| Message from the Vice President
by Warren Sanders |
No organization can survive without leaders, and this club is no
exception. As of this writing, the nominating committee does not
have a candidate for president or vice-president for 2010. How
can the club continue if no one will step up to fill these
positions? It can't! I know there is a perception that you
have to be a computer 'geek' or expert to be the president of the
computer club - and that is absolutely untrue. You really don't
need to know much at all about computers; willingness to serve and
administrative talent is much more important.
There are
the 'geeks' in the club that are doing the 'geeky' things that need to
be done. What we need now (and in the future) is some non-geeks
to lend some management muscle to the club. We have inherited a
very good club, with a lot of very good people as members, members
doing a lot of good things for the membership and the community, but it
cannot continue without leaders.
If you agree to
fill one of these offices, you would not be out on a limb all by
yourself. The past presidents are all still involved with the club, and
stand ready to assist anyone filling the position whenever they ask for
help. In addition, you would have a very able/capable Board of
Directors working with you every step of the way.
The
important question is: WILL YOU STEP UP? I know many of you have
"served your time" by being involved in the leadership of other
organizations in the past. Being president of TVCUC takes no more
than about 8 - 10 hours per month, and that includes attending/leading
both the general meeting and the Board meeting, so it is not a full
time commitment for you.
WE NEED YOUR HELP, AND WE NEED IT NOW.
|
Membership
by Bob Kutschera
|
|
ORNL FIELD TRIPS. -- Both trips are completely full. If there are cancellations we will not be able to accept substitutes due to security regulation at the facilities.
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Lots of new members last month - 9 of them! Be
sure to look for each of them and welcome them to our club. They
are:
Donald and Martha Chill
Jim and Ali Davis
Bud and Rita Dreesen
John Fasse
Kennard and Kathleen Kinzler
Rick and Barbara Mannarino
Lou Miller
John and Mary Rasmussen
Gil
and Edi
Volk
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MAILING OF CHECKS AND DUES
2010 dues may be paid starting this month if that is convenient for you.
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Effective immediately, please mail checks FOR ANNUAL DUES AND CLASS FEES to a NEW ADDRESS which is located in the More Than Mail office in the village. That new address is:
Tellico Village Computer Users Club
298 Village Square Drive, Tellico Village #128
Loudon, TN 37774.
NOTICE
DO NOT use PO in the address. Using PO in the address forces your letter to go to the
Loudon post office.
|
|
TAP (Technical Access Program)
by Warren Sanders |
|
The Technology Access Program (TAP) held two open
houses earlier last month. The one on September 1 was for the
club membership, and 89 members attended. The second one, for the
general public on September 12, was attended by 49 people. The
door prize for the member open house was a 25" flat panel monitor, and
it was won by Sandy Mucha. The door prize for the public open
house was a $100 gift card for Staples. It was won by Brock
Benn. We hope both winners enjoy their prizes, and we thank
everyone who attended the open houses.
TAP has now given
away over 285 systems since June, 2007. A system was recently
given to a family in Philadelphia, TN, and a 7 year old girl in the
family was our 500th child in the homes receiving our systems.
She perfectly exemplifies why we do what we do. She is both
physically and visually challenged, and the computer will help
considerably in her therapy. There was an opportunity to get some
pictures with her, and we couldn't wait to get back to the workplace to
get some more systems ready to give to more children in need.
As
you all know, TAP is now having to pay rent, utilities and Internet
access, all of which was provided by the Community Church while we
occupied their 'beige' house. We need your financial support to
pay those expenses on top of the on-going cost of supplies. If
you can provide assistance, please send a check, made payable to TVCUC
- TAP, to
298 Village Square, Tellico Village, #128, Loudon, TN 37774.
Pictured are Warren Sanders and Dale Noll just after delivering this equipment.
Pictured here is Amber who will use this machine
as she shows her mother how she can use it. Looking on is Janice
Reese, Assistive Tech Specialist from the referring organization,
Little Tennessee Valley Education Cooperative.
|
| TAP Open House
by Frank Fritchman |
|
Warren has reported to you on our two open houses at the new TAP
facility but I thought you might enjoy a few of the pictures of that
event. A lot of work went into these events so we thank all of you who
make this cub successful.
No explanation needed but this is part of the crowd of interested people who came to see what is going on with our TAP program.
Also attending were two of of our patriarchs to whom the club owes
a great deal of thanks. Bob Wilson on the left, Victor deGroote
on the right. You both make us proud!
