run for a second term as I wanted to share the fun with others.

HOW WE EXPANDED SENIORNET OPERATIONS

BY HELEN HESKETH

(President, 1998-2004)

Pres. Hesketh, who has a lengthy record of business and community achievements before being elected president of the SeniorNet Learning Center of Puget Sound, is now completing her third two-year term. Below is her detailed listing of SeniorNet activities since 1998, when she assumed the presidency.)

I first joined SeniorNet in 1996 where I took my first ever computer class - a Works Word Processing class with Harry Sully and then moved onto Publisher with President Cliff Wuesthoff. Computers were already a part of my life when I joined as I had first started with a Commodore in 1983 and received a PC hand me-up in 1994. The only training I had was a little coaching from a friend and all the rest was self-taught.

It was not very long and I found myself as Assistant Curriculum Coordinator, made the first analysis of the Course Evaluations and in March of 1998 I began my term as President being reelected in 2000 and again in 2002.

The vision for SeniorNet that has helped us grow, and keeps us on the straight and narrow, comes from our mission statement:

“SENIORNET OF PUGET SOUND IS AN ALL VOLUNTEER ORGANIZATION WHOSE MISSION IS TO ESTABLISH AND OPERATE A LEARNING CENTER TO PROVIDE BASIC COMPUTER EDUCATION TO FELLOW SENIORS, AGE 50 OR OLDER. OUR GOAL IS TO PROVIDE, AT MINIMAL COST, COMPUTER LITERACY TO ANY SENIOR WILLING TO LEARN.”

During March 1998 to February 1999, with a firm foundation already established from previous years, many projects were added to an already aggressive look to our future. The principals changed and Jill McLeod became our staunch backer and supporter. Our website was designed and is up and running under the supervision of Jay Schlecter, assisted by Hal Mozer and Ken Crandall. Robert Mack of KING TV aired a SeniorNet information spot. An Emergency Medical Card System was set up by Marge Langley, Member at Large, along with Classroom Emergency procedures. Kicking and screaming Bob Swensen prepared the first budget. Other officers who were part of the team were Derryck Turner, Vice President; Seena Lally, Secretary; Ken Crandall, Facilities Coordinator; Hal Mozer, Curriculum Coordinator and after little arm twisting Don Post became the Registrar. We showcased SeniorNet once again at the Overlake Senior Fair coordinated by Joe Pontecorvo, who has also served in this capacity through 2004. I participated in a week-long Microsoft Seminar, “Seniors and Technology”, held for the national SeniorNet executives. Past President Clif Wuesthoff joined me for this week and the day when the techie talk was on the agenda Ken Crandall, Facilities Coordinator was called in to interpret what is mumbo jumbo to me. New Classes were added: Word, Website Home Page, E-Mail, Internet. The monthly Online Newsletter was started by Phil Scheier who did a yeoman’s job of reporting for the next three years.

From March 1999 to February 2000 we continued to grow and prosper. Always trying to give back to our wonderful sponsor of a classroom, Phantom Lake Elementary School, we presented a Digital Camera to the school. Joe Walton, SeniorNet Learning Director Coordinator, came up from San Francisco and presented news and vision of where SeniorNet was heading in the future and then hosted all of our leadership to a Chinese luncheon at ShinLin restaurant. Class fees were studied by Clif Wuesthoff and raised by $5.00 for each course. Moving forward to the future Windows 98 was loaded on all computers. With an increased demand for more classes, three classes a day were scheduled. New Courses added were How to be an Instructor and an Internet Instructors Course, Web Site Design, File Management, Photo Editing and Scanning. We joined RSVP – Retired & Senior Volunteer Programs. Delores Davis took on the Volunteers and RSVP and has recruited many new volunteers each year. Our first joint effort for direction was achieved through Goals and Objectives where all of the members participated. SeniorNet national lowered the age to 50 for people to participate.

Don Post served as registrar for about a year and then Louise Flora, who had been monitoring the voice mail, volunteered to be coordinator. Through the next five years Louise has continued to not only register our students, but also oversees the two yearly registrations, has been an instructor and continues to serve as an assistant instructor. Louise can be found offering assistance in many projects.

Continental Breakfasts are hosted every year by SeniorNet and the Granpals coordinator for the Phantom Lake school teachers at their first meeting in August (this has been a tradition since Lyle Hernandez started it). Who would have thought that we would need Internet Security – Fire Wall and Zone Alarm programs. With the internet growth and hackers these programs were installed on the classroom computers.

The Washington Association for School Administrators (WASA) presented Helen Hesketh, president, and Pat Fitzgerald, Granpals Coordinator, the following awards for SeniorNet of Puget Sound on the 14^th day of May, 1999. The first one was a Certificate of Merit "In Recognition of Outstanding Community Leadership and Service to Education and the Young People of Washington Senior Net of Puget Sound, Bellevue School District." The second was a Plaque for top honors in the Community Leadership Award "In Recognition of Outstanding Community Leadership and Contributions

To the Improvement of Public Education 1999".

The following was said about our organization. "SeniorNet of Puget Sound has brought consistency, devotion and a long-term commitment to helping the children of Phantom Lake Elementary School.”

