To test the waters, Debbie, in her weekly news paper article in early May 1997, announced a meeting for those interested in forming a COMPUTER CLUB.

On May 14, 1997 Debby Heywood chaired the first meeting of the new Computer Club in the conference room and Michel Castro volunteered to act as secretary. Twenty five interested people were in attendance. The centre had recently been given two computers and the Centre donated a small room in which to house them. It is interesting to note that those computers were only equipped with internet and games.

Home computers were becoming popular and why shouldn't the senior citizens among us get interested? We know the old adage that says, 'You can't teach an old dog new tricks', does not apply to the human race. Some of the more knowledgeable attendants had been in the retail business and had sold home computers. Others had had a career as electrical engineers, while still others were ham operators with a general interest in electronics. While the bulk of this first group were there only on the urging of their children to learn of the possibilities that these new-fangled gadgets had to offer.

At this meeting a committee was formed consisting of five volunteers; Michel Castro, Marilyn Solodiuk, Steve Cribb, Carol Henderson and Phyllis Bentley, to organize future meetings.

2. On Nov. 7.1997 a meeting was held and from it a Core Group was formed consisting of:

          Chairman

          Al Miller

          Secretary

          Carole Henderson

          Treasurer

          Monique Games

          Instructors

          Horst Bambullis

          Michel Castro

          Norm Harding

          Doug van Vianen

          Representative for Beginners

          Steve Crabb

          Representative for Intermediates

          Peg Harrington

          Representative of advanced

          John Dunbar

          Director of Centre

          Debbie Heywood

Centre Representative

          Maureen Knight

From this start, our first official Core Group Meeting was called for Dec 1, 1997 and Rose Jones and Rick Whittaker were introduced as additional volunteer Instructors. Formal classes would begin in January of 1998. The Club had now grown to approximately 75 paid up members.

Monthly meetings were proposed for the general public with guest speakers on applicable topics. Core group meetings would precede these to clarify their agendas.

The classes were started in a small classroom at the centre using the two donated, second-hand computers. It was realized that more equipment was urgently needed, including a printer and more computers. With the interest aroused, the waiting lists for classes were growing long. It was decided to charge an annual membership fee of $25.00 to cover the cost of the needed equipment.

At the January , 1998 meeting Al Miller agreed to continue on as chairman with Peg Harrington serving as an alternate chairperson.

In the spring of 1998 both the number in our core group and general membership had swelled. Ken Cooke and Bruce Cox were added as instructors and Hazel Thompson took over the organizing of Scheduling and Phoning Committees in the core group. As to the general membership, it had now grown to over 100.

Michel conducted two very encompassing questionnaires which were distributed at general meetings. Through compiling the results he was able to classify the standard of our members and where their instructional needs were required.

Meetings open to the general public were conducted monthly with exception of December and the summer months. The meetings held in September and January were to introduce the instructors and they each gave a short talk on their particular expertise. For the other meetings guest speakers were at hand.

During this year, Bruce Cox, while instructing on the use of spread sheets, started an e-mail newsletter which has grown through the years to keep both past and present members up to date with the club's activities. Its circulation numbers are now in the hundreds.

Monique continued as Treasurer until August of 1998 when she turned over her duties to a newly formed Finance Committee consisting of Michel, Horst and Ken. All the fees collected up to this time had been turned over to the Centre and our bills were paid by them. Debbie felt that we were now at the stage that we should control our own finances and suggested that as of January 1, 1999 any outstanding moneys or bills should be our responsibility. At the November meeting Peg was appointed Treasurer and asked to set up an accounting procedure for the club to manage, starting on Jan. 1 1999. We took over our own moneys with a debit balance of $32. 66 but enrolment soon rectified that.

Up to this time the annual fee of $25.00 was to be paid annually from the month of joining. To simplify the bookkeeping, all prior members to 1999 would be asked to pay their fees on new formula - Jan. $25.00, Feb. $23.00, March $21.00…..Dec. $3.00 so that in the Year 2000 all fees would be $25.00 as of Jan. 1st. New members would be billed at the $25.00 rate.

