Club Members
Our Club members are not the usual type of person that is found in a Computer Club.The majority of members have retired and many have not had any experience with computers during their working life.
They have purchased a computer or been given a hand-me-down by their children who have upgraded their computer for the use of the grandchildren for school projects etc.
They have joined the Club to learn how to use a computer.
The fact that most members are retired contributes to the other feature of our group in that we hold three meetings a month. Two of these meetings are daytime meetings, because retired people are available during the day to attend meetings. The other meeting is an evening meeting, which is the traditional time for group meetings.
Our members use their computers for simple spreadsheets to control their investments, word processing, letter writing, databases and a multitude of hobby based applications (music ,photography,cross stiching etc);most are connected to the Internet.
We do not have many technical discussions as most members are only interested in mastering the software, not in learning how the hardware works.
However some of our retired and some as yet not retired members have developed an expertise in the technical aspects of a computer and have become quite proficient at dismantling and reassembling computers.
They also have a good understanding of software and the shortcuts and tricks needed to make it work. These members are kept very busy at our meeting answering and solving members problems.
It is interesting to note that our membership had been approximal thirty, in each of the first three years we have been operating as a Club.
1999 - Major changes to date:-
The majority of our members where previously male, now we have over forty lady members. There were only two members on the Internet, now there are over sixty. Most of our members lived in the Sussex Inlet and Berrara district, now many members travel from St Georges Basin, Jervis Bay, Ulladulla and Mollymook. We now have Special Interest Groups operating covering the Internet and Genealogy and also beginner classes. Total membership is now over one hundred persons.
2001 - Other changes:-
Membership has been over one hundred persons for the last two years.
St. Georges Basin have started a Computer Club.
A Special General Meeting of the Sussex Inlet P.C. Users Group was held
on Monday 8th October 2001 to approve incorporation of the group and a
name change to Sussex Inlet P.C. Users Group Inc. to adopt the new rules
for the club and to appoint a Public Officer.
The 29 members present endorsed
the above recommendations and appointed Secretary Ron Neeves as Public
Officer.
2002
Membership numbers remained at just over one hundred,most of whom are now
on the net.
The Club produced it's first Club CD for members.
2003
Membership continues to stand at over the hundred with new members replacing those that have left the area.
2004
Membership continues at over the hundred
with attendance numbers between 35 - 50 at most
meetings
The second Club CD for members was produced with an autorun facility
to assist.
2005
Membership numbers remain static but the number of new members increased,
off setting those that have moved on.
2005 also saw the latest addition to our equipment
list...a wireless microphone, which connects directly into the R.S.L sound
system.
Ever conscious of safety, we now have reduced the number of cables
connected to our computer to a minimum,without compromising our
demonstrations.
2006
Membership numbers continue to grow - now at 128.(March 2006).
Our third CD was produced late in the year with a collection of "old" and "new " favourites.
2007
Membership now134 .
Our project this year is to provide better viewing for members.
The
Sussex Inlet RSL Club has assisted in this endeavour and a new sceeen
has now been installed with dimmers on lighting to reduce reflection on
the screen.
Our thanks to the Sussex Inlet RSL Club - one of our major sponsors.
2008
Meeting will now be held at 10.00am for 10.15 am on the 2nd, 3rd & 4th Tuesdays of each Month.
Our
thanks to the Sussex Inlet RSL Club once again - they have provided us
with access to their broadband connection making connection to the
internet, when required, so much quicker and easier.
The "Club" has
now purchased a new lap top with a "Vista" operating system. A control
box will allow us to switch between computers, at will, to answer questions on XP or Vista
Now we can all learn and appreciate "VISTA".
2009
Club continues to meet 2nd, 3rd & 4th Tuesdays of each month.
Our club monthly newsletter is now produced in PDF format and emailed to
members.
2010
We await the arrival and assessement of Windows 7
Later this year Widows 7 was loaded onto our "Vista" laptop.
For demonstration purposes, programs will be loaded gradually as required.