The partnership between a group of seniors looking for computer training and an elementary school with a large ESL (English as a Second Language) and low-income population began in 1994. In exchange for the use of space off the school's library to run computer classes for its members, SeniorNet agreed to provide classroom volunteers, at least one hour a week, primarily to read to students or be read to. When they're in classrooms, SeniorNet volunteers are called Granpals.

About 25 seniors at a time volunteer. The school says that this is enough to meet the needs of all their primary classes and provide support for the intermediates (now in 2004 with the increase of classrooms there is a need for many more).

Plaque Awarded read:

COMMUNITY LEADERSHIP AWARD

Washington Association School Administrators  WASA

Presented to Senior Net of Puget Sound, Bellevue School District

In Recognition of Outstanding Community Leadership and Contributions

To the Improvement of Public Education  1999

Certificate of Merit Awarded read:

In Recognition of Outstanding Community Leadership

And Service to Education and the Young People of Washington

Senior Net of Puget Sound, Bellevue School District

Is Hereby Awarded this Certificate by the

Washington Association for School Administrators (WASA)

Given this 14^th day of May, 1999

DAVID J. MCINTYRE HONORED

Through March 2000 to February 2001 the Brown Bag in August 2000 found Dr. David J. McIntyre honored for his early involvement both in providing classroom space and dollars for financial support..

NEW COMPUTERS

Bob Swenson submitted a grant to the Seattle Foundation and we received $18,850.00 for 13 new computers and 9 – 17” monitors. The instructors’ computer received a new hard-drive, a new projector was purchased, and the Internet DSL line added. Bill Bumpus, Vice President, Dave Lewis, Secretary, and Delores Davis, Member at Large were elected to the open positions on the board. Hal Mozer and John Wise traded placed with the Curriculum some time during this period.

February 2001 found me having a Breast Cancer surgery. For the next two months I traveled across the USA never skipping a beat with my presidency as I communicated via my laptop with all the operations, meetings, and events that were run smoothly in my absence. One of my elves, Vice President Bill Bumpus took over the running of the meetings. March 2001 was the only annual meeting that I did not bodily participate but verbally via my report I was there. Throughout the next years I frequently traveled but my laptop via email always keep me in touch with SeniorNet.

The next annual year from March 2001 to February 2002 was another eventful year.

Reflecting on the accomplishments of our learning center for the past year and serving another year as your President brings joy to my heart and a sense of accomplishment. Each year brings more challenges and our members always rise to the occasion to solve the problems and forge forward to greater achievements.

The “Best of Bellevue” lifelong learners award was accepted by Helen Hesketh for the following:

SeniorNet of Puget Sound was selected to be the recipient of the Advance Bellevue Best of Bellevue-2001 “Lifelong Learning” on April 25 at the Meydenbauer Convention Center. “Each of this year’s award recipients has contributed significant threads of competent leadership and compassion to the fabric of our community,” said Sherrie Mill, co-chairwoman of the selection committee. “A Blue Ribbon Panel of community leaders has recognized your outstanding contribution to Bellevue, and Advance Bellevue is extremely pleased to provide this wonderful venue to celebrate your leadership,” wrote Jane Kuechle, president, Advance Bellevue Board of Directors.

Ann Wrixon, the CEO, of SeniorNet national participated at a special information breakfast with the board and other active coordinators when she came up to attend the Best of Bellevue award program.

Registration location was changed to Factoria Mall. Now we are switching between Factoria and Crossroads for registrations. This was accomplished successfully thanks to Roger Dalton who makes registration look like an easy task as 100 students were registered in about an hour. Harry Shedd alternates with Roger to coordinate registration. In 2003 Factoria Mall restrictions were intolerable so we hastily found New Hope Ministries Church as the site for registration. What a stormy day that was! As we were cleaning up we lost our power. Ironically Factoria Mall had no power all morning.

Four more digital cameras were given to the school. They are in constant use for field trips, activities around the school and everything you can ever imagine.

LEADERSHIP COMMITTEE RENAMED

The criteria to serve on the leadership committee has always been somewhere out in cyberspace. As a board this problem was brainstormed, discussed and put down on paper. The leadership committee was renamed to Puget Sound Membership and all members that serve in this group have been approved by the board, have conformed to the VIBES requirements, which include the Washington State Patrol check.

Volunteer “years of service” pins were distributed to the following fifty-one members: (Some members received a lower year of service pin because the numbers that presented were for only 3, 5, 7, 10, 12 and 15 years.)

