Interested in researching your family history? You will soon discover that two websites – Ancestry.com (subscription) and Family Search (free) – will prove to be valued resources for information. Gloria Quigg, a new addition to our teaching staff, will demonstrate how to start using these extensive online genealogy research sources on Monday, October 20 at 1:00 p.m. in the MountainView West Ballroom. This free User Group presentation, open to all SaddleBrooke residents and their guests, is part of our continuing monthly community education series.
If you have ever considered joining our longstanding community service program, we are hosting an informational meeting about our programs on Monday, October 20, 2014, at 2:45 p.m. in the Silicon Room (HOA 2 Arts and Crafts Center), immediately following our monthly User Group meeting. If you have a special interest or a good overall knowledge of computers and can join in our efforts in some way – teaching, assisting, giving an occasional presentation, consulting or perhaps individual tutoring, we need more help. This is a great opportunity to meet like-minded individuals while you keep your life filled with new and interesting people and activities. Inquiries or RSVP to: Sue Moyer at [email protected].
Our presentation on Monday, November 17 will be a sneak preview of the 2015 spring schedule by our instructor group. All available teachers will describe their classes and remain afterward to answer questions. Membership registration forms and help will be available. Class registration will open on December 15.
If you are not yet a member, you will need to join before you can enroll. Membership is still $55 per single and $80 per couple; the fee includes all available classes for the initial calendar year. After the initial year, the annual class participation fee is just $30. You can find more information and an online form at our webpage. Just go to www.saddlebrookecc.org and choose Club Membership. While your payment can be submitted online, it will take several days for the manual data entry to be completed on our database before you will be able to sign up on the enrollment page. If you do not have a computer or have problems with the online system, you may contact our registrar Alice Stuart at 825-4239.
Computer Tidbits: If you have been intrigued by the huge variety of smartphones, tablets and other communication devices, prepare yourself for a renewed onslaught of new gadgets over the next few months. The long anticipated iPhone 6 and the larger 6 Plus (5.5 inch screen) were just launched to eager fans, selling a record setting 10 million units in the first three days. Expect to soon see a huge selection of new small, very inexpensive Windows tablets and a generous assortment of Windows phones and phablets (a blending of phone and tablet features). Microsoft has seriously reduced the price of Windows to manufacturers (free!) of portable devices in the very low price range. The closer we get to the holiday season, the more we will see new electronic products filling store shelves and websites.