Computer club - History

Computer Club History 2000-2008
      by John Ahrens

Officers elected on 2000 were Larry Chockie, President for a second term. Robert Neubauerr was Co-President, Loretta Matheson, VP, Jerry Young, Secretary, and Ann Krasselt, Treasurer. George Shoemaker continued to be the Data-Recorder.

While Larry was home for the summer, Robert resigned so the next in command, Ann Krasselt, took command and did an excellent job. Helen Rosenwald headed a steering committee to overhaul the By-Laws. New By-Laws were approved in the fall.

During this time a computer was purchased from Radio Shack. It apparently didn’t cut the mustard.
While Dee McBain was attempting to teach a beginner’s class…a group of members, headed by Larry Chockie, took the computer out of the class and returned in force to Radio Shack. After some “Strong Armed” talk they got their refund, but it upset the class that day. A better, Windows 98, computer was purchased a short time later.

In 2001 Paul Quinney was elected President and John Shideler was VP. Ann Krasselt was treasurer and Gladys Kropnicki was secretary. We had 75 people in the audience when Microsoft made their presentation in Farnsworth Hall. Dues went up this year. A single person paid $15.00 and $ 20.00 for a couple. We also received several old donated computers this year.

Dee McBain taught Beginners, Dorretta Anderson taught WORD, and Dick Posz held a monthly Genealogy meeting. George was the Data-Recorder

About this time we learned about Azacc, the Alliance of Arizona Computer Clubs. It is an alliance of approximately 32 computer clubs in the Valley, comprising about 17,000 members. We joined primarily to access their supply of monthly user-friendly speakers. Many other benefits were and are provided. John Ahrens was the coordinator who attended their meetings and helped make arrangements for the speakers for the six-month series.

In 2002 John Ahrens was President, and Dee McBain was the VP. Joan Lewis was secretary and Gail Henderson was treasurer. Dorretta Anderson and Dee McBain was the combo who kept the roster and sent out the monthly calendars.

We had 159 paid members and we had some type of computer activity going every day of the workweek in the spring. We had Dee McBain teaching the Beginner’s classes and SIGs; Dorretta Anderson had the WORD classes, Dick Posz had Genealogy; Paul Quinney and George Shoemaker had Excel; John Musgrave had the Saturday work shop; and Luther Ness had various SIG classes on Digital Cameras and the Internet. We had 100 plus in attendance at Farnsworth Hall when Microsoft made their presentation of the new XP system. Microsoft had a minimum requirement of 100 and we made it.

Helen Rosenwald and Dee McBain did a super job of organizing and presenting our March Pot Luck luncheon. We had a very good crowd. Bob Ludwick exhibited old radios that brought back memories from before TV.

We had money in the treasury to buy a new teaching computer with our first XP system. We asked five groups of members to furnish and explain their recommendations of specifications for the new computer. All five groups suggested a Processor of at least 1 GHz, a memory of 256 MB, and a 20 to 60GB hard drive. After waiting a few months we bought a new HP computer on sale, equipped with a Pentium 4, 1.6 GHz processor, a 40 GB hard drive, and 256 MB of memory.

Later that year we coupled the new computer with our best 98 computer so that we could project either system. We could compare and teach both at the same time. Most all our members had the 98 system and wanted to learn how the new XP was different.

We purchased 6 computer desks and 10 swivel chairs so that we had a total of 8 student computer set-ups.

Paul Quinney was elected president in 2003 and Mike Sorem was VP. Gail Henderson was Treasurer and Joan Lewis, Secretary. While snowbirds Paul and Mike were home for the summer, Paul resigned for personal reasons and John Ahrens was appointed acting president until Mike returned in the fall.

Dick Posz continued as monitor for the Genealogy SIG and Dee McBride taught beginners. Dee McBain held SIGs on Christmas cards and graphics, and Paul Quinney held SIGs on digital cameras.
Dorretta Anderson taught WORD classes.

Dee McBain helped us retain Pat and Claudette Davis of One on One Solutions, who offered our members professional presentations, on requested subjects.

In 2004 Judy Gardner became President and Mike Sorem was VP. Al Hainje was Secretary and George Rauch was treasurer. We had money in the bank and computer prices were dropping. We needed to teach the XP System. Judy took the challenge and at our monthly general meeting asked the members for the authority to purchase three Dell computers to match our needs. Maxine and Burton Rykken offered to contribute a forth Dell and that sparked an anonymous donor to contribute a fifth computer.

So one lucky day that spring, we placed five Dell, XP Home, computers on our new desks. A little later we also purchased a HP computer of similar specifications. That gave us six modern XP learning computers and one teaching computer. Judy then tirelessly dealt with Microsoft to furnish us with additional software we could use on all of the new computers. She persisted and eventually got Microsoft to contribute Office 2003 Professional software for the five new computers and the teaching computer. She also was able to convince them we needed Digital Imaging Professional for the same machines.

