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Where skilled volunteer seniors teach seniors to use, enjoy computers

Jan. 1, 2005, Vol. 6; Issue #1;  Mail: PMB 705, 15600 NE 8^th, Suite B-1, Bellevue, WA 98008-3958

Voice Mail: 206-232-5892; Email: senior@seniornetps.org; Phantom Lake Elementary School, Bellevue

For detailed Information, Class Schedules: http://www.seniornetps.org/

By PHIL SCHEIER, Editor

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EAGER STUDENTS LINE UP EARLY BEFORE

START OF DEC. 9 RECORD REGISTRATION

The record  Dec. 9^th registration by the all-volunteer SeniorNet Computer Learning Center  for Winter and Spring classes dramatically confirmed that more and more active seniors are determined to achieve a greater level of independence by reaching out to the world by learning to operate computers, the magic carpet to develop new contacts, renew old friendships and new interests..

"When the doors opened at 9:30 am, 30 minutes before the start of registration, there were 75 people waiting outside, ready and eager to sign up," according to Registrar Louise Flora.  "By the official starting time of 10 am, some 110 enthusiastic students had come through the door of the registration site at the New Hope Ministries Church, Bellevue. By 10:15, the first registrants had been processed and were making way for more arrivals.  By Noon, the official end of the in-person registration period, almost 200 students had signed for the 42 classes we are offering this session," Flora said.

Many of the classes were filled in the first two hours of registration, she added, with the Bellevue-based SeniorNet welcoming 90 new members, another record. SeniorNet is located at the new Phantom Lake Elementary School in Bellevue, with the large classroom providing 18 new Dell computers for hands-on learning, flat-screen monitors and printers. The instructor's computer is linked to a projector so students can follow each keyboard/cursor move on a wall-size screen. A large group of skilled volunteer teachers, all seniors also, is often aided by equally skilled assistants available to quietly walk to the side of a student asking for extra help.

With the winter weather, the SeniorNet registration team had provided hot coffee and pastry, making a double welcome for chilled registrants coming in out of the cold.

SeniorNet Pres. Adella Granger hailed the record registration, which saw many of the classes filled in the first hours. She thanked the registration team, led by Registrar Flora for its ability to smoothly process the much higher than expected turnout of incoming students.  "It is heartening and very encouraging particularly that increasing number of seniors have seen other family members, including young children, master computer operations, and decide to jump in and join in the fun of learning."  She credited the growth of the all-volunteer SeniorNet Centeron word-of-mouth publicity by those who have taken the courses, or are now in the learning process, and by several newspaper articles and ads. Curriculum Coordinator is John Wise who listens closely to what current and future students are most interested in learning, with changes made in courses to meet this demand. Registrar Flora said while many classes are full, some vacancies still exist in other classes.

And which computer classes are most preferred?

The most sought-after classes, she said, are "by a landslide Photo Editing and Burning CD's are the most popular. Both are full with at least eight on the wait lists for both classes of Photo Editing & Burning CD's.

"All Introduction to Windows XP classes are full some with waiting lists and we haven't even begun the session.  Windows 98/ME class is almost full - there are still folks out there who have not gone to XP.   Managing your Finances  (Quicken) is full.  Word Processing classes are popular this time with only a couple openings, Intermediate Word Processing is full, and of course, the ever-popular Where's My Stuff (File Management) is full.

"However," she emphasized,  "there are still classes open - AOL and Beyond learning both basic and advanced feature of this popular E-mail program.  Among the topics will be address book, Instant Messaging and some tips on how to navigate the Net through the AOL Home Page.  You know how expensive greeting cards are - why not learn how to make your own in our Greeting Cards Class.  This class is taught by a team of experts and you will learn many tricks on how to be creative with your computer.  Are you planning to travel in 2005?  Then the Travel Planning class is for you.  You will learn how to use your computer to find tourist attractions, B&B's, hotels, etc. while en route or after you arrive at your destination.  Much of the fun of travel is the planning and anticipation.  This is the class for that.

"Just call the voice mail (206) 232-5892 to inquire what is available or check our web site www.seniornetps.org  - we look forward to seeing you in class during the New Year," Flora urged.

SENIORNET ACHIEVEMENTS RECOGNIZED

IN TIMES, P-I AND KCJ NEWS STORIES

Prominent stories on the learning opportunities at the Bellevue-based SeniorNet Computer Learning Center in the region's major daily newspapers, before and after our Dec. 9^th registration, was credited in part for the record turnout of almost 200 seniors lining up to sign up for the winter-spring computer classes, with inquiries continuing to come in at press time from prospective students.

