By Jim Cassidy, Editor of SCORCC Newsletter (Bit, Bytes, & Bugs)
1991
SCORCC started from an article in The South County Journal on March 6, 1991. The St. Louis County Older Residents Program was asking if anyone was interested in forming a senior citizens computer club such as the one currently in North County. There were some thirty responses to the article so an exploratory meeting was called for April 9, 1991. About fourteen people attended. Vic Collignon was named temporary chairman and Addie Schulteis, secretary of the north county club, attended with a copy of that club’s bylaws. A club would be organized to serve as a self-help group–not a commercial teaching organization. A call for officer candidates was made and a second meeting was set for May 14, 1991 at Tesson Ferry Branch Library. On May 14 the first officers installed were Vic Collignon, President; Armada Buhlinger, Vice President; Mary Frances Greenley, Secretary; Ginny Mattler, Treasurer; Jean Keil, Apple SIG chair, Other Computers SIG chair, Jim Cassidy; IBM SIG chair, open. It was also agreed that we would follow the lead of the north club and call our group SCORCC. At the June 11, 1991 meeting we felt we needed a presentation so Walter Lerch talked about the Computer Keyboard and Jim Cassidy talked about Genealogy and the Computer. Soon after the meeting, Mary Fran distributed the first newsletter as a reminder for members to attend the next meeting. A four pager, it was called SCORCC volume 1, number 2, dated July 1, 1991. The minutes of the last meeting, the decisions from the last meeting, a deadline for paying dues and a list of officers and SIG leaders were reported. By the end of the year there were about 35 members and the average attendance at general meetings was around 20.
1992
On our first anniversary meeting, June 1992, our meeting place was Weber Branch Library. The June 1992 issue of SCORCC displayed the CORP logo on the masthead and Mary Burns contributed a “Happy Birthday” message. We had 55 members and average attendance was about half the membership. Francis Smith is now Apple SIG chair, Jim Cassidy is Commodore SIG chair, Hank Kloepper is IBM SIG chair. Our treasury balance had just topped $300.
1993
The January `93 Prez Sez said “To be successful an organization must choose a few important objectives and accomplish them without fail.” Some important objectives we identified were: 1. Strengthen and add more SIGs. 2. Get more participation from members. 3. Establish specific ways to help beginning computer users. So, the following March, we established and published a list of “Computer Buddies” that beginners can call for help with their computer problems. This practice continues today. By May `93, we sang Happy Birthday to 49 members. We had some 25 meetings and two Christmas parties under our belt, the SIGs were functioning smoothly and were recognized as possibly the most important part of the club. There was the Commodore SIG, Ben Shanklin Chair, Modem SIG, John Yungbluth, Chair, IBM SIG, Hank Kloepper Chair, Apple SIG, Francis Smith, Chair and the new Genealogy SIG was looking for a Chair. Jean Tobey took over that leadership soon. The Secretary remained responsible for the newsletters so Clara McClaskey and her faithful Commodore 64 picked up the duties from Mary Fran. Using material donated by members Bill Naylor, Vernon Lustig and others, we were forming a computer disk library for which Joe Scherr and Bill Daub compiled a catalog to use with the computer that Earl Brown had donated. It was a pretty good old TRS 80 that Earl had bought at a garage sale with no manuals and didn’t know how to operate. In September, recognizing that the newsletter had become a too much for the secretary along with her other duties, we gained a volunteer newsletter publisher, Jean Watson. The October issue was completely redesigned using Microsoft Publisher into the familiar style that we still use. It was still called simply SCORCC but that, too, was to change. In December `93, SCORCC newsletter displayed a publisher’s block for the first time. It identified the editor and publisher and also a production crew. This crew consisting of Chairman George Griggs along with Walter Bange, Mark Coyner and Elmer Schmeig had been in place for some time with little recognition. What most members didn’t know was the big job these behind the scenes folks were doing. The most responsible job which George did, almost single handedly at the time, was to get information from the treasurer as new members joined or existing members changed addresses, etc., and developed and maintained a database from which mailing labels were printed. If this were not kept updated monthly, members would not receive the newsletter. Each month, as soon as the newsletter master copy was printed, George and the others would copy it on the CORP office copy machines. They would fold, staple and attach the mailing labels which George had already printed and deliver the copies to the CORP office for posting. As we approached year’s end `93, the officers were Jim Cassidy, President, Mary Frances Greenley, Vice President, Hank Kloepper, Treasurer, Clara McClaskey, Secretary. Jim would continue as President in 1994. John Yungbluth became Vice President and the Treasurer was Frank Burton. No one was willing to serve as secretary. As a result, this reflection appeared in the January `94 newsletter.