In January John Ahrens started writing the Club’s newsletter that was emailed to our members shortly before the monthly general meetings. Our speaker and the topic were reviewed along with a reminder of the meeting time and date. Door prizes were announced when available. ASK MR. MODEM was included as a monthly column.

In 2005 Judy Gardner again assumed the presidency with Elaine Westhuse as VP. Al Hainje was secretary and Gail Henderson Treasurer.

In early fall we secured the technical assistance of Pat Davis and an anonymous member furnished the hardware for a wireless (Wi-Fi) system. John Shideler, Paul Quinney, Howard Hanson, Mike Sorem, Judy Gardner, and others installed the system. All XP computers were then connected by a wireless connection. That eliminated all the wires that had been running on the floor.

Judy continued to monitor the Genealogy special interest group where Dick Posz left off. The group became quite active and here again, Judy’s persistence convinced the software provider of Ancestry.com to allow us to pay one yearly subscription rate and install it all seven of our XP computers.

As the wireless system became popular, more and more members brought their new wireless laptop computers to the computer room for a solo encounter. This system allowed for an almost unlimited number of computers to be used in room 9. The club would not need to purchase additional computers because the members brought their own.

In March, Al Hainje, Jack Henderson, Bob Poland and others installed an emergency exit (fire escape door) in the north side of room 9. They did a professional job, costing the Villa only the price of the door. This had been needed for years.

In the fall, Ramona Summers asked to be retired from producing the Website. Kay Hawbaker volunteered to learn the “unknown” and did a terrific job.

Elaine Westhues and Helen Rosenwald formed a committee of two to revise the By-Laws once again.
Elaine presented the revisions to the board.

In 2006 Mike Sorem was president. John Shideler was VP. Chuck Krasselt was treasurer, and Kay Hawbaker was secretary. During the January general meeting Mike presented the draft of the new by-laws which were discussed and approved. During the summer months, John Shideler took over the reigns for Mike until he returned for the winter.

After accomplishing a self taught crash course on manipulating our Website, Kay Hawbaker changed our Website address to www.dreamlandcomputerclub.com .

Janet Harbaugh taught WORD and Kay Hawbaker taught Beginners. John Shideler had the Saturday Q&A workshop, Judy Gardner held Genealogy SIG, and we had guest instructors from Serving Online Seniors at least once each month.

Our wireless Laptop users started using their computers in class and taking the lessons home on their Laptops for additional practice.

The need to purchase additional computers was on no one’s mind until we heard of the new Microsoft Vista system. We thought we would wait a year or two until it became more popular and the “Bugs” were worked out. However, all new computers after February 2007 would be furnished with Vista, and our members were buying new computers.

Our elected officers for 2007 were Tom Santoro, President, Janet Harbaugh, Vice President, Kay Hawbaker, Secretary, and Tal Hilton, Treasurer. Other members of the board were Chuck Kressalt, Gaela Roberts, John Shideler, Tom Sides, Doug Snover, and Mike Sorem, Past President.  

Kay Hawbaker conducted “Beginning Computer”, Janet Harbaugh taught WORD, and Judy Gardner continued with the Genealogy classes with John Highland’s help. John Shideler held the Saturday Q & A workshop and Dee McBain continued to email weekly reminders of Club activities and produced the monthly calendar.

Fifty members enjoyed the February Potluck Lunch chaired by Gaela Roberts. A good time was had by all.
 
Pat Davis and his crew from Serving Online Seniors continued to furnish enlightening sessions on topics of interest.

Azacc continued to furnish presenters for six of the key months of the year. We attempted to set up a Webcast presentation from a Boston based presenter. We found that our Quest DSL system was too slow to receive a good signal.

In April Tal Hilton resigned and President Santoro appointed Judy Gardner to her board seat. Then Tom Santoro also resigned, so the Board of Directors elected Judy Gardner, President, John Shideler, Vice President, Kay Hawbaker, Secretary, and Janet Harhaugh Treasurer. Mike Sorem continued to remain on the board as Past President/Club Advisor.

In September, Tom Sides moved from Dreamland Villa and it was decided to leave his board position vacant.

In October a new HP Computer was purchased with the Microsoft Vista system installed. It was placed along side our XP teaching computer and hooked up so that both computers could be operated simultaneously in order to compare the two systems. Janet Harbaugh gave the club a nice table for laptop users.

One of our Club’s founders and the first president, Bob Summers, passed away on October 26th. He and Ramona were “Pioneers” of the Club and were the originators of our Website. We owe a large debt of gratitude to both of the Summers.

Over the Christmas holidays the maintenance staff of the Villa painted the computer room and installed new window coverings.