Mar 2008

 

Spring Forth

by Cheryl Marshman, Editor

Some of the December and January storms were not conducive to driving or attending classes.  I know I was glad to stay home and keep dry and warm rather than fighting the snow, cold, and stormy weather. 

I had to postpone one of my classes due to the storms and I know other classes did the same.  Now that it’s starting to feel like spring outside hopefully we’ll all feel a bit better about driving to attend classes.

We’re heading into the spring session now with new classes starting the first week of March. The curriculum committee continues to review the manuals and make changes to try and give students the best classes possible. 

One of the things that is sometimes difficult is gathering input from students and volunteers about our program.  Without input, we have no way of knowing if our classes are meeting the needs of the community, what we are doing well, and what we could do better.

One of the volunteers recently suggested to me that perhaps we could use this newsletter to gather input.  Most newspapers have a section for ‘letters to the editor’, so why not our newsletter?

So, let’s give it a try.  Lets all spring forth with letters.   Let’s share our ideas and opinions.  Here are a few things to get you started:

What do you like about the GCCLC?  What could the GCCLC improve upon?  What do you think of the classes? Are there classes we don’t offer that maybe we should?   If you don’t attend the free labs, tell us why not.    What information would you like to see in this Newsletter?

Your ideas and opinions are valuable and welcomed.  So don’t be shy.  Email your letters to me at publicity3@gcclc.org..  If you prefer snail mail, send your letters to me @ 12800 Golden Trout Way, Penn Valley, CA 95946.

Letters to the Editor

The Editor is looking forward to a full email in-box and/or an overflowing mailbox.  With your help, this space will be filled-up with your ideas and opinions in the May newsletter and future editions as well.

Computer Tips & Tricks

Email “Netiquette”

 By Doug Worthy

Many friends & relatives will simply hit the FORWARD button & then click TO and select their friends or relatives name to pass along interesting articles, jokes, pictures, etc.  It’s really a good practice to remove all of the email addresses and forwarding text included before sending on these emails to others.

Most people wouldn’t want their email address sent on to others they may not even know.  Not to mention that as you read these emails, it’s annoying to have to scroll through all of the email addresses and comments before you get to the part of the message you really want to read.

Here are a couple of simple procedures to remove multiple email addresses and text which is practicing “netiquette” or good email etiquette.

Delete all email addresses and text that were included in the email to you by using the standard editing tools available after you strike the forward button.  Then, instead of using the TO for the email addresses, use the BCC field (Blind Carbon Copy also called Blind Courtesy Copy).  To use this BCC simply click it instead of the word TO.

This will list only the name of each individual receiver on the email and nobody else’s email address will be shown. 

NOTES: If your BCC is NOT showing for any reason, go to the MENU BAR, select VIEW and click ALL HEADERS (You’ll find that command only when you have an email displayed under VIEW on the Menu Bar).

It has been my policy to just delete any messages that display multiple Email addresses and try to tactfully let this person know why I did this. You would be doing them a favor. If the message carries an attachment I would be even more concerned.

File Extension Info for Email

Email messages that carry the following file extensions in the subject can be dangerous to open and you may want to add them to your Blocked Senders List in Outlook Express: .vbs .bat .exe .pif .scr

Here’s the step by step procedure:

1. Open your mail server page (this is for Outlook Express) 
2. Make absolutely sure NO message is highlighted
3. Left click TOOLS (up on the Menu Bar)
4. Place cursor on MESSAGE RULES then slide over & down to left click BLOCKED SENDERS LIST
5. Left click ADD (in upper right)
6. Type the above extensions in the blank box (one at a time and don't forget the period)
7. Now left click OK

NOTES:

• You must do this for all five one at a time and remember, you can always unblock these if you wish.
• Here are some others you might wish to block. They would be messages from other countries which you may not wish to receive.  .ru  .kr   .cn  .jp  .ua
• If you wish to find a large list of file extensions that could be blocked, go to this website: www.ideanode.com  When there look under the heading “Newest Support Articles” and click on “Blocked File Extensions”. You might wish to print this or save it in your Favorites. You do not have to sign up for anything and will find other interesting articles for your reading pleasure.

From The GCCLC President and Vice President

The IRS Rules the GCCLC is Tax Exempt

By Bob Reeves, President

In a letter dated February 2, 2008, the IRS stated, " We are pleased to inform you, the Gold Country Computer Learning Center, that upon review of your application for tax exempt status we have determined that you are exempt from Federal Income tax under section 501(c)(3) of the Internal Revenue Code.  Contributions to you are deductible under section 170 of the Code.  You are also qualified to receive tax deductible bequests, devises, transfers or gifts under section 2055, 2106 or 2522 of the Code."

This is indeed good news for the Computer Learning Center and is another noteworthy milestone that has been reached.  By this ruling from the IRS we will not have to pay income taxes, but much more important than that we can actively solicit and receive contributions and grants.  Any contributions received will be deductible on the contributors’ personal income tax return.

GCCLC Council Will Begin Writing for Grants

By Sherrill Kulp, Vice President

To meet the needs of our students and to keep current with technology the GCCLC Council would like to begin writing for grants to update our computers and software.  We just received approval of the 501(c)(3) non-profit status and are recognized as a non-profit corporation separate from the Community Center so this is an excellent time to begin the process of writing grants.

