Please Note: A new page has been added to the RockComp web site. It is special announcements. The page will contain all news or announcements that pertain to the clubs daily activity. Check it often. There are currently two classes on hold which are listed there. This is the way you will be informed of class changes.

Frequently check the Activities button for updated class information. Check the News button at the top of the page for information on club activities and general meeting speakers. Both of these pages are updated as new information is received.

The Fishers from Wenatchee are NOT enjoying their winter away from Rock Shadows and all their friends and activities....We have had about 5 inches of snow at one time, some lite rain, melting and just plain muddy looking cars. We have had to use the snow blower about 3 times, we have some great neighbors who have come over and cleared our drive ways and a path to the mail box. All in all, not a really bad winter so far, if the roads look too bad, we just stay home. We did this past week have a WATER problem that made us glad that we were here this winter. One of our hot water tanks supply line started leaking. Did not discover it until the floor in our master bath was soaking wet. We have now installed a new floor and new hot water tank and toilet. Plus updating the plumbing in the room. Was last remodeled in 1984 and over the years, parts to get old, just like us! I received a new laptop for Christmas and in the process of setting it up, I just wanted to share several items of interest.

• If you do not have the most recent version of PICASA-3, I suggest that you download it to your computer for orgination of your photos. One of the new features is 'FACE RECOGNITION" of all of your photos, in other words, it scans each photo that has a face, zooms into just the face from the shoulders up and puts it under People section. You then can edit or delete any that you do not want. I now have many different face views of each person. I find it to be exciting to just see what a person looks like and have it compare side by side over the years from your photos. Perhaps someone would like to give a demonstration on a Wednesday from one of their personal lap tops, that has photos on it already and just see how this new version of Picasa works. It is under Google, under "more, etc

• I just want to encourage members to make use of their copies of "THE SECRETS GUIDE OF COMPUTERS". My lap top has Vista installed and MS Office 7. I had not used it much while in the club last season, so was a learning curve for me this month. I took the above mentioned book and was able to follow step by step all the commands on Office 7. Was exciting to know that I had a good resource at hand. Do not know if you have contacted the person we ordered those books from last season or prior, but I am sure that there must be some new members that would like to buy an updated new version of this book. Last time we ordered about 80 books if I remember correctly and they were under $10.00.
We want to wish all in Rock Shadows Computer Club, a wonderful learning experience this season and look forward to returning next season if health and family allow.
Mel and Ruth Fisher

President Dale Clark called the monthly RockComp business meeting to order at 9:30 AM in Rock Shadows’ main recreation hall followed by all members standing and pledging allegiance to the American flag.

Dale C requested that everyone present with cell phones make a habit of turning them off during our meetings as they will interfere with the Internet signal needed when we are having presentations which need the internet.

Next, Dale C introduced the members of the executive board … Vice President, Winston Heogh; Secretary, Carol Hayden; Treasurer, Dale Fosjord; trustees, Chuck Rickard, Irv Swanson and Jim Lettenmaier who was absent.

Dale then asked for new attendees to stand and be recognized.

READING OF THE MINUTES: Secretary, Carol Hayden read the minutes of the previous business meeting held on December 2, 2009. Carol Hattery made a motion to accept the minutes as read and Dave Lovejoy seconded the motion and the motion was passed.

READING OF THE TREASURER’S REPORT: Dale C gave the treasurer report for treasurer, Dale Fosjord. The balance as of 1/4/2010 is $1120.81 which includes deposits of $1,290 and disbursements of $1,628.54. Fred Kudym made a motion to accept the treasurer report; the motion was seconded by Penny Swanson and passed.

COMMITTEE REPORTS:

AZACC … Dale C explained that Arizona Alliance of Computers Clubs is a organization of the Valley computer clubs of which our club is a paid member. AZACC meets monthly to address issues of the computer clubs and help us find speakers for our meetings. The next AZACC business meeting will be January 23rd.

Instructor and Classes …

Winston listed the instructors and their computer classes and schedules:

Hugh Neideffer’s class on Computer Basics scheduled to begin last Monday, at 1PM in the Rickard Lab was cancelled due to Hugh’s illness. Dale will let us know when it will resume.

Penny Swanson’s Basic Internet class is now full. It will commence on Tuesday, January 12th at 1PM in the Rickard Lab.

The Genealogy class held by Geneva Seitz and Diane Puukila will start on Wednesday, January 27th at 1PM in the Rickard Lab.

Jean Frey’s Camera User Group starts on Thursday, January 7th at 1:30PM in the Hamilton Room. This class was incorrectly listed on the calendar in the weekly Rock Shadows newsletter as a daily class.

Barbara Hocking will be teaching a Beginner Graphics class in the Rickard Lab but the day and time has not been scheduled yet.

Jim Lettenmaier’s class on transferring VHS tapes to DVDs has been suspended until his return in February. It was previously held on Thursdays at 11:30AM in the Hamilton Room.

