First Quarter 2004 Update
We would like to update you on the accomplishments for the first quarter 2004
and our plans for second quarter 2004.
Since January of 2004, the members of the Computer Ministry provided the best
quality offerings to the people we helped. We refurbished and delivered 20 computers
plus taught 22 students these past three months.
We follow the same model to deliver our offerings as we did in 2003, but have
organized ourselves differently this year. We have three major teams with
associated sub teams helping each other as a homogeneous Ministry.
These teams are:
Refurbishing & Quality Assurance led by Ken Smith
Education & Documentation led by Tom Housh
Support, Research & Development led by Rick Housh
All three team leaders are responsible for maintaining the "Happiness
Factor" as they lead their teams towards the common mission of the Computer Ministry.
We have received a lot of praise and feedback for what we do. This has come in various
forms, "Thank You" cards written in crayon from the children of Grandview Park,
feedback from students of the "Very Basic Computer" class, hand written note from the
Clerk of the Session for the service we provide to the Church, and praise from our
Strategic Partners. This recognition belongs to all the members of the Computer Ministry.
They worked together, gave countless volunteer hours, and maintained the focus of
excellence that earned these comments. This appreciation is due to their compassion
and commitment of helping others which is the Happiness Factor I value.
First Quarter 2004 Accomplishments
The Refurbishing team delivered 17 computers to our Strategic partners and replaced
3 computers needed for the Computer Ministry programs.
The Support team installed the Grandview Park Presbyterian Church's after school
children's computer lab offering due to children interest and usage growth.
The Education team taught 10 sessions to 22 students of the "Very Basic Computer"
class in January through February, once in a day series and another in an evening series.
The Computer Ministry leadership presented to the Session in the February meeting
the 2003 update and 2004 plans status report.
The Minute for Mission and informational display in Friendship Hall was done on
March 14. More than a dozen new volunteers joined the Education and Refurbishing teams.
The Research and Development team provided freeware software tools to help analyze
machines faster for the Refurbishing team.
Second Quarter 2004 Plans
The Education team will teach the "Very Basic
Computer" series of classes to satisfy the demand of the student waiting list.
One day and evening series will be taught April through May and the second series
during June. The team also will meet with staff of Outreach Ministries to schedule the
Fall series of classes based on the high interest from potential students.
The Refurbishing and Support Team will deliver the One-for-Many offering to the
Front Porch Alliance in the "Ivanhoe Neighborhood". This offering is planned for training
in office computer application skills and Internet use for school research or similar tasks
by the Front Porch Alliance staff. Their plans are to attract a mixed aged group ranging
from Adults to school children with this offering.
The Support Team will provide high speed Internet access to the Day Care staff at
the Outreach Center to access email from the Main Church.
Other potential uses of our training capabilities and facilities will be explored.
Other priorities set by Outreach Ministries will be addressed with full utilization of
Rm. 355 in mind.
Submitted by Tony Liu
Second Quarter 2004 Update
This is an update on our accomplishments second quarter of this year and our plans for the third quarter.
The three major teams led by Ken Smith, Rick Housh, and Tom Housh achieved or exceeded their
goals for the Second Quarter. The Refurbishing Team delivered more than twice the quota of
computers to Sister Berta’s Operation Breakthrough, the Support Team implemented offerings
for the Front Porch Alliance and Day Care Center, and the Education Team taught an extra class
series in June to satisfy the waiting list of students. We have pictures of the offerings
delivered to the Front Porch Alliance and Day Care that the Documentation Team will publicize.
I’m pleased to report that the volunteers are more efficient and productive due to past hands-on
experience that allows us to keep up with the demand for our offerings.
As we continue into 2004, these three Team Leaders are asked to develop plans to expand the offerings
their teams deliver in 2005. It is important to grow within the Computer Ministry and develop
expanded offerings for the future, but still meet our goals for 2004. We realize it takes six
months to design an offering, train the members on the new changes, and deliver it. I am
comfortable knowing that the members of the Computer Ministry have the leadership, experience,
and skills to develop these plans. So, this planning process was started so we can be ready for
2005. These expanded offerings will be based on the goals of the Outreach Ministries and the
needs of our Partners. We will review with you these offerings to seek the guidance and
comments of.
Second Quarter 2004 Accomplishments
The Education Team conducted a total of 20 sessions of "Very Basic Computer" class during the
quarter, including both daytime and evening schedules, with a total of 44 students. Class
sessions were held April 20 through May 19 and June 1 through June 30. The classes consisted
of five daytime or five evening sessions, one session each week. Student handouts were provided
for each session. The Education Team continued to refine the teaching materials and methods,
based on class feedback. Promotional messages were placed in the Good News newsletter and the
Sunday Bulletins, offering the classes and seeking volunteers for the Education Team.
There was good interest from potential students and volunteers. More than a dozen new volunteers
have joined us and several have taught classes, spreading the volunteer workload. The Education team scheduled with the staff of Outreach Ministries the Fall series of classes
due to the high interest from students.
