20 February 2014

SHORT FILMS SHOWN AT MEMBERS MEETING - February 2014

Well over 60 members attended our popular Members' Meeting today, and were treated to a showing of members short films featuring many members of our great Craft Group as well as those two loved sisters Hazel and Beryl, talking about their time at Parramatta Home Science School. The short films were done as part of a grant from Parramatta Leagues Club for film making members to attend workshops at Parramatta's Information & Cultural Exchange (ICE) to learn how to make short film documentaries.



Beryl and Hazel had members entranced with stories of their
time at the school, especially about when Hazel burnt chops and covered it up with lots of gravy before being presented to the school head mistress and eat and mark..



Hazel and Beryl commented on how exciting the filming was, with lots of crew and cameras taking over their lounge room. Beryl even took some pics of the crew, Hazel, Dawn and Deborah setting up.
Beryl related how she had to leave school at 13 to look after her mum and her babies.



Members were pleased to meet up again with Ron Taylor who, because of illness has been unable to attend meetings for some time. Ron was happy meeting up with the friendliness of the many members who welcomed him back to oour friendly club




Beryl and Hazel really welcomed Ron back!




 Michael and me are now able to circulate amongst members, now that John Hain has organised volunteers to book courses and collect monies.
                      Keith South showed and talked about the printing of his new family history book.

Thanks John and all you volunteers, I really enjoyed not being tied to the treasurer's cash tin this meeting, it was good moving around and talking to members, and also being able to take heaps of pics.

Josie and me glide out through Sydney Heads tomorrow evening on the Rhapsody of the Seas for a 12 night cruise to Noumea, Vanuatu, New Caledonia. This cruise resulted through use of the internet by being sent email about travel deals at great rates!

So, no more blogs for a couple of weeks...........................unless I find wi-fi for my tablet, and then I will post an update of our cruise........

14 February 2014

FILM MAKING SIG TO SHOW FILMS AT NEXT MEMBERS MEETING


Our club's Film Making Group SIG met today to discuss their efforts in making short films about Parramatta, and decided to screen some at next week's Members Meeting.

John Moxon showed us his film about the bells and organ of St Johns Cathedral. John showed us his yet unfinished film and was very happy with our response to his efforts, and will screen it for members at next week's monthly meeting.

Deborah and Judy will also screen their short films, so come along 9.30 to 11.30am, Friday 21st to see their efforts. 

We hope that John Hain will stay awake during the members' meeting!


12 February 2014

WEEK TWO OF JON'S Managing Your Digital Photos COURSE

What a let-down from last week's exciting first day of Jon's Managing Your Digital Photos course.

Today was the second week and it was just a quiet learning experience, with Trainer Jon teaching his six pupils how to download photos from their camera to a computer.

 Jon told them the importance of having more than one copy of important photos saved, preferably on a external hard drive. It's not if the computer's hard drive will fail, but when...and then all photos on the computer are lost!

 There was lots of practice on how to make folders to store their photos so they could find them in the future, among the many 0000s of photos they would have stored on their computer. 

Jon did so much talking that he called on Office Assistant Aileen to make afternoon tea early because his throat was so dry.
Following the usual social afternoon tea break, Frank and Elizabeth were excited after learning how to copy and paste their pics into folders by using short cuts Control+C and Control+V
We'll see the results of their home practice with making folders when they come back next week!

06 February 2014

TODAY'S ANDROID SIG FOR TABLETS AND SMARTPHONES

Our tablets and smart phones Special Interest Group members were kept busy today, finding out different aspects of their tablet or smart phones.
Trainer Jon kept new members Wendy and Ron busy installing the app Tripview Light, an app that you can check out train arrivals,departures, onto their smart phones, and kept stressing the benefit of paying $3.20 for the full version that is live and advises any delays in train arrival.
Trainer Hazel is showing Cassandra her favourite android game app, Temple Run2,  Hazel commented that it helped with your reflexes, but is very addictive!
Marie is happy with what Jon is showing her on her android tablet

 President and trainer Deborah instructed Yvette on the app Plane Finder, a very interesting app that displays planes taking off and landing, and flying across NSW and Australia.
Ron was so engrossed in his smart phone that he missed afternoon tea!

The next Android Tablet/Smart Phones SIG will be held on Friday 7th March 1.15pm to 3.30pm, free (with a small charge to hire the room). Convenor Deborah invites all with android tablets and smart phones to come along, enjoy the friendship and also learn how to improve your time with androids.




05 February 2014

RED EYES GALORE AT THE CLUB TODAY

Trainer Jon was busy today with the first day of his 5-week Managing your Digital Photos course with a full class of 6 students, with two assistants, Dawne and John to help him.

 Jon is giving his students an introduction to Google's Picasa, a nice application designed to simplify the way you manage photos on your computer. With Picasa, you can easily view, edit and organize your pictures however you like.




  Jon is showing students how to remove red-eye from both these boys' eyes



 Suddenly an announcement came over the loudspeakers - a fire drill and everybody
 has to leave the premises! Dont use lift-walk down the four flights of stairs.
Jon was last out and shepherded his students outside the building where Council's Fire Warden congratulated Jon for getting his students out under four minutes.

What will happen next week?






03 February 2014

2014 COURSES BLAST OFF TODAY








Hazel and her assistants John and Dawne conducted the first course for 2014 today, with a full house of six students learning all about their Android tablets over the next five weeks.












Students Cassandra, Julie and Christina with their Android tablets and Asst Trainer Dawne




Ruth and Cassandra are happy to learn all about their android tablets

Hazel and her mob of assistants invaded the office at morning tea, to join newly appointed Elizabeth on her first day as an Office Assistant, busily joining up new members.
However, Elizabeth was busy with new members, as well as Club Secretary Silvia and me, the Treasurer, and the influx of students and trainers completely filled our office space!

So, 2014 Term 1 really got off to a beaut start with our morning tea/office really full of happy members

01 February 2014

FIELD TRIP TO PARRAMATTA HERITAGE CENTRE


Nearly 30 members turned up on last Friday afternoon's Field Trip to Parramatta Heritage Centre, alongside the landscaped Parramatta River, with a view of the almost demolished David Jones' building. 

Our popular Trainer John, pictured, eventually found the seminar room where Geoff Barker, who spoke at the January members' meeting, was our host.


Geoff is the Research and Collection Services Coordinator and told our large group about their current projects. At the end of Geoff's talk, we split into two groups and were given a tour of the large and interesting collections and facilities.


Exhibits reflect Parramatta's diverse community and colonial history, or express the creativity of local, regional and national artists. 

This is a link to the Centre's website
 http://www.parracity.nsw.gov.au/play/facilities/heritage_centre/exhibitions



Maureen and Ron talk with new members at the end of the tour.

Term 1 starts tomorrow 3 February!