Initial press releases were sent out on the Dec. 9^th in-person registration at the nearby New Hope Ministries Church a week earlier to alert editors on story and photo possibilities and as a service to area seniors, 50 and over.

The first story appeared Dec. 8^th in The Seattle Times with a three-column headline, plus a large photograph, and details on the next day's registration in a special box, and was written by Kelly Kearsley. Shortly after the paper hit the streets that Wednesday morning, phone calls began coming into our voice mail at 206-232-5892, according to Registrar Louise Flora. This, she said, was a sign there would be a heavier-than-expected registration the following day. She was right.

The second story appeared in The Seattle P-I on Dec. 14, also with a huge top of the page four-column headline and four-column photograph to match, and written by Jake Ellison. Also included was a special information box, "To Learn More," with details for those wishing more information and including our voice mail phone plus our web site URL. Another great public service for area seniors who may have been pondering whether to embark into the computer age, and if so, how to get started.

At press time for this newsletter, The King County Journal's David Grant was working up information on SeniorNet, with a photo already taken, for a story scheduled to appear shortly.

Public Relations Coordinator Helen Hesketh hailed the results of these news stories, coupled with ads previously run, along with word-of-mouth information among other seniors.

YOUR SENIORNET DATE BOOK

Kaffee Klatch Tuesday, Jan. 4, at 11:30 am

Crossroads Bellevue Mall Food Court

156^th Ave. NE, at NE 8^th St, Bellevue

No-host social, meet fellow seniors, chat, enjoy. All welcome!

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Membership Meeting, Tuesday, Jan. 18^th, at 10 am

New Hope Ministries Church

15760 NE 4^th St. Bellevue

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                                  Got computer problems? Visit free Lab Classes for help!

Bring your questions on software, hardware, programs!

SeniorNet instructors will be available for personal help

Classes will be held on the second, fourth and fifth Tuesday, Jan., 11 through May 31.

AND DID YOU KNOW-----????

THAT when a teacher comes right out and says he or she learned a lot just by teaching, that is the mark of a good teacher. GORDON YOUNG who retired in 1995 from Boeing as a systems analyst in various computing areas, and before that in Industrial Engineering there, is that kind of a typical teacher at the all-volunteer SeniorNet Computer Learning Center. How did he first discover SeniorNet?  "I first learned of SeniorNet from CURRICULUM COORDINATOR JOHN WISE. A few years ago, he had asked me to join and to teach Word. I resisted for awhile and then finally started attending meetings. I then began to assist in several Word classes - and I learned quite a bit. In fact, I still learn more and more about Word when I assist in those classes." Right now, the versatile Young has been teacing Word for about a year, and also assists in the Introduction to Windows XP, Using XP, and Photo Editing classes. In addition he serves as a Board Member at-Large, and as Instructor Coordinator. An Air Force veteran, he had asked this writer about the b26flyer email name. Young recalled the short time he spent flying aboard the B26 Martin Marauder medium bomber:

"For a short time while I was in the Air Force," he recalled to this writer who had enjoyed riding aboard that plane for a few years in the 1940s.  "I was stationed at an Air Base in Newcastle, Delaware. It was with an activated National Guard squadron that flew B-26's that were converted to tow target aircraft. We had 36 aircraft and the most they could get in commission at any one time was 8. I did fly three times, once in the little metal bicycle seat in the front. That was the time that I did not have any earphones on. The B-26 is the second loudest plane the Air Force had, the B-25 was louder. For the next two flights, a friend and I rode on the bomb bay, with earphones that reduced the sound level so that my ears did not ring for two days afterward. I only spent five weeks there and was then transferred to Japan."

THAT six or seven years ago, SHIRLEY FOUCHT  recalls, it was her son who first urged her to start getting familiar with computer operations, because "someday my telephone might be connected to it, and I felt if I didn't know anything about how to run a computer, I was going to be really all alone in my old age!!!  Scared me!!!  So she started lookng around, somehow learned about SeniorNet and joined up some six years ago. She became further involved when CLIF WUESTHOFF who was teaching the publishing class, and MARGE LANGLEY, his assistant, became her "pushers" to become more involved in the group. Which she certainly has assisting in classes and working on the Brown Bag party this past year.   Before signing up with SeniorNet, however, Foucht led an eventful life as a nurse, and also traveling with her husband who was a Naval aviator during the Korean war and later was in the U.S. diplomatic service.

