Palm Creek Computer Club

February 8, 2012

2012-02-09T05:04:00.000-08:00

President, Mike Salter, lead us in another entertaining and informative meeting. The focus was on Movie Maker and how we can easily turn our photos into a movie with background music, scrolling credits, smooth transitions, etc. Mike demonstrated how fun a movie can be by creating a presentation which included the photos club members had emailed him during the week. Now that we know how easy the program can be, we are challenged to create a show for next week's meeting.

Here is the recent message from Mike:

"How about a few movies?

If you make a movie with Windows Live Movie Maker, save it as a computer file (windows media). Send it to me at msalter@cyg.net or bring the file on a "jump drive". We can show them off!!! If you have trouble - send me an email - together we'll solve the problem. If your Windows Media file (that's the one you make when you're done) is over 10 Meg - it may not successfully go through the email to me, so ..............

When you're done, call 7338 or email msalter@cyg.net and I'll come round and copy it onto a flash drive. Or bring it to class next week."

After Movie Maker, we learned about all the different kinds of storage devices for our electronic data and how to safely backup our programs and computer data.

See meeting notes at Mike's website: www.homeiswhereweparkit.net
and click on "Computer Club".

Hope to see you next Wednesday! Bring your laptop, keyboard and mouse. We're having a "cleaning" session.

February 1, 2012

2012-02-03T07:23:00.000-08:00

This star reporter was not present at today's meeting so can't give a very detailed account of the presentation. Michael Salter was scheduled to show how to write and format a letter using several programs available to PC users such as Microsoft Word, Word Pad, Microsoft Works, and Open Office. He also demonstrated printing to a wireless printer.

For next week's presentation on Movie Maker, Mike needs your help with photos. Email some photos that he can use. See if you can find pictures that fit in with the music theme he'll be using:

From Mike:

For next week - Movie Maker
I need some photos to fit the song below
Please send 1 or 2 or 3 to me
Just click on msalter@cyg.net

Attach the photos - as files
Don't worry about the size - I'll fix
Thanks
Mike

I see trees of green, red roses too
I see them bloom for me and you
And I think to myself what a wonderful world.

I see skies of blue and clouds of white
The bright blessed day, the dark sacred night
And I think to myself what a wonderful world.

The colors of the rainbow so pretty in the sky
Are also on the faces of people going by
I see friends shaking hands saying how do you do
They're really saying I love you.

I hear babies crying, I watch them grow
They'll learn much more than I'll never know
And I think to myself what a wonderful world
Yes I think to myself what a wonderful world

How the Web Originated

2012-01-30T09:24:00.000-08:00

Thank you, Marge Ouimet, for sending this cute story.
- - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - -

How the Internet Got Started

In ancient Israel , it came to pass that a trader by the name of Abraham Com did take unto himself a young wife by the name of Dot. And Dot Com was a comely woman, broad of shoulder and long of leg. Indeed, she was often called Amazon Dot Com.
And she said unto Abraham, her husband, "Why dost thou travel so far from town to town with thy goods when thou canst trade without ever leaving thy tent?
And Abraham did look at her as though she were several saddle bags short of a camel load, but simply said, "How, dear?"
And Dot replied, "I will place drums in all the towns and drums in between to send messages saying what you have for sale, and they will reply telling you who hath the best price. And the sale can be made on the drums and delivery made by Uriah's Pony Stable (UPS)."
Abraham thought long and decided he would let Dot have her way with the drums. And the drums rang out and were an immediate success. Abraham sold all the goods he had at the top price, without ever having to move from his tent. To prevent neighboring countries from overhearing what the drums were saying, Dot devised a system that only she and the drummers knew. It was known as Must Send Drum Over Sound (MSDOS), and she also developed a language to transmit ideas and pictures - Hebrew To The People (HTTP).
And the young men did take to Dot Com's trading as doth the greedy horsefly take to camel dung. They were called Nomadic Ecclesiastical Rich Dominican Sybarites, or NERDS.
And lo, the land was so feverish with joy at the new riches and the deafening sound of drums that no one noticed that the real riches were going to that enterprising drum dealer, Brother William of Gates, who bought off every drum maker in the land. And indeed did insist on drums to be made that would work only with Brother Gates' drumheads and drumsticks.
And Dot did say, "Oh, Abraham, what we have started is being taken over by others." And Abraham looked out over the Bay of Ezekiel , or eBay as it came to be known. He said, "We need a name that reflects what we are."
And Dot replied, "Young Ambitious Hebrew Owner Operators." "YAHOO," said Abraham. And because it was Dot's idea, they named it YAHOO Dot Com.
Abraham's cousin, Joshua, being the young Gregarious Energetic Educated Kid (GEEK) that he was, soon started using Dot's drums to locate things around the countryside. It soon became known as God's Own Official Guide to Locating Everything (GOOGLE).
That is how it all began. And that's the truth.

January 25, 2012

2012-01-26T06:26:00.001-08:00

We send a big thank you to Best Buy for sending our guest speaker to us today. Charles was a wealth of information about technology in general. He mainly talked about notebooks, iPads, tablets, etc. but he also gave us some great tips and tricks to help with our computers. Mike Salter will be posting notes from the event on his website. Be sure to check it out at:

Mike's Website

Charles loves to talk about technology and said we could come to see him at the store for help with any problems or questions we encounter.

Next week Mike will bring his printer and give us some tips for printing wirelessly. We’ll also type and format a letter in Word, Word Pad, or other programs.

Sign up sheets for upcoming computer classes are posted in the Activities Office on a clipboard called “Computer Classes”. The sign up sheet for “Beginners” is limited to 10 participants who are using Windows 7 only.

Picasa classes will be split into Level 1 and a Level 2. The session called “Beginners PLUS” is for those users who know how to access their email, view their photos, but want to learn more.

2012-01-20T07:33:00.000-08:00

Greetings fellow Club Members:
I just found out that if you are an offical paid member of our computer club, can get a special discount at the Geeks on Tour website. They have a fantastic learning library full of easy to understand tutorials on computer basics and Picasa. Go to: GeeksOnTourClubMembership

Wednesday, January 18

2012-01-19T19:09:00.000-08:00

Sue Hepler gave a "miscellaneous" hodgepodge of assorted computer tips with some interesting websites to explore.

Items discussed:

How to set a home page
Using tabs to navigate between webpages (click right mouse on a link and choose "open in a new tab" so it is easy to switch back and forth between sites.
Use the F1 key to bring up the helps screen. Use the search box to find the answer to your question.
Use the Print Preview option before trying to print a web page
Pin a frequently visited site to the task bar
by dragging the tab or add the site to your favorites bar by dragging the icon from the address box.
Pin frequently used programs or items to the start menu by right clicking on them and choose "pin to start menu"
Click on the star at upper right of browser and search through your history to review the sites visite

A representative from Best Buy will be at our meeting next Wednesday to discuss iPads, notebooks, smart phones, and external storage devices.

Wednesday, January 11, 2012

2012-01-11T16:36:00.001-08:00

We send a HUGE thank you to Dennis and Yvonne Jenkins, the franchise owners at Cartridge World, for their fantastic informative presentation at our club meeting today!!

We had no idea nor had really given any thought about ink cartridges for our computer printers other than the fact that they’re so darned expensive! Yvonne and Dennis brought some samples that were open on the side so we could actually see the insides of a cartridge and understand how they work.

The most amazing part was how the units have changed over recent years. This photo is a perfect example (and actually makes me as a consumer quite angry).

This is what a typical cartridge used to be: filled with a sponge that held the ink.

Now compare that photo with the newer version given to us by our trusted manufacturers.

Look at the EMPTY SPACE that now occupies the inside of those expensive units! No wonder they don’t last very long!

More proof of the purposely big cartridge but actual empty space inside. Notice the very small ink sponge in this one.

We also learned that when the package says the cartridge will be good for 500 or 1,000 pages……………..the industry standard claims that a “page” is actually just a 5% coverage. The manufacturer and we consumers certainly have a different idea of what a “page” really means.

We learned briefly about the intricate formula of inks for the different manufacturers…HP, Canon, Kodak, Epson, etc. and how much training is required for the owners of a Cartridge World franchise.

You know when you see those “combo” packages in the stores where for the same price you also get some “FREE” paper? It doesn’t seem to be a very good bargain at all. The cartridges in that package have a much smaller amount of ink.

Yvonne explained how important it was for us to keep our inks fresh and prevent them from drying out. Don’t leave them just sit in your printer for six months while you’re not here. She used the example of a glass of salt water. When the water evaporates, it leaves behind the salty crusty residue. The same concept holds true for your ink cartridges. When the moisture dries out, the ink residue clogs up the jets where the ink needs to shoot out.

You can try to salvage those idle cartridges by sealing them in plastic and placing them in the frig but your best bet is to print at least a test page about once a week just to keep the ink jets clean and flowing. There is a setting on your printer for how to clean and/or align your print heads. Learn how to do that and keep your Printer Printing Properly.

Again, a huge Thank You to Dennis and Yvonne for visiting our club today. I believe I’ll be seeing them again when I need new ink for my printer. They claim we can save 40%. The store location, hours, and phone number can be found on their website at: Cartridge World Just click on this link.

Next week’s meeting will be about Internet Explorer….what are all those buttons for, how to better navigate the web, and some interesting sites to visit.

Wednesday, December 28, 2011

2011-12-29T09:20:00.001-08:00

To Mike Salter (President): Congratulations, Mike. You did it again! Another entertaining and very informative program about the Tips & Tricks of Windows 7. Thank you!