 Here
Bob Wilson is shown here again with some of our current leaders as
they prepare to greet some of our guests. Left to right, Warren
Sanders, current VP, Bob Wilson, Vince Alline, Director
at-large, and Jim Peterson, Immediate Past President |
| SIG's (Special Interest Groups)
by Don Stieghan |
|
In the future, new SIGs are expected to be created if
persons who attend the TVCUC classes or the one-on-one help sessions
want to continue the learning experience. Anyone who wants to
consider having a SIG can express that interest to a class instructor
or to me directly. Just send your e-mail address to me
at tvtndon@gmail.com, or call at 458-2142 or see me at any of the
TVCUC general meetings. You do not have to be an expert to
lead a SIG or to propose the creation of a SIG; just have an
interest in the subject matter.
|
| Free Stuff, Cartoons & Photographs
by Frank Fritchman |
Do you love sitting on your East Tennessee deck
and listening to our beautiful birds? Have you
wished you knew which one was making that lovely sound? Here
is a cool site taken from the Kim Komando newsletter which will
let you identify it. Bird Sounds
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Most of us remember LIFE Magazine and all the great
pictures they gave us. Well, our friends at Google have given us
another gift. They have copied every copy of LIFE from 1936 to
1972 and made those available. Want to know what your mom and dad
were reading while they waited for you to go asleep in your crib? (some
of you younger and older folks will have to choose another question of
interest). Go to - Google Books.
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Here is a cartoon Vince Alline sent me. It goes
along with business conditions today and speaks to how we sometimes
feel about Microsoft.
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Many of us are IPOD users and love having our music,
pictures, podcasts and etc. available wherever we are. Apple has
announced a new Nano IPOD which is quite a step forward. Not only
does it include FM radio capabilities, it also takes video. If
you are interested, check out the article at New York times by David
Pogue. Apple Nano
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OK. This is a bit long but I think you will get a laugh out of it
COSTELLO CALLS TO BUY A COMPUTER FROM ABBOTT
ABBOTT: Super Duper computer store. Can I help you?
COSTELLO: Thanks. I'm setting up an office in my den and I'm thinking about buying a computer.
ABBOTT: Mac?
COSTELLO: No, the name's Lou.
ABBOTT : Your computer?
COSTELLO: I don't own a computer. I want to buy one.
ABBOTT: Mac?
COSTELLO: I told you, my name's Lou.
ABBOTT: What about Windows?
COSTELLO: Why? Will it get stuffy in here?
ABBOTT: Do you want a computer with Windows?
COSTELLO: I don't know. What will I see when I look at the windows?
ABBOTT: Wallpaper.
COSTELLO: Never mind the windows. I need a computer and software.
ABBOTT: Software for Windows?
COSTELLO:
No. On the computer! I need something I can use to write proposals,
track expenses and run my business. What do you have?
ABBOTT: Office.
COSTELLO: Yeah, for my office. Can you recommend anything?
ABBOTT: I just did.
COSTELLO: You just did what?
ABBOTT: Recommend something.
COSTELLO: You recommended something?
ABBOTT: Yes.
COSTELLO: For my office?
ABBOTT: Yes
COSTELLO: OK, what did you recommend for my office?
ABBOTT: Office!
COSTELLO: Yes, for my office!
ABBOTT: I recommend Office with Window's.
COSTELLO:
I already have an office with windows! OK, let's just say I'm sitting
at my computer and I want to type a proposal. What do I need?
ABBOTT: Word
COSTELLO: What word?
ABBOTT: Word in Office.
COSTELLO: The only word in office is office.
ABBOTT: The Word in Office for Windows.
COSTELLO: Which word in office for windows?
ABBOTT: The Word you get when you click the blue 'W'
COSTELLO:
I'm going to click your blue 'w' if you don't start with some straight
answers. What about financial bookkeeping? You have anything I can
track my money with?
ABBOTT: Money.
COSTELLO: That's right. What do you have?
ABBOTT: Money.
COSTELLO: I need money to track my money?
ABBOTT: It comes bundled with your computer.
COSTELLO: What's bundled with my computer?
ABBOTT: Money.
COSTELLO: Money comes with my computer?
ABBOTT: Yes. No extra charge.
COSTELLO: I get a bundle of money with my computer? How much?
ABBOTT: One copy..
COSTELLO: Isn't it illegal to copy money?
ABBOTT: Microsoft gave us a license to copy Money.
COSTELLO: They can give you a license to copy money?
ABBOTT: Why not? THEY OWN IT!
(A few days later)
ABBOTT: Super Duper computer store. Can I help you?
COSTELLO: How do I turn my computer off?
ABBOTT: Click on 'START'
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Remember to keep your camera handy and send me some great fall pictures!
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|
Have you had enough rain? My hope is that all of that rain
is behind us and we are in for a beautiful change of seasons here in
East Tennessee. Nice cool temperatures and lots of
sunshine. Get out there and walk our many beautiful streets and
paths and be sure to take a trash pick-up device and a trash bag.
Maybe we cannot stop people from trashing our place but we sure can get
a lot of it picked while we exercise.
See you at the meeting! | |
