May 2007

 

Change

by Cheryl Marshman, Editor

It's been said that the only thing in life we can count on is change. Yes, change is inevitable and all of our lives have changed due to advances in technology.  It's changed the way we work, do business, and communicate with each other.

Who would have thought that one day our kids would know more than we do?  It's a change but has become a reality in this age of computers.  As parents and grandparents we must change and become computer literate.   Sometimes just to understand the terminology we read in the newspaper or magazines, but especially to continue to understand and communicate with our kids and grandkids. 

For more than five years the GCCLC has been helping adults to change the way they think about computers and become computer literate.  Our classes continue to teach the latest in computer basics and more.  The GCCLC continues to explore ways to keep up with change which sometimes means making changes.

Recently the GCCLC became a non-profit corporation.  What changes might this bring?  Read the articles on pages 1 and 2 to find out more about this.

One thing that will not change is the dedication of the Volunteers.   See page 3 for more about the GCCLC Volunteers.  Without them there would be no GCCLC.

GCCLC Becomes a California Public Benefit Corporation

Bob Reeves, GCCLC Coordinator recently announced the Incorporation of the GCCLC as a non-profit Corporation.  Under the rules of California, the GCCLC has formed a Corporation and obtained an Employer Identification Number for the purpose of opening a bank account.

The next step is to apply for and obtain status with the Internal Revenue Service as a non-profit organization under their rules called 501C(3).  Once the IRS recognizes the GCCLC as a non-profit organization, non-profit status can be obtained with the California Franchise Tax Board

The purpose statement of the newly formed GCCLC non-profit Corporation is:  To provide enrichment to lives of members of our communities with education in various subjects of interest, with an emphasis on computer technology, that brings volunteers and students into a mutual learning and sharing environment.

GCCLC has no plans to make any changes to the current services provided. In his announcement, Bob Reeves expressed his thanks to the volunteers:

“I want to thank you again for your volunteer efforts as coaches and instructors.  I believe we have many opportunities ahead of us to serve our community and to be richly rewarded in the satisfaction of seeing our student’s eyes come alive with the excitement of learning”.

FAQs On the Newly Formed GCCLC Non-Profit

by Rob Reeves

Why did we believe it was necessary to form a non-profit?

We’ve been discussing the pros and cons of forming our own separate non-profit for a few years now.  Here are some of the reasons.

• We can actively search out sponsors and apply for grants specifically for the Computer Learning Center.
• We can become financially independent.
• Long term looking five or ten years into the future, we believe this will be the best way for us to grow and prosper and provide the quality of instruction that’s needed.
• The Community Center is faced with the burden of paying significant rent for the building beginning in July 2007.  While we absolutely have no plans to leave the Center, if the Fairgrounds Board chose not to rent to the Community Center we would possibly have to search out another location to conduct our classes.  (The Community Center and the Fairgrounds have recently arrived at a one-year agreement from July 07 through June 08).

Are their any anticipated changes being made to staff or staff functions?

All the changes have been made already, however we are actively looking for a Marketing Director.  Someone who can market the Computer Learning Center as an organization and who can also market our product, namely our computer classes.  We are heavily in need of volunteers at all positions.  We frequently cannot schedule the classes we would like to because of the shortage of coaches and Instructors. Please encourage your students to become volunteers.

Have any other changes been made or planned?
Well sure, we’re always changing because as they say, from change comes growth.  We’re discussing introducing thumb drives, bringing in Vista, enlarging the classroom, increasing the number of workshops, etc.  We’ll make some changes that work out great and some that aren’t so swift.  We hope we learn and grow from both.  We do welcome and encourage inputs from our volunteers and students on what needs changing and what is working out great.

This is an organization with vibrant, energetic volunteers.  It’s always a joy working with such enthusiastic people.

Definition of a Non-Profit Organization
from Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia

A non-profit organization (abbreviated "NPO", or "non-profit" or "not-for-profit") is an organization whose primary objective is to support an issue, matter of private interest, or public concern for non-commercial purposes, without concern for monetary profit. A nonprofit organization may be involved in a wide range of areas. Nonprofit organizations often are charities or service organizations; they may be organized as a not-for-profit corporation or as a trust, a cooperative, or they may be purely informal.

Volunteer Forum

The definition of a Volunteer is: a person who voluntarily offers himself/herself for a service or undertaking willingly and without pay.

GCCLC is fortunate to have many dedicated volunteers.  Without these volunteers, GCCLC would be unable to provide the caliber and quantity of Computer classes and services at the Community Center.

The following are GCCLC Coaches, Instructors, and Administrative Volunteers:

GCCLC can never have enough Volunteers, so while it may seem there are many; there is always room for more.  Some GCCLC Volunteers are former Students who have become computer educated and now feel able to help others achieve the same.  It’s rewarding when you are able to give back.

Volunteer Kudos

The third week in April was National Volunteer Week.   It may be too late to celebrate Volunteer Week but not for giving Kudos to all GCCLC Volunteers.

I want to thank you again for your volunteer efforts as coaches and instructors.  I believe we have many opportunities ahead of us to serve our community and to be richly rewarded in the satisfaction of seeing our student’s eyes come alive with the excitement of learning.

