Minutes of ICON'S Meeting August 17, 2002

President Terry Roberts called the monthly meeting to order at 1:05 p.m. at The Library Center. A special welcome was extended to new members and visitors.  Terry announced that ICON purchased a new laptop computer this week.  It has twice as large a hard drive, twice as much RAM, and a CD burner, and it cost about $40 less than the last one ICON bought.  Having a third laptop computer, plus the CD-RW drive will improve ICON'S ability to provide services to members.

Members were reminded that the rules for the Design a New Logo contest are available on the web site; deadline is September 11.  Hand drawings will be accepted.

Upcoming meetings of the Genealogy, Windows, Word Processing and Digital Imaging SIGS were announced.  ICON'S annual picnic will be Saturday, September 14, from 11:00 a.m. to 3:00 p.m. at Silver Springs Park.  Members who plan to attend were asked to purchase tickets (only 25 cents!) and to bring a side dish, salad or dessert.  ICON will provide the remaining items. Terry asked for and received volunteers to man the grill(s) and prepare the beans.

The Treasurer and Program Chairman gave brief reports.  Charles Roberts, Chairman of the Acquisition and Supply Committee, stated that Family Tree Maker, Version 10, is on order.

Jazy Mahalik, Project Director of The Edge Community Technology Center presented the program. The Edge is a project of the Springfield Greene County Library, which donated the space in the basement of the Midtown Carnegie Library for the 3,000 square foot computer lab.  The project is funded through 2003 by federal and local grants.  The computer lab contains 12 state of the art computers, each with over 100 pieces of software installed, a demonstration and study room with 4 more computers, a smart board and VCR, and 3 wireless laptop systems which can be used anywhere in the Midtown facility.  Due to grant constraints, the lab is not open for non-Edge related public access.

The focus of The Edge is to bridge the digital divide by offering computer training to those who might not otherwise have access to it.  Free, 90-minute basic skills classes are offered for all ages from pre-kindergarten to seniors.  Self-tutorials using a combination of video and audio are available for those who want to learn more than basic skills and are available for Microsoft Access, Excel, FrontPage, PowerPoint, Publisher, Outlook and Word, and basic typing.  The Edge opened in late April, and in the 17 weeks to date, has offered 175 classes to 475 registrants, with total attendance in excess of 1,000. Over 200 people to date have attended the self-tutorial sessions. Schedules for Sept.-Dec. 2002 were distributed to those present and are available at all libraries.

Jazy explained that there is a need for volunteers to help in many of the basic classes.  Volunteers do not need to be computer experts.   Terry mentioned that extending ICON'S community outreach was one of the goals that had been discussed in officer meetings and that The Edge seems in perfect accordance with that goal. Several ICON members indicated their willingness to be included on the list of volunteers that ICON will provide to The Edge.

Respectfully submitted,
Sarah Marshall (for our vacationing secretary, Bill Patrick)