Mike demonstrated how to access the download for Windows Live Essentials and install the elements we wanted. Next came some tips about:

Libraries in our computer
Photo Gallery
Aero
Peek
Shake
Snap
Snipping Tool
Search
Movie Maker

We also learned how to adjust the sensitivity of operative commands for our touch pad on laptops AND how to print from a web page.

All of Mike’s presentations can be viewed through his website at: www.homeiswhereweparkit.net

Click on “Computer Club” and choose the date.

Next week (January 4) Sue Hepler will present an overview of Picasa – a photo management tool for working with your pictures.

For those people who are out on the golf course or pickleball courts and can’t attend our meetings, Sue will also be holding separate computer classes through the Activities Office. We just completed a “Boot Camp for Beginners” and will be holding some special Picasa classes and other computer issues. Watch for announcements via the park newsletter, this blog, or Sue’s blog at www.palmcreekupdate.blogspot.com

Learn more about your computer – it is truly a window into the world!

Wednesday, December 21

2011-12-22T17:02:00.000-08:00

Thank you, Mike Salter, for a great entertaining and informative meeting! Mike gave us a bird's eye tour of Google Earth. We visited Palm Creek Resort when it was in its mere infancy back in 2002 and were then able to zoom into the most current picture which was taken in June of 2011.

2011:

2002:

Notice the absence of any homes, developed lots, or even blacktop north of the poo. Only a few park model homes north of the tennis courts. Most of the area is just concrete slabs.

Mike also spent time explaining the role of a modem and a router in getting connected to the internet. We learned about passwords....pros and cons.

AND....there were yummy donuts to help us celebrate the upcoming holidays.

There is something for everyone at these weekly club meetings no matter what your skill level. Come join us.

Wednesday, December 14, 2011

2011-12-14T21:56:00.001-08:00

We send a hearty “THANK YOU” to our guest speaker, Kevin Fahey from the Casa Grande Public Library. Kevin’s presentation today was about the plethora of database and resource information that is available to us FREE through the public library website system. We learned to use the information sources for genealogy, consumer reports, newspapers, magazines, car comparisons and manuals, learning different languages, health care issues, medicines, etc. Plus archives of the Casa Grande Dispatch are available all the way back to 1912. Other newspapers and magazines from across the nation can also be accessed through the database links on any kind of subject.

Go to the library website at: www.cglibrary.org. Click on “Greater Phoenix Digital Library” to download books to your computer or e-book. Click “Dispatch Digital Archives” icon to access local Casa Grande newspapers. Click “Tell Me more” libraries for language help. The Ebsco Databases listed on the left side of the site is where you can access tons of other information sources. As long as you have a current Casa Grande library card, all the services are FREE and accessible from anywhere (including Canada). Obtaining a card is easy and fast. Go to the library (located just around the corner at Cottonwood and Arizola) with a picture ID and a document showing your current residency status. Your reservation receipt from Palm Creek will do nicely.

If you are looking for a magazine, click on the “Magazines and Newspapers” database on the left side. Once that opens, go to “MasterFILE Premier” for magazines. Go to “Newspaper Source Plus” for newspapers. Enter your keyword into the search box…..and away you go.

For prices for RVs and cars, go to www.nada.com. Enter your VIN number or make and model to get the latest and greatest information and pricing.

Genealogy buffs will have a great time searching through the various database programs available. Heritage Quest even lets you search all the census reports by name.

Kevin teaches a long list of classes at the library such as Basic Computer Skills, Internet Access & Email, Facebook, Genealogy, Digital Cameras, Digital Photography, and several levels of Excel. You can see a full schedule of classes at the library Home page. Click on “Library Info”, Web Site. Click on “Recreation” at the top of the page to access the Fall 2011 Activities Brochure for all the listing of community and library activities. This printed brochure can also be picked up at the library.

________________

After Kevin’s presentation, our club President, Mike Salter, showed us some great tips for Google searches. Mike always has some entertaining tidbits for us as well. Be sure to see all Mike’s helpful, informative, and entertaining presentations posted on his website at: www.homeiswhereweparkit.net. Click on the “Computer Club” tab for 2011, December 14. The PNC Christmas price Index is a cute program for your entertainment. We’re certain you will want to share it with the family and especially the grandkids after your Christmas feast.

_______________

**Note: The front lobby area by the reservation desk is now an official “Hot Spot” where you can bring your computer, e-book reader, ipad….or whatever for a quick download. This is also available in the computer lab. WiFi capability MAY be available in the SanTan Room during our club meetings as a router now comes with the hook up.

***Note: Next week Mike will be soliciting your input for our upcoming speaker from Best Buy. Submit your ideas to Mike at the next meeting or email him at msalter@cyg.net

Today’s door prizes consisted of a package of photo paper, a bundle of post-it-notes and some Christmas wrapping tape. The lucky winners were Sandy Milner, Mary M. and Bud.

Our December 21 meeting will be a presentation of Google Earth……. PLUS……..Christmas doughnuts! Bring your own coffee or drink. See you there!!

Wednesday, December 7, 2011

2011-12-09T07:19:00.000-08:00

Want to download videos from You Tube and save them on your computer? Want to download lots of new music from You Tube? Mike Salter demonstrated the "You Tube Downloader" and showed us how to access the information.

Web Browsers: What is Chrome vs Internet Explorer vs Firefox? What is Google vs Bing vs Ask? These questions were answered as well.

Mike also demonstrated how to dress up our Christmas letters by adding borders, clip art, photos, etc. How to change the font and add color. Start your Christmas letter in Microsoft Word and he will address more questions at our next meeting as time allows.

Next week's speaker is Kevin Fahey from the Public Library. Kevin will tell us about all the resources available for doing research. Genealogy buffs may be interested in his information as well. Invite a friend. He will also talk about all the free classes held at the library. Should be a very informative meeting.

Here is some info I copied from a recent message from Kevin:

The library will be having a facebook class on Saturday, Dec. 10 from
9:30-11:30am. You can access the Technology classes and all other library programs through the City of Casa Grande brochure at http://www.casagrandeaz.gov/web/guest/parksrec.

There is also a weekly e-newsletter that lists the technology classes that
will be offered at the library for the following week. You can subscribe to it by going to http://www.casagrandeaz.gov/web/guest/subscribe ,
filling in your email information, and clicking on Library Newsletter.

Future plans include a speaker from Best Buy. Do you have any topics you would like to add to their presentation? Any demonstrations of products you would like to see? Send your requests to Mike in an email: msalter@cyg.net

Remember to check Mike's website for a full copy of his presentation on computer maintenance. Go to www.homeiswhereweparkit.net and click on "Computer Club" to see his list of topics.

Let's hear from you! What other topics would you like to address at our club meetings?

November 30, 2011

2011-11-30T14:16:00.001-08:00

Thank you to Julie Yen from the Casa Grande Public Library. Julie was our guest speaker at the club meeting today. She gave us an update on e-readers.....Kindle, Nook, Sony Readers, etc. and showed how we could download thousands of free books to read from the public library. The library will be holding more classes on this topic if you care to attend. We also reviewed how to download books for reading on our smart phones.

Classes are one hour each and run back to back. The first hour will be about all the different kinds of e-readers available. The second hour is about how to download books to your e-reader from the internet and free books from your library. Class schedules are as follows:

December 7, Wednesday, First class 3:00, Second class 4:00 at the new library on the corner of Cottonwood and Arizola

December 14, Wednesday Same times again at the new library. Advanced registration is desired. Call Julie Yen at 520-421-8710, extension 5013.

Next week's meeting will show how to dress up your Christmas letter. Using Word or Word Pad, start your Christmas letter and Mike will show you how to dress it up with photos, clip art, frames, etc.

November 16, 2011

2011-11-16T11:15:00.000-08:00

We had a GREAT meeting today with lots of information. We received many compliments from both beginners and advanced users who said they learned new tips and tricks for using Internet Explorer and surfing the web.

Be sure to check the right side of this blog for an agenda of upcoming meetings or announcements. There will be NO MEETING ON NOVEMBER 23 due to setting up for Thanksgiving dinner.

Tips from Today's class on Internet Explorer (IE)

How to set up your home page when IE first opens.

Understanding how the tabs work at the top of the page.

Right click on a link to open it in a new tab or a new window.

Using the address box as a search box.

Use Alt D to access the address bar.

Use up and down arrows to scroll through a web page or document.

Use the 'home' button to jump to the top of a page

Use the 'end' button to jump to the bottom of a page

Pin frequently used documents or folders to the start menu or task bar.

View browsing history.

November 9–First Meeting of the Season

2011-11-09T11:31:00.001-08:00

We had a great unexpected attendance at the first club meeting of the season. Had to keep setting up more tables and chairs as more people kept arriving. That's wonderful news! Either folks have returned earlier this year or we have a very strong interest in learning more about computers.

Our new club president, Mike Salter, opened the meeting with some entertaining video cartoons and then gave a powerpoint presentation showing all the topics the club has covered in the past. We completed a registration form and listed the many topics we hope to cover in our meetings this coming season.