15 years -  Jiggs Clark  ;

11 years - Art Conley, Gene Rauscher, Molly Brackett, Seena Lally, Gerry Morrow, Joe Pontecorvo, Phil Scheier, Anne Scheinholz, Harry Sully, Bob Swenson , Erv Vernon;

10 years - Betty Block, Burt Block, Ray Hansen, Pat Herzog;

9 years - Lyle Hernandez, Derryck Turner;

8 years - Clif Wuesthoff;

7 years - Ron Crum, John Jenkins, Hal Mozer;

6 years - Louise Flora, Helen Hesketh, Jim Braun, Pat Braun, Kenneth Crandall, Roger Dalton, Delores Davis  , Marilyn Emerson, Marge Langley, John Stilz, George Turk;

5 years - Jay Schlechter, Milt Sessions, John Wise;

4 years - Clair Hugh, Jo Hugh, Dan Nordgren, Don Post;

3 years - Dave Lewis, Lois Farris, Joe Hesketh, Bill Bumpas, Shirley Foucht, John Freeman, Hilda Kalish, Anna Littlewood, Marge White, Dale Steen, Bill Sandstrom

Attendance at the monthly Membership meetings averages around thirty-five plus each month which is not quite half of our membership that currently is 86. 20 are new volunteers that have been added in the past year.

Bellevue’s “It’s Your City” did a television program at the school in the computer classroom and the Granpals program with students in their classrooms, and which was aired on the Bellevue channel.

A pot-luck social was enjoyed by all in June as we honored two of our faithful volunteers, Carmena Affek and Bill Flick who moved out of state. On March 19, 2002 we also honored Marilyn Emerson and Clif Wuesthoff who have also left the fold and moved to Vancouver, WA.

Joe Walton, the Director of Learning Centers, spoke at our membership meeting in June and hosted us all to lunch at the Embassy Suites.

Chuck Goldstein, built the database, and Louise Flora was also instrumental in getting this up and running and maintains the organization’s 500 member database.

Harry Shedd, coordinated the curriculum study committee of Adella Granger, Marge Langley and Hal Mozer. It proved that we are on track and that we could change a few of our courses.

The Granpals program that helps students with reading, writing, math and foreign language, continues to grow and expand. Both the teachers and the students dearly love these volunteers. This program received a Hand in Hand Intergenerational award and SeniorNet was also recognized with an award. Harry Shedd developed a Granpals brochure under the guidance of Patty Herzog, Granpals Coordinator.

“THE PLEDGE OF ALLEGIANCE BOOKS”

On January 29, 2002:

“The Pledge of Allegiance Books,” 337 of them, one for each student, were presented to students of Phantom Lake Elementary School, 1050 –160^th Ave. SE, in Bellevue, Washington, Tuesday, January 29, during a 40-minute “Pledge to America Day” program in the school gym.

Jill McLeod, principal of Phantom Lake, presided at the ceremony. The books were presented to each class by SeniorNet Pres. Helen Hesketh and each classroom teacher and Granpals received them on behalf of the class. SeniorNet conducts computer classes for seniors, 50 and over, in a classroom at the school and Granpals are members who volunteer in the Phantom Lake classrooms to help the students with literacy and math skills.

For five years I have written annual reports and I am always amazed at all that we collectively have accomplished. This year March 2002 – 2003 has been no exception. Adella Granger, Vice President; Pat Braun, Secretary filled the open positions on the board. Fran Middleton, Ebay consultant, for the national organization presented the program at the annual meeting and a training session in the classroom the next day. Ross Roberts rose to the challenge and designed an Ebay class.

More memory and Deep Freeze was added to the computers, a new instructor’s computer purchased, and Microsoft’s newest Windows XP Operating system added to upgrade the students’ computers

Of course, the big one that had many on edge was the move of the classroom during the April 2002 spring break to the old Bellewood School grounds, a temporary facility with the Phantom Lake School. This was preceded with a walk from Phantom Lake School to the new facility for a rally with Police escort, a majorette, Jill, and the students, Granpals and our members. The move was accomplished with ease thanks to the cooperation and assistance of our marvelous sponsor, Jill McLeod and with the cooperation of her elves.

To make this transition go smoothly required packing up the classroom, marking all the computers and wiring before packing computers by many of our members. September 2003 is the scheduled reopening of our Learning Center back on the old stomping grounds of Phantom Lake Elementary School. We were fortunate to move into a large Portable. Plus new student chairs were given to us by the school.

At the Brown Bag in August 2002, Jill McLeod, principal, Phantom Lake Elementary School, was honored for her support and assistance to SeniorNet in sponsoring us with our Learning Center classroom.

October 2002 President Helen attended the SeniorNet Connecticut Regional Conference where she received information about other Learning Centers. We also received an affirmation that we are way ahead of most of the centers around in our curriculum, in number of courses, in volunteers, in our financial stability, the number of instructors and assistants, and in the administrative management. She also gave a well-received 45 minute presentation about our SeniorNet of Puget Sound Learning Center at the conference.

So that our instructors and assistants could attend the board, kaffee klatches, and membership meetings no classes were scheduled on Tuesday mornings.

We have approximately 80 members on the Puget Sound membership list. Many new instructors have been recruited.

Jiggs Clark, our founder, continues to participate and promote us even though he cannot attend our meetings. He places flyers at the Horizon House Computer Club. He is also a continual cheerleader of all we are doing.

The flyer was revised by Bill Kyle who had to leave us because of family problems. Marge Langley designed a tear off flyer to put in stores, libraries, etc.

CRP classes for our instructors, assistant, Granpals, and any of our members were set up by Jim Braun. Two sessions of 22 in each class received this life saving training. Let’s hope we never have to use it.

