SeniorNet Members' Newsletter
Bringing Wisdom to the Information Age

September, 2009 - Issue 4

SeniorNet Learning Center of the Month - Oklahoma City SeniorNet Learning Center
Submitted by Charlene Francis and the Oklahoma Team

Building on 20 Years' Experience

The Oklahoma City SeniorNet Learning Center (OKC-SNLC) first opened in February, 1989 and was located at Mercy Senior Health Center.  It was co-sponsored by Mercy Health Center and Hummel Eye Associates.  Fortunately, later in the year, 12 students joined SeniorNet and formed the SeniorNet User Group (SNUG), which is better known today as the Computer Club of OKC-SNUG (CCOKC-SNUG).    At that time, we held weekly meetings every Thursday. 

In September, 1994, Mercy closed the OKC-SNLC, which was a great loss for the community.  However, SNUG survived and is still going strong today, as an integral part of CCOKC and still meeting on Thursdays.  At the time this kind of partnership was the exception rather than the rule, but it has worked out great for us.  We are still one of the best kept secrets in the city and constantly looking for ways to promote the computer club, the learning center and our weekly meetings.

In September 1995, the OKC-SNLC was reopened and equipped with 5 computers furnished by SeniorNet.  At that time we had 42 members and Charlene, as the Learning Center Coordinator.  Charlene set a goal to have 100 members by the end of December.  This goal was met and exceeded and we continually strive to maintain an active membership base of 100 plus.

Recently we updated our computer lab with 12 new computers, one of which is equipped to train those visually impaired.  A new sound system and wall display unit was also included in this update.

In addition to the classes and meetings, we celebrate birthdays of our members twice a year, in July and December.  Thus, individuals having a birthday during the months of January-June are celebrated in July and those having birthdays during the months of July-December are celebrated in December.  Also, included in these activities is the well deserved recognition of all volunteers.  Our volunteers are one of our most valuable assets.  Each event is potluck and the food is outstanding.

In April of this year Gene Barlow, User Group Store, did our first Webinar presentation on Acronis True Image software and we had 70 plus in attendance at the meeting.  This technology is relatively new and we are looking forward to having more Webinar presentations.

Another CCOKC-SNUG activity is participation in the Oklahoma State Fair on Seniors Day.  We have participated for the past five years and are currently scheduled to participate this year.  Our activities involve setting up a CCOKC-SNUG booth.  The booth is staffed by our volunteers and is a great opportunity for them to share with others, who we are, what we do and what we have to offer.  As a result, we gain new members and students.

CCOKC-SNUG seems to have the best of both worlds, one being a part of SeniorNet and the second being a part of CCOKC.  These two organizations are pioneering the way for seniors to learn how to use computers and keep them abreast of new technologies.  It has also been a great opportunity for me and others to meet and enjoy the friendship of other senior adults with similar interests.

 

And kudos to all of the Oklahoma team for their creativity, dedication and loyalty.

Partnering with AT&T again !!!!

Partnering with AT&T again !!!!

We are very excited to work with AT&T in their ongoing efforts to educate seniors on wireless technology.

Earlier this month Learning Center Coordinators were contacted via Circle of Friends and invited to participate on a joint  (AT&T and SeniorNet) conference call that will occur on October 7th & 8th.  The purpose of these conference calls is to lay the groundwork for our centers to participate.

All centers must register for the conference call before October 2nd.

The actual  AT&T  education includes  one -on -one coaching by AT&T volunteers.  Seniors can bring in their phones -- no matter which carrier they are with -- and ask any questions they wish, from instructions on text messaging, setting up voicemail and various best practices for inbound and outbound calling.

The benefits to SeniorNet include fulfilling our mission of bringing technology to seniors, lots of local publicity and press for our centers, and the potential to increase membership / students.

You will want to talk with your Learning Center Leaders to make sure you have the details.

We look forward to seeing some great pictures from these sessions.

Thank you,

Leslie M. Smith
Chairman

Learning Center News

 We Heard You !!!

"Finding the process, procedures and knowing who to call is sometimes a challenge."

We have created a SeniorNet Standard Operating Procedure (SOP) for Headquarters and Centers.

The purpose of the SOP is to:

-Provide information at your fingertips
-Enhance communication between HQ and Learning Centers
-Render quick and easy access to your most frequently asked questions

Membership, Communication and Technical Support are just some of the items included in the document.

Please leverage this document first when you have questions about processes and how to get things done.

The SOP will be sent to Learning Center Coordinators via Circle of Friends on October 1st.

Thank you,

Michele M. Williams
Director of Public Relations

Operations News

  Operations Update

This September, the SeniorNet Web Team launched the new, updated "Join and Renew button" feature on the SeniorNet web site.