The Refurbishing and Support Team delivered four computers in a One-for-Many offering to the
Front Porch Alliance in the "Ivanhoe Neighborhood". This offering provided hands on equipment
for office computer application skills and Internet use for school research or similar tasks
offered by the Front Porch Alliance staff. This staff will provide programs to attract a mixed
aged group ranging from school children to Adults using this One-for-Many offering.
The Support Team will provided high speed Internet access to the Day Care staff at the Outreach
Center for email communication and Internet access.
The Refurbishing Team supplied twelve computers as a One-for-One offering for Sister Berta’s
Operation Breakthrough.
Third and Fourth Quarter 2004 Plans
A series of “Very Basic Computer” classes is scheduled for September 14 through
October 12. A second series is set for November 2 through December 12, with no classes
Thanksgiving week. It is expected that the daytime and evening classes will be fully enrolled
with 12 students each and the waiting list will reach full enrollment by the second series of
classes.
The Education team met July 28 to discuss adjustments in the curricula and teaching
strategies. Also, they discussed ideas for expanded offerings by the team. Additional volunteers
who have joined the Education Team should enable us to expand our efforts in the future. Plans
for regular open lab sessions for basic computer students will be considered again, based on
interest and availability of volunteers. Other potential uses for our training capabilities and
facilities will be explored. Other priorities set by the Outreach Ministries will be addressed
with full utilization of Room 355 in mind. Technical improvements in the systems for the PCs in
Room 355 will be implemented in the third quarter 2004 by the Support Team.
The Computer Ministry will support and participate in the Mission Ministry’s “Mission
Fair and Better by Sunday” scheduled for October to attract volunteers to the programs offered
by Village Church.
The Documentation Team will work with Reverend Rick Behrens at Grandview Park
Presbyterian Church to assist him with his web based ministry message.
Submitted by Tony Liu
Third Quarter 2004 Update
This is an update on our accomplishments third quarter of this year
and our plans for the rest of the year.
The members of the Computer Ministry helped with the
"Better By Sunday" program. Members of the Education
and Refurbishing teams were available in Friendship
Hall to answer the questions from volunteers
interested in participating with the Computer
Ministry. As a result, additional volunteers joined
the Education Team as lab assistants. We can now
offer 10 lab assistants to help the 12 students per
session. This gives the students a much better
learning experience by having a personal lab assistant
when possible.
Bob Sawyer has joined the Computer Ministry to help
identify the needs of our existing partners and
facilitate new community service partners for our
one-for-many Outreach offerings. We have been working
on plans to expand our Outreach offerings. Bob will
help us place these offerings with the partners that
can best use and enhance their community service
programs.
Third Quarter 2004 Accomplishments
The Education Team conducted a total of 10 sessions
of "Very Basic Computer" class during the quarter,
including both daytime and evening schedules, with a
total of 24 students. Class sessions were held
September 14 through October 12. The classes
consisted of five daytime or five evening sessions,
one session each week. Promotional messages were
placed in the Good News newsletter and the Sunday
Bulletins to fill the classes. There was a waiting
list for the next series of Classes.
The Refurbishing and Support Team serviced the
Kingdom.COM computers for the Children's Ministry. A
defective machine was replaced with a donated computer
and maintenance was done on the remaining computers to
improve computer performance. A recommendation was
given to Ruth Davidson on how to better use of the
printers in Kingdom.com. We are awaiting Ruth's
decision on how to proceed regarding her printers.
The Refurbishing and Support Team supplied twelve
computers to replace the obsolete computers at
Grandview Park Presbyterian Church. The kids now have
faster computers and larger monitors making it easier
for them during their tutoring sessions at Grandview
Park.
Fourth Quarter 2004 Plans
A series of "Very Basic Computer" classes is
scheduled for November 2 through December 12, with no
classes during Thanksgiving week. The daytime and
evening classes are fully enrolled with 12 students.
The waiting list continues to grow.
The Support Team will provide additional technical
improvements to the computers in Rm. 355 after end of
the December 12 class. These improvements will
enhance the text processing and email topics that will
be taught in 2005.
Submitted by Tony Liu
Fourth Quarter 2004 Update
This is an update on the accomplishments fourth quarter
of this year and our plans for the first quarter of 2005.
4th Quarter 2004 Accomplishments
In the Fourth Quarter 2004 the Refurbishing Team modified their offering to help a new
partner. This team was able to harvest parts from donated computers to give to the teacher
at the Wyandotte High School computer refurbishing class. This supply of computer parts
allows the teacher to give the students hands on experience building computers.
The Refurbishing team developed a different type of one-for-many offering that helps this
teacher teach his many students.
Thanks to the Technical Support Team for maintenance of the systems in Room 355
during the fourth quarter. It made our classes run smoothly.
The Education Team completed a series of class sessions which were held September 14
through October 12. A practice lab was implemented 30 minutes before each class period and
was attended by some students and chimes.