The instructors computer was replaced. Other improvements were made in programs and to our student’s computers. A much needed Instructor’s chair replaced the old before it collapsed into a heap of wood with an instructor on the floor.

A goodbye potluck was held to honor one of our presidents, Lyle Hernandez, who moved to Florida and his enthusiasm was overwhelming about going to clown school.

Ray French. coordinator of Instructors named Bill McPherson coordinator of Word and Dick Thompson, Windows Coordinator. They updated and revised the outlines with the assistance of their respective committees.

Microsoft Community Affairs organization donated Front Page 2002, Office SX Professional, and Publisher 2002 with a market value of $12,278 thanks to the efforts of Ross Roberts.

Our national organization, SeniorNet and your national dues make possible the updated programs that we receive each year and are used in the classroom.

We participated in our first Roots Fair last weekend at the Crossroads Mall at the suggestion of Gordon Young and under the supervision of John and Laura Wise with many of our members there to meet and greet those interested.

March 2003 to March 2004 was another busy year. We began this year in the portable in our temporary location. As the saying goes – We’ve come a long ways baby! Our biggest challenge and goal was to have a smooth transition back into Phantom Lake. June found us doing just this - packing up and moving and in August the computers were up and running again in a dream classroom. All new computer tables and comfortable chairs. Who had heard of a SmartBoard before we moved and now we are using it as a teaching tool. Also a permanent projector from the ceiling and an amplifying system if we need it. A room with a sink, hot water and loads of storage cabinets. Tables in the back of the room and ample room for the coffee break. We can never thank Jill and Phantom Lake Elementary School enough for all that has been made possible for us.

And if this was not enough Helen’s six year presidency at the annual meeting ended with Jill McLeod, Principal of Phantom Lake Elementary School and Jack McLeod, Director of Facilities for the Bellevue School District presented us with not one large box but two. Ken Crandall, Facilities Coordinator, was selected to open these boxs and found inside a a new Dell computer and a 17 inch flat screen LCD monitor. Then Jill announced that we have not just one but that Dell had donated 18 computers and monitors to the SeniorNet classroom.

THE DELL’S ARRIVE

Our classroom has PC’s and various models of monitors. Recently a group from Dell toured the newly constructed Phantom Lake School where in every classroom is all the latest technology with all new Dell computers and SmartBoards. When the group from Dell asked about our equipment and why we didn’t have Dell’s they were told that we operated independently  from the school. As they left they said we’ll have to do something about that. And that they did!

Joe Hesketh has been filling in as the Public Relations person designing newspaper ads, a Power Point presentation entitled Computer Fun and Excitement that he and Helen present to clubs, organizations and at fairs. He and also designed and maintains the new Display Board used at the fairs, workshops and at organizations where presentations are made.

When Phil Scheier retired from the online newsletter, President Helen edited it as an interim editor. However that interim turned into over a year and now that her presidency is over it is time for someone else to step to the plate. Clif, who emailed the newsletter also retired with Phil and Ken Crandall took over and transferred all the names into another file. He was fortunate that we replaced him with Bob Balsley who has been cleaning up the list and sends it off each month.

Through the year we support Phantom Lake with gifts that can be used by the school. This year we supported the school by donating $1000.00 used to purchase library books, purchased a scanner for the library, and in September gave another donation of $500.00 which also went to the library. In addition donations by classroom students, and our SeniorNet members amounting to $549.00 was given to the Triathlon event and $135.00 was netted from the Grab Bags for the school lunch program that was prepared by Marge Langley at the Brown Bag.

Class fees were studied and the prices were dropped. A first aid kit was added to the classroom along with rescue breathers for mouth to mouth. Our Sunshine Lady, Louise Flora, sends cards.

Some suggestions from the Goals and Objectives were accomplished (in addition to the move):

A Training for Class Assistants – Harry Shedd led a very informative and successful training for the assistants.

Lecture Series Monthly – This has been accomplished by several workshops held in the libraries coordinated by John Wise. Also is a great testing ground for new classes.

Open Labs weekly – have proved to be very popular as they were started up again in February. With the next scheduling period every other Tuesday morning from 9:30 to noon (and also if there is a fifth Tuesday in the month) there are usually 20 plus students and 10 instructors and assistants – give or take helping with the problems. Adella Granger has been responsible for coordinating this very successful lab assistance program.

A list of members willing to assist students at home was developed and placed in a binder that is in the back of the classroom by Ken Crandall and already has proved to be helpful to many of our members and students. Some of our members go to people’s homes to assist with their computer problems and in turn donations are given to SeniorNet for their services. A special thanks goes to Ross Roberts and Hal Mozer for the many dollars that has been donated to SeniorNet from the services they have provided.

Donations have been received on a quarterly basis from the United Funds matching funds where someone in Microsoft has designated their donation to SeniorNet and Microsoft has matched their donation.

Currently registration has recuperated and most classes are full. A great recovery from registration in 2001-2002 when it was on a downslide with only half of the available slots filled and some classes have had to be cancelled for lack of interest in the course or not enough students registering.