New Officers:

Mike Salter, President

Montez Beard, Treasurer

Bonnie Sewell, Social Coordinator

Sue Hepler, Blog Author

Mike toured us through the Palm Creek website, showing how to access the monthly newsletter, daily activities, sporting events, and park rules & regs. Next we toured the Palm Creek blogs to show what is available. Mark these sites in your favorites:

www.palmcreekgolf.com (Official Park Website)

www.palmcreek.blogspot.com (List of clubs at the park)

www.palmcreekcomputerclub.blogspot.com (our club blog)

www.palmcreekupdate.blogspot.com (Sue Hepler's blog)

www.homeiswhereweparkit.net (Mike's website)

On Mike's website, click on "computer club" and you will get access to all the presentations that Mike creates for our weekly meetings. Minutes of our weekly meetings can be found at the computer club blog.

If you have specific questions you would like to have addressed at our next meeting, you can email them to the club email account at:

palmcreekcomputerclub@gmail.com

Dues for the season are again $10 per site. Newcomers are welcome to sit in for the first meeting or two before you committ to membership. The club is open to people at all skill levels. We believe everyone will find items of interest. Click on the link below to read the club objectives, a list of proposed topics, etc.

http://homeiswhereweparkit.net/PALM_CREEK_COMPUTER_CLUB_-_week_1.pdf

Door prizes were won by the following:

Wes Kerner

Myron Persing

Rosemary Hoyle

Paul Boutin

Hope to see you next Wednesday, at 9:30 in the SanTan Room.

2011-10-08T08:17:00.000-07:00

Welcome Back!

Mike Salter will be presiding as President of this year's Computer Club. The first meeting for the season is scheduled for November 9 at 9:30 a.m. in the SanTan Room. Come early to visit old friends or meet someone new. All skill levels are welcome and encouraged to attend. Please wear your name badge. No need to bring your computer but you might want paper and pen to take some notes. See you there!

Final Meeting for the Season

2011-03-24T00:44:00.000-07:00

T'is that time of year when folks start packing up to head home so we say adieu to meetings for the computer club for another season. It was a GREAT year for our club and feedback from all has been very positive. We learned a LOT about our computers and had fun doing so. We met some great new friends, learned tips & tricks, found we could surf around the world and google our way home if we got lost. We were entertained and educated. Thank you one and all for a wonderful experience.

Mike Salter has graciously agreed to be your new Group Leader for next season. He is an entertaining speaker and has a plethora of topics to teach us next season. Mike has also recently revamped his website and has several of his presentations posted for you to download.

                                     www.homeiswhereweparkit.net

Today's meeting topic was about turning our photos into a movie by using Windows Live Movie Maker. This is a free Microsoft program that can be downloaded to your computer. It looks fast, easy, and fun so be sure to give it a try.

If you have questions or comments, you can email them to Mike's personal email through his website or at the club gmail address:
                              palmcreekcomputerclub@gmail.com

Mark your calendar for our next meeting which is tentatively scheduled for November 3. Have a wonderful summer full of adventure and SAFE travels!


Signing off for the season......................Sue Hepler

Minutes from March 16, 2011

2011-03-16T21:38:00.000-07:00

THANK YOU to Julie Yen from the Casa Grande Public Library who was our guest speaker at today's meeting! Julie used our full two hour meeting to show us the benefits that are available through our local library and there was a line of people after the meeting with even more questions for her.

There is a plethora of information on the library website:
www.cglibrary.org

www.CasaGrandeAz.gov

You need a library card to gain access to most of the information and getting a card is easy. You need some kind of photo ID plus proof of residency. An APS invoice or your Palm Creek registration form will suffice. The card is good for one year. You can gain access to the library information even after you travel back to your "other" home.

Julie pointed out where we can gain access to magazines and newspapers, some dating back many years. We can access programs to learn languages, study genealogy, develop crafts, repair a car, build a house, etc etc as the list goes on and on through their database. I plan to spend LOTS of time at their on line resources. We can download eBooks, audio books, movies, photos, etc.

Julie brought samples of different kinds of e-readers like Nook, iPad, Barnes & Noble, etc. We discussed pros and cons of each. She also demonstrated how we can download these items straight to our computers.

Another favorite topic was the calendar of different computer classes offered by the library.

Thanks again, Julie!

Show and Tell

2011-03-09T21:14:00.000-08:00

It looks like residents may be starting to leave as we only had about 35 members present today. I hope the low count wasn't because folks were hesitant to come to our Show and Tell session! Those of us that were there enjoyed some entertaining presentations from fellow computer users. I'm afraid to list all the names here for fear that I'll miss someone as I wasn't diligent enough to write down all the names. Sorry about that. We saw several slide shows including some beautiful sunset photos with music, a darling slideshow of a visit from the grandchildren, a stunning movie paying tribute to war veterans, a presentation about the great variety of bird life and activity on our golf course, and even a comical slide show about a day in a dog's life.

We viewed a maritime website so we could observe all the ships at sea and I entertained the group with some silly exe files to liven up your desktop.
We reviewed the proper procedures for cleaning the screen on your laptop and the proper SAFE way to use compressed air near the keyboard. Dirt is a prime enemy of your computer.

Our speaker from the Casa Grande Public Library has been confirmed and will be present on Wednesday, March 16. She will present information about:
     -How out-of-towners can obtain a library card & use our local libraries
     -Downloading free library eBooks for your Kindle or Ipad
     -Free computer classes on various subjects
     -Volunteer opportunities at the local libraries
     -The annual "Friends of the Library" book sale
If time permits after Linda Yen's library presentation, Mike Salter will expand on how to create a movie using your photos in Windows Movie Maker and Picasa.

Door prize winners were Flo Tellinghuisen, Bill Murr, and Doug Anderson. Congratulations! The door prizes will cease on March 23 as we're saving our funds for a donation toward a new projector for use in the SanTan room.

We plan to continue our weekly meetings through April 20 as a show of hands indicated there was enough interest to continue. For those who will be attending, be sure to submit requests for meeting topics.

Enjoy the sunshine outdoors, but save enough energy to keep your laptop humming and active!

Minutes from March 2, 2011

2011-03-03T05:35:00.000-08:00

We had another great meeting today with 43 members present for Mike Salter's presentation. We're really fortunate to have Mike with us this year as he is not only a wealth of information for our computers, but he is an entertaining speaker as well.

Using an Organizer: We covered a number of topics today starting with how to use an organizer. Almost every email program is in itself an organizer as it contains a full list of your contacts, a calendar where you can enter dates and set reminders, and most have a task list where you can list those "to do" items. Look closely at your email program and learn to use it to its full capability. In the contacts section, you can enter notes, birthdays, anniversaries, etc and set reminders. These reminders usually send you an email alerting you to the event. You can set recurring items so that birthday reminder pops up year after year. Don't be afraid to click on the buttons and rev up that email program you already use. Get in the habit of posting to your electronic calendar and setting reminders. Microsoft Outlook Express and Windows Live Mail are excellent programs that combine many tools for your organized lifestyle.

Windows Live Essentials: Click on this LINK to take you to Windows Life Essentials where you can download the latest and greatest for photo gallery, Windows Live Mail, and other up-to-date features.

How to burn a CD or DVD: Mike did a great job on explaining the process of burning to a CD using either the live file system or the mastered format. Click on this LINK to go to his website where the information is presented in a .pdf file you can read, download, and/or print.

Buying a new computer?? Are you thinking of buying a new computer? Here is a detailed, easy to understand, guide line of all the things to consider before cruising through the store. This is a 17 page .pdf file on Mike's website: LINK

Thank you, again, Mike for your generous donation and sharing of your time and talents.

Congratulations to our door prize winners:

Mary Jo Weaver -- a set of speakers
Betty Zellers -- 4 gig flash drive
Deenie Stewart -- notebook & keychain

Now fellow members of the computer club -- it is YOUR TURN to present and show off your computer knowledge!! At our next meeting on March 9, bring "something" from your computer to share with the group. It can be a selection of photos of some exciting adventure....or a cool tip/trick you've learned....or a favorite website you've stumbled upon. Bring something to share. Keep the topic to a simple short five-minute presentation. Put the photos on a flash drive or CD so we can show them on the big projector. Mike will load the pictures onto his computer so all you have to do is bring them in. We have a microphone system now so you can stay comfortably seated if you wish. Don't let stage fright scare you away. Share with us!! It should be a fun and entertaining morning!

Today's Minutes

2011-02-23T15:50:00.000-08:00

We had 46 people at today's meeting. Thank you one and all for attending. The more the merrier!

Several members have asked about printing labels for their CDs or DVDs so we reviewed the Avery website at http://www.avery.com/. CD labels can be purchased at any Staples, Office Max, etc. Be sure to check for "ink jet" printer labels.

http://www.avery.com/
go to "Templates & Software" on the blue bar
go to "Design & Print On Line"
click on "start now"
choose "Media Labels & Inserts"
pick the avery label number you have purchased
follow the on line instructions to print your label

OR....if you want the entire Avery program on your computer, bring your laptop to next week's meeting and we can copy it onto your machine for you from a jump drive.

When using Picasa, go to http://www.picasa.google.com/ and click on the "Helps" section. Picasa has some very good detailed instructions for many of their functions.

We discussed a way to help identify duplicate photos in Picasa by going to the Tools Menu, Experimental, Duplicate Photos. Then right click on a photo, and choose "Locate on Disk". It is one way to help eliminate duplicate photos.

We explored Google Earth and learned how to plan a trip with multiple stops and then email the complete map and directions directly from there. Google Earth is a very impressive program! Street View allows us to zoom in and view photos in 360 degrees to see the buildings and surroundings.

We reviewed Windows Live Essentials and Windows Live Mail. Windows Essential is available for both Windows 7 and Vista and can be downloaded for free. We demonstrated how easy it was to load several email addresses into one account for easy access.