1994
It read in part. “. . . the club is healthy and making progress. An immediate problem is that we have no secretary. Long- range the problem is not that we have no secretary. We can work around that. The real problem is that we have so many members who could perform as secretary, but not one is willing. At first, this may look as if they just don’t want to work but there’s more to it than that. There are reasons other than laziness why people don’t volunteer. Some aren’t able; some don’t want to; some can’t due to circumstances. Some are afraid. They fear being made to look foolish. Okay, that’s real. That’s easily understood. But, if you have these feelings remember that the rest of us have them too. If you try, you may find it’s not so tough. The rest of us will help you. That’s what the club is all about, helping each other! Sound familiar? We’re plagued with the same problems today. Among our objectives for 1994 were to enhance the club library, obtain a projector to demonstrate computer operations at meetings, and publish a club yearbook. We noted that average general meeting attendance during 1993 was about 33 but at the January `94 meeting we had 52 . . .Hmmm? Something is rumbling in the computer underground??? By our third birthday in May `94, Charlotte Pape had volunteered to finish the year as secretary. Our scheduled presenter didn’t show for the April meeting so we conducted a spur-of-the-moment question and answer session which we called, There’s No Such Thing As a Dumb Question. It went over well and a tradition was born. The Desktop Publishing SIG with Gene Loseto as Chair had begun. A contest to name the newsletter was held. The name would be picked from members’ suggestions. The first ballot indicated no clear winner so another ballot was taken between the three top runners, I/O Silver, Bits, Bytes & Bugs and Senior Dialog. You know the winner. With about 100 members and growing, we were smug and proud of our growth and accomplishments. Suddenly, lightning struck three times in the same place. Well, it wasn’t exactly lightning, it was publicity. In August we were written up by Don Corrigan in the Times Newspapers, in October by Leo Fitzmaurice in The Post-Dispatch, and the Post article was repeated in the South Metro Post. Things haven’t been the same since. There were dozens of phone calls for information about the club. We knew senior citizens were searching for computer help but didn’t dream there were so many. During 1993 average attendance at general meetings had been 27 members and 6 visitors. After the first article in August 40 members and 37 visitors showed up. In September, 51 members and 15 visitors, in October, 54 members and 56 visitors. Thirty-three joined immediately! By the end of 1994 we were like a 14 year old farm boy in last year’s overalls. Nothing seemed to fit quite right anymore.
1995
As we looked to 1995, dues were still $5 but almost everything else had either changed or needed to be changed. Newcomer Jack Luffy organized a new Windows SIG. Where we had been having a dozen or less attending SIGs, Jack started having 60 or 70 people show up for Windows so he had to go to two sessions on successive weeks. A new check-off sign-in sheet was required to handle the increased attendance at general meetings. The nomination committee lined up a slate of new officers including, President, Don Hartmann, First Vice President, Larry Kostal, Second Vice President, Jim Cassidy, Secretary Mary Ann Evans, Treasurer Frank Burton. Since there were no other candidates, the slate was accepted by acclamation. The January 1995 BB&B announced Microsoft’s introduction of the shell program Bob. It had no manual, nor was one needed, it was so simple to use, according to Microsoft. It was to be used with the new version of Windows (95) to be released. Well, Bob needed no manual all right. It needed none because after trying it, nobody wanted to use it. Also announced were courses co-sponsored by SCORCC and Lindbergh High School called Beginners DOS, Beginners Mac and Computer Genealogy. In June, some 31 club members had “graduated” these classes. George Griggs became the new DOS disk librarian replacing Joe Scherr who had served since the beginning. Windows SIG adopted Windows for Dummies as its textbook. The Macintosh SIG started up with Miles Ordinachev as leader and Herb Buchman as reporter. The Apple SIG continued under the leadership of Francis Smith but there were fewer and fewer pursuing Apple Computers. In June the two SIGs decided to merge. After the merger we had seven SIGs. We published a membership list with addresses and phone numbers with half of it appearing in April BB&B and half in May. The total was about 115 members. A list of DOS disks available in the library was published. Bettie Rehling and Jean Beckham became co-chairs of the Genealogy SIG. July brought a raft of other leadership changes. Don Hartman, forced by health problems to step down from the President’s office, was replaced by Vice President Larry Kostal. As one of his early duties, Larry accepted the resignations of John Yungbluth and Hank Kloepper, chairs for Modem and IBM SIGs respectively. Jean Tobey was appointed secretary to fill the unexpired term of Mary Ann Evans who had resigned to take care of her ailing husband. Miles Ordinachev was appointed Second Vice President. Bill Daub accepted appointment to the newly created position of Board Member at Large. Jim Cassidy agreed to serve as First Vice President to fill the vacancy left by Larry. Windows 95 was released and Jack Luffy immediately responded with classes showing members how to use it. It can be safely said that for many reasons, things haven’t been the same since! In August, Barbara Weiner’s name appeared in BB&B as IBM SIG chair. During the change-over period, Bill Naylor, Joan Hunter and JoAnn Keller helped with IBM. In November, officers for 1996 were elected. Larry Kostal would continue as President, Miles Odinachev would move up to First Vice President, Gene Loseto would take over as Second Vice President, Jean Tobey as Secretary and Roy Dressel as Treasurer. The position of Board Member at Large was dropped since no one would accept nomination. Since the December budget projection showed a surplus of only about $285 over estimated revenue, dues were raised to $8 per year.
