As ICON enters the year 2007, I envision a stronger, friendlier computer users’ group that will have a very positive influence in the community. We have a new set of governing rules, our revised Constitution and Bylaws, that give a better balance of duties for officers; we have expanded committees and subcommittees, allowing more members to actively participate; and we have detailed procedural reports that a substitute or new officer will be able to follow to keep ICON operating smoothly in emergencies or transitions.

We have equipment that uses new technology—the new 2000 lumens projector that lets us clearly see the screen even when the lights are on; three laptop computers with Windows XP and one running Linux; and a bulky but good speaker system that works well most of the time☺.

In terms of information and communication, we have an attractive, well-written, hard copy newsletter; a powerfully effective Web site; and publicity in a broad variety of media—newspapers, magazines, radio and television station calendars, and colorful, informational brochures in the libraries and other places.

As for education, ICON members teach Basic Computer Classes through our partnership with St John’s Seniors. Our Special Interest Groups, monthly Membership Meetings, and additional classes are held in nice meeting rooms and up-to-date labs in the libraries through our partnership with the Springfield-Greene County Library District. ICON’s Education Library of tutorial CDs and DVDs is available at all Membership Meetings and SIGs for checkout, and an ICON informational CD with a tutorial on the use of our Web site is in the making.

A second major conference, The March of Technology, featuring the theme "Unwired and on the Move," is planned for March 24 at The Library Center.

Leading our growing, vibrant, and active organization is a group of officers who are working well together, learning to use the new technology, making compromises when necessary, and having fun rebuilding the Interactive Computer Owners Network (ICON).