Sarah and I use a woodstove as our primary heat source, so a major portion of my yearly preparation for winter involves cutting, splitting, and stacking firewood. This year however, thanks to last winter’s ice storm, our wood shed was in dire need of repairs. The basic framework was still good, but it had become wobbly and unstable, and the roof leaked profusely, which had caused some of the roof framing to rot. My experience in home repair has taught me that you can’t expect a roof patch to stop a water leak if the basic structure underneath is not sound, and if you ignore a leak, the damage will get a lot worse, causing the needed repairs to be much more extensive.

I started by shoring up the support structure, then repairing the roof frame, replacing wood that was not strong enough to anchor the roof panels securely. Finally, I discarded and replaced roof panels that I felt were beyond sealing small holes using silicone caulk.

ICON has some of the same problems my woodshed had. The foundation is strong, and the basic framework is in pretty good shape, however, some of the structure is a bit wobbly, and we have some roof leaks that need to be repaired to avoid further problems.

Success, for a user group must be measured in terms of the help and support (with basic skills and new technology) provided to existing members, as well as what the group can offer potential members. ICON has developed some "roof leaks" in these critical areas. We have failed to provide enough training to assure that all of you reach a high enough level of proficiency that will allow you to advance your own skills more readily.

Another "leak" we have is failure to instill in more of you, a sense of obligation to give back to others what you have gained from your membership in ICON.

One of the ways I am trying to repair these problems is by providing hands-on "basic proficiency" classes (beginning in December) in critical areas of computer use, such as: computer management, files and folders, Internet, and e-mail proficiency and security.

You can find the schedule for these upcoming classes by clicking this link. Click the word "Class" on the specified date to find the topic and details about each session. Note that Mick Topping’s Tuesday classes are still scheduled, but beginning on January 12, our Special Interest Group days (2 nd and 4 th Saturdays of each month) will include a two hour hands-on class

If we successfully do a better job of helping you, maybe you will feel more obligated to help us share the knowledge you gain with others, and IF we shore up these problems in our basic structure, we will automatically have more benefits to offer potential new members, thereby stopping the leaks and the additional damage brought on by doing nothing!

Hope to see you soon,

Terry