A ‘geni.com’ class will be held in the Rickard Lab by Carol Hayden sometime in February. This class differs from the Genealogy class as it is internet genealogy sharing of known information vs. genealogy research that is discussed in the Genealogy class.

When signing up for any class members should list their name, space #, phone # (if available) so the instructor can notify you, so to avoid any inconvenience on the members, if there are any changes of meeting date/time/location.

Winston said that a calendar of classes will be posted on the patio.

EVACC … Dick spoke briefly about East Valley Association of Computer Clubs stating that the January meeting will be at Road Haven.

Membership … Don Hamilton reported that we have 91 paid members.

Special Events … Fred Kudym explained the Monday coffee hour 50/50 raffle and the set-up for the coffee hour. He also told us to mark our calendars for the annual RockComp potluck on Thursday, February 25th starting at 4PM.

New Members … Grace Lunt nothing to report on new member books.

Webmaster … Chuck Rickard reminded instructors to coordinate class scheduling with him. If teachers need software they should let Chuck know and he will get the software and install on the computers in the lab.

Currently in the computer lab there are 3 computers with Windows 7 – 2 with XP and 5 with Vista. If you would like to check these systems out come to the lab on Tuesday or Thursday nights from 7 – 9.

www.RockComp.org is the RockComp’s website. This website is the official means of dispersing information such as the club’s business meeting minutes, newsletters as well as the park’s newsletter, etc. In the summer we can read what is going on around the country by reading the e-mails Chuck post from residents across the country. Also on the RockComp website on the ‘member only access’ is a member list and the bulletin board

Chuck is going to add an announcement sheet on the site. This sheet will list updates, announcements, changes and any other pertinent information.

Chuck reminded us that there are two INTERNET ONLY computers set up in the foyer of the computer complex. There are two plug-ins there too for laptop use. These have all been furnished totally by the computer club; not by the park. Chuck inquired if people have to wait to use these computers. If needed, a third computer could be added; all we need is a monitor.

It was mentioned by users of these computers that better instructions for opening and shutting down of these computers would be helpful.

Computer Lab Monitors … The computer lab is open on Tuesday and Thursday evenings from 7 – 9 PM if users are there. If there are no users, the lab will close. Penny Swanson and Don Hamilton monitor the lab on Tuesday and Chuck Rickard on Thursday.

OLD BUSINESS:

AZACC workshop February 20 & 21, 2010 … In the executive board meeting January 5, 2010 a motion was made by Chuck Rickard and seconded by Carol Hayden to reimburse Jim Lettenmaier and Dale Clark $100.00 each for their re AZAAC registration fees plus expenses. The motion was carried.

.NEW BUSINESS:

Nomination Committee …

At our Executive committee meeting, the Board recommended the following members serve on the Nomination Committee: Ruth Klassen, Darlene Johnson, Delores Woodrow – substitute: Grace Lunt. Dale asked these members if they would serve on the Nomination committee and Ruth and Delores accepted. Eldon Johnson spoke for Darlene who was absent and said that he would take her place on the committee.

Election of new officers will take place at our next business meeting, February 3, 2010 with installation of new officers at the March 3, 2010 business meeting. The trustees serve 2 year, overlapping terms. Trustee, Chuck Rickard’s term expires this year; however he said that he would be willing to run for that office again.

Review of RockComp Bylaws …

The Board asked trustees Irv Swanson and Chuck Rickard to review the latest copy of RockComp’s bylaws to make certain that all terminology is correct and amendments have been included.

The board also decided that it would be a trustee’s responsible to annually update the bylaws once amendments are passed and see that they are then given to Chuck to post on the RockComp website.

Meanwhile, Chuck will post the club’s current bylaws on the RockComp website for all members to view.

Club Historian …

Dale C brought up the fact that the club used to have a Historian. Delores Woodrow asked where the book with the club history is. No one seems to know where it is. Don Hamilton said that he has all that information on his computer.

Re ‘Members Lounge’ on RockComp website …

Chuck mentioned for new members that to get into the Members Lounge on our website they need to contact him so he can set their entry up. He needs 1) user name, 2) password, 3) space number, 4) telephone number, 5) e-mail address.

Only paid members can access the Members Lounge.

Secretaries 3 ring binder/notebook …

Carol Hayden asked if anyone has seen the club’s Secretaries book (large blue 3 ring notebook). It was left in the Rickard Lab last March and is now missing. The notebook contains past meeting notes, bylaws and other information pertaining to the RockComp Computer Club. Perhaps it was accidently as picked up by someone working in the lab and they don’t realize that they have it. Please keep an eye out for it and contact Carol Hayden if you remember seeing it somewhere or know where it is.

Carol then read an e-mail from Ruth and Mel Fisher in which they asked to tell everyone ‘hello’.

A motion to adjourn the meeting was made by Chuck Rickard and seconded by Pat Mueller. Motion passed; the meeting was adjourned at 10:42.

Respectfully submitted by Carol Hayden, Secretary

Chuck