Under Curriculum Coordinator, John Wise classes continue to be added and names changed. Among some of those are: What’s My Stuff (File Management), Using the Internet for Information and Fun (Internet), Quicken changed to Tracking Your Investments and Managing Your Finances with Quicken, Excel programs by Ross Roberts – Playing With Numbers and Presenting Your Numbers, Potpourri of Essentials developed by Marge Langley; Travel Planning Workshop by Joe Hesketh, and Electronic Email Basics.

Also the old standbys draw students to class: All the Windows classes, Word Processing, Publishing Projects, Greeting Cards, Database Management, Photo Editing and Scanning, Web Site design, Email Classes, Write Your Life Story and the Next Steps, and Genealogy.

Some jobs are behind the scenes and our thanks go to Frank and Juanita Alexander for keeping the coffee and forms supplies up and running in the classroom; to Laura Wise who appears out of no where sometimes and is flashing pictures with her digital camera; to Joe Hesketh who comes to my aid in so many little ways and also chairs the audit committee along with Bill Bumpus and in 2004 Adella Granger joined them to learn a little more about SeniorNet. Clair Hugh spends many hours producing the catalog and newsletter with the able assistance of his wife, Jo, who does all the editing – a round of applause to both of you; for the name tags at all the meetings – Joann Tuttle; and the voice on the end of the line, Gerry Williams takes the messages, sends out catalogs and works with the registration. New Granpal name tags were made by Ross Roberts and Harry Shedd.

OUR UNSUNG HEROS

This a tribute to the behind the scenes spouses, our unsung heros, of all of our volunteers who give of their time and energy. We thank them for us for sharing you with us.

A big thank you to goes to Phil Schirer who has been patiently waiting for me to complete my part of this history. He turned it over to me in the early part of 2003 and because of health reasons I could not complete it. My apologies.

Gene Rauscher, Past Learning Center Coordinator; and Harry Sully, one of the original members left our organization for their eternal reward.

OUR VOLUNTEERS

A deep appreciation goes to our volunteers because not one of all of the accomplishments could have taken place if it were not for the seventy plus volunteers that are now registered on our membership roster.

RSVP VOLUNTEERS OF THE YEAR

(Some of our members were selected for honorable mention and some were the outstanding volunteers receiving the top award for King County.)

KEN CRANDALL                RECEIVED HONORABLE MENTION                 2000

SeniorNet of Puget Sound, a group of seniors 50 and over, who teach seniors how to use computers, nominates Ken Crandall for the King County RSVP Volunteer of they Year 2000 award. Ken first appeared on the scene of SeniorNet in 1995 after he retired. He just went from one job to learning another. The job now being to maintain, fix and “talk” to computers that needed tender loving care, and to help Seniors who start their journey to learn to navigate the new computers they have purchased or received from family members to better communicate with them.

Ken’s untiring efforts in keeping the 13 computers up and running single-handedly most of the time is responsible for the growth of our classes and the increasing number of students who participate. We consistently have an almost completely booked schedule of courses with waiting lists. Without Ken’s knowledge of repairing computers this would not be possible. Actually, it would be impossible.

The above reasons only scratch the surface of why we have placed Ken Crandall in nomination for the King County RSVP Outstanding Volunteer of the Year 2000 Award. His sharpness and alertness have been an infectious part of building our community of volunteers in SeniorNet of Puget Sound and we would appreciate the opportunity of having him so recognized for his unselfish giving. He is really the glue that keeps our program continuing to improve and provide information, understanding and joy to many student seniors and volunteers.

For over five years since Ken retired he has constantly attended to our facilities. Nursing “dead” computers that should be in “computer heaven” back to life because of their age. Our computers proved that with tender loving care they could be like the cat that has nine lives.

Ken Crandall devotes all of his spare time and even when he really doesn’t have any free time he still makes it to keep the computers up and running. When an instructor encounters a problem he jumps in his truck and immediately comes to the learning center to rescue or at least give “first aid” to the computer until he can cure it completely. We often wonder if he has a special invisible bed in the classroom as he spends most of his waking hours keeping the computers up and running. To put a dollar amount or a time count on how much he has shared with the group in the five years that he has been a faithful volunteer is difficult. Combining his service as Facility Coordinator, on the Senior Net of Puget Sound Board of Directors, Instructor, and consultant to many of our members a rough estimate over the past five years of his time willingly contributed is seven thousand nine hundred hours.

In Ken’s own words he said, “I act (what an understatement) as the facility coordinator to direct the effort to keep the classroom computers operating properly”. He takes this responsibility seriously and being a perfectionist he frequently spends many hours at home working on the computer that has been a “headache”. His goal is to work through the problem from beginning to end and to have a completed well running product in the end. His mind is always working and in gear.

He is always the happy cheerful volunteer that oozes dedication and is the one we turn to when we want the job done efficiently and precisely even when it is something other that looking into the face of the computer.

Ken has developed and taught several workshops. Among those are using e-mail, how to select an Internet Service Provider (ISP), computer maintenance and a very recent concern by many pushed him into investigating and teaching a class on Internet security.

