COMMUNITY SERVICE PROJECTS
FIRELANDS COMPUTER CLUB

The club loaned a computer, monitor and keyboard to the Norwalk Public Library in 1996.  This computer was subsequently replaced with a newer one and is still in use at the Library.

We have had a table at Peddler’s Day in uptown Norwalk on a Saturday in September for two years.  We passed out literature about the club and informational handouts from seminars.  We answered computer questions for the public.

We had three club members on a local radio station program called “Sound Off” once in 1995 and twice in 1998, answering callers’ questions about computer problems.

We gave area middle schools subscriptions to Smart Computing magazine for their libraries for the school years 1998, 2000 and 2001.

We supplied and installed a modem in the computer in the social room at Luther Oaks Retirement Home in Norwalk in 2001 so the residents can use the Internet.

We are on a tech support list that provides answers to computer questions that people send in.  Our web page has an email address link that anyone can use to get answers to computer questions.

In 2004, we purchased two 17” Samsung monitors for the Learning Zone at the Norwalk Salvation Army.  We also donated a Lexmark printer, which was previously donated to us by a club member and a used Epson 3 in 1 printer from another member.  The Learning Zone is a separate entity sponsored by The Salvation Army.  The Learning Zone is an after school program to encourage children to spend time learning, studying, socializing and having fun doing it.  Our donation benefited their computer lab.

2005  We paid for and installed high speed DSL in our meeting place, First Presbyterian Church and we are sharing our connection with the church.  We also purchased  a large projector screen that we are sharing the use of with the church.

2006  In response to a request from Luther Oaks Senior Apartments, a member gave several classes on how to use the Internet, do searches and use email.  Prior to the classes our member noted that Luther Oaks’ computer was not protected, so she downloaded and installed an antivirus program, spyware detector and remover, spyware preventer, a firewall and Windows updates.

2006  Jeff Franklin taught a class at ElderCollege at Firelands Campus of Bowling Green University on “Protecting Your Computer.”  Bonnie Goodman attended to assist with hand-outs and questions

2007  We purchased a computer to replace the aging one that we had on loan to Norwalk Public Library. This computer is a gift to the library.  It is the fastest PC in the library and has the most memory.

2007  Donated our old CRT monitor to the Salvation Army Learning Zone. 

2007  Gave 1 year subscriptions of Smart Computing magazine to Wakeman Community Library, Monroeville Public Library, Milan Public Library and 2 subscriptions to Fisher Titus Medical Center for the Oncology and the Radiology waiting rooms. Also gave a subscription to Jeff Franklin’s new library in Arizona = Dewey-Humbolt Town Library.

2007  Joined with Huron County Recycling Program for a county-wide electronics collection.

13 members hefted TVs, computers & peripherals, etc into trailers loaned to us by Kevin Riley & Nelson Gray.  We filled those trailers plus the pickup bed and the van interior.  Kevin & Nelson along with Pam Hansberger from HCRP drove to Mansfield to the recycling center. We collected a lot of electronics which will be dismantled for their valuable metals and saved the landfill from harmful metals. 

2007  Maggie Timmons taught 2 computer classes for Wakeman Public Library. 

2008, March  Begin ABC Series lessons – About Basic Computing 

2008 May  Electronics Recycling Collection (on our own this year)   Collected 2 trailers full of old computers, printers, TV and transported to the recycle center in Mansfield.  Cell phone collected were delivered to the Norwalk Reflector for repair & distribution.

2009 April Gave five $40 scholarships to Norwalk City Schools Tech Camp for kids grades 5 through 8 whose parents cannot afford to pay for the camp. Kids attend week-long classes on many different computer skills.