Background

SeniorNet Eastern Bays Inc., Auckland is a voluntary organisation for people over 55 with active minds and who want to keep up with the computer age. Complete novices through to more advanced users are welcome while new topics are constantly being added. We always like to hear from members as to what they would like to have taught. Experienced users are welcome as tutors and every one is encouraged to help with the running of the club.

How to Contact Us

For detailed information about us please call the SeniorNet Eastern Bays voice mail, (09) 578 0994. An information pack is available. This is the main route of communication to the club. Be sure to leave your name phone number and contact address especially if you want an information pack mailed to you. Someone will call you back, and you can proceed from there. We would love to hear from you. more

Forum Also Available

You can have now your say on our own Forum/Bulletin Board/Discussion Group! Click here for more.

Guided Tours of This and the Federation's web site at the August Meeting

At the well attended August Monthly Meeting, Wayne Power and Eddie Hagen gave guided tours of this website and the Federation's own.

Web Site Story

Wayne first recounted some of our web site's history. The first version of it was designed by Paul Reynolds and sponsored by the law firm, Glaister Ennor. Launched in December 2001, it was ably maintained by David Downey until the upgraded site took over in mid June 2006.

The old site was well crafted but was ultimately a mere adjunct to the G.E. site and there was little room on its home page for topics of immediate interest.

In early Aprl 2006, then Chairwoman, Christine Fleming, invited Wayne to do a major upgrade. Wayne steadily evolved the new site and, later in April, placed a draft of it on one of his own "breadboard" sites, www.draftsiteone.com. Initially, access was restricted to a small "feedback" group, including Christine, Pat Northey, David Downey, Doreen Kee, Sue LaRoche and others.

In May, the draft site's access was opened up to further valuable feedback and the site was kept up to date. On the same day as the June 2006 AGM, the contents of the old site were replaced by those of the draft site and the hosting transfered to a new provider. The "new" site had thus arrived.

The site continued to expand. In September, Wayne used PHP and MySQL to program a user-friendly interface for the automatic updating of the Course and Calendar pages. Sue LaRoche assisted with the bug-finding and, in November, started using the new system, which she continues today. A more general (Content Management) system for the easy entry and editing of other articles, including General and Technical tips, is under development.

Our new site is hosted by BlueHost in California. Fees are modest and storage space is large. Relational database (MySQL) support is an integral feature as is email, PHP and many other software. The site has over 100 pages; 21 directly linked and 80+ archive pages.

The site aims to remain up-to-date in the first instance and always have interesting material on the all-important home page (like this article!?). Extra pages, can readily be added and, while much of the material caters for SeniorNet, other articles and links also seek to assist the wider web community.

Wayne then visited each directly linked page in turn and described its purpose, context and intended audience. He ended with the Archives and demonstrated how all the significant material from the early 2000 to the present day is now preserved and readily available.

Fed Site Story

In the remaining time, Eddie raised awareness of the Federation of New Zealand SeniorNet Societies web site (click on the logo top, left). This is a large, wide ranging site with many interesting and useful features.

Starting with playing the introductory video on the home page, Eddie then visited the "What's New" page where the latest discounts (including to the Phantom of the Opera) are available to all SeniorNet members, New Zealand wide were displayed. The full list of discounts is on the "Special Offers"page.

Also very well covered were reports and articles from clubs all over New Zealand, which all help to create a wider sense of community.

At the end of the hour both presenters received a vote of thanks and continued to discuss further issues for some time afterwood.

Wayne Power

(- who never liked Dickens at school but who loved the film of "West Side Story".

** A PDF copy of Wayne's presentation can be downloaded here)

Federation and Eastern Bays Inform and Entertain Edmund Hillary Village

On Wednesday August 6th, Grant Sidaway, assisted by our Chairman Eddie Hagen, addressed a meeting of about 130 residents and invited guests, at Edmund Hillary Retirement Village, on SeniorNet, its beginnings in New Zealand and its progress since then.

Grant started by showing the video, also on the Federation Website, created by a professional company at the Hibiscus Coast SeniorNet at Orewa. SeniorNet Eastern Bays members will remember Hibiscus Coast Chairman, and Chairman of the Federation, Ian Turner, addressing our May monthly meeting. In his inimitable style, Grant regaled the audience with the joys and challenges of learning computers, answered the doubts before they were asked of, “I’m too old to learn about computers.” “I can’t be bothered learning new things.” Grant’s answer was, “Live in your age.” “Learn about modern technology.” “Become familiar with it and take advantage of it.” “Enjoy using it.”

After Grant’s very appropriate and entertaining address he introduced Eddie, who gave a PowerPoint presentation with running commentary, of the courses offered by SeniorNet Eastern Bays. The audience appeared to enjoy the whole presentation and showed their appreciation.

** An Open Afternoon has been arranged at our rooms next month, so that residents of Edmund Hillary Retirement Village can view our tutoring rooms and join SeniorNet if they wish.

Eddie Hagen