Ken Crandall has provided his technical knowledge about not only the “outside” of the computer but also the “inside” to our SeniorNet volunteers and has assisted the people in the Phantom Lake School where our learning center is located. He even goes to the homes of our students who need a little extra care. This has impacted our community by allowing the learning center to bring into being many senior citizens who now have learned how to control the “monster computer” and to relieve their fears. Our community of citizens have been able to communicate better more efficiently with each and they no longer feel stranded and alone within their four walls. They can now can view their stocks on the internet, keep track of their finances, visit chat rooms and send e-mail to their children and friends. In other words Ken has been the catalyst in building better communities and communications within our world especially for seniors.

The long-lasting effects of his contribution as Facilities Coordinator has seen our classroom improve in efficiency as his insightfulness allowed a network system to be installed. He continually studies and investigates what the future has in store for the classroom. With his consistent prodding and knowledge his vision of bringing better equipment to the classroom has been realized this year. One result has been that 13 new computers have been installed this summer - thus bringing more uniformity to our classroom.

Ken is visible in his neighborhood as you find him unselfishly helping his neighbors. In addition, he finds time to work on the computers at the church where is an active member. Everyone knows Ken and admire his endless talents and capabilities. His endless energy and infectious smile brings joy to those who he meets and greets.

DELORES DAVIS                RECEIVED HONORABLE MENTION                 2001

SeniorNet of Puget Sound, a group of seniors 50 and over, who teach seniors how to use computers, nominates Delores Davis for the King County RSVP Outstanding Volunteer of the Year 2001 award. Delores first appeared on the scene of SeniorNet about eight years ago after retiring from the University of Washington. She started out by taking some computer classes and soon found herself teaching other seniors what she had just learned. She helped Seniors start their journey to learn to navigate the new computers they have purchased or received from family members.

She is the Volunteer Coordinator for us and through her efforts the SeniorNet volunteer staff continues to grow. We would appreciate the opportunity of having her so recognized for her unselfish giving.

Delores has been an instructor and an assistant instructor in many of our classes throughout the past seven years. She spends endless hours writing, updating, and revising her classroom material each time she volunteers to teach a course.

In addition, she instigated and coordinated the Brown Bag Social for the past six years. It is here that our members and upcoming students enjoy an August summer day socializing and eating but more importantly Delores enlists the assistance of many of our members to put on workshops of many of the latest upcoming computer programs.

Two years ago when the Volunteer Coordinator resigned Delores volunteered to tackle the huge job of coordinating this position. She graciously dove into the task by developing a way of work, solicited all of the officers and board members to write job descriptions of what they were responsible for and went about finding people to fill positions that needed more help. When we joined RSVP, Delores became the contact person for accumulating the hours that are reported monthly.

She presently serves on the Board of Directors as Member-at-large.

The approximate total hours contributed for all she has done throughout the years is around two thousand. However she probably does much more behind the scenes that we do not know about and that would add to her hours. 

In our organization Delores develops a friendly atmosphere with her students thereby making it easier of them to listen and participate in the computer work. By teaching these classes our students are now more proficient with their email, on the internet, and some even write their family history.

In the community Delores has taught computer in past years at the Senior Center in the Central area and at the Bellevue Senior Center. Helping them to learn so they can become more productive and more knowledgeable in the work arena thereby enabling them to become employable if they so desire.

HELEN HESKETH                           KING COUNTY RSVP ORGANIZATIONAL

                                                            VOLUNTEER OF THE YEAR 2002

SeniorNet of Puget Sound, a group of seniors 50 and over, who teach seniors how to use computers, nominates Helen Hesketh for the King County RSVP Volunteer of they Year 2002 award. Helen first joined SeniorNet in 1995 as a student. The Board of SeniorNet soon recognized her skills not only on the computer but also in the leadership field and she was soon tapped on the shoulder to serve in other capacities.

Through her efforts in the classroom many Seniors have been helped through their problems in the classroom and she encourages them to keep on truckin’. In the words of one student, “Helen gives us hope and encouragement to learn in spite of my insecurities.”

Helen is being placed in nomination for the King County RSVP Volunteer of the Year 2002 Award because of her outstanding leadership ability to gather people together to work as a team. In the past five years SeniorNet has grown from 40 volunteers to 80 and through teamwork she has guided the board members together to coordinate their efforts to support the volunteers in various activities, the end result being an active vibrant group of Senior volunteers with far reaching results.

Through her sharpness and alertness in keeping on top of all the latest happenings the Learning Center has grown. This has all been done with fun as her motto. The unselfish giving of her time, energy and caring are only a few of the reasons we would appreciate having her recognized this year.

During the seven years that Helen has been active she has served at an Assistant Curriculum Coordinator. In the classroom she is an Assistant in the Internet classes, as well as Word Processing and AOL email. Caring and concern for the students in demonstrated in her patience in helping them to learn.

Serving as President over the past five years (with one more to go) many changes have taken place. Under her leadership the Learning Center received a grant to replace the thirteen computers with powerful new equipment, more instructors have been added, several awards have been received for the outstanding job that is being done with the senior population, a database has been established, our center joined RSVP, several studies have taken place in effort to keep our learning center on the cutting edge of what is happening in the world of computers and how they affect our senior population, and many other ideas too numerous to mention have been put into action to establish a smooth running organization. She takes her position of leadership seriously and demonstrates responsibility over and over again especially the day she attended and ran the membership only four days after having a cancer surgery. One could truthfully say her mind is always in gear and working. Even while traveling she directs and keeps the group in shipshape via email.

