Overview

We are indebted to longtime member and tutor, Annette Bierre, for her recent article, reproduced below. It provides the much needed context for the Archives from the early days right up to the present.

The Evolution of SeniorNet Eastern Bays Inc. Within the Framework of SeniorNet New Zealand

Seniornet is a community based user-pays organisation that originated in 1986 in the USA from a research project at the University of San Francisco.  The project’s objective was to discover if computers and telecommunications could enhance the lives of older adults.

In New Zealand, Seniornet was first established in Wellington in 1992, with support from Telecom New Zealand. This was not only the first learning centre in New Zealand but also the first to be set up outside North America.  There are now 102 clubs throughout New Zealand, who enrol approximately 5,000 new members each year. The aim of Seniornet is for people over the age of 55 years to learn how to use the computer, to keep up to date with new technology, and enjoy sociability with other older computer users.

Seniornet Eastern Bays, as the name suggests is on the east side of the isthmus of Auckland city, an established large suburban area. This has been the catchment area for older people to join and participate in the club. The proposal to establish computer learning in the eastern bays came in 1999 from members of St Heliers U3A, (University of Third Age) who felt a computer study group was desirable. As part of U3A a venue of the local high school was trialled, but it was decided that because of financial commitments, the nature of computer training and the need for teaching spaces and equipment, separation and independence from U3A was the best option and it was decided to follow the example of other New Zealand Seniornet organisations.

A dedicated few, headed by Russell Comber and Cheryl Ellis, formed a steering committee. A feasibility plan and cost assessment was done based on a membership of 50 people. A public meeting was then held, and by the end of the meeting 163 had enrolled as members, which involved changing plans and finding larger rooms than those proposed and subsequently more money was required for equipment. $1,000 was loaned from St Heliers and Remuera U3A, which had to be repaid after one year. Money was now available from subscriptions, and money was also borrowed from new members. A grant was given by Telecom, and $5,000 from the Lottery Grants. Rooms were found in commercial premises, and a main committee was formed.

To establish a Seniornet meant breaking new ground. Many hours were spent planning, devising a framework for teaching, borrowing and adding to teaching notes from other Seniornet clubs, and developing a curriculum and timetable. Telephone calls were constant, and there was an urgency to obtain and share knowledge. Finance was short, there was little equipment in present day terms; for example there was money for computers, but not for tables - there was great excitement when the first printer was purchased. Overriding the hard work, certain apprehensions and the inevitable frustrations, there was optimism, enthusiasm and plenty of light hearted satisfaction. Subsequently, Seniornet Eastern Bays, started in 2000 with approximately 450 members and, although the numbers decreased each year at about 10-12% per year, in 2006-2007 the membership increased again by 20% to reach 362. There had been expectations that there would be a decline in the number of students as the years passed, but at the end of the 2006-2007 financial year this may have been proved to be unfounded.

Seniornet Eastern Bays is now housed in different rooms, downstairs from the first premises, a relief for those who found the stairs intimidating. There have been four dedicated chairpersons, Russell Comber, Jackson Blyth, Christine Fleming, and the incumbent Eddie Hagen. Along with a constantly changing and forward looking committee, there are volunteers who maintain a membership data-base, an accounting system, one member who acts as course manager, a timetable organiser, and others who help with mailing, kitchen laundry, buying supplies as well as the tutors and assistants.

Facilitating development has been big grants from the ASB Community Trust. In 2007 there are now 13 personal computers, connected by a network with a central server. There is ancillary equipment such as scanners, a photocopier, projectors, printers, a notebook computer connected wirelessly to the local network, and LCD screens, all first class equipment. A paid computer maintenance expert constantly keeps the network in very good condition. One member has developed and keeps up to date an excellent website. www.sneb.org.nz, a detailed source of information for all members.

Once a month a meeting is held in the St Heliers Prebyterian Church and Community Centre Hall for general business, with a guest speaker who will explain new equipment and the latest technology.