Next week, Mike Salter will present several topics: (March 2)

use of a calendar/day planner in our email programs
what to know when buying a new computer
windows live essentials
how to adjust the touchpad on your laptop
how to burn a CD or DVD

If time permits, we will continue our Basics session as well.

Congratulations to our door prize winners today:

8 gb flash drive - Sandy Morin
4 gb flash drive - Madeleine Cameron
Notebook & keychain - Sue Neumann

Email us with questions, topics you'd like presented at our meetings, or favorite websites that other members may enjoy. Our email address is palmcreekcomputerclub@gmail.com

March 9: Several members will be showing slideshows or movies or just sharing computer stories. It's YOUR turn to share with the club. Send us an email so we put your name on the list of presenters. (presentations should be no longer than 10 minutes)

Picasa and Basics (again)

2011-02-16T18:16:00.000-08:00

Geeks on Tour practically hosted our whole meeting today as we watched tutorials from both Picasa and Basic Essentials. After each tutorial, we paused to answer questions or review what we had just learned.

Our new microphone system works great! Our speaker no longer has to use a loud "outdoor" voice to be heard across the room as a result of your paid dues. As a matter of fact, we've already had two other people purchase the same equipment for their own use.

We've had several volunteers (Montez Beard, Sandra Milner, and Marlene Thurlow) who said they will share some of their photos at our March 9 meeting! Yahoo!! If you have some photos or a computer story that you can share, please do so. We'd love to hear what our members are learning from our club meetings. Keep your presentation to five minutes....or at least less than 10. Bring your presentation on a jump drive or CD. Come on March 9 ready for our "Show and Tell" hour.

Next week (February 23) we're going to learn more about Google Earth. We'll review "Street View", learn how to map a trip, learn about geocaching, and visit some far away places on the spinning globe. Our second hour will again be back to basics bootcamp. We hope to have something new for all skill levels.

Door prizes: Marlene Thurlow won a jim dandy surge protector! An aerosol duster and microfiber cloth went to Yvonne Robertson and Ray Valentine won the notebook and keychain LCD light. Congratulations to all winners!

And....a special Thank You to Janet Forseth for treating us with delicious cookies!

Guest Speaker

2011-02-09T23:40:00.000-08:00

We had three special guests at our Wednesday meeting: Wendell Johnson (Palm Creek's General Manager), Gary Lambert (our Office Manager), and Justin Dawson from Dish Network.

Wendell first reviewed some history of television, telephone, and internet systems that we've had at Palm Creek in the past. He explained the progression of how technology has changed and how our needs have grown. Where we used to have a couple hundred people requesting internet service, we now have over 900 wanting service. Trying to do a WiFi system over our 270 acres where big RVs come and go blocking access for antennas, etc. became an impossible task. As technology advances, the resort had to look for an outside source that could assist with meeting our demands for increased connectivity. After interviewing and researching multiple companies, an agreement was reached with Dish to accommodate our requests. Dish could also supply the technical support to handle and maintain the systems rather than trying to hire appropriately trained personnel on staff.

Justin described the technical aspects of what Dish has done to increase the band width to our resort. Dish connections should now be around the 1.5 meg range....give or take some speeds during peak periods. Dish is able to monitor our usage and determine those peak periods. He laughed and said we have a bunch of late night owls who must stream videos in the evening because our highest usage came around 9 pm when everyone settles down after a busy day of activities. That's probably the only time we have to get on line to check emails or skype chat with folks back home.

Future plans will offer a tiered service which means we can get the basic package we have now at about the 1.5 speed or we will be able to upgrade to a 3 or possibly a 6 speed level. Hopefully, we'll see those options by next season.

Gary Lambert reminded us that if we have any individual internet or Dish TV problems that we should notify the front guest services office (park extension 7000). Your name will be logged and a Dish technician will visit your site to address your problem. This will avoid any long frustrating calls to an 800 number.

Thank you to Wendell, Gary, and Justin for meeting with us today!

Door prizes were as follows: Doug Anderson won a wireless keyboard and mouse, Nancy Haney won a 4gig flash drive, and Kent Evans won a notebook and a LCD keychain light. Thanks to all for attending.

I'd like to set March 9 as a "show and tell" day when members can show off some of their photos. Let's plan on that date. Put together a SHORT presentation of some of your favorite photos. Each presentation should be no longer than five minutes. Bring the photos on a flash drive and we'll play them to the group as our entertainment. For added enjoyment, try adding some music or narration to the slideshow.

Next week on February 16, we'll resume our regular topic of Picasa followed by a another session on basic skills. Hope to see you all there!

Visit from the Best Buy Geek Squad

2011-02-02T13:38:00.000-08:00

We had 88 people present for the meeting today which featured a guest speaker from the local Best Buy store. Lance was a well spoken outgoing member of the official Geek Squad so was able to talk about all the items we put on our wish list of topics.
He brought sample photo scanners to easily convert your slides into digital format plus this small machine also scans 35mm negatives into digital format so they can be edited in other software. He also brought a small scanner that quite rapidly scans 4x6 or 5x7 photos. The group had many questions regarding 3g vs 4g, use of smart phones, and differences between ipod and ipad devices. He discussed various virus protection software and wireless connection devices. Next time you’re in the Best Buy store, stop in to see Lance and thank him for the time he spent with us.

Bill and Marilyn Grange have been doing an excellent job at buying door prizes for the group. Prizes given today were an 8gig flash drive, a webcam camera, an aerosol cleaner, and a pen/notebook with keychain light. Sorry I didn't get the winners names but congratulations to those who took home the gifts.

Next Wednesday, (Feb 9), we’ll have a speaker from Dish Satellite to talk about the behind the scenes work of bringing the internet to Palm Creek. He is scheduled to arrive around 10:00 so we’ll start our meeting as usual at 9:30 and show some new computer tips. When the speaker arrives, we’ll turn the meeting over to him at that point.

Thank you once again to all the good people who stayed behind to help put up the tables and chairs. Your assistance is deeply appreciated. AND….another thanks to those who come early and help us set up.

Picasa and Basics (again)

2011-01-26T18:09:00.001-08:00

We had 72 people at today’s club meeting! What an awesome turnout. Evidently we haven’t scared too many folks away by continuing our format with the Picasa and Basics classes. It seems to be working fine so far.

The next meeting on February 2 will feature guest speakers from Best Buy. February 9 will be a guest speaker from Dish Satellite. On February 16 we’ll review Picasa again to try to answer questions or help over trouble spots followed by another class on Basics. The “Basics” class always has something new for folks at all levels. For those folks not interested in Picasa, feel free to come in at 10:30 to join us for just the Basics. We’ll try to watch the clock so that will work for everyone.

We have many talented people in our group so if any of you would like to make a presentation or show off some of the fine work you’ve done on your computer, let me know. I’d like to see a “Show and Tell” day when we can present some of the movies, collages, or slideshows you’ve created. We’ll discuss this at the Feb 9 meeting.

I noticed that more people are showing up early and wind up discussing their computer stories (and headaches)…which is a good thing. The club should be a place to meet new friends who have common interests.

See you next Wednesday!

P.S. Thanks for all your volunteer help with putting up and taking down tables! Much appreciated.

Schedule Change for Dish Satellite speaker

2011-01-25T13:05:00.000-08:00

Whoops.....our Dish Satellite representative has had a scheduling glitch so is now scheduled to be at our club meeting on Wednesday, February 9. Therefore, tomorrow on Jan 26, we'll continue our previously planned agenda of covering Picasa training and then another review of "Basic Computer Skills".

Best Buy is still scheduled for February 2.

See you there!

Sue Hepler

Dish Satellite as Guest Speaker

2011-01-23T08:45:00.000-08:00

This coming Wednesday (January 26) we will have a representative from Dish Satellite at our club meeting to tell us about all the "behind the scenes" work that was completed to connect Palm Creek to the internet. This should be a very informative session. Gary Lambert, Palm Creek's Office Manager, will also be present to explain the Dish connection procedure.

This will NOT be a meeting to discuss your individual connection problems or speeds, but rather a meeting to learn about the system in general.

Our meeting will start at the normal time of 9:30 when we will continue our tutorials about Picasa photo management. As soon as our guest speakers arrive (around 10:30), we'll stop our class and turn the floor over to them.

See you Wednesday!

Sue Hepler

New Meeting Format

2011-01-19T13:58:00.001-08:00

WOW!!! We had 76 members present at today’s Computer Club meeting! That’s fantastic and we have truly set an attendance and membership record. It is quite obvious that technology is making a bigger impact on our lives as more and more of us want to learn to get better use of our computers.

NEW FORMAT:

With a show of hands, the vast majority of those present agreed that we want to learn about Picasa which is a popular, easy to learn, FREE program for managing our photos. Picasa will allow us to email photos, upload them to a web album, print in various sizes, burn to CD, send to a blog, create a collage, make a movie, use face recognition and even geotag photos. Some of these terms like face recognition and geotagging are new words so we’re looking forward to learning about them. Learning to use Picasa will definitely help everyone to stay in touch with family and friends.

We will continue Picasa education for the next 4-5 club sessions. These sessions will be scheduled from 9:30 to approximately 10:30. Then we’ll take a 5 minute recess. Those who want to leave may do so. The remaining group will reconvene to hold another class for beginners and intermediate computer users, ending by 11:30.