The process to become a new SeniorNet member has been simplified with an easy three step user friendly interface.  This streamlined process guides the new member each step of the way.  First, gathering and verifying member information, second, processing payment and third completing the process by providing on screen, new member information, as well as automatically sending a "Welcome Letter", and generating a new member website login account.

The website account information, including new user name and password, is used to access the "members only" area on the SeniorNet web site, which provides important member information such as detailed member discount information.

The renewal process which is integrated with the membership database, automatically verifies member information making it even easier to renew your SeniorNet membership, as well as making it quick and easy to update or edit your member contact information.

SeniorNet Director of Operations, John Alger recently commented, "We are really proud of the efforts of our Web Team.  The process has been streamlined making it quick and easy to become a new member of SeniorNet, and the the Web Team has made the online renewal process the easiest way to renew your SeniorNet membership.  Great Job!"                          
 
If you need an individual membership form click here.  You can mail the form to:  SeniorNet, 12801 Worldgate Drive, Suite 500, Herndon, Virginia 20170.
 
If you have any questions concerning the new "Join and Renew button" feature, please email members@hq.seniornet.org  or call member services at 571-203-7100 Ext. 7111. 

Please help us to update our membership records by emailing any changes to your mailing address, phone number or email address to: members@hq.seniornet.org


 

The Technical Support Guys---At Your Service

Phil Carnahan
SeniorNet Technical Director

I believe most of you have now started your fall sessions.  I know they will go well!  Our Photoshop Elements 7 course manual can be downloaded on Leadership Exchange, under the "What's New" tab, or "Curriculum Support" tab.  I hope you are as happy with it as are we.

We are working with the Microsoft Windows Marketing folks who are preparing some short 2 to 3 hour courses covering several subjects.  They want to make the first of these available on a pilot basis then make them available to all LC's once they have been tested and updated for our environment.  More courses are planned to be available in the first quarter of next year.  We want to continue our good relationship with Microsoft and believe this is a good step to achieve that goal.

Remember, the Windows 7 general availability date is October 22nd.  Anyone thinking about Windows 7, may want to download the Windows 7 Advisor to evaluate whether or not your computers will be ready for Windows 7 and whether or not your software will need updates.  Most likely if you have Vista you will need some hardware drivers.  Click here to access Download Windows 7 Advisor.

Don't forget that from time to time there are Windows and Office updates available and especially valuable to all are the Service Packs both for Vista and for Office.  You can get them by going to the respective Windows or Office download website.

Thanks to Don Hogan for his update to the Family Tree Maker curriculum to cover FTM 2009 and for a course on Introduction to Buying and Selling on eBay.  The files can be found on Leadership Exchange.  The FTM 2009 manual is an update to the previous SeniorNet Headquarters manual which has been on the Leadership Exchange for some time and was recently updated.

If you have an updated course manual or a new course, please share with all of the other LC's by sending us it to us at: techsupport@hq.seniornet.org.

We are Phil Carnahan and Jerry Alger and you may contact us by sending mail to: techsupport@hq.seniornet.org.  Jerry and I both monitor this email address so we will not miss your correspondence. Please let us know how we may support you.

Jerry Alger
Asst. SeniorNet Technical Director

 

 Chairman's Award 2009

Chairman's Award 2009

Sometimes its hard to select the best of the best.

But its always good to say Thank You and recognize Learning Centers for their hard work.

We will announce winners for the 2009 Chairman's Award in January 2010.

The criteria will include:

* promoting the SeniorNet brand and image locally
* website appearance and structure
* center growth
* volunteer base and contribution
* leadership succession planning
* collaboration, sharing of best practices, communication

Staff and Volunteers can help their centers by working with their coordinators on these criteria.

Applications will be distributed to Learning Center Coordinators via Circle of Friends in early October.

Thank you,

Board of Directors

SeniorNet Ed2Go

SeniorNet Ed2Go Online Classes

Online classes are an excellent alternative way to learn for those that are homebound or unable to attend a learning center due to distance.

SeniorNet offers a wide range of courses with each session lasting six weeks.  New sessions of each course run every month.  The courses are entirely Web-based with comprehensive lessons, quizzes, and assignments.  A dedicated professional instructor facilitates every course; pacing learners, answering questions, giving feedback and facilitating discussions.  Please follow this link to look at the variety of courses available.

SeniorNet Ed2go Website

NOTE:  SeniorNet members can obtain courses at a discounted price.  For discount information, contact: ecourses@hq.seniornet.org.

Featured Online Class of the Month

"Write Your Life Story"

It's your story.  It's time to write it so you can tell history, share your secrets and successes, and better understand yourself.  Learn what it takes to write essays, a legacy letter, a memoir, an autobiography or the story of a loved one's life in simple, easy steps that will get you ready for whatever you want to tell.  It's fun, it's exciting and it's your truth.  The step-by-step process begins with capturing ideas and ends by providing all the tools to tell the stories in your life.