Due to the waiting lists in the class enrolments Tuesdays were declared as Drop-in-days and members on waiting list could bring their problems in and they would have a one-on-one discussion with an instructor. Although it wasn't a perfect solution it did relieve some of the pressure.

In the spring of 1999 the Seniors Centre presented the Computer Club with a grant of $10,000.00 which gave our finances a much needed boost and we were able to purchase four new computers. Through the year, we were also able to buy five computer desks, two printers and a metal storage cabinet. Our funds were also added to by two bake sales and raffle organized by Ethel Woodside and Margaret Metcalfe, clearing $855.00.

As the number of members still continuing to rise, the core group tried to answer the problems of giving adequate instruction in the inadequate space in our accommodation. It was even considered that we limit the membership. Instructors were encouraged to increase the size of their classes by taking on assistants to help them; evening classes were started; and a Beginner's Manual was edited and given to new members for home use.

In the fall of 1999, owners of computers were being harassed by the media with tales of breakdowns in their internet systems in 2YK (the year 2000). Doug van Vianen volunteered to speak at the December General Meeting to allay their concerns. Needless to say, it was well attended and time showed that their fears were groundless.

During 1999 our instructional staff grew adding Tim Gladish, Lionel Garnier, Doug Pichette, Colleen Hodges and Mike Watt while Rita Jacuk took over the Phoning and Class Scheduling from Hazel Thompson, later to be replaced by Chris Murray.

In April of 2000, Carole Henderson resigned her office as secretary and was warmly thanked for her diligence through our formative years. Rita Jacuk was appointed in her place.

In 2000 it was found necessary to increase our fees to $30.00 per annum as our costs for new equipment and upkeep were running high but our membership was now over 300 but the instructors were coping by adding to the size of their class and calling for teaching assistants.

In 2000 we added to our teaching staff Anne Brewster, George Doucet, Murray Grandy and Rob Harrington, who not only taught classes but acted as our chief technician

In January of 2001, Peg turned over the office of Treasurer to Ethel Woodside and later that spring chaired a committee to publish a cook book, 'The Computer Club is Cooking', of which many of the Core Group took an active part. It was a money-making scheme that, with more than a few hi-cups, eventually earned over $1000.00.

In the fall of 2001, two new core members joined us; Ted Ball, who took over duties a Treasurer and Maureen Marshall volunteered to tackle Scheduling. Maureen Knight left and Kathi Penny took her place.

Debbie (Heywood) Belanger announced in the March 2002 meeting that she would be leaving the Centre after directing its development for eleven years. The Computer Club felt the loss

Debbie, that spring, announced that the Sunroom would be free in May for our occupation. This was a room about twice the size of our cramped quarters so everyone was delighted and work parties were organized through the summer to set up the new room and make the transition.

At the November Core Group Meeting, Ron Shongrunden, the Assistant Secretary of the School Board Office, was introduced. He spoke on the subject of a high speed fiber-optic network. It is an 'Education of Youth' program set up in the Okanagan Skaha School District. He asked if we would be interested in joining. This was left for further discussion but, later in 2002, it was agreed that we join using our old club room for this purpose. The school board donated two computers for its use.

Kathi Penny continued on as Acting Director of the Centre until Sandra Dean was appointed director.

In January of 2002 Al Miller retired as Chairman of the Core Group and Anne Betts was elected to replace him with Rita Jacuk as Vice-chair. By mid summer Anne retired from her office and Rita replaced her, with Mike Watt as Vice. Rob acted as pro-tem Secretary. Debbie Lougheed replaced Kathie as the Centre's Representative in the Computer Core Group.

The monthly open meetings were, on the whole, turned over to various instructors to explain and demonstrate the many aspects of their particular field. This idea was well received by those attending the meetings.

During 2003 Cyril Joseph and Fred Topp joined our team of Instructors and, in 2004, Akiko Ince became the Secretary of the Core Group and Anne Betts turned over the Historian's duties to Peg.