Region 5

30 trailers attend Region 5 Computerfest

      The first Region 5 Computerfest Rally held Sept. 10-12 at the Chanute Air Base Complex in conjunction with the Region 5 Rally attracted 30 trailers.

      It was a successful launch for an event that evolved from the Indiana Unit-Region 5 Computerfest. This event had been held at the Tipton, Ind. County Fairgrounds for years, but increased costs to use the fairgrounds and waning attendance led to looking for an alternative way to conduct the computer rally.

      Marrying the Computerfest with the Region 5 Rally was one approach suggested. The Region 5 Rally began on Wednesday at the Chanute Air Base Complex.

      The Computerfest, like its predecessors, included seminars, one-on-one time, breakfasts two mornings and a traditional pizza party. The latter event got the rally off to a shaky start Sunday night when Monical’s Pizza in Rantoul was ill-equipped to handle the number of people who showed up. The original plan was for 30 to 35 people, but with the last minute arrivals for the Computerfest the number swelled to 60.

      The breakfasts were one of the highlights. The crew led by Bob Green from the Indiana Unit provided pancakes and sausage Monday morning and biscuits and gravy and potatoes on Tuesday morning. Members of the Green crew working on the breakfast were Fred Bennett, Bill Walter, Gordon White and Bill and Barbara Schrader.

      The format for the seminars worked well. Round tables were set up in the meeting room with electrical connections to each of the tables. As a result attendees could have their computers in front of them to try some of the techniques being described during the seminars.

      Seminars presented Monday and Tuesday morning were Introduction to Computers by Gordon White, Publisher by Bill Schrader, Excel by White, Digital Photography by Bill Grawle, Creating a Newsletter by Schrader, Geneology by White, Using Word by White, Greeting Cards by Carol White, GPS by Don Grayson and Creating a Unit Web Site by Schrader. Daryl Ewles provided one-on-one help for Mac users.

     The Computerfest will be continued next year in conjunction with the Region rally, which will be at the Brandenburg, Ky. Fairgrounds. Dates for the event will be Sunday, Sept. 7 through Tuesday, Sept. 9.

     Attending the 2007 Computerfest were:

     Tom and Pat Anson, Fred Bennett, Barry and Karen Bell, John and Barbara Bergen, Ray and Janet Brunk, Jerry and Mary Lou Christy, Daryl and Myrna Ewles, Harold and JoAnne Geren, Bill and Joyce Ann Grawle, Don and J’nann Grayson, Bob and Nancy Green, Bob Gregory, Walter and Linda Hangsleben, Dick and Judy Heyde, Jerry and Louise Humble, Jim and Betty Hutchens, Elmer and Norma Koen, David and Betty Leeper, Bill and Wanda Lockin, Patsy Marston, Art and Doris Meier, Frank and Jane Miller, Lee and Nelda Miller, Bob and Lee Moyers, Bill Walter and Lori Osborne, Raul and Anita Reinertsen, Bill and Barbara Schrader, Bill and Cheryl Shelander, Don and Darlene Welsh and Gordon and Carol White.

 

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      Attendees at the Computerfest Rally in Rantoul gathered for the traditional group picture at the conclusion of the rally.

The facilities at the Recreation Center in Rantoul made it possible to set up tables and chairs where attendees could set up and plug in their computers during the seminars, an option that will be the goal for every Computerfest in the future.

2008 Computerfest in Brandenburg, Ky.

      The 2008 Computerfest has been scheduled for Sunday, Sept. 8 through Tuesday, Sept. 10, 2008, at the Meade County Fairgrounds in Brandenburg, Kentucky.

      The Computerfest will once again precede the Region 5 Rally at the Meade County Fairgrounds.

      The Meade County Fairgrounds are excellent with a separate workroom adjoining the seminar room where computers, printers, etc. can be left for the duration of the rally and where you can have one-on-one sessions.

      A detailed schedule for the Computerfest and a coupon will be coming out in the spring of 2008.