Bob Reeves, GCCLC Coordinator

On behalf of Karen Pfanenstiel and myself, I want to thank everyone who has responded to our pleas, not only for coaches and instructors, but for the many substitutions that occur.  As volunteers, we all have a "life" outside of the Computer Learning Center, and sometimes, no matter how well we plan our time, events occur that dictate we cannot fulfill our Learning Center obligations.  Hence, we put out requests for substitutes.  All of you, at one time or another, have stepped up and filled a vacancy, and we want you to know how much it has been appreciated.  I wish we could give gold medals to all of you for service above and beyond the call, because we do know how much time you spend keeping the Learning Center going.

Helen Frazee, Volunteer Substitutes Coord
Karen Pfanenstiel, Volunteer Assignments Coord

GCCLC Needs Your Input

Coaches, Instructors, Students, your input is needed to make our program even better.  Are there topics you’d like to see covered as a hands-on Workshop? How about topics you’d like to see addressed in the User Group Meetings? Do you have ideas for Seminars, or maybe you’d like to present one.

Help us to help you! Don’t be shy, send your thoughts and ideas to publicity3@gcclc.org

Check Out the New and Easy Online Lab Sign-up

by Roger Thornburn, Webmaster

By now, most everyone knows that on Tuesday from 2 – 4 pm and Thursday from 9 – 11 am we have lab time. Here Students can do their homework, go over class material, or just practice their computer skills. All with the help of our friendly, knowledgeable Lab Monitors.

In the past, we had lab sign-up available in a binder in the classroom, as well as on our website.  Many Students found our website sign-up a little confusing, so I have completely redesigned the online form to make it very easy to use.  We also had trouble reconciling the binder sign-ups with the web.  Sometimes we would have a large group and not enough Lab Monitors to give Students the attention they have come to expect.

So, we decided that consolidating the sign-up into one place would be beneficial to both Students and to our Lab Coordinator, Doug Worthy.  Doug makes sure we have a good Lab Monitor-to Student ratio and asks for help when he sees the attendance rising.

With the new process Students will receive an e-mail confirming their reservation (if an e-mail address is given) and Doug will know immediately who has signed up.  We hope this makes it easy for Students to reserve a place at lab.  If Students don't have a computer at home, they can sign-up in the center on one of our computers.  Our Instructors, Coaches and Lab Monitors will be glad to help Students through the process.

Click to Sign Up Now .If you would like to see a demo on how to fill out our online form, maximize your browser and click for an animated demo.

Computer Tips & Tricks

Internet Search Tips

by Cheryl Marshman

Persistence and common sense are the most valuable characteristics for consistently obtaining quality search results. It’s estimated there are between 200 - 800 million documents online, with no master system for organizing this information. No wonder effective searches take patience and persistence! Here are a few tips that may help you perform better searches:

• Concentrate on key words and phrases that best describe your search term.
• Eliminate unnecessary words such as the, a, an from the search string.
• Check for spelling and typing errors.
• Try all related terms and concepts. Sometimes just making a word plural (or not plural) will change the search results.
• Try synonyms and variations of words.  For example, if you’re searching for ‘garbage’ you might want to also try ‘refuse’, trash’ and ‘waste’.
• Sometimes adding words can narrow the search. For example, search on diabetes and get 80,000+ results.  Add the word treatment, and narrow it down to about 20,000+ results. 
• Follow instructions the search site suggests.
• Try the search string on different search sites. Results can vary from site to site. For a list of search engines visit Wikipedia.com. (http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/List_of_search_engines)
• Visit some of the sites that appear on your initial search to locate terms that might help refine your search string .

Learn Boolean basics which can significantly narrow search results if used properly.

Microsoft Paint Tip

by Doug Worthy

Some very innovative creations can be made using Microsoft Paint, depending on your interest and skill levels. Occasionally it might be difficult to clear an image to begin a new project.  This may be because the ‘clear image’ command isn’t active (meaning it’s grayed out & inactive).  Click on one of the tools in the Tool Box (like the pencil tool as an example). Now go back and click IMAGE on the Menu Bar…you’ll see that “clear image” is no longer grayed out and is active for use.

If Only Life Were More Like a Computer

It would be so much easier if you could do some of the same things in life that you can do with a computer.

• If you messed up your life, you could press  "Ctrl, Alt, & Delete" to start all over!
• To get your daily exercise, just click on "run"!
• If you needed a break from life, click on "suspend" .
• To get even with the neighbors, turn up the sound blaster.

• Hit "any key" to continue life when ready.
• To "add/remove" someone in your life, click settings and control panel.
• To improve your appearance, just adjust the display settings.
• If life gets too noisy, turn off the speakers. 
• "Help" with the chores is just a click away.
• You wouldn't need auto insurance. You'd use your boot diskette to recover from a crash.
• We could click on "send" and the kids would go to bed immediately.
• To feel like a new person, click on "refresh".
• Click on "close" to shut-up the kids and spouse.

• To undo a mistake, click on "back".
• Is your wardrobe getting old? Click "update".
• If you don't like cleaning the litter box, click on "delete".
• When you lose your keys, click on "find"