PC Club of Charlotte
Bytes and Bits
March 2008
Happy Easter!
MARCH 13th MEETING
'CLEARWIRE'
March's Program will be a presentation of the non-cellular radio-based broadband 'ClearWire' product featuring "Simplicity, Portability and Affordability" by Charlotte Retail Sales Manager LuAnn Doke.
Our 30-minute Opening Session will also include discussion on
an exciting new PC Club project that many of us can take part in -
moderated by VP Bill Barnes.
Join us for this informative presentation!
The February PC3 Meeting will be held on Thursday, February 14th at
Little Diversified Architectural & Consulting 5815 Westpark Dr. Charlotte, NC 28217
The meeting will begin promptly at 7:00pm. (Doors do not open before 6:45).
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PCCC BOARD MEETING
Monday, February 25th, 2008
In Attendance:
President Richard Kinkel, Vice President Bill Barnes, Membership Chair Jack LaPointe, Webmaster Dewey Williams, Ex-Officio Paul Reiss and
Newsletter Editor Warren Shanahan
Agenda
1. Call to Order: Richard Kinkel @ 5:30 PM
2. Approval of Minutes: Paul Reiss - 2nd Bill Barnes
3. President’s Report: The Board appointed Dewey Williams to chair the Nominating process for the upoming elections (please see the notice elsewhere in this newsletter).
4. Publicity Report: We are getting listed regularly in several newspapers. If anyone needs further information about the PCCC: they should contact a Board member. Tell your friends!
5. Treasurer’s Report: N/A
6. Programs: Warren Shanahan will be giving up the responsibility of Program Chair. Although the entire Board contributes ideas and contacts: we need someone who can make and take calls with outside resources. Upcoming programs include homegrown presentations available on 'Internet TV', 'Security', 'Windows Live' and a conclusion of the February presentation on configuring your e-mail.
7. Membership Report: We recommended that the Treasurer also be charged with keeping a running list of paid members. Everyone in the Club is responsible for membership development.
8. Newsletter Editor’s Report: Submit your reports by 03/05/08.
9. Web Master’s Report: Continuing work on bounced club e-mails.
10. SIG Reports: We are still searching for stable venues for our SIG Meetings. Warren Shanahan has made arrangements to use the computer lab at Tyvola Senior Center in exchange for teaching a daytime class for their members . These are classes on the absolute basics of computing and any of our members could help out (if you have any time available: please contact Warren). Watch the Website Calendar for the other SIGs.
11. Discussion of Club Objectives: (Tabled until next Board meeting)
12. Other Business:
NEXT BOARD MEETING - Monday, March 24, 2008
McAlister's Deli on Park Road - 5:30PM
(All Club Members are invited to attend!)
13. Adjournment: 7:00 PM Dewey Williams - 2nd Bill Barnes
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Call for Volunteers and Nominations
by Nominating Committee Chair Dewey Williams
The annual Executive Committee elections will be held at the April 10, 2008 General Meeting. Our Club runs on volunteers; those working in Executive Committee and other volunteer positions are giving the ultimate to the Club in time and effort; without them the Club would not be where it is today.
Several Executive Committee positions are open this year and we need volunteers to fill those positions. If you would like to place your name in the “hat” to be considered for a spot: please email me your name, email address and phone number.
If you think someone you know would be a good fit for a position: please speak to them about it before you nominate them. No one likes being “volunteered” for something.
The positions that are available on the Executive Committee are:
Club President – After several years of being President, Richard Kinkel is stepping down as President. Richard says this is the easiest job in the Club since all he has to do is tell other people what to do.
Treasurer –If you can cash checks, count money and balance a checking account – you may be the one we need! This person must be dedicated to counting all the money we receive, depositing in the Club's bank account and keeping the membership records. A monthly report on the status of the account is given to the Board each month.
Other positions that are not elected - but are part of the Executive Committee - are available :
Program Director – This person (or persons) is responsible for our monthly General Meeting program. Finding someone interesting to speak for 45 minutes about technology should not be that hard; it apparently is more difficult than it seems. If you are a go-getter, good with people, especially getting them to do things they don’t know that they want to do – then this spot is for you.
Membership – Are you good at meeting new people and talking with them? Do you enjoy the Club aspect of meeting with new (and old) friends each month? This may just be the spot for you. Making our guests and new members feeling welcome is a large part of this position.
If you would like to give back to the Club and feel you are ready to take on a more active role, we need your help. If someone you know in the Club may be right for the job, talk with them about it.
Any member interested in consideration for these open positions: please email me at
nominations@pc3.org --------------------------------------------------------------------------------
SPECIAL INTEREST GROUPS
MS Office SIG
Wednesday, March 26
"WORD Introduction" (finish)
Reservations required: Sold out!
(Contact
Office@pc3.org for Wait List)
Web Design SIG
Wednesday TBA
"Website Design from the Beginning"
(Watch for location announcement!)
Digital Photography SIG
"DigPhoto Basics" TBA
For the times and locations of all meetings: go to
http://pc3.org/EventCalendar.
The Event Calendar is the most reliable source for late program changes
(including cancellations).
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BUYING A FLASH DRIVE
Lassoed from the Internet by: Dr. Paul I. Reiss, Internet SIG Director
I found this while I was poking around on SmartComputing's web site (
www.smartcomputing.com). I didn't log on even though I am a subscriber. This is available to the public. I already use flash drives and I think they are fantastic! Some of you may have yet to take the plunge and I thought a little more information might make you inclined to grab one.
Subject: Re: Buying a flash drive.
It is confusing when the same small "thing" is called so many names: thumb drive, jump drive, flash drive, etc. They are VERY handy to use in moving files -- especially larger ones like pictures or even program files like Microsoft patches and updates -- from one computer to another. There are limits to remember, however:
1. If you lose one, your data is available to whoever finds it (unless you have it encrypted or password-protected).
2. Some manufacturers (such as Sony) are still accused of putting "rootkits" on their drives which come with some software already installed.
3. Their life cycle depends on factors like:
how often you write data to them
whether you expose them to extremes of temperature or dust or moisture
crumbs in your pocket or the bottom of a backpack, or
bend the drive or tips pushing them in and out or carrying them around carelessly.
See some info here:
http://www.windowssecrets.com/L060413-04-Gone-Like-A-Flash-Drive All in all, they really are a great invention that is much sturdier than the old floppy drive, and hold even more than a Zip Drive. Keeping it clean and dry is probably more important than the brand name in my opinion.
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Cell Phone Charger
Your cell phone charger will heat up when plugged in even if you aren't charging your phone because it's still drawing electricity from the outlet. It's not really dangerous, but it is a waste of electricity.
Some estimates say that as much as 95% of the power drawn by cell phone chargers annually is wasted.
It's best to unplug your charger when your phone is not charging.
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Happy St. Patrick's Day!
See you at the Meeting on the 13th!
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SUPPORT OUR CLUB
AND ITS MEMBERS!
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INDUSTRIAL CONTROLS & COMPUTER ENGINEERING
Cliff T. Johnson, PE, Control Systems Engineer
Automation Design & Engineering; Industrial & Business PC & Network Service;
Web site development.
980-939-5184 |
TheWiz@ctjohnson.com | CTJohnson.com
