2004 Jerry Award Entry BGAMUG New

New project

Project: Computer Refurbishing / Computer Training

Project Name: Computer Mentoring for Low Income Housing Residents

User Group Name: Bowling Green Area Microcomputer User Group

Location: Bowling Green, KY

WHAT we do

Project Description:
The Bowling Green Area Microcomputer User Group, Inc. offers computer training for low income housing residents, both adults and children of all ages, at the Abel Court Apartments Computer Lab, which is a small converted tool shed with five computers.

With the help of the funds received for our 2002 Jerry Awards entry, along with other contributions, we obtain hardware and software for residents to build their own computer system with the assistance of our techie members.

See the newspaper article covering the launch of the partnership at: http://www.bgdailynews.com/articles/stories/public/200408/01/0dU7_news.html

Also see the recap coverage on our website at: http://www.bgamug.org/abelcourt.html

Currently we are offering instruction for new novice user - residents two evenings each week, supervision and assistance each weekday after school for children to do homework and expand their skills. On weekends we have open lab for everyone to enjoy access

Project Description:

How we will use award money:
Any funds received as a result of this submission will be 100% used to promote this and other community service projects of our club.

Supporting Documentation:

HTML file (DOC file)

HOW we do what we do

We first surveyed our membership to verify how many members would participate and in what capacity prior to committing to the project.
We then scheduled and funded a launch party, (cookout), inviting local elected officials, the media, and the public, to officially announce our partnership and give tours of the computer lab.
Taking advantage of a service offered by our local television station for non-profit organizations, we make appearances each month to announce our upcoming events. This proved very helpful and prompted welcomed contributions and public awareness for this new partnership.
The five computers are running Windows 2000 with DSL Internet service provided by bellsouth.net. Donated copies of MS Office 2002 are installed on three computers, along with MS Magic School Bus.

We also have the OpenOffice 1.1.1 installed on all computers. It was downloaded from http://www.openoffice.org/. This will enable residents that take advantage of the ŤBuild your own computerť program to learn and have access to the basic productivity software.

As this community service mission is in its infancy, we are exploring the benefits available for non-profit technology organizations at http://www.techsoup.org/.

As always we will continue to benefit from our APCUG membership and its supporting vendors to help fuel this and our other community service ventures.

Any funds received as a result of this submission will be used to promote this and other community service projects.

Respectfully submitted by
Jerry Gillette, VP of Membership
BGAMUG - Abel Court Liaison

Project:	Computer Refurbishing / Computer Training
Project Name:	Computer Mentoring for Low Income Housing Residents
User Group Name:	Bowling Green Area Microcomputer User Group
Location:	Bowling Green, KY