Topics for the second session (BASICS 101) will include things like:

Desktop organization
intro to Windows 7
web browser (Internet Explorer) options
managing favorites
how to surf the internet
copy, cut, paste
tips, tricks, and shortcuts
attaching photos to email
file organization, make new folders, move documents, etc.

You may bring your laptop if you wish, but it is definitely not needed. Do, however, bring a notebook and pen to take some notes…unless, of course, you have a perfect memory. HA!

Hope to see you at the next meeting:

Wednesday, January 26, 9:30

in the SanTan Room.

Minutes -- Picasa Info

2011-01-14T11:59:00.001-08:00

Greetings to all club members!

Again, we thank Mike Salter for the informative and entertaining presentations he has made at the last two club sessions. Last week we learned about attachments in emails and this week we learned how to write and edit a letter using Microsoft Word.

Mike has posted his presentations on his website:

www.homeiswhereweparkit.net

Once you log on to Mike’s website, click on “Computer Classes”. This button is located at the bottom of the black listed items on the left side of the screen. You can then access the presentation materials he gave in class.

Our schedule indicates that our next meeting on January 19 will be about photos and web albums. I will briefly describe some of the multitude of web albums available and will then give a beginner’s introduction to Picasa.

With a show of hands at the last meeting, it looks like we have many members who are interested in learning more about Picasa. If you are interested in this free photo managing software, go to www.picasa.com and click on the blue “download Picasa 3.8” button near the top of the page.

We’re looking for more people to give presentations at our meetings. Do you have a computer related topic that you are willing to share with the group? Email me at sue77hepler@yahoo.com so we can discuss possibilities.

I spoke with Ann Lykens in Activities today and she is working on arrangements for a guest speaker from Dish to meet with our group. We’ll keep you posted.

Email or call me with ideas for future presentations.

Stop by our booth at the Welcome Back party this Sunday.

December 29, 2010

2011-01-05T07:06:00.000-08:00

No formal presentations were given at today's meeting. Instead, we held an "open computer" day when members were encouraged to bring their laptop and a list of specific questions or areas where they needed help. Mike Salter, Sue Hepler, and "special guest" Don Hepler spent time with individuals to try to answer questions or give guidance.

Minutes of December 22, 2010

2010-12-23T06:41:00.001-08:00

Today’s topic continues toward our goal of showing all the fun ways to use your computer. Most of us are familiar with playing Solitaire but there is another whole world of games available for our entertainment. Sue Hepler introduced several different kinds of games that can be played on your laptop and that can be played individually or along with the grandkids. She demonstrated some hidden object games, word skill games, and matching games. The samples presented were from Big Fish games located at:

www.bigfishgames.com

Fiction Fixers: The World of Oz
Fishdom: Seasons Under The Sea
Sandscript

If you wish to download these games, go to the Big Fish game site link above and add the game name into the search box near the top of the page. You can play free for one hour. If you decide you really like the games, they can be purchased for around $9.00…..or you can become a member of the Big Fish Game Club and purchase a game for $6.99 each month. You can download as many games as you wish and play free for an hour…or play online for free.

The rest of the meeting was spent as “open computer” time when members could ask for help with individual problems or questions.

Next week on December 29, we’re having a full “open computer” workshop with no formal presentation. Bring your laptop and chat with other members who have similar questions or get help from Mike and Sue about specific issues.

BRING YOUR OWN COFFEE OR BEVERAGE AS DOUGHNUTS WILL BE SERVED.

Minutes of December 15, 2010

2010-12-16T07:39:00.001-08:00

We started our meeting with an entertaining “vocabulary” of computer terms by Mike Salter. Thank you, Mike, for always finding some way to start us off on the right foot.

In the main presentation today, we discovered new Tips & Tricks of how to better use Internet Explorer and Windows 7.

Topics Presented:

How to customize your desktop with your favorite photos
Using “tabs” on your web browser to open multiple web pages
We examined toolbars & what they can do
How to set a “home page” when the web browser opens
How to drag our favorite websites to a “favorites” toolbar
Best use of a search box
How to add items to the task bar for easy access
How to customize the start menu
Accessories in Windows 7 like calculator, snipping tool, sticky notes

Next week we’ll add some frivolity by showing a sample of hidden object games and talk about the favorite games we play on our computers. PLUS….we’ll have “open computer time” to discuss any problems or questions about your laptop.

December 29 – no formal presentation….just bring your laptop and we’ll share questions and answers. (Laptops must be fully charged as plug ins are not available.)

If you have a copy of the presentation disks, please bring them back to the next meeting so they can be shared with others.

Basic Spreadsheet Skills 12-8-10

2010-12-09T08:28:00.001-08:00

It was another beautiful Arizona day of warm temps and bright sunshine when we met for our Computer Club meeting. Mike Salter started us off in his usual manner with a humorous and entertaining video about today’s airline security measures.

Mike’s presentation today was geared to basic spreadsheet skills with the intent that we can all make a park telephone roster with phone numbers and site numbers where we can sort by last name, site number, first name…..or anyway we want with just a click of a button. The presentation is being posted to Mike’s website for review if needed. Just for fun……please bring along a printed copy of your new phone roster so we can “show and tell” and rehash how we created the spreadsheet and what problems (if any) we encountered. We can always learn more from experience!

If you received a CD containing any of our presentations, PLEASE remember to return them at the next meeting so they can be shared with other members.

Our temporary interim Treasurer(s), Montez Beard and Bonnie Sewell, collected dues of $10 and issued blue stars for our name tags. Once dues are paid, we’ll be adding your name to our email roster so you receive notices and/or minutes of our meetings.

AGENDA FOR UPCOMING MEETINGS:

December 15 (Sue Hepler) – Tips, Tricks, & Explore

Learn some of the tidbits and “bells and whistles” included with Windows 7. Explore some of those mystery buttons on Internet Explorer. Pick up some quick tips for navigating the web.

December 22 (Mike & Sue) – Games & Open Computer Day

We’ll show you some cool hidden object games to play on your computer. You’ll definitely want to share with the grandkids on your next visit. PLUS…..bring your computer (battery fully charged) and we’ll just visit and try to answer individual questions and concerns about your machine.

December 29 (Mike & Sue) – Open Computer Day

No special program presented. Just bring your computer and we’ll share and discuss general questions. Visit with other members and discuss computer successes and frustrations. PLUS….bring your own cup of coffee and we’ll provide the doughnuts!

Downloading Photos

2010-12-01T22:58:00.001-08:00

Thank you, Mike Salter, for a wonderful, informative, and entertaining presentation about downloading photos from our cameras to our computer and how to arrange them into folders for easy access. We had 52 people present that benefited from the program as there was something of value for everyone at every level of experience. Numerous members of the photo club came to share and learn from the information as well.

With Michael’s past teaching experience, he was able to show step by step how to create folders, move them, rename them, and organize photos so we can keep them organized within our computer.

Two memory card readers with multiple ports were given as raffle prizes.

Montez Beard will fill in as Treasurer/Secretary to get the season rolling so dues will be accepted at the next meeting. Bring $10 to join for the entire season or $3 if you just want to attend per meeting.

At our next meeting on December 8, Mike will present basic spreadsheet skills. The goal will be to create our own telephone rosters that can be sorted alphabetically or by site number. The techniques can then be applied to many other uses around home.

The December 15 meeting is titled: Tips, Tricks, Terms, and Explore. The presentation will help us become more familiar with the different screens and functions within Windows 7 and our web browser. We hope to see you there!

If you decide to bring your laptop, be sure your battery is fully charged as electrical connections are not available.

Meetings start promptly at 9:30 but you’re welcome to come a little early to help set up tables and chairs AND meet fellow computer users.

If you have questions or suggestions for future meetings, contact us at our club email: palmcreekcomputerclub@gmail.com

Wednesdays at 9:30 a.m.

in the SanTan Room

P.S. Thank you to Bob Gosh for sending this cartoon about wireless technology. Cute!

Minutes of 11-24-10

2010-11-25T10:51:00.001-08:00

We were pleasantly surprised at the big turnout for this meeting since it was the day before the big Thanksgiving holiday! Thanks for taking the time from your busy schedule to attend.

We reviewed last week’s presentation about creating our own business cards. A couple members had copies to share. It’s fun to experiment with different styles, colors, fonts, and customize with our own photos.

Our next project was customized Christmas cards and matching return address labels. It will be fun creating our masterpieces to send out to friends and relatives this year.

Next week on December 1, Mike Salter will present a program on how to download your photos into your computer, create file folders, and how best to name and organize your photos. This will be a very informative presentation. We’ve also invited the photo club to join us so come early to get a good seat (and help set up tables and chairs).

On December 8, Mike will show us how to create a simple spreadsheet and make our own telephone directory so we can update it, alphabetize it by site number or last name, easily print, etc. These same skills will then allow you to create other types of spreadsheets on your own.

Remember to visit: www.geeksontour.com to take advantage of their online tutorials.

….and practice those new shortcuts you learned:

Control and + to make font larger

Control and – to reduce font size

Alt and D to immediately access your address bar

Windows key and D to access your desktop

Next meeting:

Wednesday, December 1

9:30 a.m. in the SanTan Room

Agenda for November 24

2010-11-19T09:01:00.000-08:00

Greetings to one and all,

We had a fantastic turnout at our last week's meeting with 41 members present. Twenty of those people were newcomers! The club wants EVERYONE to feel welcome to come meet with us regardless of your computer skill level and/or experience. There is always something new to learn when it comes to computers.