We are seeking your help in locating a person who enjoys and has the expertise of grant writing.  If you know of such a person (or if you are that person), please let any of the Council members know. 

You may contact any of the following Council Members:

President		Bob Reeves	265-2866
Vice President		Sherrill Kulp	273-4213
Chief Financial Office		Sallie Faulkner	272-6981
Secretary		Elinor Sheets	273-8667
Director of Technology		Roger Thornburn	477-9210
Director of Administration		Carol Kuhwarth	273-3029
Director of Education		Martha Metropulos	268-6523
Director of Tech. Support		Jeffery Spirer	477-9245
Director of Marketing		TBH

Please note that we are also still in need of a Director of Marketing.  Thanks to all of you for your dedicated work and the enthusiastic support you give to the Learning Center.

What is a Grant?

From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia

Grants are funds given to tax-exempt nonprofit organizations or local governments by foundations, corporations, governments, small business and individuals. Most grants are made to fund a specific project and require some level of reporting. The process involves an applicant submitting a proposal to a potential funder, either on the applicant's own initiative or in response to a Request for Proposals from the funder.

Volunteer Forum

Council Meeting Highlights

1:00 P M, January 21, 2008

Old Business: The cable raceways have been installed making a more pleasing and safer classroom. The policy manual, per Sherrill, needs to have a history accounting. A discussion of the Education section of the policy manual determined there should be an additional section for User Group and Seminars. Workshops, it was determined, will stay under Education.

New Business:  Roger made a motion to appoint Jeff Spirer as Director and tech Support Chair. Carol seconded the motion. Motion passed.

Due to the increase in students with Vista on their computers it is vital we consider getting new computers to accommodate this. After much discussion it was agreed we will have a goal of having new computers for the September 2008 classes.

Tech Support:  Jeff said he has had several trouble reports that some of the computers are freezing up. He will continue trouble shooting to get the problem solved.  Jeff will be putting in another hard drive on the Instructor computer to set up a virtual PC. This would be a trial to see if it could be an alternate to Deep Freeze.

Education: In place of one of the canceled classes there will be training sessions held for instructors March 3-24.

2:00 PM February 25, 2008

Old Business: The policy manual is complete with a few minor revisions. Jeff projected the cost of new Dell computers with a flat screen monitor, 2 Gigs, with Vista Premium, but excluding Arrow (the graphics card), would be approximately $600 each. To reduce our costs it is critical to get a grant. Jeff will supply the technical details to whoever is selected to write the grant. It was suggested an article be written for the newsletter and another to our volunteers asking for anyone who has experience in grant writing to write the applications for grants. Sherrill will contact RSVP to ask them to advertise a request for a grant writer for GCCLC. If we know by mid June that a grant may be possible, we will hold off buying computers. Carol reported on the visit by Carol and Martha to the Workforce Connection Career Center.  The center has many single mothers wanting to get into the workforce but need computer skills. Martha and Carol left GCCLC brochures and flyers with them. Their needs are with WORD, EXCEL, QuickBooks and ACCESS. At this time we feel we are not equipped to handle much of their needs. They asked that representatives from GCCLC attend their meeting in March at which people from many businesses and other non-profit organizations will be attending.

New Business:  The Mission Statement was determined to be as follows:  “The mission of the Gold Country Computer Learning Center is to provide quality instruction in the use of computers to the Nevada County community. Special support is given to new computer users to develop their skills, thus enabling participation in more advanced classes.”  There were 540 volunteer hours FEB.

Next meeting March 17, 2007 at 1:00 PM

Volunteer Recognition

The GCCLC currently boasts a roster of 66 active volunteers.  Our Volunteers are so important to our success and without them we wouldn’t be able to provide the caliber and quantity of classes offered. 

Currently we have two volunteers that have been with
the GCCLC for 5 years.  They are:

Maxine Bleakley

Jany Dalstra

Many thanks for your efforts over the past 5 years! 

Thanks to Karen Pfanenstiel for providing this information

You’re Invited

The Nevada County PC Users Group (NCPCUG) has been providing information and assistance for PC users for 20 years.  Monthly meetings are held @ the Nevada County Education Curriculum and Instruction building, 128 New Mohawk Road, Nevada City.  Everyone with an interest in computers is welcome.  For additional information contact Ginny Gleason @ 273-1187 or visit us online @ http://contessaentellina.net/bill/index.htm

The next meeting will be held on Monday, March 10 2:00 – 4:00.    Ron Young will bring his digital camera and show how to add an attachment which takes a photo of a negative or a slide quickly and easily.  These attachments are available for several brands of cameras.  Q & A will follow the meeting.

Computer Humor

Tech Support: 'I need you to right-click on the Open Desktop'

Customer:   'OK'

Tech Support:  'Did you get a pop-up menu?'

Customer:  'No'

Tech Support:  'OK Right-Click again. Do you see a pop-up menu?'

Customer:  'No'

Tech Support:  'OK, sir. Can you tell me what you have done up until this point?'

Customer:   'Sure. You told me to write 'click' and I wrote 'click'