| Beginner's SIG Jim
Kristan jmkris@gmail.com
, the leader of the Beginners SIG started off the
evening. If you have just purchased a new
computer this SIG is for you. Jim highlighted the
informal nature of this group. No questions are
too basic. They meet at 5:45 on the second
Wednesday of each month in order to finish before
the main meeting starts. You can attend two QCS
events in one night and save travel time.
They start with questions from the members.
Sometimes they get no further than answering just
one question. They explore it thoroughly to
better understand the problem and solution. He
always encourages people to let him know whatever
is needed, and if you can, send him an e-mail
about it.
Jim's goal is to get the beginning computer
user off to an enjoyable start. He advises his
SIG not to purchase software right away. They
explore the many free software packages out there
to try. After you become familiar with them, you
will be able to make more informed choices if you
then wish to purchase software. Jim's goal is to
show people how to save money and have fun
computing.
Frequent Beginner topics include: Computer
Security, Backing Up Files, File Management,
Sending and Receiving E-Mail, and Downloading
Software from the Internet. So even if you are
not a beginner, plan to attend the Beginner's SIG
to make your computing less stressful and more
economical.
You can see Jim's PowerPoint presentation (125
KB download) from March 14th here: Beginner
SIG
(Afer the last slide, you will reach a black
screen and be prompted to "click" to
return to this page.)
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| Digital Media SIG Norm
Dunlap, normdun@revealed.net
leads the Digital Media SIG. It meets the third
Wednesday of each month. Norm got interested in
photography and computing as a teenager and has
been building upon that experience.
Following the mantra of all QCS SIG groups,
Norm's vision is to make digital photography easy
to use, productive and enjoyable. While digital
photography is directly tied to computers, the
focus of this SIG is the digital camera itself.
In various sessions Norm has led the group in
how to arrange your photo subject and how to
maximize your photo background so that your
subject remains the focus. This group has
discussed the effects of sunlight during various
parts of the day and how this affects your photo
opportunity.
Norm encourages everyone to bring pictures:
photos, digital photos, magazine photos. They are
passed around for discussion by analyzing the
photographer's intent and whether they achieved
their goal.
In conjunction with understanding the Digital
camera and how best to use it, the SIG also
explores the software available to enhance, edit
and publish your photography once you have
created it. Norm suggested Google's Picasa as a
starting point. It is free, offers basic editing
tools, and allows one to easily arrange and
manage the images on their computer.
Later as one learns the basics they may decide
to purchase software such as Adobe Photoshop
Elements or Paint Shop Pro to achieve more
sophisticated photo effects. Throughout the year
the Digital Media SIG will go on field trips to
try out the features that are discussed and learn
from them.
If you have a new camera or are fascinated by
the new era of digital photography, make a note
of attending the Digital Media SIG. You will be
glad you did.
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| Genealogy SIG Len
Stevens judylenstevens@msn.com
and Suzie Wanner wannersuz@msn.com
co-lead the Genealogy SIG. One of the QCS's more
popular groups. It meets the 3rd Monday of each
month. This SIG shares information, ideas and
software news of the Genealogical world. Once
again, they emphasize and discuss the free
software available. It is a good place to begin.
Discussion topics include: collecting
genealogical data, publishing data in book form,
genealogical photography. Often times special
guest speakers from the area will be on hand to
speak about various points of ancestry interest.
Later this year, in conjunction with the
Digital Media SIG, the Genealogy SIG takes a
field trip to learn how to take, improve, and
manage tombstone photography as one gathers data.
If you have a new found interest in your
ancestors, and are wondering how to put your
family history together, this is the SIG for you!
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| Internet SIG Ted
Huberts slowhand54@sbcglobal.net
leads the Internet SIG. Using the Internet
creatively and usefully is more than using Google
to find information. Each month Ted brings to the
SIG new ideas and tools to make the Internet
experience come to life.
QCS members always bring along questions and
tips of their own. Make plans today to join the
Internet SIG and join the fun and discussion!
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| Web Page Design 101 Vicki
Wassenhove wazz123@gmail.com
leads the Web Page 101 SIG group. Several years
ago Vicki began learning how to design web pages
by reading and asking others how it was done. She
now shares her experience and tips with the group
as they learn how to make web pages.
Working together and using the K.I.S.S method
( Keep It Simple Stupid ) this SIG group goal is
to lead everyone along in web design so they
might bring their own creativity to the Internet.
It is easy to do. Reviews are posted on a 101
class web site after each meeting, enabling
access to the information when working at home.
Once again the focus is on free software as a
starting point. Each SIG member receives a CD of
free web design software that will enable them to
make their own pages. Only three components are
needed:
The GeoCities site offers 15MB of free space
which is plenty of room to create your starting
projects. Each month there is a question and
answer session to share ideas, problems and
solutions as the group learns together how to
bring these ideas to life. Projects by the class
members include websites for alumni classes,
hobbies, organizations, small businesses,
"Blogs" and sharing family memories.
Use this link Web
Page 101 SIG
to see Vicki's March 14th PowerPoint
presentation (450 KB).
At the end of the slides, you will
reach a black screen and be prompted to
"click" to return to this page.
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| Windows SIG Larry
Stone lstone521@mchsi.com
leads the Windows SIG. Larry is the QCS's Windows
"guru". He has a long history of
working with Windows software, and has beta
tested Windows releases since Windows 95 through
Vista. He also operates his own computing
business, and is a Microsoft authorized dealer.
The Windows SIG doesn't have pre defined
agenda. Each month Larry brings to the meeting
several new computing ideas and topics for
discussion. From these and audience questions,
problems and solutions are shared. It often
becomes a general computing forum. As in all QCS
SIG groups, the emphasis is on helping each
other. The entire gamut of computing is on the
table, from software, to hardware, to building
your own systems. If you want to expand your
understanding of the Windows operating system or
share your experiences with it, this is the place
to be!
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| Microsoft Publisher SIG--a new
"mini-SIG" Diana Wolf theqcs.sec@mchsi.com
will lead the Microsoft Publisher SIG. This will
be held the 1st Monday of each month starting in
May, June and July. Diana will share her insights
into creating flyers, brochures, and greeting
cards with this software.
Learn how to make your own stationery, save
money and be creative simultaneously!
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| Networking SIG--another new short-term
SIG Jerry Heimburger and Judi McDowell theqcs@mchsi.com
are co-leaders for the Networking SIG which will
meet the 4th Wednesday of each month. The group
will learn and share the basics of networking.
Jerry and Judi have recently set up networking
systems and will share their experiences doing
so. The ups and downs of it and also the
solutions that they have found that work.
The session plans to meet in April, May, and
June of 2007.
Learn how to put all of those family computers
together!
You can see a PowerPoint introduction from the
first session of this SIG by using the link
below. It is a small 48 KB download. (Afer the
last slide, you will reach a black screen and be
prompted to "click" to return to this
page.)
See
Judi's PowerPoint Presentation: Introduction
to Networking 101
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The QCS
thanks all of the SIG leaders for sharing their
delightful and meaningful computing insights.
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