CURRENT SCHEDULE
Hours of operation are flexible and entirely dependent upon availability of qualified Monitors. Each month the month's schedule is posted on the entry door to the Computer Room. Daily schedules are in the Weekly Church Bulletin available at Sunday services, and in the FOCUS (the monthly church newsletter; see our main page). As of this date (9/16/05), we are usually open noon-3 p.m. on Wednesday and Thursday. Our usual Tuesday monitor just got a new job, and our Friday monitor is presently in New York and will eventually return. So we're looking for monitors folks, for Monday, Tuesday and Friday. If you'd like to help email me at DickC@hawaii.rr.com.
PAST ACTIVITIES
Thanks to a benefit concert 1997 organized by Rev. Jim Ledgerwood (now at Lancaster UMC) and friends such as Jerry Chambers who booked the performers, the Computer Ministry has grown from a few computers refurbished by Dick Chadwick (left center, providing instruction to a District Conference group) in the church library with one dial-up modem, to the present state. We have our own room thanks to all the volunteers who redesigned the space, painted and did all the carpentry. We have five internet capable machines utilizing high speed Roadrunner connections, and 3 other computers with software for word processing and other tasks not requiring the internet. Limited scanning and printing facilities are also available. As time has gone on, computers have become ubiquitous and internet skills widespread, especially among youth. So our focus has shifted to other groups who are still learning or who would not otherwise have adequate access to the internet.
During the past 4 years about 300 individuals have become registered users. Thanks to Don and Barbara Burger (now at Kailua UMC) who took over this ministry for that period and did everything from repair computers to clean up the floor (including replacing the carpet with tile) and a host of other things, we're left with a legacy of well-trained volunteer computer room monitors, a list of rules that deserve to be emulated, and a reputation for openness and helpfulness. They at first conducted organized classes covering email, basic internet, search engines, newspapers and magazines, working with files and folders, tracking planes, hurricanes, and various other packages and satellites, with emphasis being on hands-on experience to complete specific lesson plans. As the learning about the internet has become commonplace in our daily lives, we have shifted to providing individually arranged instruction during hours of operation. Monitors may be of assistance at their discretion, but their primary job is to maintain the facility.
MISSION AND GOALS
Our Mission is to provide a clean, wholesome Christian atmosphere for our local community, visitors, and church family, in which each participant may become involved in the computer and Internet age to the limit of their capability and personal desire.
Rules.
When you come for the first time, you must register as a computer ministry guest, become familiar with our guidelines for computer use, and thereafter log in when you arrive and log out when you leave.
Monitors.
All of our monitors (Rose, Don E., Chris and I) are unpaid volunteers. A big mahalo to our recent past volunteers over the last few years, too: Ann, Annie, Kaui, Lou, Rose, Vanessa and Wilma, not to mention Don and Barbara who ran the whole operation for two years. If you would like to participate or help, please email DickC@hawaii.rr.com, or call me at 946-0580.
Computer Ministry