Monthly Newsletters

Fitness Wearables – The Latest Trend Two things trending high for active seniors are password managers and fitness wearables. Last month I talked about password managers, so this month I did some research on fitness wearables to share with you. This turned out to be very informative for me, as I didn’t realize fitness wearables … Read more

Unlocking the Power of Security with Password Managers In an increasingly digital world, safeguarding your online presence has never been more crucial. This month, I’ll talk about a pivotal tool that should find a home in everyone’s digital arsenal: the Password Manager. Password managers are currently one of the hottest apps being downloaded and used … Read more

Last month, I teased you about writing this month’s newsletter completely with ChatGPT. Well, I decided to try it, and the result was so amazing, I just had to share it with you. I’ve touched on some of what ChatGPT says here in past newsletters, but I asked ChatGPT to “write a 500-word newsletter about … Read more

ChatGPT You may not think that ChatGPT is important to you, or even relevant…but it is, and you don’t even have a choice. In its very short life since November 2022, ChatGPT has become integrated with the primary internet search engines, embraced by the top technology giants, and has become an irreversible way of the … Read more

STAYING SAFE ONLINE Earlier this week, I spoke to a local group here in Tellico Village about this same topic, and while gathering my thoughts about what to say, it seemed appropriate to also share them with all of you. Staying safe online is becoming more difficult because the bad actors are devising new ways … Read more

How to Pause Windows (and Mac) Updates Even though configuring your computer for automatic updates is set by default on new computers, sometimes users turn this off because it gets in the way. Then they forget to turn updates back on and miss important system updates. Here are some easy steps to follow if you … Read more

How to Become a Computer-Savvy Senior I often talk about ways you can be more engaged with technology because every day I see folks struggling with things that could be so much easier if they were aided by technology. Things that would make their lives easier and help gain back some time each day that … Read more

10,000 Computers – and Still Going Strong! This month is all about how our Technology Access Program (TAP) just reached an unbelievable milestone – refurbishing and repurposing 10,000 computers! Certainly, a milestone that was unimaginable when the TAP program was conceived in 2007. TAP was envisioned by Warren Sanders, a pillar in our club, and … Read more

Two Things for 2023 As we begin 2023, there are two things I’d like to share with you. The first is something we enjoy being able to offer our members each January, and the second…well, you can read that when you finish reading the first one. TAP Computers for Sale Every January, the rules regarding … Read more

Don’t Get Scammed Over the Holidays (or Anytime) The holidays are the perfect time for scammers to try and take advantage of you. A couple of these tips we’ve shared with you previously, but they’re worth repeating, along with some new ones. Scammers PRETEND to be from an organization you know. Scammers often pretend to … Read more

Whether you’re buying technology tools and gadgets for yourself, or family and friends, it’s easy to fall prey to gift guides that feature items based solely on affiliate marketing (where the publisher receives a percentage of the sale). For our last monthly bulletin of the year, we’re featuring some very highly rated and affordable gift … Read more

Staying Safe Online There are currently several ways that bad actors are convincing folks to do the wrong things online. You may have recently read in the news that Facebook just warned over a million users their private information had been leaked through some apps that let users sign into other places using Facebook. In … Read more

September Monthly Bulletin Preparing Your Old Computer for Donation, Selling or Recycling Buying a new computer? Regardless of what you’re planning to do with your old computer (PC or Mac), the first, and most important thing you should do is to completely erase the hard drive. Your best option for this is to use the … Read more

July Monthly Bulletin President’s Message Computer Problems? Try These Solutions First. I was talking recently with Tom Verbeke, who heads up our First Level Support (FLS) team, about which technology problems we encounter most frequently. It turns out that many support calls answered by our FLS team are for repetitive problems, and we thought it … Read more

June Monthly Bulletin President’s Message How to be a Tech-Savvy Senior Some of our members are already tech-savvy, but for those who aren’t – or for those who’d like to just ride along, here is some information to help you master the ever-changing world of technology. As seniors living in a digital world, we can … Read more

May Monthly Bulletin President’s Message Is it Time for a New Smartphone? Now is a great time to shop for a new smartphone. It’s mid-year for most manufacturers and they’re past the onslaught of buyers wanting the latest and greatest when new phones first release, and they’re also dealing with slumping sales caused by other … Read more

April Monthly Bulletin Aging in Place (With the Help of a Smart Home) As we grow older, the need for a support system becomes greater, including assistance from family members, caregivers, or even a residence that is designed to accommodate seniors. We’re more prone to reduced vision, less mobility, risk of falls, and more. Wouldn’t … Read more

March Monthly Bulletin President’s Message I’m devoting this entire monthly bulletin to a very important topic that affects us all – digitally preparing for when we’re gone. Seldom a month goes by that I, or someone else on the FLS team, helps a member access a deceased loved one’s phone or computer to obtain access to financial … Read more

President’s Message This month’s message is about our Technology Access Program (TAP) and the helping nature of our members. The recent tornadoes in Tennessee and Kentucky wreaked havoc with thousands of families, leaving them homeless and stripped of all their possessions. No one felt this devastation more than the children. Adults are more resilient and … Read more

President’s Message We’ve been receiving lots of questions about Windows 11. Should I upgrade? Is Windows 11 a big change? Will I have to learn everything again? Do I have to upgrade? What happens if I don’t upgrade? I’ll address these concerns again and provide some additional insight about Microsoft’s newest of version of the Windows operating … Read more

President’s Message The holiday season is a time when we can all slow down a little, enjoy our families and friends, and start planning the new year ahead. On behalf of the TVCUC Board of Directors and our many volunteers, I wish each of you and your families health and happiness for the holiday season … Read more

President’s Message  The first half of October was a busy time for the Technology Giants. Microsoft announced Windows 11, the first new version in over six years; Apple released their annual new line of iPhones, followed by a second event announcing a completely redesigned MacBook Pro, powered by faster processors than we could have ever … Read more

President’s Message Windows 11 will start to become available on October 5, 2021. On this day, the free upgrade to Windows 11 will begin rolling out to eligible Windows 10 PCs, and PCs that come pre-loaded with Windows 11 will start to become available for purchase. A new Windows experience, Windows 11 is designed to … Read more

President’s Message When we ask our members what we can do better, technology education is almost always at the top of the list. While we love being able to directly help you with First Level Support, we know you would also like to learn more about your technology devices with resources such as professionally created … Read more

President’s Message June was a very busy month! With COVID restrictions lifted, we can now travel to visit family and friends again and begin returning to life as we used to know it. But travel often means hotels with unsecured Wi-Fi and the temptation to just join that free Wi-Fi with the same password that … Read more