The upcoming meeting topic is a continuation of last week's introduction to the Avery products website as we'll do a quick review plus make some return address labels and start making our own greeting cards. These will be fun projects to master before the upcoming holidays. Visualize writing your personalized Christmas cards and using your own personalized matching labels! Fun!

Those of you who may have created your own business cards after last week's meeting, please bring along a sample to share with the group and showcase your new talent!

For those who are NOT interested in labels or cards, come anyway! We'll be introducing some great FREE tutorials on basic computer skills plus a few extra tips and tricks.

(not necessary to bring your laptop)

Welcome Back Booth

2010-11-15T08:21:00.001-08:00

What a perfect weather day for the annual Welcome Back Party!! We had many many visitors stop by our booth and ask questions about the Computer Club so we may have lots of new faces at our upcoming meetings. Be sure to greet them and make them feel welcome.

Thank you to Mike Salter and Montez Beard for spelling me at our table. That gave me time to walk around to visit other booths, get my free hot dog and ice cream, sign up with the Eegees guys for a free dinner on my birthday, AND visit the turtle on wheels. He was really enjoying the fresh green grass!

We were located directly across from the “Pots of Petals” booth and it was exciting to see all the activity there. I hope everyone will participate in the program to help beautify our park. I’m also looking forward to the hanging basket program. Wouldn’t it be wonderful to see a hanging basket of flowers on every palm tree!

Hope to see ALL of you at our next meeting.

Wednesday, November 17

9:30 a.m. in the SanTan Room

November 10, 2010

2010-11-12T12:26:00.001-08:00

Thank you, Mike Salter, for a great informative presentation about Computer HealthCare and maintenance. Now we know how to defrag and we understand more about cookies and temporary internet files so we can get our computers back up to speed.

Next week’s meeting will demonstrate how to create our own business cards with a free program from Avery. After the presentation, Mike will be present to answer individual questions so bring your computer if you have specific questions for him.

Our club is for computer users of ALL skill levels so please feel free to join us. There is something for everyone!

Upcoming Meetings

2010-11-10T07:02:00.000-08:00

November 10: Mike Salter -- Computer Health Care (maintenance)

November 17: Sue Hepler -- How to print your own business cards plus Mike will be present to assist you with questions or concerns about computer maintenance.

November 24: Sue Hepler -- More about Avery program and products including printing your labels, gift cards, etc.

December 1: Mike Salter -- How to create a BASIC spreadsheet. Class example will be to create a phone roster of people in our park and be able to sort by site number and/or names.

December 8: Mike Salter -- Organizing your photos, creating folders by subject, and how to email photos to the folks back home.

November 3, 2010

2010-11-03T12:42:00.001-07:00

Wow! What a pleasant surprise to see so many people in attendance at our first Computer Club meeting of the season today!! I was expecting about 6-10 but we had 20 happy faces present this morning.

After a brief round robin of introductions, we delved into the Palm Creek Golf and RV website and toured through all the new segments that have been added:

Event Calendar
Activities Calendar
Athletics Calendar
Sales and Rental Availability
“Community” information
Interactive Map
…and… how to send an electronic picture postcard back home to family & friends

Check it out at: http://www.palmcreekgolf.com/

Next we toured through the Computer Club blog to read the minutes of past meetings and to learn about what will be presented at the upcoming meetings. We learned how to read “comments” and how to leave a “comment” on a blog.

http://www.palmcreekcomputerclub.blogspot.com/

We toured through the “calendars” posted on the Palm Creek Club blogsite and visited blogs from other PC clubs and groups. Spread the message to your neighbors and friends as there are still many uninformed folks out there who can benefit from visiting these websites.

http://www.palmcreek.blogspot.com/

Come join us next week for a great informative presentation by Mike Salter. Mike is a retired Computer Technology instructor and is a great resource for all computer subjects! His topic next Wednesday will be Computer Maintenance: Disk CleanUp, and keeping a Healthy Computer. Mike embellishes his “talk” with a pleasant and entertaining computer presentation so come prepared for information AND fun!

Mike maintains two websites that you may find of interest:

www.5thwheelforums.com

www.homeiswhereweparkit.net

Other club members have websites also:

www.williammurr.blogspot.com

www.rayvalentine.com

You may bring your laptop if you wish but it is definitely not required.

PLEASE REMEMBER TO WEAR YOUR NAME TAG. We want our meetings to be a fun and sociable place to meet new friends. Name tags are a great help!

Hope to see you Wednesday, November 10, 9:30 a.m. in the SanTan Room.

WELCOME BACK!!

2010-10-20T16:32:00.001-07:00

We’ll start this season with our first meeting on Wednesday, November 3 at 9:30 am in the SanTan Room. We’re anticipating a small turn out until the season gets in full swing so stop by to say hello and join the group. The first few meetings will be informal as we decide the type of programs and/or classes we want for this year’s schedule.

Wednesday, November 3, 2011

9:30 am until ???

For questions call

Sue Hepler

Site 1707

March 31, 2010

2010-04-02T09:20:00.001-07:00

We went out in style by munching on fresh donuts while we conducted the last meeting of the season. We salute and thank this year’s officers for their dedication and hard work at making this a great season. A special thank you goes to outgoing President, Peggy Fetzer for all the time and planning she donated to the club. Thanks also to Bill and Marilyn Grange for their past work….and to their future as they continue on as Treasurer and Secretary. Montez Beard will continue on as Activities Coordinator for the group. Thanks again!

The club has opened a “Group” on the Yahoo network where we will post a member roster and resources that are available to club members. Members will be able to log into the group and access information that is available for members only. An email will be sent out later this summer once access has been established and files are uploaded.

A new document has been written that describes the function and objections of our organization. This will be posted on the Activities Office bulletin board, on the club blog site, and will be distributed to prospective members at the welcome back party this fall.

Bill Grange has been in contact with the Arizona Association of Computer Clubs and Sue Hepler will follow up to see if our club can benefit from membership.

The group discussed ideas for future meeting topics and we finished with a presentation on Tips & Tidbits from the recent issue of Smart Computing magazine.

PALM CREEK COMPUTER CLUB OBJECTIVES

The goal of the computer club is to:

provide a forum for members to meet and discuss computer issues
keep up to date with new technology
increase participants enjoyment and understanding of today's cyber world
provide education about computers and software
broaden horizons of computer use
introduce new programs and options for computer usage

The club is geared toward all skill levels, from beginners to advanced users. We find topics of interest for all computer enthusiasts. Basic computer skill instructions are provided at the end of regular meetings utilizing Geeks On Tours presentations.

Members are encouraged to participate in our photo sharing project where we create a five minute slide show of our favorite pictures. Prizes or participant awards may be presented.

Dues are $10 for the season (per site) or $3 per meeting. Dues help cover the cost of weekly door prizes.

Meetings are Wednesday mornings at 9:30 and run 1 to 2 hours depending on the format. The group will sometimes split depending on skill levels and interests.

Sue Hepler, site 1707 (7707)
Peggy Fetzer, site 1749 (7749)
Bill and Marilyn Grange, site 1467 (7467)
Montez Beard, site 947 (6947)

Have a GREAT summer! I’ll be right here at my full time home in Palm Creek and will keep you updated with the latest news from the desert. Log in at my blog on occasion. Adios for now….

Sue Hepler

www.palmcreekupdate.blogspot.com

March 24, 2010

2010-03-27T13:50:00.000-07:00

We're nearing the end of the '09-10 season. This week's meeting consisted of election of officers for next season and a very valuable roundtable discussion of suggested topics for next year.

We want to give a special THANK YOU to Peggy Fetzer for all the work she did for the club this year. With all the projects Peggy is involved in, we appreciate the hours she reserved for our group. Thank you, Peggy!

Having no other nominees step forward, Sue Hepler will chair the group for the upcoming 2010-2011 season.

Bill and Marilyn Grange will continue as Secretary and Treasurer for another year. Thank you to both for your dedication to the group. Bill and Marilyn were the ones who purchased all the great door prizes, kept attendance rosters, membership lists, and minutes from each meeting. Bill has every detail recorded for our treasury and has done an outstanding job. We're thankful for their dedication.

Montez Beard will continue as our "social director" as she takes charge of the end of the year party and any other socials we may have.

Our next meeting on March 30 (9:30 am) will be the last one for this season. We'll celebrate by having refreshments and a short presentation of Tips and Tricks gleaned from the most recent issue of Smart Computing magazine.

As more residents and guests are planning early arrivals for next season, we will start club meetings the first week of November. Please give it some thought over summer and submit ideas and suggestions for future meetings. Mark this blog in your favorites so you can stay current with club activities.

March 17, 2010

2010-03-17T13:56:00.000-07:00

Kenny and Mike (Best Buy representatives) were back to answer more questions. We discussed access to Netflix via an xbox360, Playstation, blue ray players, and soon to be Wii. These devices allow us to stream Netflix videos to our computer and/or big screen tv sets. We watched the demonstration of a movie being downloaded via a Sprint device called Overdrive that allowed the download to a computer and then broadcast over the projector....which could be broadcast over your big screen tv.

Several internet radio stations were introduced along with a live demo of "Pandora". Pandora is available free and allows you to choose your favorite genre of music, favorite artist, or favorite song. The station will then scan all available music and play just the kind that matches your initial preference. Use of a device called SqueezeBox ($149) will allow us to listen to the Pandora music via wireless speakers. Go to http://www.pandora.com/ to sign up for free music listening. (Downloading is not available nor is it legal as the site is free).

