ElderWeb Captures Elders

Their horizons will further expand next Spring (1995) when ElderWeb goes on the Internet in a drive to connect seniors in other centers, with the eventual aim of an Elders network throughout Canada and the United States.

Membership growth this fall meant abandonment of a single monthly meeting at Grant MacEwan College and the establishment of regional meetings. The College was where it all started, when the Arts and Science Division discovered that seniors wanted more from their computers than just word processing and spreadsheets.

"They wanted to really do something with their computers and they wanted to be part of the information society of the future," said Peter Brown, administrator and the only paid employee of ElderWeb, which received a one-time grant from Health Canada. That allowed the net to establish itself on the Internet and pay all operating costs for an 18-month period.

The funding expires next June and, explains Brown, a drive is on to find private sector funds to augment the $69 annual fee each member pays and to help with the cost of expanding. There will be no further government funding and, while part of the Community College as a course/project, with its own advisory committee, ElderWeb is completely self-funded.

A lot of the on-going tasks, such as meeting organization and tutoring new members, is carried out by volunteers and, Brown says, that helps to provide " a friendly atmosphere for retired people to get together and learn at a relaxed pace".

Member Fran Milne likes that aspect and has found a "whole new world opened for me. Triumphs and frustrations abound. Be prepared to welcome them both as necessary learning tools.

"The amazing thing about the ElderWeb group," she says, "is the great army of volunteers. I've had someone come to my house and spend hours helping me get started with ElderWeb software, as well as my Internet connection. I have never put a question in my E-mail and not had it answered that very day or the next morning."

ElderChat and the Buddy System help fulfill the association's aims. Online keyboard dialogue helps members get used to public communicating and the recently-established Buddy System pairs members for help-sharing and just plain communicating.

That's what George Oakley is looking forward to when the Internet connection is made: "ElderWeb/Internet and the world is our oyster. Once ElderWeb goes world-wide, we will be free to converse with other ElderWeb groups all across Canada and eventually the world.

The first meeting in August, 1994, attracted 20 to 30 members, Brown remembers, and most signed up after it was demonstrated what ElderWeb could do for them. Among them was Gord Gehlert, who remains thoroughly enthusiastic, as one of the volunteer leaders.

"I enjoy the ElderWeb program," Gehlert says, "because it is easy to use, all actions are moves by the mouse only, to get yourself logged in to the Bulletin Board or a blank sheet for E-mail. From there I can participate in conversations by the Chat feature or send messages to the friends I have made in the group or just browse through the many topics and features on the bulletin board."

The bulletin board contains a variety of information in 20 folders, including a daily update of International news, weather, travel, computer and technology information, member-provided dining material and a host of subjects under humor, leisure, home and garden, letters to the editor, health issues, reminiscences and, of course, information from the city's senior centers.

There are three senior centers which have computers and modems, hooked to the ElderWeb and four more available for placing. They were donated by Health Canada. Guests can sign on for a look at ElderWeb but only those with membership can use such features as E-mail and ElderChat by using the log-in ID and password. As some members do not have their own computers, the centers become ideal places to log-in.

Among upcoming features will be the addition in late January of an art gallery, featuring the works of ElderWeb members with some art available for sale by the artist. Further down the line, members like Gehlert and Oakley see great opportunities for national and international links.

Oakley says: "Why wouldn't communicating with some Quebec counterparts maybe help keep us together?"

And Gehlert notes the agonies of new members wrestling with computers and says: "...but this is all learning experience and they are going to conquer new worlds by sending E-mail to Aunt Martha in France, Italy or some distant destination."