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Tampa Bay Computer
Society Bulletin

5/31/2009
 

This document is available online.
Note:  Most hyperlinks will only
appear on the web page.

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"In the June Bits & Bytes, Stew Bottorf describes the FOSS SIG's
recent experience with Untangle, a free Linux firewall.  The June
edition of Bits 'n' Bytes will be online by late Tuesday."

June Bits & Bytes will be online this week:
http://bnb.tampa-bay.org/
 

Contents

1) General Interest
      "New Media" is coming to TBCS

2) TBCS Classes

3) SIG Stuff

Maps to our Resource Center & General Meeting:
 http://tampa-bay.org/maps.htm

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1) General Interest

"New Media" is coming to TBCS
Several months ago I started actively "working" several social network sites (MySpace, LinkedIn, Facebook, Twitter, etc.).  I have been both fascinated and somewhat overwhelmed.  There is enormous potential here, but it can also become a valueless time sink and resource waster.  What can be used, and what can be ignored?  These tools are being used to find jobs, increase visibility of your business, and to increase both sales and donations.

I would like the Tampa Bay Computer Society to become a resource for those interested in learning more about the rich array of tools we all have at our disposal.  We are going to offer a "New Media" SIG (Special Interest Group) twice a month: the 2nd & 4th Saturday of each month from 2-4pm.

Normally, you must be a TBCS member to attend our SIGs, however, this one is open to everyone.  I am more interested in creating a local resource pool, than I am in feathering our own nest.

I have enough material to keep us busy for the first 4 to 6 meetings.  By then I'm sure that we will have been able to cultivate some other speakers (actually, I already have some).

Some of the topics we will be discussing: Facebook, MySpace, Twitter, LinkedIn, MeetUp, Wikis, Blogs, Podcasts, etc.  The group will have a say in dictating what we study.  I also have some projects in mind that will give those interested a chance to improve their skills.

Critiquing others' sites and their usage of the tools will be a helpful service we can provide.

We will create a Ning resource web so that we can share our discoveries with others.

I also have some ideas about how we can attract FREE help to monitor and update our sites.

Whew! Sounds ambitious doesn't it?  Hopefully so.

Here are the 1st two sessions:

June 13: Overview of New Media
Includes Pros & Cons of a variety of tools

June 27: Why a Wiki is often the answer

Registration is not required (while a friendly note letting me know that you want to at least check it out will be welcomed).  Please send any comments to the Club Secretary.

Doc

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2) TBCS Classes

Phil Sullivan's Hands-On Windows XP Beginner's Classes
Four 2-hour classes on Mondays 9:30-11:30am  $40 (NO make-up)
Since these are hands-on classes, they will be limited to only 6 people.
You MUST register for these in advance (see below).  Minimum class size is 3 students.
Here's Phil's schedule for the rest of the year:

bulletJune 22, 29, July 6, & 13
bulletSept 14, 21, 28, & Oct 5
bulletNov 30, Dec 7, 14, & 21

Phil Sullivan's Hands-On Windows Vista Beginner's Classes
Four 2-hour classes on Tuesdays 9:30-11:30am  $40 (NO make-up)
Since these are hands-on classes, they will be limited to only 6 people.
You MUST register for these in advance (see below). Minimum class size is 3 students.
Here's Phil's schedule for the rest of the year:

bulletJune 23, 30, July 7, & 14
bulletSept 15, 22, 29, & Oct 6
bulletDec 1, 8, 15, & 22

Digital Scrapbooking by Jan McNulty
Thursday, June 11th,  10-noon  $10
This is not a hands-on class.  Please register in advance.
Learn how to have fun with your photos, cost is $10.00.  A handout will be provided.  Jan

eBay Classes by Jim Boynton
3 Tuesday afternoons, June 16, 23, & 30,   1-3pm  $30
Hands-On training in our Computer Lab
You MUST register for this course.  We can't go over 12, and we must have at least 5.

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Classroom Registration
All of our classes meet at our Resource Center in Clearwater.  The full class fee is due at the first session (cash or check please).  All classes come with a money-back guarantee if you're not happy with the instruction for any reason.

In order to register for any of the classes (or if you have questions), please send an email to the Club Secretary.

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3) SIG Stuff

Our SIGs (Special Interest Groups) all meet at our Resource Center
(map: http://www.tampa-bay.org/maps.htm).
All of our SIGs are free to our members.

SIGs are a great place to get more personalized attention, and get your questions answered. The following SIGs will meet this week:

Monday, June 1, 6:30-8pm
Computer Q&A SIG. Led by Cathy Benedict
Please bring your Internet, computer, and technology questions here.  This is a great SIG to get some individual attention to your technology problems.

Tuesday, June 2, 1-3pm
 Novice SIG. Led by Bill De Lucia
Dale Atchison will be leading in Bill's absence.  Dale will answer your computer questions.

Tuesday, June 2, 7-9pm
Broadcast: http://www.ustream.tv/channel/tbcs-live
Visual Basic SIG. Led by Tom Kiehl

Wednesday, June 3, 10am-noon
Digital Video SIG. Led by Tom Lembke
This SIG will remain dark until Tom returns in the fall.

Wednesday, June 3, 2-4pm
Genealogy SIG. Led by Howard T. Smith

Wednesday, June 3, 7-9pm
Excel SIG. Led by Motaz Ben Saoud

Thursday, June 4, 10am-noon
Scrapbooking SIG. Led by Jan McNulty
Dark this month.  Jan will return in July.

Thursday, June 4, 1-3pm
Hands-On Embird SIG. Led by Florence Osier

Thursday, June 4, 7-9pm
Expression Web. Led by Sam Richardson
Join Sam to learn how to use Microsoft's replacement for FrontPage.

Friday, June 5, 10am-noon
Broadcast: http://www.ustream.tv/channel/doc's-place-live
Doc's Place. Led by Dave Dockery

Friday, June 5, 7-9pm
2600 Club. Led by Magen Hughes
Magen will be speaking on the topic of "Neurohacking" at DEFCon in Las Vegas this coming August.  I'm going to define neurohacking very loosely as: merging computers & electronics with the human brain & body.  She has finished soldering and programming her equipment and will demonstrate it while addressing the past, present, and future of Neurohacking.  Tom Kiehl will follow by installing modified firmware on a LinkSys router.  It seems you can get increased functionality and expanded features out of your router by using 3rd-party firmware.

Tom will try NOT to "brick" the router:
Brick [brik] -noun:  a rectangular compressed mass.
Brick [brik] -verb:   to turn a router into a lightweight door stop.

Saturday, June 6, 1-3pm
PowerPoint SIG.  Led by Peter Summers
Dark until September.  When Peter returns, this SIG will meet on the FIRST Saturday of each month.

Sunday, June 7, 1-3pm
Broadcast: http://www.ustream.tv/channel/tbcs-live
SBI SIG. Led by Rick Hart & Carl Hahn
The "Site Build It" (SBI) SIG helps you to build a money-making website.  Here's another opportunity to get free training on how to create an online business.  Our SBI SIG meets on both the 1st & 3rd Sunday of each month.

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See you at the Resource Center!

Doc (Dave Dockery)
President, Tampa Bay Computer Society
www.tampa-bay.org

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