Chairman’s Report

Here we are at the end of another financial year once again and you will have noticed the Membership Renewal Forms included with this Newsletter, Also included are the Committee Nomination Forms for you to nominate someone who you think would be a good committee member or maybe you would like to put your self forward for election.
The Newsletters were all mailed out this time to ensure everybody received the forms in good time, but if for some reason the forms have been mislaid please ring us at the Learning Centre (Club) 837 7600 on Mondays between 9 am and 3 pm or come in and collect new ones on Mondays.

I would like to thank all the Committee Members and tutors for there excellent support in carrying out their respective duties during the past year and I am sure all the other Members would join me in this. No one person can run any organization, it needs a great team like we have to put it all together and keep it running smoothly.  

For the November meeting we have the hall booked until 2 pm. As we started last year this month will be our AGM and Christmas meeting combined; the AGM should only take 10 or 15 minutes then there will be a Speaker for 30 minutes to 1 hour, after which we can have some Christmas harmony and a light lunch. If some one could sing a song or do an item or something, that would be good.

Daylight saving is started at the end of September so check the time on your computer as it may not automatically change to daylight saving if you have an older computer.

The August Monthly meeting speaker at Kelston was Grant Sidaway and as usual gave us a great presentation bringing us up to date with communications by Cel Phone and land lines within New Zealand and around the world. In September Rex Wood spoke to us about the Free Download Program "Picasa", how it can be used for Genealogy, Photograph manipulation and storing Photos. This was very interesting to those of us who do not have that program.  Don Wate

Editorial

Grandchildren!  what wonderful creatures they are. Generally they are a joy to be around..(well mine are anyway)..with the eldest one 17years of age and the youngest 14years, and one more between those two. Seeing them develop into young adults is simply an amazing experience. I am sure development in children is more noticeable when they are not your own and the final decisions in their upbringing is not your responsibility.  One of the wonderful things about our grandchildren is they all get on so very well together, I am sure there must be times when their relationships are strained but we are never made aware of it. Although they each have their own interests, there is one particular interest that is common to all three of them and that is Drama. They each attend a group called “Kids for Drama” and what a wonderful outlet this has proved to be, particularly in building self confidence, which I think is very important for any young person to have. When we attend one of their shows, my wife and I feel especially proud watching them “Strut their Stuff” on stage in front of a room full of people.

Often I wonder as to what heights they will aspire to ..will the grandson be an All Black?…he’s very keen on rugby. Will the youngest granddaughter make the Silver Ferns?…and will the eldest one reach her dreams and become an actress?…she’s already been in a couple of television adverts;.. who knows?. time alone will tell.

Earlier this evening as I was trying to watch the television news, the eldest one was being prepared for her first “School Ball” in the matter of an hour she was transformed from school girl to a very attractive young lady. She was so proud in her ball gown; her hair done for the occasion and the work of the beautician made her look stunning.  Her beau must have felt very honoured to be her partner for the evening. Teenage years ….what an exciting part of your life they are.

Unfortunately they are growing up all too quickly and we are growing ever older, but hopefully, like them we are staying young at heart.    Editor

 New Members   

It is always a pleasure to welcome new members to our club, so to the following people I would like to say: I hope your association with us will be enjoyable and rewarding.

Tony Bacon      Karen Collier     Judith Noyer     Helen Stralen

Jill Malloy    Bruce Montgomery    Nevill Odin    Judith Trounce

Alleyne McCurdy   Gudrun Latham    Agnes & Ron Molyneux    Patricia Cooper

Rudy van den Berg    Ann & Bert Bartlett    Kelman Bartocci    Charlie Brown

I like long walks, especially when they are taken by people that annoy me

A Gentle Reminder.  I have been asked to remind the members that have correspondence from the club sent to them via email, to make sure that the email address held in our records is the correct one.  If you have not been receiving the clubs notices via your computer and you feel that you should have, please check with the office or email your email address to the club rooms  snwa26@xtra.co.nz  as it is very frustrating when mail is returned stating that a particular address is no longer accessible.  PLEASE if you should change your email address and you wish to remain on the mailing list LET THE OFFICE KNOW.  You are advised to note that club newsletters and details of all upcoming events are only sent to members via email.  Should you require to receive a hard copy of our newsletter you may either call at the club (preferably on a Monday between 9.00am and 3.00 pm) or uplift one from our monthly meetings at the Kelston Community centre.   The only exception being the newsletter immediately prior to the AGM when membership renewal forms for the coming year will be included.

GAMES SENIORS CAN PLAY

At last, a computer game seniors can play for hours with a clear conscience. In fact, a game that seniors (and their grandchildren) should play.

Free Rice, at http:www.freerice.org, is an on line game rather like Reader's Digest Increase Your Word Power. It offers a word, plus four possible meanings from which you choose one. The bonus is that for each word that you get right, the site's sponsors donate 20 grains of rice to the world's hungry people. Philanthropy with education. And a great time waster. But in a good cause.         

John Mihaljevic

For those that have not heard of   Skype, it is what is called  a, Voice over Internet Programme, that is free to down load on to your computer, it is truly international and, what is more favourable,  it is “Free”,    I have been using Skype for at least five years, and have recently had two workshops at the Club rooms, a two hour session is all that most people need to get the rudiments of the system, like most of the things we do on our computers, the more you use a programme the more adept you become on the intricacies and all the extra facilities it offers.

Generally it is ideal for people that have relatives overseas, one can call them up, PC to PC, or if they do not have a computer, credits may be purchased which enables you to make a call from your computer to their ‘land line’ anywhere in the world at extremely cheap rates.

There are within the Skype program, many things that you can do, such as transferring files, sending photographs or documents etc. and if you each have a Web Cam connected to your system you can see each other whilst performing these tasks. If any members feel that they would like to take part in the next Work Shop, please contact  Mike Latchford  Ph 836 0899,  John Poole Ph 834 7386  or  Shirley Wakelin Ph 8170540

  John Poole, Tutor

Mastering Your Mouse

Tony Bacon

Speakers.

The speaker for next monthly meeting at Kelston Community Centre will be a representative from Telstra Clear informing us on the special offers that are available. 

The speaker for the Nov. meeting will be announced at a later date. If you know somebody who would be a good speaker with an interesting subject, preferably computer related, please let us know. It doesn’t have to be computer based, but that is more attractive to our members.

Great opportunities to help others seldom come, but small ones surround us daily

Finally I would urge all our members to visit the Federation of SeniorNet Societies web site www.seniornet.co.nz where you will find a multitude of information on purchasing software at discount prices, discounted tickets for the theatre (Phantom of the Opera currently on offer) also tickets for NZ Symphony Orchestra. Course Manuals supplied by society members. When you have accessed the site choose from the L/H menu what it is you wish to look at. The site is well worth a visit and you could possibly save yourself some money, maybe also enjoy a visit to the theatre. If you have any queries in relation to the site contact grant@seniornet.co.nz who will be only too pleased to help you. 

We acknowledge the Support of the Major sponsors of our club:  -

PORTAGE LICENSING TRUST & WAITAKERE LICENSING TRUST - our main benefactors assisting their local Community.                            

FEDERATION OF NEW ZEALAND SENIORNET SOCIETIES INC

& with assistance from

NZ COMMUNITY POST

XTRA     (ISP s

Disclaimer

 Some of our club members who have specialized computer knowledge voluntarily give help to those with computer problems and also give advice about purchasing computers, etc.

It is essential that members of SeniorNet are aware that such help and advice imposes no responsibility or liability either on those members who provide such help and assistance or SeniorNet West Auckland Inc.  

   If you can dream it, you can do it.