The Seniornet Eastern Bays rooms are used for teaching, for club gatherings, and for group discussions. Each member pays an annual subscription to join the club, of $40.00 ($70 per couple) and extra for classes. The charges for classes has been halved since 2005. The costs for teaching time is $2.50 per hour. There are no charges for discussion groups.

A big strength of Seniornet depends on the number and quality of teaching and instruction given to members. Originally a few people came forward, or were cajoled into becoming tutors, or assistant tutors. While there have never been too many tutors, Seniornet has kept a constant pool of enthusiastic teachers who have stimulated, and been in contact with a large number of elderly people learning the computer.

Teaching seniors is not without its challenges. There is often hilarity, despair, disappointments, and a need from tutors for an abundance of patience. The tutor may not be familiar with the particular course to be taught, perhaps only one step ahead of the class, a very quick learning curve! Notes may have to be tailored to the tutors preference, an added and a very time consuming task.

Older people frequently present with deafness, poor sight, tremor, difficulty with mobility or memory loss. Memory loss can involve repeating information frequently, often immediately after explaining a procedure, and by the next lesson there can be no recall of the previous session. The tutor may need to be a support person as sadly most seniors are aware of the difficulty of remembering.

The rewards to tutors are satisfaction, as older people do have a sense of humour and a generosity, and frequently the problems are dealt with by tolerance within the class, with laughter, and a general consensus that they are all in the same boat and that “they will never master the computer.”

The usual reasons for joining Seniornet are;

• To send emails to family and friends
• A challenge from friends to keep up to date and alongside contacts who ‘understand’ the computer
• To enhance and extend learnt skills
• To understand the Internet
• For dealing with digital photographs
• For sociability
• For work reasons or other personal commitments
• To work at a slower pace than family or other computer learning situations offer

Since its inception Seniornet Eastern Bays has developed and increased courses offered to club members. Mostly the courses are 6 x 2 hourly sessions; Present coures offered;

• Computer Awareness, a preliminary course
• Word Processing
• Email
• Internet
• Photo and Imaging
• File and Folder Management
• Computer Maintenance
• Excel
• Power Point
• Publisher
• Genealogy
• Revision Courses; (Shorter courses)
• Other courses tailored to members needs

Seniornet Eastern Bays is a positive and vibrant club. Some members fall by the wayside with few computer skills. This is usually accompanied by the realisation that learning the computer was not for them, or that the club environment was not a preferred mode of learning. However the majority of members do achieve varying degrees of competence with the computer and recognise that Seniornet offers mental stimulation and enquiry, and that it is a way to discuss and resolve problems and a place to make new friendships.

In November 2006 a national Federation Of Seniornet Societies of New Zealand, with head office in Welington, was formed, and an Executive Officer, Grant Sidaway was appointed. Grant is the person who founded Seniornet in new Zealand and has kept a guiding hand in all New Zealand Seniornets. All but about 10 New Zealand Seniornet clubs have joined. A constitution was written, and funding obtained from the Tertiary Education Foundation. A first Annual General Meeting with election of national officers was held in June 2007. The newly formed constitution provided for the Federation to be under the control of a management committee elected by Federation members.

The Federation offers Seniornet clubs;

• Consolidation so that there is the opportunity to receive steady funding assistance by arrangements being developed through the Tertiary Education Foundation
• A national voice and lobby mechanism which will proactively promote Seniornet.
• Assistance with sponsorship arrangements to assist in reducing operational costs.
• The development and sharing of teaching resources.
• Idea support with emerging new technologies and support to adopt new courses.
• Discounts for travel, investment, insurance, direct buying of new software and hardware from Microsoft.

Undoubtedly Seniornets in New Zealand through the individual clubs such as Seniornet Eastern Bays, have made elderly people aware of the modern technological world and are assisting in keeping older minds healthy and energised, and certainly they have lent a hand in developing a positive, youthful interest for some older members of society.

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