HISTORY
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About January 2002 a very active resident of Vista Royale, Ray Cashman, proposed having a computer club and suggested a few computer owners visit Vista Gardens to talk with some members of their club. About 5 of us attended the meeting and viewed their one computer in a small room at their facility. They explained how they operated, when and how much help they were to their fellow residents. That was the impetus to call a meeting of interested computer owners at Royal Oak Clubhouse to form a club for Vista Royale. There was a core group which included Ray Cashman, Ron Carboni, Harriette Brottman, Horst Wilms, Sandy McKenny and Ben Muccioli. The Board of Directors gave us permission to use the back section of Royal Palm Clubhouse on Thursday mornings and we were given the key to the large screen TV cabinet. Ray & Ben donated $45 to purchase a 'Maxview PC to TV converter' to connect computers to the TV. We all scrambled to learn as much as we could about setting up our own laptop computers with the TV so that we could actually show our members what we were doing. We also individually purchased cables and equipment we thought necessary to work with our own equipment; IE: s-video cables, VGA cables, long extension cords, and extra surge protectors. Thus the club was born.
We devised a survey which Harriette Brottman handed out to lots of residents and people who showed any interest. The following was our first email communication with the people who showed up for the initial meeting. Note the date and the uses they made of their equipment.
THE FIRST EMAIL SENT FROM VRCC:
We devised a survey which Harriette Brottman handed out to lots of residents and people who showed any interest. The following was our first email communication with the people who showed up for the initial meeting. Note the date and the uses they made of their equipment.
THE FIRST EMAIL SENT FROM VRCC:
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Jack Aitun; Harriette & Saul Brottman; Joyce Campbell; Ron Carboni; Ray Cashman; Mary E Clinton; Maggie Duncan; Ed Healy; Barb Henry; Albert F Johnson; Margaret & Anton Langhammer; Irene Lariviere; June Laudano; Doe Dee Magnone; Sandra McKenny; Frances Miller; George Morrow; Jenny Lu Plumstead; Kay Poole; Marge & Reef Reford; Robert Rude; Helen T Stevens
2/3/2002 Dear Members: Thank you for your patience in our first run at "computers vs big screen TV". We were pleased to have so many people show up and will set the chairs closer to the screen and make the type larger on Thursday, Feb 3 at 1 pm, so that you can see more clearly. Harriette will have some ideas on tips on some basic windows function and perhaps we will have time for some questions and discussion. We had over 30 people fill out membership forms and our unscientific poll shows that about 1/3 are just starting out, 1/3 are beginners, and the other 1/3 are intermediate. There were about 10 laptops in the group and the majority used Windows 98, had color inkjets and subscribed to AOL for their internet connection. There were 5 with scanners, 2 digital cameras, 1 video camera and 1 CD-RW drive. Afternoon meetings came in first with Thursdays neck in neck with Tuesday; seven for 1 hour meetings and 11 for 1 1/2 hour meetings ; no preference for the remaining. Most used their computers for e-mail and internet searches as well as games. Record keeping and personal finance were next with genealogy having 3 votes. The breakdown for length of use is: 0-6 mo. -7 families 6 mo. -1 yr. - 1 2-4 yr. - 9 5-7 yr. - 1 8-10 yr. - 2 over 10 yr. - 1 Time spent computing every week ranged: 1-5 hr. - 8 people 5-10 hr. - 4 10-20 hr. - 1 and then there was the answer: "Lots" or "too much time" Scanning and Genealogy led Greeting Card Prep for software you would like to learn, followed by tax prep, digital photography, virus protection, spreadsheets, databases, labels, desktop publishing, financial and backup/system maintenance. Graphics, calendars and web design, quilt design,video conference all got a couple of votes. Presentation, architecture, voice recognition, dictionaries, encyclopedias and text recognition did not even get one vote. We will try to find someone to demo some of these subjects in the next few weeks. Let us know if you or a friend (you can coerce into helping) have any expertise in any of these areas. Any other suggestions for subjects or group discussion can be forwarded to Ray Cashman, Harriette Brottman or Sandy McKenny . I have included the other page of Windows Key Shortcuts as well as Internet Explorer and Windows Explorer ones that I found in case you want to try some of them. Some of them may end up being very useful to you. See you on Thursday. Sandy McKenny |
We progressed for a over a year this way, having various glitches and equipment difficulties and decided that a dedicated room or LAB would be the next step as the set-up each week proved to be tedious and problematic. The Board of Directors gave us permission to use the front card room at Lakeview Clubhouse starting in the fall of 2004. Unfortunately, in September, hurricanes Francis & Jean rendered that clubhouse useless and we were back to square one. We suggested that we lower the dues back to $10 until we had a home, but members were adamant that we save our money for future equipment which proved to be our best idea.
That year we asked the Board of Directors for space again and planned to move to Card Room #2 at Pine Arbor Clubhouse. But another hurricane took off that roof and we had to wait until the fall of 2007 for the required repairs to move in and get settled. We purchased 3 new Windows XP computers, a laser printer and had Jurgen Schwanitz at ACT Computers set up a wired ethernet network for us; thus spending all our savings at once. In the meantime Comcast finally provided the promised free WIFI for that clubhouse.
We planned an Open House that first January to invite Vista residents to tour the Lab where we showcased our equipment and showed how a membership in the Club would be of benefit to them. Refreshments and a huge raffle of donated gifts and equipment added fun, making this our first fundraiser. We have one of these every couple of years as they are a lot of work to organize and need a lot of volunteer members who do a great job introducing new residents to our amenities.