1996
As we entered 1996, SCORCC had begun to look and operate much as it does now. We emphasized being a “helping and sharing” club. We began moving toward being financially self-supporting. General meetings were held at Weber Branch Library. Seven SIGs met at the County Government Center. Desktop Publishing was chaired by Gene Loseto, IBM by Barbara Weiner, Apple/Mac by Miles Ordinachev, Commodore by Ben Shanklin, John Yungbluth had reconsidered his resignation and remained in the Modem chair, Genealogy was co-chaired by Bettie Rehling and Jean Beckham and Windows by Jack Luffy, now holding both Windows 3.1 and Windows 95 meetings. President Larry Kostal determined that it was time to update the bylaws and named Miles Ordinachev to chair a committee to do so. A new position, Video Librarian, was named in February 96 and Herb Aschinger agreed to make the library available at general meetings and “opened shop” with some 20 titles. Due to county newspaper publicity ten new members joined SCORCC in January and 26 visitors attended the general meeting. President Kostal recognized the need for a visitor welcoming committee to make visitors welcome and dispense information to those who wished to find out what we are all about. Gene Niederschmidt and Don Gardner followed up on the need and formed such a committee. Larry announced that he would look for someone to head a committee to raise funds with which to buy a laptop computer and projector. Bill Naylor decided to have a go at organizing a Word Perfect SIG. Alex Dombi started a Spreadsheet SIG and Barb Weiner devoted the first hour of her IBM SIG meeting to beginners calling it Novice SIG. In March of 1996 we made one of our earliest attempts to go online with the 286 computer which Jean Watson had donated. The old 286 just wasn’t up to the challenge. This period, under Larry Kostal’s leadership, was one of our most productive. Up to now, much of the time we were feeling our way and making do with what we had. Now we were entering a time of growth and improvement. At the March general meeting we had 90 people in attendance of which 14 were visitors. Membership topped 200, the treasury held more than $2800 and the video library contained 36 titles. At times it seemed overwhelming but Larry kept heading where we needed to go. The rewritten bylaws were published in June `96, with a call for an acceptance vote in July. The members, instead, called for a vote of acceptance by acclamation at the June general meeting. George Ott and John McGartland took over as Modem SIG co-chairs. George Griggs handed off the disk library to John McNicholas in July so George could spend more time with BB&B production demands. At the time, John was also studying the need for a Programming SIG. After studying prices, a budget of $2000 was appropriated to buy a laptop computer for use at SCORCC meetings. We also anticipated costs of producing BB&B to rise in the coming year. These required raising dues to $15 for 1997. This increase was requested by board and resoundingly supported by the membership at the next general meeting. By this time we were keeping track of e-mail addresses of the small group of members who were cautiously venturing into such activities. We began to utilize e-mail for SIG reports and other BB&B submissions. A new database SIG was proposed to start meeting in January of `97 under the leadership, at least temporarily, of Larry Kostal. Free e-mail via Juno was hot news and a series of information articles began appearing in the newsletter in December `96. There wasn’t enough money in the treasury at this time for the new laptop computer we were eager to buy. However, the purchase was made possible by a “no-interest” loan from a generous member who asked to remain anonymous. The board gave its go-ahead to buy it with Barb Weiner to handle the actual purchase. A Toshiba was selected and we used it the first time to demonstrate the PAF program at the Genealogy SIG on December 3. Genealogy on the Internet was becoming the buzz words and some were talking about “soon, you would be able to just download your family history all completed.” If you couldn’t or didn’t want to pay for the Internet, “Why, the library was now offering computers with which you could log on free.” In fact, “If you didn’t want to go to the Internet at all, you could just buy CDs with everything on them you needed.” Somehow it still hasn’t turned out to be quite that easy. During 1996 we said goodbye to members Earl Brown who died in March and Walter Bange who died in June. The slate of officers for 1997 was announced in October 1996 BB&B. Miles Ordinachev agreed to serve as President. First Vice President, Nancy Van Dillen, Second Vice President, Gene Niederschmidt, Treasurer, Roy Dressel and Secretary Jean Tobey completed the list. They were elected in November and installed at the annual Christmas Luncheon. The 1996 Christmas Party was a big success. It was attended by the biggest crowd so far. Frank and Virginia Burton did their usual outstanding job of making arrangements. Mary Burns allowed that our computer and projector gave her considerable “bragging rights” around County Government circles.
