Victoria Computer Club

Monthly presentation: Movies, music, magazines etc. for FREE!!

Posted on 2015-11-07 by George Bowden

Would you like movies, music, magazines and audio books at no cost?

On Thursday, November 19th at 2 pm Scott Munro from the Greater Victoria Public Library will explain how to use Hoopla and Zineo, the library’s new online loan services.

Where: Britannia Legion, 780 Summit Ave. at the top of Canadian Tire store.

Register for the pre-meeting lunch (1 pm) consisting of choice of two soups, salad and sandwiches for $12 by replying to this email. The Legion has improved the lunch with a better salad, and whole wheat bread for the sandwiches, plus a choice of two soups; a chowder and a turkey vegetable soup.
We do have to know how many want lunch so for the lunch please register by replying to gtbowdeng@gmail.com

Posted in Monthly Meetings | Comments Off

Telephone scams continue in Victoria

Posted on 2015-10-17 by George Bowden

Although the following notice from the CRA was in June, we are experiencing a rash of these calls currently in Victoria.

Ottawa, Ontario, June 10, 2015… The Canada Revenue Agency (CRA) is noting an increase in telephone scams where the caller claims to be from the CRA but is not, and is asking Canadians to beware—these calls are fraudulent and could result in identity and financial theft. Continue reading →

Posted in Uncategorized | Comments Off

Scribus Templates

Posted on 2015-10-16 by George Bowden

Scribus is an open source, free desktop publishing program. Like many other computer programs, it has templates from which you can make your own documents more easily than from scratch.

Scribus has about 40 templates built in, categorized under Brochures, Business Cards, Cards, Newsletters, Packaging, PDF Presentations, and Posters. Many more templates are available at ScribusStuff . A tutorial on templates also exists. Continue reading →

Posted in Training, Uncategorized | Comments Off

Activating Windows 10: How it works under Microsoft’s new rules

Posted on 2015-10-15 by George Bowden

Microsoft is revamping how it checks if Windows is genuine. Here’s how these changes could make your life easier when setting up Windows 10.

Posted in Windows10 | Comments Off

Seniors SIG is cancelled on Monday, October 12th

Posted on 2015-10-10 by Faith Shannon

Seniors SIG is cancelled Thanksgiving Monday, October 12th only, and it will resume Monday, October 19th, 10am-12pm.

Posted in Uncategorized | Comments Off

Is Google Drive Safe?

Posted on 2015-10-05 by George Bowden

In today’s presentation on Google Docs to the Seniors SIG, I was asked “Is it safe to put my stuff up in Google’s cloud? Can’t hackers get at it?

Well, if your password is “password”, hackers will get at it. The point is, people are the weakest link in security. I am not an expert in security, but I know to use a few techniques to make my online presence secure. Using those below, I trust putting my documents in Google’s cloud, and for now, putting my passwords in LastPass’s cloud based password manager. Continue reading →

Posted in Seniors, Uncategorized | Comments Off

Creating and managing accounts

Posted on 2015-09-28 by George Bowden

LastPass Password Manager

The problem: In this online age, we have typically 26 accounts, but just 5 passwords of just 6 characters on average. 6 characters can be cracked in 3 seconds using computers.

Every online subscription needs a “login – password” combination, be it:

paid news subscriptions, eg. globe and mail,
purchasing, eg paypal, amazon, visa number and expiry, groupon
communications, email, skype, facebook, social media
bank accounts, utility accounts

As we age, remembering these logins and passwords becomes increasingly problematic. So we should manage them with a password manager, like LastPass. Continue reading →

Posted in Uncategorized | Comments Off

Exec meeting Minutes Aug 17

Posted on 2015-09-26 by sysop

Exec meeting Minutes Aug 17
Posted on 2015/08/17 by George Bowden
CaptureA. Call to Order 7:15 pm Monday, Aug 17
Present: George Bowden, president; Martin Brooks, treasurer-secretary; Dorothy Cushway, clubhouse; Barkley Cox, Vice President
Excused: Iain Fletcher

Agenda: Additions – none

B. Last month’s minutes: available online

C. Old Business
1) Name change status. Martin to watch bills, phone listing . Paypal still has BB&C remnants
2) Signage: TV in the window added timer, a bit awkward to operate. Needs jpgs advertising fall events. Dorothy to ask Laura to cut shrubs. Also need stick on lettering to complete window.
4) No publicity director: but Dorothy renewed the ads in Used Victoria, Craigslist. Speakers – 83 Browsed, 2038 to date Teaching – 420 Browsed, 11,604 to date Membership – 206 Browsed, 12,031 to date

5) Membership online forms and processing: Who does what? Ron Kehn to be called by George Bowden to design new envelopes, or Barkley

D. Directors reports
D1. President – Picnic. July 15th was attended by about 25
– Gallery on website. Meeting with photo group this week
– Silver Threads cooperation. George joined Silver Threads, but needs to follow up for fall classes.
D2. Vice President – Screen purchase approved up to $200. Approved. Speaker will be on Windows 10, either Joel or London Drugs. Get speaker list from UVIC.
D3. Treasurer/Secretary – Monthly report. As of July 30th Bank balance was $10,380
D4. Membership: 146 Adults and 14 Associates
D5. Clubhouse: Fridge replacement from McIntyre. New signs for parking. At Martins discretion, go ahead with two more wide tables.

E. New Business

A. Courseware. George to contact schools about students teaching. Seniors class for Win7, Android and iMobile continue, WordPress, Genealogy, Photo SIG, Linux, WordPress evening SIG. Beginners email. Could hire Dial-a-Geek. Need pre-course evaluation. Dorothy might teach beginner facebook. Sept monthly meeting could have Whet your whistle demos.
B. RSVP events.

Library booth. September 19, 10:00?am – 4:30?pm
C. Next exec meeting will be Sept 21st.

Posted in Executive, Minutes | Comments Off