She truly enjoys her volunteerism, is a cheerful giver and is dedicated, and has a kind word for everyone. Thank you and not taking all the credit for the accomplishments is her way of life.

Estimated total hours freely given for all that she has contributed throughout the years is about two thousand. But if we could look into her home and really count the total hours, there would be many more to add to that total.

In our group of Seniors Helen has been able to bring Seniors together to enjoy not only the computer and how to use it but also to enjoy each other’s company and many develop new friends. For some it has given them a way to overcome their loneliness. His endless energy and infectious smile brings joy to those who he meets and greets.

In her community she is familiar to many as she is active in her church in preparing couples for marriage and is not only a reader of scripture but is responsible along with her husband for the training and scheduling of readers of the scripture

LOUISE FLORA                               KING COUNTY RSVP ORGANIZATIONAL

                                                            VOLUNTEER OF THE YEAR 2003            

SeniorNet of Puget Sound, a group of seniors 50 and over, who teach seniors how to use computers, nominates Louise Flora for the King County RSVP Outstanding Organizational Volunteer of the Year 2003 award. Louise first appeared on the scene of SeniorNet in 1995 as a student. She started out by taking some computer classes and soon found herself helping instructors by assisting other seniors with what she had just learned.

Currently she serves as Registration Coordinator and for her spectacular service and outstanding efforts are the reasons we are nominating her this year. She was selected by the membership as the “pick for this year”. We would appreciate the opportunity of having her so recognized for her unselfish giving.

She began assisting the Registrar by answering the voice mail phone and sending out our catalogs for registration that were requested. When the Registration Coordinator’s position needed to be filled Louise stepped up to the plate in 1999 and has served in this capacity since that time.

Louise as the Registration Coordinator has a tremendous job to handle and does a yeoman’s job with all the coordination that is necessary to keep everything running smoothly. Coordinating two registration days a year with about 30 volunteers all working at the same time for three hours is only one of her duties. Registration each year entails about 300 students for thirty to forty classes each semester. Keeping everyone in the correct class, handling all the money, informing the instructors with the information about each class, and keeping everyone smiling and happy are among some of ways she keeps the registration operation running smoothly. In addition she spends hours on the phone being sure the student is assigned to the correct class. The data in the database that has designed about four years ago was all entered by Louise and she is the one that keeps it up-to-date.

At the fairs and events where SeniorNet is promoted Louise can be found talking and selling computer classes to people that walk by. She is an excellent recruiter to be sure the classes are filled. There are about five or six of these promotions a year. She also has come up with many innovative ideas for ways to interest students in participating in classes and each week she can be found in the classroom with her scheduling notebook talking to people about signing up for another class. Speaking of the classroom you can also find her in there from time to time serving as an assistant instructor or taking a computer class to keep current on all the latest technology.

In addition, she grows flowers and supplies the floral decorations for our annual Brown Bag Social and has done that each year for about five years. It is here that our members and upcoming students enjoy an August summer day socializing and eating but more importantly Louise is there enlisting people to sign up for classes. As Sunshine Chair she not only sends out cards as needed to the sick, etc., but she also makes sure our 70 or so members receive birthday cards. The use of the club house in the community where she resides is donated by Louise for our pot luck socials.

Another of her duties is to serve on the Board of Directors that meets every month.

The approximate total hours contributed for all she has done throughout the years is around three thousand five hundred. However she does much more behind the scenes that we do not know about and that would add to her hours. 

In our organization Louise makes everyone feel welcome, wanted and needed. In the community she is active in the home owners association where she lives. You will also find her baking brownies, making a salad or whatever is needed when there is a funeral in her church parish.

 (Below, is the earlier history written by Hal Mozer in 1998 for the organizations 12^th anniversary celebration.)

Our 12-YearSeniorNet History
1986 to 1998

By HAL MOZER

Hal Mozer has long been a reliable standby taking on a large variety of assignments, challenges, whatever. This includes writing the first SeniorNet history in 1998 at the group’s 12^th anniversary, teaching a variety of courses, working with Jay Schlechter and Ken Crandall in creating and maintaining the SeniorNet website, curriculum coordinator etc etc.)

The beginnings:
San Francisco - 1986 - SeniorNet founded by Dr. Mary Furlong.
Seattle - June 28, 1986 - SeniorNet learning center in Seattle founded by Jiggs Clark, who had read about SeniorNet in an Apple magazine given to him by his business partner.

