INFORMATION FOR NEW MEMBERS

MEMBERSHIP: The Club is open for all residents to join.    Annual membership fee is $10.00 from July 1st to June 30th (per household and reduced for part year after Jan 1st) Owning a computer is not essential for joining as there are two computers in the library for all to use. Being a beginner should not put you off: we have members whose expertise ranges from none to plenty!  The more experienced computer users know how much there is to learn and we always emphasise that, “there is no such thing as a silly question”. However, we only deal with WINDOWS systems, not Apple Mac.  Some people join purely to have volunteer advice & help on hand even if they rarely go to meetings - see below. 

WEEKLY MEETINGS: We have general discussions covering such things as security issues; developments in the computer world; advice on where and what type of hardware and software to purchase, and members bring up any problems/issues that they may have. Meetings start at 09.00 on Wednesdays in the Community Hall.  They usually last until just after 10.00, then over a cup of coffee and biscuits, groups usually have a chat.  This is also a chance to copy program files which we have downloaded for you, so bringing a flash drive is a good idea.  We do not mind people coming and going - it's very relaxed!  There is usually a break from meetings between mid December and mid January.

HELP AT HOME   A few of the more experienced members of the group are willing to look at your PC at your home to try to help with problems.  This is purely on a voluntary basis, as and when their time is available. Please respect their time and do not phone in the evenings or weekends.

It must be stressed that this is voluntary and no liability is incurred.  Should problems be outside the scope or time constraints of the volunteer, recommendations will be made as to what steps might next be taken.  We recommend that people talk to us before rushing into an internet connection contract. You can also use the Library PC’s to do some searches yourself!

We also have a list of people who have volunteered to go to members’ homes to guide them through basics – currently this is an underused resource, so please be aware of it!   There is also a collection of rather old training books and CD’s available in the Library. Much more current help is now available on the internet - generally easier with broadband connections.

WEBSITE & Email help:  We suggest you put our website address on your browser’s Favourites and check regularly for tips and news.  Information, including technical support, is frequently sent out by email. We do research and help members use free security programs.

Appreciation of help:    People are sometimes unsure what to do about showing appreciation to volunteers.  Nobody expects anything - especially for short visits, but if you feel you would like to give a small token of appreciation to a volunteer when they have spent an hour or more with you, a drink bought at Happy Hour or maybe a bottle of wine / couple of stubbies, etc, are always welcome!