1997
In January of 1997, Apple/Mac, Commodore, Desktop Publishing, Genealogy, IBM/Novice, Spreadsheet and Windows SIGs were going strong and were joined by Database and Programming SIGs, chaired by Larry Kostal and John McNicholas. To give you an idea of how the SIGs were pulling members in, fifty people attended Barbara Weiner’s January Novice/IBM SIG meeting. Genealogy on the Internet was becoming a buzz word and everyone was talking about how you “just download your family history all done.” If you couldn’t or didn’t want to pay for the Internet, the library was now offering computers with which you could log on free. In fact, “If you didn’t want to go to the Internet at all, you could just buy CDs with everything on them you needed.” Somehow it still hasn’t turned out to be quite that easy. Our PAF class was scheduled again in March, at Lindbergh High School. There continues to be much discussion and training for Windows 95 and hints and tips for using it are in their seventh installment in BB&B. One hundred five members and nineteen visitors attended the February general meeting! The meeting room and parking lot at Weber Branch Library was full. We were in debt $1000 but we paid $400 in April. New things were being tried frequently. In March 1997, Alex Dombi offered to include some instruction about TurboTax software at his Spreadsheet SIG meeting if enough people were interested. This has since become a regular benefit of attending Alex’s SIGs. Paul Luffy started a new SIG aimed at teaching computer and peripheral hardware basics. He called it “You Can Do That SIG.” A summer social outing consisting of a picnic and swap meet was tentatively scheduled for July 22. Under the leadership of Gene Loseto and Gene Niederschmidt of the DTP SIG, a yearbook was passing beyond the planning stages. Its purpose was to relieve BB&B of the space and time consuming job of annually publishing the membership name and address list and bylaws. A virus alert was published in the May `97 issue of BB&B. In the same issue, members were asked to greet new members with the question: “What can I do to help you with your computer?” There was a request for BB&B articles. For the most part, we are still waiting for the articles! We decided to call the summer outing a Meetnic since it was part meeting and part picnic. Meetnic, Meetnic – get it, get it? Gene Niederschmidt reserved General Lee Shelter at Jefferson Barracks Park for the affair. We now have 233 members. Hank Kloepper announced he now has a personal web site where he will place information about SCORCC. The last of the debt for equipment was paid in August 97 thanks to members who, on request, paid 1998 dues early in order to make the money available for this purpose. A CD lending library is being considered by the Genealogy SIG. The idea is to gather a collection of CDs containing genealogy information to be used by the group as another example of our sharing ideal. Some would be purchased with club funds and others would be donated by members. The idea was adopted and the library continues very successfully. In addition to holding some of our best attended meetings, Genealogy SIG had conducted some great library field trips under the leadership of Bettie Rehling, Jean Beckham and Betty Lee. We said good bye to Willor Kleine in October and Marie Basch in December. We closed the year with about 270 members. Our SIGs were the envy of other St. Louis computer clubs. Even though winter weather threatened, about 90 people attended the Christmas Luncheon. It was beautifully handled by the Frank and Virginia Burton. As is customary, we installed officers for 1998 including Armada Buhlinger as President, Paul Luffy, First Vice President, Jan Eldridge Second Vice President, Roy Dressel, Treasurer, and Joan Hunter, Secretary.