The NET in SeniorNet
From the beginning, being on-line, networked, that is, was a focus of SeniorNet
Delphi was the first on-line service
AOL replaced Delphi in 1991
Now the emphasis is on the Internet

SeniorNet is about people helping people

Some early (1986-1994) Puget Sound leadership people who are still active (I hope those I missed will forgive me!):
Jiggs Clark - founder and Site Coordinator, 1986-1992
Gene Rauscher - Site Coordinator. 1992-1994
Lyle Hernandez - Site Coordinator. 1994-1996
Molly Brackett - volunteer Office Manager who was later asked to take on daily responsibilities and was the first and only paid staff. - I think she really ran the organization in those early years
E.A. Brown, Bob Swenson, Erv Vernon, Harry Sully, Phil Scheier, Joe
Pontecorvo, Art Conley, Ray Hansen are among the leaders mentioned in the early history.

1994 - Lyle Hernandez becomes Site Coordinator.
1996 - Clif Wuestoff becomes president, the title change reflecting the
fast-growing organization
1998 - Helen Hesketh becomes President
SeniorNet is about people helping people
1989-1994 -- Dr. David McIntyre, a Bellevue ophthalmologist with broad
public service interests, provided space for our learning center.  We may
not have been here today if it wasn’t for Dr. McIntyre’s interest and
generosity for some five years!

Milestones and some obstacles:
1988 - First national conference
Seattle one of 12 sites nationally
1990 - First Seattle “graduating class”
1992 - Courses included Intro to DOS; Database Management; Spreadsheets;
Telecommunications; Word Processing
Macintosh classes were taught at Forest Ridge school
1994 - Crisis - Dr. McIntyre clinic expanding -- we need a new home.  The June 1994 Newsletter reports “rumors of our death greatly exaggerated” after Phantom Lake classroom is obtained. Granpals was started in 1994 with Virginia Fusselman as Program Coordinator
1995 - Windows 3.1 and Quicken classes were added to the curriculum
1996-New by-laws for SeniorNet of Puget Sound were adopted to provide a leadership structure to manage a growing operation.
Windows 95 courses were introduced.
We had our 10th Anniversary Social Event.
In November we moved class Registration from the Bellevue Senior Center to the Crossroads Mall.
1997-Windows 95 Intermediate, Quicken Plus and Genealogy courses were introduced.
September 10, 1997 Governor Locke visits us
1998-Record class registration and attendance
Computers significantly upgraded
A new crisis is looming as we need to find new classroom space in 2 years when Phantom Lake school is shut down for demolition with a new building rising on the same site.

(Editor’s note: The below was written prior to SeniorNet’s move with the Phantom Lake School to the current interim site, and the next move expected in 2003 back to the new, larger school on the same site.)

Reflections on our history:

I could not read the details about our history without being most impressed with the vision, hard work and dedication of the people who made SeniorNet and the Puget Sound Learning Center the successful operations they are today.

AND---DID YOU KNOW THAT--?

Facts collected by SeniorNet National:

• There are 70 million people over the age of 50, representing 25 percent of the adult population (US Census Bureau)
• Older adults are the fastest growing population. (US Census Bureau)
• Someone turns 50 in the U. S. every 7 seconds. (US Census Bureau)
• The over-65 demographic is one of the fastest-growing on the Web (The Wall Street Journal)
• Seniors spend more time online than the average population – over 13 hours a month, compared with under 12 hours for the overall population (Nielsen/NetRatings)
• Adults over 50 are the demographic market most likely to make a purchase online (Lou Harris)
• 40% of those over 50 own computers (SeniorNet and Charles Schwab & Co., Inc.)
• In 1995 there were 600,000 people over 50 online and in 1998 there were 13 million (Nielsen Media)
• For older adults the most popular activity on the Internet is email. The second most popular activity is research on a variety of consumer issues (SeniorNet and Charles Schwab & Co., Inc.)
• Just 13% of those over age 65 have Internet access, compared to 65% of those under age 30. People aged 50 and over make up half of the non-online population. (Source: Pew Internet & American Life Project, September 2000)
• Just 27% of those aged 60 and over have access to computers at home or at work, while some 78% of those under age 30 have the same access. (Source: Pew Internet & American Life Project, September 2000)
• Seven baby boomers will turn 50 every minute between now and 2014. They account for 74% of personal financial assets, 50% of discretionary income, 65% of cruise travel, 48% of luxury car sales, and 77% of prescription drug sales. (Source: Future Dialogue, The Intelligence Factory, December 2000)

Adults over 50 are the demographic market most likely to make a purchase online (Lou Harris) 40% of those over 50 own computers (SeniorNet and Charles Schwab & Co., Inc.)

In 1995 there were 600,000 people over 50 online and in 1998 there were 13 million (Nielsen Media)

For older adults the most popular activity on the Internet is email. The second most popular activity is research on a variety of consumer issues (SeniorNet and Charles Schwab & Co., Inc.) Just 13% of those over age 65 have Internet access, compared to 65% of those under age 30. People aged 50 and over make up half of the non-online population. (Source: Pew Internet & American Life Project, September 2000)

Just 27% of those aged 60 and over have access to computers at home or at work, while some 78% of those under age 30 have the same access. (Source: Pew Internet & American Life Project, September 2000)

Seven baby boomers will turn 50 every minute between now and 2014. They account for 74% of personal financial assets, 50% of discretionary income, 65% of cruise travel, 48% of luxury car sales, and 77% of prescription drug sales. (Source: Future Dialogue, The Intelligence Factory, December 2000)