Other topics included internet telephone devices. Magic Jack allows you to talk over the internet and very low rates anywhere in the world at only $40 for the hardwae and a $20/year contract. Ken also demonstrated Skype and explained how the video and phone lines worked through tha system.

http://www.dslreports.com/ is a recommended site for all internet services available in a particular area and will help decipher download speeds.

We wish to thank the folks at Best Buy for bringing us these programs! Stop by to see Ken or Mike at the local Casa Grande store.

Our next meeting is on March 24 at 9:30 in the SanTan Room and will include a business meeting with election of officers.

March 10, 2010

2010-03-10T19:13:00.001-08:00

The Geek Squad was back!

Kenny Best and Michael Cataldi were our guest speakers from Best Buy today. We learned more about the world of cell phones and calling plans and wireless internet access. Ken demonstrated using a Wii system to access the internet so we can surf the web on our big screen TVs. He also brought a Live Scribe Pen. The pen looks and writes like a normal pen but when written in a Scribe tablet (which looks very similar to a regular tablet), you can download the writing to your computer. The techie world is leaping ahead in huge bounds so it was interesting to see the latest gadgets on the market.

Many folks have old slides in storage so Best Buy brought a small slide scanner that easily converts slide images into your computer. That’s another introduction for the new cyberworld. Except for a few technical difficulties, they were also going to demonstrate printing photos from your camera directly to your printer with no computer needed.

Virus protection and identity theft are big topics these days so we covered various virus protection programs and compared their pros and cons. We reviewed 3g vs 4g, laser printers vs ink jet printers, the cost of ink cartridges vs refill inks, screen resolutions, and several other new products and topics.

Ken and Mike will return again as guests at our next club meeting on March 17. An email will go out to all members asking for questions or topics we would like our guests to address at that time. This is a great opportunity folks so be sure to submit questions.

AND…..our President, Peggy Fetzer, handed out the $30 gift certificates to all club members that participated in the movie maker project this year. That should be added incentive for participation next season!

March 3, 2010

2010-03-04T05:31:00.000-08:00

Jerry Smith gave us an excellent overview on producing a book. He brought his publication on “Rafting the Grand Canyon” and it is a very impressive book, a 12 X 16 hard cover volume worthy of anyone’s coffee table! All you need to get started is your photos, text and book publishing software. He used Blurb, which he recommends, but there are others available, all as free downloads. The Blurb program takes you through the process step by step and makes it look very easy. But it is time consuming to do the sorting and organizing of the pictures, writing the text and setting up the pages. The end result makes it all worthwhile.

Special thank you to Bill and Marilyn Grange for the photo and write up this week while I was absent.

P.S. Cute photo of the back of Peggy's head. At first I was going to crop it out but then decided it was cute.

February 24 Meeting

2010-02-24T20:46:00.000-08:00

What a fun, interesting, and entertaining meeting today! After several weeks of tutorials (thank you to Bill Murr), training on Photo Story 3 and Windows Live Movie Maker, we finally got to show off our talents by presenting the slide shows we had each created. We saw some fantastic photography and applauded the use of transitions, music accompaniment, narrating, credit slides, and creativity present in the shows given by 11 members. We all learned a lot about making our photos and stories more entertaining through the use of new computer programs. As a result, our families and friends will benefit from some great Christmas presents this year as quite a few members have gifts in mind now that we can create some fun and amusing ways to display our pictures.

A short discussion and some helpful hints followed the presentations. Check out the magazine called "Smart Computing" as it is loaded with great information regarding many computer topics.

Want some music to download? Then visit http://www.nexus.com/ and check out the free service they offer. If you get the urge to go shopping for your cyberworld hobby, take a trip up to the new Microsoft store in Scottsdale ... don't forget to take your wallet!

Some members stayed longer to watch computer tutorials compliments of Chris Guld from Geeks on Tour. Check out their website for some great training videos. http://www.geeksontour.com/

At the next meeting on March 3, 9:30 in the SanTan Room, Jerry Smith from the Palm Creek Photo Club will demonstrate how to publish a book using Blurb. See you there!

February 17, 2010 The Geek Squad was Here

2010-02-17T18:35:00.000-08:00

The Geek Squad was here today!!

WOW! Today's meeting was awesome and loaded with valuable information. A very special thank you goes out to Kenny Best who was the representative from Best Buy as our guest speaker. He talked about a plethora of computer subjects including:

Use of aircards for internet access: Verizon vs Sprint
Capabilities for combining aircard internet with cell phone contracts
An impressive presentation of his Droid telephone & its capabilities
Wireless printers
Router usage (NetGear being the recommended brand)
Adequate surge protectors & their value
Anti-Virus programs & their use, pros & cons

Kenny, at his ripe old age of 23, has an unprecedented amount of knowledge about new technology. He has offered to return to the club meeting when requested and will bring even more toys to demonstrate. He works here in Casa Grande at our local Best Buy store and said we could look him up the next time we were there. It was fun this afternoon as I went down to the store to ask him more about a Verizon aircard. Lo and Behold...I ran into four other club members who also hurried down there for Kenny's assistance with various items. I also noticed a plaque laying on the Geek Squad counter....it was an MVP award of the month plaque with Kenny's name on it. Congratulations, Ken, and thanks again for sharing your knowledge. We look forward to having him back.

Pictured left to right: Michael Cataldi, Manager ....and at right is Kenny Best.

(I find it quite a coincidence that Kenny's last name is "Best".)

If you can take time to thank Ken and the Best Buy store for their time, you can send email to the following:

Kenny Best KennyKenneth.Bestiii@geeksquad.com

Frank Holland frank.holland2@bestbut.com (store manager)

February 10, 2010

2010-02-10T19:34:00.000-08:00

Jerry Smith, our anticipated guest speaker, was unavailable today so we improvised with a fun-filled session about Google Earth. We googled Palm Creek RV Resort and toured the surrounding area with Street Scape. Then we "flew" to some home towns of a couple of our members so they could see the house or yard where they used to live. From there we "flew" off to Buckingham Palace and learned how to view photos that other people have uploaded to the Earth site. Download at: www.earth.google.com

With a click on the clock icon, Google Earth has some historical photos to explore. Clicking on the sun icon shows us how darkness falls upon the earth as our world rotates.

At a sister site called www.vpike.com we could closely examine our home towns and take virtual photo tours down the street to check on the neighborhood. Many realtors use this site to show or examine the area around a particular address.

Jerry McDonald (notice your name is spelled correctly this time, Jerry) demonstrated the miniature video camera that he and some of his fellow RC airplane comrades mount on their planes for an aerial view. The camera is about the size of your thumb but has 8gig capacity and takes both still shots and video. It's hard to believe that the camera only costs $59 at a hobby shop. We've come a long way since the days of the heavy and cumbersome shoulder mount cameras. Thank you, Jerry, for entertaining us with your camera AND by reading the complicated instructions that accompany it. This camera is available from: www.horizonhobby.com

Since we were on the topic of "gadgets", Ray Valentine demonstrated a writing pen and stylus pad that he uses instead of a regular mouse. The use of the pen helps Ray when he is fine tuning some of the photography programs he uses. As a professional photographer and avid user of PhotoShop Elements, Ray demonstrated the use of the pen vs a mouse and how he could more closely define an area of a photograph. We also watched as he magically changed colors in a photo with just a touch of his pen (and knowing which buttons to click in the software).

After the regular meeting, quite a few members stayed longer to watch video tutorials from Geeks on Tour. Anyone who wants to join the Geeks on Tour can purchase a membership through their website at http://www.geeksontour.com/.

I (Sue Hepler) normally post minutes of our meetings at this blog each week. In the event of my absence, Bill Murr graciously volunteered to fill in for me....right Bill??

Chiropractic in Brooklyn

January 20, 2010 Meeting

2010-01-21T08:24:00.000-08:00

Our attendance is growing so spread the word and bring your friends. We encourage folks of all levels of computer knowledge to attend as there is ALWAYS something new to learn. If you're an avid "user", we appreciate you being there to contribute your ideas and experience. If you're a "newbie", you are certain to go away with new knowledge. Come One, Come All.

The Club has a project we encourage everyone to try. We're going through the steps of taking our photos and turning them into a movie that you can share with friends and family. Bill Murr, Bryan Phillips, and Peggy Fetzer showed us the movies they each created using Photo Story 3. Their shows were so fun to watch. We thank them for sharing.

Our "assignment" (and I use that term loosely) is to play with Photo Story 3 and come up with some photos we would like to share. We all have cute or interesting experiences that would make a fun presentation to this group. When you're done with the project, you will have a wonderful gift to present to family or friends on either CD, or a website, or via email. Give it a try. There is nothing to lose, no money involved, you'll gain knowledge and most importantly.....have FUN. We strongly encourage all to participate. (no.....this does not require you to stand up and give a speech...we'll just plug in your CD or jump drive and show your presentation)

For those who are on Windows 7, go to your start menu and search for Windows Live Movie Maker. This free program is quite identical to Photo Story 3. If you don't see it on your computer, you can go to Microsoft's website and download it for free. We'll talk more about it at the next meeting.