"We moved every three years,," she recalled. "Corpus Christi, Texas, then back to San Diego, up north to Alameda, down to Monterey CA. from there back to San Diego, CA.  Then over to Tokyo, Japan for three years attached to the U.S. Embassy, back to Monterey, and then  to Hawaii for three years.  From there to the University of Washington as exec officer of the ROTC for three years, and then it was retirement time. So have lived here since 1971. How many years does it take to be a north westerner...??? During  college, I was in business, working for a lawyer, then worked in San Francisco....finally ended up in nursing. Tennis and computers are my outside interest, plus nine grandchildren from my four children." During their years in Tokyo, Foucht worked with the wounded arrivng from Vietnam being treated at Tachikawa Hospital out of Tokyo. As part of her husband's duties with the Military Aid and Advisory Group, (MAAG JAPAN) they also attended many cocktail parties at the embassy, with Shirley taking lessons in Japanese. 

THAT the person who made the growing SeniorNet Computer Learning Center first happen some 16 years ago, JIGGS CLARK, has sent his holiday greetings to all. He and MARY JANE reside in Horizon House in Seattle. In his letter, he writes in part: "The normal aging process is taking place, so my spouse, Mary Jane, and I stay fairly close to our new apartment...I think of all you folks in Bellevue and thank you for your service to SeniorNet and making it grow, and send my regards." In his whimsical holiday newsletter writes that Santa and his sled, and his 14 elves now all have Master in Business Admnistration degrees from top universities."Transportation and freight equipment includes six Boeing 767S planes, plus a Concorde donated by the French government...."  Jiggs, always the visionary working to make things happen, as he did when he launched SeniorNet in Puget Sound, one of the first chapters organized of the new-born national program. Thanks Jiggs, from all of us.

THAT the always fast-moving VICE PRES. DELORES DAVIS finished the recent Seattle Half Marathon Walk  of 13 ½ miles, first in her age and gender division in just four hours,19 minutes and 19 seconds. Davis completed the 13 ½ mile marathon which benefits the Childhood Cancer Foundation of Puget Sound. There was an estimated 2,600 participants in all the events, with 732 in the marathon walk with her.  Our congratulations.

THAT CURRICULUM COORDINATOR JOHN WISE was recently honored by the Retired Senior Volunteer Program (RSVP) at the annual celebration of RSVP volunteers for his long-time work with SeniorNet. And he was pictured right on Page 1 of the organization's newspaper,  RSVP Experience in Action! With others honored for this recognition. He was nominated by the SeniorNet Computer Learning Center of Puget Sound membership. Wise served on the SeniorNet Board of Directors, is an instructor, assistant instructor and works closely with the Facilities Coordinator KEN CRANDALL keeping the computers up and running. In addition he is responsible for scheduling classes and the printing and editing of the Course catalog that is assembled twice yearly by CO-EDITORS CLAIR and JOSEPINE HUGH.

THAT the many visitors Sunday, Dec. 12, drawn to ROSS and SANDRA'S  ROBERTS' annual open house to display his large, impressive model train system at their Issaquah home, also saw a  mini-billboard boosting SeniorNet, mounted atop the expansive layout. There are two elaborate train systems, one at table-high level, and the other mounted just under the ceiling and which clickety-clacks around the room. Among SeniorNet members spotted there when this writer went there to check the RR signals, were JOEand VIOLET PONTECORVO, and Immediate PAST PRES. HELEN HESKETH with husband, TREAS. JOE HESKETH, and their three grandchildren.

THAT noted eye surgeon DR. DAVID MCINTYRE of Bellevue,, who helped our founder, JIGGS CLARK, launch the SeniorNet Computer Learnng Center of Puget Sound by providing rent-free space in his office building for those first classes 18 years ago, is retiring after 41 years as an ophthalmologist in Bellevue, at the age of 69.  A front-page article Dec. 22th in The King County Journal by David A. Grant, which included a large photo of the surgeon operating on his final and approximate 20,000^th cataract operation patient, also noted his help in launching SeniorNet which was being organized by Clark. The McIntyre Eye Clinic & Surgical Center on 116^th Ave. NE, provided a rent-free home for the newly-organized and still struggling SeniorNet Center with its  worn early computers scrounged from ever available source by Clark and those first teachers. As SeniorNet students increased, Clark was succeeded as President, then known as coordinator, by the equally hard-driving GENE RAUSCHER. The still very active  JOE PONTECORVO had the very difficult job as Facilities Coordinator, to keep those early but by then, elderly, computers operating. This is the challenging task now headed by KEN CRANDALL.