1998
Going into 1998, the SCORCC officers included Armada Buhlinger, President; Paul Luffy, First Vice President; Jan Eldridge, Second Vice President; Roy Dressel, Treasurer; and Joan Hunter, Secretary. The club had 270 members and about $2100 in the treasury. Frank Burton reported that 84 attended the 1997 Christmas Luncheon. Ancestral Quest ver 2.1 was reviewed in the January BB&B. St. Louis SeniorNet reported that one in ten Americans over 60 own computers and Windows 95 is being used by 77 million people as compared to Windows 3.1 still being used by 110.5 million. AARP reported that seniors now comprise 7.6 million or 15% of Internet users. The first SCORCC Yearbook was distributed in January 1998. The IBM SIG moved from Weber Branch Library to the County Government Center in February to utilize the Internet hookup there which Modem/Internet SIG had pioneered. IBM quickly found that 50 or more attendees strained the room’s capacity. The new PERSI CD was demonstrated at the Genealogy SIG in February. A major series of articles about Graphics files and Scanners began in BB&B which would run for the next year or so. The feature, Bits and Bytes from All Over and the Y2K hype also started about this time. Large hard drives became available in the computer ads. At the time, an 11 gig drive sold for nearly $500. Jack Luffy changed the name of his SIG from Windows 95 to Windows 95/98. Windows 98 was demonstrated at the general meeting in April by a Microsoft representative. Juno Gold and Juno Web for Windows 9x was announced. By fall we had bought a new computer with a 233 MHz AMD chip, 32 megs of RAM and a Syquest Drive and no hard drive. The idea was that each SIG would use its own presentation software on its own Syquest disk. Later in the year we bought a projector to allow demonstrations with the computer. Genealogy SIG met at the Missouri Historical Society for a facility tour. Margaret Moulton replaced the retiring Herb Aschinger to keep the video library. Seventy members attended the Meetnic at General Lee Shelter. Ginny Mattler announced a new Graphics SIG in September. Mary Burns asked us to help get a West County Club organized and several of our members pitched in. The club, WCORCC, is now doing well at Daniel Boone Library in Ellisville. The disabled vets at Jefferson Barracks Hospital were inducted as non-dues-paying members by the SCORCC board. Some of our members, especially Charles Grotzinger, have been very active in helping with their computer training. Ex-president and Apple Mac SIG Chair Miles Ordinachev resigned which pretty much ended the SIG. It had existed in different forms from the beginning but interest dwindled and no one would take the leadership after Miles. The iMac, however, caused a sensation in the 1998 computer market with higher than expected sales. In October, membership reached 300 for the first time and the typical general meeting was hosting 100 and more. We ended the year with about 320 members and $1400 in the treasury. During 1998 we said goodbye to Robert Wind, Jean Finger, Virginia Devous, Charleen Anweiler and Mildred Burkhart.
1999
The officer candidates for 1999, Gene Niederschmidt for President; Nancy Van Dillen, First Vice President; Larry Guthmiller, Second Vice President; John McNicholas, Treasurer; Mary Frances Greenley and Jean Tobey, Co-Secretaries, being unopposed, were elected by acclamation. Early in 1999, Norma Downey accepted responsibility for the diskette library. But, the library had apparently lived out its usefulness and was dropped due to lack of interest. Larry Kostal started a database listing of e-mail addresses. A calendar of upcoming events was introduced in the April 99 BB&B replacing the listing used before. Art Hodgson accepted the chair for the Commodore SIG left vacant with Ben Shanklin’s passing. Alex Dombi’s daughter, Pamela Wiegand, gave an excellent demonstration of computer aided design software. The LDS Church went online in mid-year 99 with some of its records at familysearch.org and introduced free PAF 4 for Windows which was a full-featured, licensed version of Ancestral Quest. It was a sad year for membership. The already mentioned Ben Shanklin, past Commodore SIG leader, John Yungbluth, past Vice President, SIG leader and publicity chairman, Andrew Basch, Louis Devous and Josephine Kelly all passed away during 1999. The Y2K “problem” canceled the December 31 parties of many professional computer people. SCORCC ended 1999 with over 350 members and $5000 plus in the treasury.
