April Meeting :

Thirty-nine people attended the April 12th gathering of people interested in personal computers. That's a good turnout for a membership of 83. We welcomed three new members, too: Helen and Jack Ellinson and Luis Perez. Our membership is growing and energizing all of us. Our ongoing relationship with the Senior Center is providing opportunities to show non-members what TAPCUG can offer them. So many people are concerned about their lack of knowledge in this area, and what we communicate through our various classes and workshops at the Senior Center is that there is no such thing as a dumb question and we are all learning. There are no "experts" these days, except in specific areas, so we consult one another all the time for our different experiences and learning.

We had great refreshments - two people furnished them because of a scheduling confusion. Sumiko had signed up, and Mutsie Poree thought it was her turn and brought some, too. We are doing well in volunteering to bring goodies. We just need someone for August. Is everyone going to be on vacation on the second Saturday morning in August?

Co-president Dick Meier attended the Adobe User meeting during April, joining all those people with their MACs. He reported that it is amazing what they do with Photoshop.

The Special Interest Groups are thriving, with Linux, New Users, Flight Simulator, and Genealogy the active SIGs right now. We could use a volunteer willing to take on the Graphics SIG, though. Leading a SIG is fun because you get to meet people and everyone shares what they know. It's also another place for questions.

Be sure to come to the May meeting to hear Carl Fisk tell us about the Internet. He always seems to find very interesting and different sites, and he is presenting something he won't tell anyone about ahead of time. Who knows, we might revive the Internet SIG!

Even people skittish about leaving the comfort level of Windows are getting interested in Linux and other open-source software.

Questions from the floor enhance our monthly meetings. Even if no help is immediately available, with everyone thinking about a question, eventually an answer seems to come. This is the cooperation that makes us special. This month we had several items that no one could help with: using Juno, computer crashed and lost everything (after years of successful use of Juno); no one responded to problems with Adobe 8 Reader; and sometimes MS Office updates on Office 2003 won't actually update (maybe this is a way of forcing us to go to Office 2007?). Neil did give us a solution to a problem he has had - a scratch on an LCD screen. He said first wash with warm water, then fill the scratch with petroleum jelly!

Neil also continues to give us wonderful programs on his disk of the month, a real bargain for $5. This time he offered two that seem especially useful: DupFinder and Foxit. DupFinder is a streamlined way of cleaning up duplications on your computer. Foxit is an alternative to Adobe Reader problems. See the April DataLine for details of these programs.

Maggie gave a presentation on tips, and she gave us hard copies so we can remember them. As always, Maggie is thorough and humorous and interesting.

I keep repeating that there are at least two strong points that make membership in TAPCUG worth it: Maggie's Data Line and Neil's Disk of the Month. Along with the dynamic programs Cyndie sets up for us each month and our fellowship, who could resist joining us? [By the way, Cyndie is still in need of an assistant program coordinator.]

Curtis Poree reported that he has a Microsoft program which could be a future presentation for a monthly meeting. He will confirm the date later. In July we will have three members giving fifteen minute presentations of their favorite "finds." Let Cyndie know if you'd like to be one of those three. The future looks interesting for TAPCUG.

richardmeier1@comcast.net - edryce@yahoo.com

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Next General Meeting

Saturday May 10th. - 09:30 AM
Lakewood Community Center