Dr. McIntyre was that kind of a helping hand to others also. When patients were unable to pay for his services, he waived the fees. The Journal described his travels around the world, paying his own way, and teaching eye surgery on a specially equipped plane in areas with few, if any, such services. He also invented new surgical equipment and techniques in widespread use today. Our first quarters at the McIntyre site had not one office, but two. One was the main classroom, and the second adjoining office was an auxiliary classroom with additional computers used primarily for practice and individual instruction, as needed. Equally important, this second classroom provided needed office space, the high-energy coffee maker and usually cake and cookies brought in by members to avoid hunger pains under the stress of learning. Sadly, success has a price.  With SeniorNet expanding at a rapid pace, students began crowding out the clinic's paying patients in the available parking space, even as a shortage of office space in the area. Regretfully, Dr. McIntyre had to inform SeniorNet it would have to find other quarters, Unable to find an immediate space for classes, SeniorNet had to cancel classes, refund the nominal fees to disappointed students, and go into a storage hibernation. But in a fairly short time under then PRES. LYLE HERNANDEZ aided by others, new quarters were found at the original Phantom Lake Elementary School, still our home and growing even more. (The full history of those exciting early years can be found in The SeniorNet History at  http://www.seniornetps.org/

DID YOU SAY FREE VIDEO EMAIL??? But only for Comcast cable modem Internet clients, which includes plenty of SeniorNet computer operatives.  You know who you are-or should. Click http://www.comcast.net/videomail/index.jsp for download, and follow directions. Your curious editor did it, uses it, and startles everyone who receives this email video which shows the sender talking, and hears him/her/it talking.  It runs for just 60 seconds, or one minute, whichever comes first. The only reason this free plug is used is to alert only current users. No sales pitch is intended.

COMPUTER HELP ONLINE VIA NATIONAL SENIORNET: The current issue of the National SeniorNet Online Newsletter has this tip if you need computer help: Post your computer question on our web site. You can get friendly help and advice from volunteers in our Computer and Internet Q&A discussions. Select the discussion that matches your question or select the General Computer Questions discussion if you don't find a match. Go to: http://discussions.seniornet.org/cgi-bin/WebX?13@@.ee6eedc

BELOW, MY FAVORITE SHORT-CUT KEYS:  For those producing and editing manuscripts, and who often want to see how the document will look and how the type and headlines will fit into the page when printed, the usual way for most is to use to click on the Print Preview button in the Toolbar. That takes time. It is also annoying to have to flip back and forth via the slower cursor, for different pages to make needed space and other adjustments. In Microsoft Word 2002, which this writer uses, it is now (yes, this writer learns slowly) much easier and faster to keyboard  from full document view to the Print Preview. When you are in full document view in Word 2002, and possibly in earlier versions, toggle into the Print Preview by pressing and holding Ctrl+Alt, and while still holding down Ctrl+Alt, tap the I key. The Print Preview flashes on screen. To return to full document view, repeat the key board action. In other words, as shown in list below, you can quickly toggle back and forth for the desired view. 

This newly-learned toggle keyboard action speeds the work in turning out this monthly online newsletter to make sure stories break properly from page to page, that headlines don't exceed the page width, and to adjust other spacing and layout needs. And plenty of other great fast keyboard tips, depending on your Word version. And with all of those precautions, in online transmission, some pages will still jumble.

SOME GREAT WORD SHORT-CUT KEYS TO CHECK OUT

REMINDER: + SIGN BETWEEN KEYS: HOLD ALL DOWN; COMMA: REMOVE FINGERS FROM EARLIER KEYS, THEN TAP KEY AFTER COMMA; 'SELECTED ITEMS' MEANS TO HIGHLITE;TIPS MAY NOT WORK ON EARLIER PROGRAMS

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NOTE: While all computer-operating tips come from usually reliable sources, readers are reminded you use them at YOUR OWN RISK.  Again, in case you have friends who are online, and may be interested in taking classes to expand their skills, please forward this newsletter to them by clicking Forward when this message is displayed. Then enter their address in the To box, and click Send. We welcome your brief personal news items sent to the editor at b26flyer@comcast.net. If you wish to receive this free monthly newsletter, update your email address or unsubscribe, rush your full name, phone and email address to pugetsnet6@qwest.net.

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President: Adella Granger; Vice President: Delores Davis; Treasurer: Joe Hesketh; Secretary: Martha Simon;  Registrar: Louise Flora; Immediate Past President and current Public Relations chair: Helen Hesketh; Curriculum Coordinator: John Wise;  Facilities Coordinator: Ken Crandall;  Member-at-Large: Gordon Young ; Granpals Coordinator: Nancy Harsh; Catalogue Editors: Clair & Jo Hugh; Online Newsletter Circulation: Bob Balsley; Online Newsletter Editor: Phil Scheier

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