We also presented an introduction to some fun computer games...different forms of solitaire, word games, and hidden object games. These games can be played on line, downloaded for a free hour of play, or can be purchased at a low price. Favorite websites listed are:

http://www.bigfishgames.com/ (Return to Ravenhearst is the game we presented)
http://www.gamehouse.com/
http://www.incredigames.com/

After the meeting, we showed basic video tutorials by Geeks on Tour. These basics included how to name and save files, create folders, backup to CD or jump drives, and how to navigate through Windows Explorer. To our "newbies", these tutorials are extremely informative and helpful. We'll be showing some after each Wednesday meeting compliments of Chris Guld at Geeks on Tour. If you wish, you can view numrous videos for free at their website or you can join their program for $39 for a full year and view the tutorials on all subjects as many times as you wish on your home computer.

http://www.geeksontour.com/

Next week's meeting will include a review and continuation of Photo Story 3 and Movie Maker. PLUS we'll have a valuable presentation on computer maintenance including disk cleanup, temporary internet files, cookies, backup, disk defrag, etc. by a new Palm Creek guest, Michael Salter. Mike has years of experience as a Computer Science instructor so will be a wealth of knowledge for us. He also has a website where 5th Wheel owners will find a plethora of information. Check it out. His personal website is even more fun .

Hope to see you at next week's meeting:

January 27, 9:30 in the San Tan Room.

Oh yes........one of our friendly club members gave this author a hard time (in friendly jest, of course) so I have a way of getting even...by posting his photo here. Ha Ha Jerry McDonald. Never underestimate the power of the pen (or keyboard in this case!)

January 13, 2010

2010-01-14T04:51:00.000-08:00

Encourage your friends to attend our computer club meetings! I really enjoy the commraderie of people who share the same enthusiasm for computers...not just computers themselves, but the joy, reward, and self-satisfaction of learning something new. Regardless of our experience level in the cyberworld, there is ALWAYS something new to learn and share at these meetings.

This week we had a fun introduction to the bells and whistles that are included in the new Windows 7 operating system. We demonstrated and discussed:

Pinning programs to the task bar
Pinning programs to the start menu
Opening a new tab vs opening a new window
Using sticky notes on the desk top
Using the snipping tool to capture sections from any document or webpage
Desktop gadgets...like setting up an additional clock to show the time in another time zone. (A nice feature when you have family living across the country or around the world. You can always tell what time it is at their location.)
Using the calendar gadget on the desk top

We have quite a few members who "Skype" with distant family and friends so we tried to set up a demonstration to introduce the fun of Skype with others who were interested. It is fun to hear the stories of how we keep in touch with "the kids back home". Skype, by the way, is a free video program which allows you can see your caller as well as maintain audio.

Since the meeting, I received two comments/suggestions from attendees that I'd like to share here.

Steve Allen shared another tip about opening a link in either a new tab or a new window. At the meeting, we demonstrated the "right mouse click" technique for choosing a tab vs a window. Steve has another method that works even easier. If you want to open a link in a new tab, press "Control" while you click on the link. If you want to open into a new window, press "shift" while you click on the link. This system seems to work great no matter which operating system you're using. Thank you, Steve, for sharing the tip!

Another new member suggested that we email our questions to the computer club so some quick answers could be researched and presented at the next meeting. Or...members could request topics to be discussed at upcoming meetings. By all means.....YES. Send your questions or suggestions...or tips to the club email address:

palmcreekcomputerclub@gmail.com

A reminder that this Sunday, January 17, is another Welcome Back party sponsored by the park. All the clubs and activities will have booths set up so you can stop by to inquire about their activities, meeting times, etc. Our computer club will have a table present also, so stop by and say howdy to whoever is working at the table.

Topic for January 20 meeting:

Intro to Photo Story 3 or similar photo to movie programs
Intro to "hidden object" games
View tutorials by Geeks on Tour

Be sure to attend.

P.S. Take a moment and scroll down the page to the March 2008 posting. The club holds a session where members can create a photo story. Click on the link just below the photos for Bill Murr's winning entry called "My Winter Home". It's awesome! Congratulations again, Bill.

January 6 Meeting

2010-01-06T23:35:00.000-08:00

WOW! The word is spreading and the season has begun as evidenced by the huge increase in attendance at this week's meeting. We have new members of all skill levels. Some folks are "newbies" to the world of computers and others are much more experienced. One thing we all have in common is that we realize there is ALWAYS something new to learn when it comes to the cyber world of computer technology.

This week we touched on a wide variety of topics:

What is a blog and how does it work?
How do we "Skype" with friends and family members?
What is the new web browser called Google Chrome?

Suggested topics for next week's meeting:

Introduction of Windows 7
More information about Skype
Club member favorite websites

Come join us! Make new friends. Learn new skills. Make that computer work for you. Come to the first meeting for free to check it out. Dues for the whole season are $10.

Next Meeting:

Wednesday, January 13, 9:30 am in the San Tan Room

December 16 Club Meeting

2009-12-17T08:24:00.001-08:00

While it is still early in the season, we had ten attendees at our club session this week. We demonstrated special features of both Yahoo and Hotmail email accounts including how to create groups, folders, blind courtesy copies, flagging important messages, etc. It is fun to have people at different skill levels because there is ALWAYS something new to learn about computers. Andy and Helen Cook (Alberta) just purchased a brand new Dell laptop and were gracious enough to let us use it during our club presentation. That gave us a chance to look at the new Windows 7 operating system too.

The San Tan room has an overhead projector and large viewing screen which makes for great presentations. We used Skip Emerson's (Oregon) email account as an example as we explored ways to open attachments and photos and save them to our computer vs keeping them in email.

Ray Valentine (professional photographer from Michigan) proves to be a valuable asset and can help us with resizing photos for internet use.

Chris Guld from Geeks on Tour has given the club permission to view their on-line tutorials on a vast array of computer topics at our club meetings. We'll be incorporating some of their expertise in each of our upcoming sessions.

December 16 attendees: Ray Valentine, Bill Murr, Skip Emerson, Andy & Helen Cook, Jan Miller, Montez Beard, Peggy Fetzer, Darlene Norton, and Sue Hepler (behind the camera).

Join us for our next meeting!!

Wednesday, January 6, 9:30 in the San Tan room.

Subject: How to create a blog plus tutorials from Geeks on Tour

Who?? -- All skill levels. It's a GREAT opportunity to learn more about your computer!

December 9, 2009 First Meeting of the Season

2009-12-16T19:09:00.000-08:00

Welcome to the 2009-2010 season for the Computer Club at Palm Creek!!
Posted December 10, 2009

We meet weekly on Wednesday mornings at 9:30 am in the San Tan Room under the leadership of Peggy Fetzer. Club fee is $10 and you get a red star on your badge to signify membership.

Our first two meetings were devoted to getting acquainted and hearing what the attendees were hoping to gain from the association. It seems the majority are beginners to computer lingo and the internet world so they're looking for helpful classes and information to make them more computer literate and take away the mystery of being "on line" and having access to the internet. Many are looking for more info on using their email to send and receive messages/photos from family and friends.

We held a brief presentation on Internet Explorer and demonstrated the advantage and use of Tabs, how to create fast access to our favorite websites through use of the Links Bar, and a bit of how to customize Internet Explorer for our personal preferences. Club members shared some of their favorite "tips" like using the Control Key and the Plus key to increase the font size of a web page. Another way to increase font size is to hold down the Control key and scroll with the mouse wheel. It seems we have trouble reading small print! Use Alt D to immediately highlight the address bar at the top of the page so you can enter a new address. Try these quick tips and I think you'll be pleasantly surprised to see how well they work.

Club members have many questions we hope to address in future meetings. This is "your" club and the agenda will be set to cover as many of your questions as possible. Please feel free to submit your suggestions or questions through email to the club mailbox at: palmcreekcomputerclub@gmail.com

Agenda for December 16:
• Introduction of members and guests
• Email presentation including an intro to Hotmail, Yahoo Mail, and Gmail
• Use of "blind courtesy copy" feature to avoid broadcasting everyone's email address when sending to a group
• Using an attachment
• Forwarding an email without exposing addresses
• Creating a "group" email address i.e., to a group of family members
• Creating folders to save certain messages
• Creating and saving a draft email
• If time allows, we'll also discuss how to downsize photos for easier emailing
AND.....of course we want to save time for social discussion and to set up the next meeting agenda. We'll try to maintain this blog to keep everyone informed and invite newcomers to join us. Please help us spread the word.

Slide Show Contest

2008-03-07T06:57:00.000-08:00

The computer club sponsored a slide show contest. Viewing and voting took place at the regular weekly meeting on March 6. The entries were all wonderful - and so varied! The assigned topic was simply to create a slideshow about some aspect of life at Palm Creek. Entries used a variety of photo editing software, and then Powerpoint or Photo Story 3 to put the shows together. One show told the story of the Remote Controlled Flyers club, aka the OFFA for Old Farts Flying Ass'n! Other entries included the story of how they keep the grass green on the golf course, the Palm Creek players performing Death by Chocolate, and some highly unusual photos caught around the park. And, here's the winner! By Bill Murr, "My Winter Home"

A Slideshow with Photostory 3

2007-12-14T06:43:00.000-08:00

The Palm Creek Computer club met yesterday (like it does every Thursday at 1) and it was announced that the club was going to sponsor a slide show contest. The theme is Palm Creek and you can use whatever slide-show creation software you want, Powerpoint, Picasa, Photostory 3, Moviemaker, etc. etc. There was the most discussion about Photostory 3 because it is a free program from Microsoft and the Geeks on Tour are presenting a seminar on it this coming Monday (in the Santan room at 3:30.) Amazingly, by yesterday evening, one computer club member had already used Photostory to create the following slide show:

Way to go Bill!

Just getting started

2007-12-14T01:07:00.000-08:00

I already posted computer club stuff to www.palmcreek.blogspot.com before I figured this system out.