Over time several other computers were donated and we purchased and installed software called 'Deep Freeze' to protect all of them. We also purchased a projector and replaced the old brown folding chairs with regular leather office chairs. It soon became quite evident that we would have to move our weekly meetings to the kitchen & small card room because of the numbers of participants. A filing cabinet followed as well as rolling storage, miscellaneous cables & gadgets, bulletin boards, a rolling audio/video cart and a huge secure storage cabinet. The Social Committee purchased a new screen for our projector and then the old TV in the kitchen was replaced with a SmartTV.
Today we have a 'State of the Art Computer Lab' with 11 computers, 2 projectors, 2 printers, etc .............. and room for Ethernet connections and power supplies for 5 member laptops. The inventory equates to about $15,000 worth of equipment now owned by the Association. We have literally maxed out the space and are very appreciative of our business class internet connection supplied by Vista Royale. Currently we are open six mornings and 5 afternoons each week and have over a dozen classes each season that are free to our members. We also have a Genealogy Special Interest Group that meets one afternoon a week and our own website: www.VRCC.info which was totally re-done in 2015. Next on our agenda is an I-Pad/Tablet Special Interest Group and finding a leader for a Photo Group which has been without one since Horst Wilms left Vista. For a membership fee of $20 per person per year, a Vista Royale resident can have use of all our equipment and other perks ......... for less than 13.5 cents per day we are open.
Since the Lab is a secure room, we require volunteer monitors to always be present when it is open. Therefore we have over 30 volunteers overseeing the Lab and helping other members. We have already had over 1,200 visits to the Lab this past winter and we can count over 100 volunteer hours each week.
We currently present about 18 programs or mini-seminars each season on Thursday mornings in the kitchen from December to April. This is a very ambitious schedule and to accomplish it we have a number of invited speakers, but most are done using the expertise and research of our members. We had an amazing 2015 year and our membership grew to 200 members seeking technical information, help with their computers or safe access to the internet. We find that about half of them only come to meetings if we are having a particularly interesting speaker... or if the weather is awful. We have already had 2 programs with standing room only. The programs have always been open to Vista Royale residents as we encourage and welcome guests. Many decide to join. Occasionally due to the anticipated size of an audience, we request the use of the Royal Palm Clubhouse function room and its sound system & huge pull-down screen.
The Club has had an interesting '2002 to present' evolution which has become a valuable asset and marketing draw for the Vista Royale community; probably the best one in a Vero condo community. Along the way many close friendships have also formed, just one of the things that make our Club a cohesive organization and our complex a great place to set down roots and enjoy the camaraderie.
That year we asked the Board of Directors for space again and planned to move to Card Room #2 at Pine Arbor Clubhouse. But another hurricane took off that roof and we had to wait until the fall of 2007 for the required repairs to move in and get settled. We purchased 3 new Windows XP computers, a laser printer and had Jurgen Schwanitz at ACT Computers set up a wired ethernet network for us; thus spending all our savings at once. In the meantime Comcast finally provided the promised free WIFI for that clubhouse.
We planned an Open House that first January to invite Vista residents to tour the Lab where we showcased our equipment and showed how a membership in the Club would be of benefit to them. Refreshments and a huge raffle of donated gifts and equipment added fun, making this our first fundraiser. We have one of these every couple of years as they are a lot of work to organize and need a lot of volunteer members who do a great job introducing new residents to our amenities.
Over time several other computers were donated and we purchased and installed software called 'Deep Freeze' to protect all of them. We also purchased a projector and replaced the old brown folding chairs with regular leather office chairs. It soon became quite evident that we would have to move our weekly meetings to the kitchen & small card room because of the numbers of participants. A filing cabinet followed as well as rolling storage, miscellaneous cables & gadgets, bulletin boards, a rolling audio/video cart and a huge secure storage cabinet. The Social Committee purchased a new screen for our projector and then the old TV in the kitchen was replaced with a SmartTV.
Today we have a 'State of the Art Computer Lab' with 11 computers, 2 projectors, 2 printers, etc .............. and room for Ethernet connections and power supplies for 5 member laptops. The inventory equates to about $15,000 worth of equipment now owned by the Association. We have literally maxed out the space and are very appreciative of our business class internet connection supplied by Vista Royale. Currently we are open six mornings and 5 afternoons each week and have over a dozen classes each season that are free to our members. We also have a Genealogy Special Interest Group that meets one afternoon a week and our own website: www.VRCC.info which was totally re-done in 2015. Next on our agenda is an I-Pad/Tablet Special Interest Group and finding a leader for a Photo Group which has been without one since Horst Wilms left Vista. For a membership fee of $20 per person per year, a Vista Royale resident can have use of all our equipment and other perks ......... for less than 13.5 cents per day we are open.
Since the Lab is a secure room, we require volunteer monitors to always be present when it is open. Therefore we have over 30 volunteers overseeing the Lab and helping other members. We have already had over 1,200 visits to the Lab this past winter and we can count over 100 volunteer hours each week.
We currently present about 18 programs or mini-seminars each season on Thursday mornings in the kitchen from December to April. This is a very ambitious schedule and to accomplish it we have a number of invited speakers, but most are done using the expertise and research of our members. We had an amazing 2015 year and our membership grew to 200 members seeking technical information, help with their computers or safe access to the internet. We find that about half of them only come to meetings if we are having a particularly interesting speaker... or if the weather is awful. We have already had 2 programs with standing room only. The programs have always been open to Vista Royale residents as we encourage and welcome guests. Many decide to join. Occasionally due to the anticipated size of an audience, we request the use of the Royal Palm Clubhouse function room and its sound system & huge pull-down screen.
The Club has had an interesting '2002 to present' evolution which has become a valuable asset and marketing draw for the Vista Royale community; probably the best one in a Vero condo community. Along the way many close friendships have also formed, just one of the things that make our Club a cohesive organization and our complex a great place to set down roots and enjoy the camaraderie.