2000
Volunteers for officers for 2000 were as follows. Gene Niederschmidt returned as President. Larry Kostal served as First Vice President, Nancy Van Dillen moved to Second Vice President, John McNicholas stayed on as Treasurer, Betty Pontious stayed as Secretary for General Meetings and Norma Downey became Secretary for Board Meetings. Y2K came in with less noise than a Champagne cork popping! All the dire calamities predicted simply didn’t happen. You Can Do That SIG did change its name to Upgrade It SIG in January however, and Spreadsheet SIG changed to Finance SIG. Both changes were to clarify the SIG’s thrusts and to entice more people to attend. The Commodore SIG decided to disband as the members gradually changed to Windows computers. They generously donated their computers and other materials to another Commodore Club. Ann Finley started a new Creative Computing SIG for a trial period but ended it later in the year in order to take over for Jack McGartland and George Ott when they retired after a long stint with the Modem/Internet SIG. Ann’s first move was to shorten the name to Internet SIG. Virginia Carey took over the Genealogy CD library from Larry Kostal who had gotten it up and running. Novice SIG and Graphics SIG changed meeting places from the County Government Center to the larger and better equipped Tesson Ferry Branch Library. Microsoft, which had launched Windows ME in September, demonstrated it at the November general meeting. Personal Digital Assistants were becoming popular and Bill Eckstein showed us how they are used with his. In October Jack Luffy retired, after long service, as Windows SIG chair and Bill Eckstein began as his able replacement. The Meetnic was moved to October for more favorable weather for the outside meeting. The move was rewarded with a large participation. Also in October, IBM SIG changed its name to Novice SIG to more clearly reflect the SIG’s focus on helping beginners. Though we said goodbye to long time member Amon Akins, Art Hodgson, former Commodore SIG chair and Herb Aschinger, former Video Librarian, we ended the year with nearly 400 members on the rolls. We had a lot of new equipment and about $6200 in the bank. We were no longer limited to a few members with a few bucks. The organization was growing at a rapid rate but it was getting harder to get members to serve as officers. The nominating committee could find no candidates for some positions for the coming year, 2001. Against their protests, Gene Niederschmidt and John McNicholas were pressed to serve unprecedented third terms as President and Treasurer. Shirley Uebel stepped forward as First Vice President and Ann Reinheimer as Second Vice President. Betty Pontious and Norma Downey stayed on as Secretaries. Ventriloquist member Bob May was a big hit as he entertained at the Christmas luncheon. Jim Cassidy was honored with a beautiful plaque recognizing his contribution for editing Bits, Bytes & Bugs, the SCORCC newsletter. It was the biggest and best holiday party to date. Thanks again go to Virginia and Frank Burton for planning and arranging.
2001
“Coming Soon”. In addition to history, maybe we’ll include some thoughts about SCORCC so far as well as some ideas for what the future holds in store for us. The editor would like to hear from some of you. What are your ideas, past, present and future. A CHALLENGE From SCORCC’s first President, Vic Collignon Some ten years ago a Challenge was published in our local newspaper to anyone 55 years of age and older to meet for the purpose of learning more about computers. Several of us took the challenge and began to learn computer techniques from one another. Each of us continued to be challenged to learn something new and to pass it on to our fellow members. Many of you have followed and are continuing to learn many things in our computer club today. Membership has expanded way beyond our fondest expectations and continues on its vibrant journey. I urge each of you to take the Challenge to learn something new each day, and then pass that knowledge on to the rest of us. Both of us will be better off for your efforts. MY, HOW THINGS HAVE CHANGED! By Mary Burns, CORP Older Adult Services Manager I remember when our then-CORP Director, Buz Zeman, first talked about a computer club just for older residents of south county. Some of us thought he had simply gone over the edge! Despite a good deal of staff skepticism, Buz remained steadfast in his belief that there would be interest for just such a club. With a big boost of support from the likes of Vic Collignon, Jim Cassidy, Mary Frances Greenley, Walter Lerch, and about eleven other curious, retired citizens, the CORP-sponsored computer club was launched on April 9, 1991 when Vic agreed to be “Temporary Chairperson”. This cadre of visionaries was not going to let the personal home computer technology craze that was about to sweep our nation pass them by; the South County Older Residents Computer Club was off and running! Founded on the ideal of self-help and mutual support SCORCC has provided technical assistance, training, and encouragement to hundreds of people who now not only understand, but also enjoy more of what their computers can do for them. With great camaraderie, so many wonderful club members, SIG Leaders, committee chairs, an exceptional newsletter, Bits, Bytes & Bugs, as well as the past and present outstanding SCORCC Officers, the intimidation factor so often associated with getting that first new computer has all but been eliminated! As the club embarks on its next ten years of accomplishments in service to one another and to the larger community, let me express sincere appreciation and gratitude to all of you who have made our club the tremendous success that it is; I am so proud to be associated with SCORCC!