Ten sessions of "Very Basic Computer" class were held during the fourth quarter, including
both daytime and evening schedules, with a total of 24 students. The classes consisted of
five daytime and five evening sessions, one session each week. Student handouts were provided
for each session. Promotional messages were placed in the Good News newsletter and the Sunday
Bulletins, and the classes were filled. There was a waiting list for the next series of classes.
A meeting was held December 4 with Computer Ministry leaders and leaders from the Heartland
Presbytery, Front Porch Alliance and Grandview Park Presbyterian Church to consider an
outreach program for their constituencies, teaching basic computer skills.brbr
The Technical Support Team, with assistance from the Refurbishing Team, reconfigured the
computers in the Education Lab at Room 355 to use MS Outlook Express to teach email, in a shift
from teaching Yahoo web mail. This entailed configuring each computer to utilize the new local
IMAP server at the Village Church site, which was made available by Warren Nawroth, so that it
would appear as similar as possible to using "POP" And "SMTP" mailboxes on the Internet itself. The work was successful.
Rick Housh attended two meetings of the Education Team to answer questions about the new
configuration for teaching Outlook Express. The first was of all teachers and chimes, and
there were a number of technical questions which arose, which I believe were satisfactorily
answered. No issues arose at that meeting which required modification of the Room 355 setup. The second meeting was of the Education Team teachers and leaders specifically dedicated to teaching Outlook Express, and a review of that specific lesson plan. Several issues arose there which did require modification of the Outlook Express setup, and those were subsequently accomplished. The work necessary to teach Outlook Express using the new local mail server at Room 355 has now been completed and tested, and appears ready to proceed with lessons in mid-February.
Because of discontinuance of support for antivirus program AVG 6 and the discontinuance of
free use of AVG by charitable organizations, it has become necessary to subscribe to AVG 7.
The publisher, Grisoft, offers a charitable discount, which is now being investigated and
negotiated to cover both networks used by VCPC, at Room 355 and at the Outreach site at 99th
and Mission.
A problem arose with sending mass email notices to Education Team teachers and chimes.
Because the large numbers of addressees listed in those email notices triggered present
"SPAM alarms" on the Internet, several ISP's caused VCPC staff members to be listed as SPAM purveyors, and blocked their email notices from delivery to recipients. To solve that a Yahoo email discussion group was formed, which allows Education Team staff to send one email to the Group, which then broadcasts that notice to each individual member with a separate personal email, thereby avoiding the appearance of SPAM. So far this has worked satisfactorily, and the blocking of team notices no longer appears to be a problem.
Initial research was done on qualifying the VCPC organization to become a member of the
"Microsoft Authorized Refurbisher (MAR) Donation Program". This program allows members
to qualify to accept donated Microsoft Software, and apply to Microsoft for relicensing
that software in a manner which allows its use and distribution on donated and refurbished
computers. In view of the recent change in licensing provisions of new Microsoft software
to preclude the transfer of the license to used software, membership in this program may prove
to be essential to continued use of MS Windows and other software in the VCCP operations.
Initial research indicates that, although "religious organizations" are generally not eligible
for membership, they are if they possess the necessary charitable tax exemptions and their
actual activities are generally sufficiently secular enough to qualify. Initial review
indicates VCPC can probably qualify, although some redefinition and a few organizational
changes may be desirable to make that more certain.
Investigation into implementation of the "Adobe Reader" software on refurbished computers,
and those within the VCPC internal networks was conducted. A problem arises because that
software is very MS Windows version-dependent, and the dependency "breaks" are not clearly
defined as being in accord with major Microsoft Windows version changes. That investigation
is now complete, and a decision will be recommended to the VCPC staff and team leaders on
implementation of Adobe Reader within the VCCP networks and on refurbished computers furnished
to strategic partners.
1st Quarter 2005 Plans
A Education team meeting will be held in January to discuss plans, changes and ideas for
improvements in our education offerings and program.
A series of classes is scheduled for February 15 through March 16. The daytime and evening
classes are fully enrolled with a total of 24 students.. Another series of classes is scheduled
for April 12 through May 11 and is partly enrolled already.
The Education Team has about 45 volunteers on our roster, with about 30 of them currently
active as teachers or chimes. Some additional technical improvements in the systems for the
PCs in Room 355 have been implemented after the fourth quarter 2004 classes. We will now
teach email using Outlook Express over a private server set up by Warren Nawroth on the
local network. It will enable us to teach with complete safety from viruses.
We look forward to the opportunity to expand our teaching in the community through an outreach
program. It will begin in 2005 with a class for adult students from the Grandview Park
Presbyterian Church area and the Front Porch Alliance.
Further investigation into eligibility, and planning for the Microsoft MAR Donation Program is
planned and is essential to the future offerings provided by the Refurbishing Team.
Discussions and a decision on implementation on use of Adobe Reader versions on internal
networking and refurbished computers will be conducted.
The Research and Development team will assist in planning possible acquisition and installation
of new computer systems for use in Room 355 and at 99th and Mission.
Submitted by Tony Liu