Sharing with the Community
The Laguna Woods Village PC Club was started in 1984 by Al Bloom, and was composed of volunteer supervisors who helped users in the computer room in Clubhouse 1. Club meetings were held informally in member manors. In 1996, 6-week sessions of basic computer classes were offered on Works for Windows, and a study guide was created - (150) people enrolled in the classes.
In 1998 the Club moved to the annex building adjacent to Clubhouse II with one room for the computer Workshop, and a second room for a Learning Center. New courses were offered (intermediate skills, spreadsheets, Quicken, digital imaging, and the Internet), additional sessions were added, and the class size was increased to (13). Software taught in the Learning Center was also installed in the Workshop to offer students a place to practice. All teachers were volunteers and members of the PC Club. Throughout this developing period, the Club held monthly meetings and SIGs (special interest groups) presenting topics and information to help community members get more enjoyment from their computers.
In 2002, when GRF and PCM operations were moved to the Community Administration Center, the PC Club was assigned a room for our Workshop, and another for our Learning Center. As previously, the Club continued to take full responsibility for the management and operation of the facilities, and for the upgrading and maintenance of the equipment. Since the move, the PC Club has increased the class size to (20), and increased the number of Workshop computers to (32), while making many improvements in computer equipment and furniture most of these expenses have been paid for out of PC Club funds.
The PC Club is a non-profit community service organization of volunteers. The goal of the PC Club is to assist, teach, and inform all residents of ways in which they can get more productive and enjoyable use from their computers. In the Learning Center, we offer a variety of computer classes, based on the needs and interests of a majority of the residents. In the Workshop, computers, with staff to assist, are available to all residents.
Club funds are received from annual memberships, class fees, and user donations. These funds are used to purchase and maintain the computer equipment, the facility furnishings, and pay daily operating expenses. We offer the community a cost-efficient service using our knowledge and experience in computer operations to take care of most needs directly, without having to use PCM.
The PC Workshop (left) and the Learning Center (right).
Here are some further examples of how we share with the community:
- The Workshop, with (32) computers, is open six hours (6) days a week (3 hours on Saturdays) to all residents. Computers have the latest operating systems and are furnished with the standard MS office suite of applications. A network laser printer enables users to print their documents. Three of the computers are furnished with 22 monitors, scanners, tools to copy 35 mm slides, a color printer, and Adobe Elements, to facilitate digital photo users.
- The Workshop is staffed by Greeters and Supervisors who are there to assist users, as necessary.
- All computers are furnished with software taught in the Learning Center: for example, Picasa, a digital photo managing and sharing software. Also, typing training software to help new computer users get started.
- Some computers are furnished with Zoom, an application to assist users who are blind and some of the PC Club staff are trained to assist these people.
- All computers have a Cable Internet connection, courtesy of GRF.
- All computer monitors have been upgraded to 17 flat screen, for better user visibility.
- We worked with a presentation systems company to equip the Learning Center with a ceiling mounted projector, with the highest powered light available, and a large wall-mounted custom screen to help residents more easily read the material being presented by the teachers.
- We also have provided a microphone for the teacher, and installed speakers in the ceiling to help residents hear what was being presented.
- In the Learning Center we offer (7) five-week class sessions in the year, offering a selection of subjects based on the needs and interests of the majority of residents.
- Programs are presented regularly to inform residents about ways to get more enjoyment from their computers, and to introduce new software and services. Programs are open to all residents. A few subject examples are: Digital Scrapbooks, You Tube, Buying a Computer, TurboTax, iTunes, Buying Groceries and Banking on-line, Writing your Memoirs, Buying / Selling on eBay, Smart Computing technical services, Computer Security, Skype telephone service, Home Networking, Astronomy, Music on your Computer, Genealogy, Laptops, Making CDs out of LPs and Tapes, Computer Performance, etc.
- A current, easy-to-access-and-navigate website (www.ThePCClub.org), with information about our activities and programs, is easily available to all members of the community.
The PC Club belongs to a national organization of PC clubs. Our participation with them has made us aware of the offerings of many other clubs, and helped us better understand and measure the unique service that we offer to this community. We believe the Laguna Woods Village computer facility is the finest senior facility in the country.