.IF DSK1.C3 .CE2 *IMPACT/99* by Jack Sughrue STILL BREATHING .IF DSK1.C2  A NEW USER GROUP? Every time I read in some newsletter or other that our TI World Community is dead, I think of Mark Twain's comment when he read about his supposed demise: "I think the reports about my death have been slightly exagerated." So it is with our TI. I know I use it for word processing about 35 hours a week and for games and examination of new programs and doing practical stuff with utilites - in that order - for another 20, so I feel that the "death" of my 4A is a bit premature. Most of my TI friends would say the same, particularly as there are two new TI magazines in our marketplace to go along with the wonderful MICROpendium. And there are new pieces of software coming out - it seems - almost daily from all over the world. [I have on my desk exactly 34 disks in a shoebox marked "To Look At!" They are disks of Public Domain and Fairware materials of all sorts. I have another entitled "Education" which has 13 disks. And another of commercial disks I've bought during the past two months with 11 packages of disks unopened. In short, I have too much new stuff to even get to LOOKING at it, at this point in my life.] And there is new hardware coming out everywhere: P-Boxes from Canada and Australia, Gramulator that does all Gramkracker did and much more, harddisks, computers on a card, very advanced keyboards, and more, more, more. Does this sound like a dead computer? And newly-formed user groups are making an appearance here and there, while some long-established groups are joining forces to make megagroups (for reduced costs [housing, newsletters, etc.] and greater buying and sharing power, among other things). Among these new groups is one that I think the TI World Community should be aware of: The Oakland Computer Club which meets at Atwood-Tapley School in Oakland, Maine. What makes this club unique is that is is make up of all kids from kindergarten through grade 6. The club recently earned statewide recognition for the innovative ways computers were used in the school. Eunice Spooner, an indefatigable volunteer at the school, a member of the school committee, and a former elementary school teacher, received the award this spring from the Technology in Main Schools Committee for her work. What makes this award unusual is that it is for efforts done on the TI/99-4A. What makes this more unusual and a remarkable story in its own right is that fact that Eunice Spooner is a quadriplegic. This unusual woman broke her neck in a car accident in 1982 and, as she said to me on the phone, "had a choice of giving up or getting on with it." That she chose the latter is unquestioned. In addition to operating founding and operating this new computer club of 30 members (more than many TI clubs in the New England area), she teaches 11 TI computer classes in the school each week with six students in each class across the whole elementary level. When the 4As came down in price and many people gave up on them, Ms. Spooner saw a golden opportunity to use "these great computers with the students." She immediately began to put out an all-call for any consoles, TVs, tape recorders that could be gotten. The school now has three of its own consoles, but some of the 30 club members share their computers with the school. With Mrs.^Spooner in the classrooms, the students under her charge learn BASIC programming and have written many of their own programs. The Oakland Club, however, is strictly voluntary and meets every Monday night. Maurice Anderson, a teacher in Oakland, assists Mrs.^Spooner, makes arrangements for field trips, and works with the more experienced youth. Mrs.^Spooner works with the younger children. "It's interesting to see how many parents stay for these meetings and get caught up in the computer activities of their children," she says. The club has begun to develop a library of their own written programs and modules of educational programs and games. These materials are demonstrated at the Monday meetings (with particular emphasis on student-written works) and may be checked out later and worked on or played at home. "Right now the club is looking for more consoles. We'd love to find some that are no longer being used, as it would permit us, obviously, to do a lot more for more youngsters." The club could also use any TI educational programs or materials of any kind for these children. Although their software consists mainly of tapes and modules, they do have one disk drive system, too, so all you readers who have extensive libraries or materials you have grown out of or haven't used in years might consider packing it up and mailing it to Eunice Spooner, Box 3720, Webb Road, Waterville, ME 04901. It would be a good investment in the future of a lot of kids. These junior TIers, themselves, are very interested in finding some other kids to correspond with. The group would also love to see newsletters and basic-type programs from anyone. Oh, one more thing regarding the remarkable Mrs.^Spooner. She's a sysop on her own board. Credit system; upload first, Northeaster BBS - 207 465 9065 - log on, TI programs, author uploads. Give her a call. ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~ [Jack Sughrue, Box 459, E.Douglas, MA 01516] ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~ If any newsletter editor prints these articles, please put me on your mailing list. Thanks - JS Հ