SI Cardigan

Members of SI Cardigan attended an Advanced six-week course, meeting one night a week for two hours to improve their IT skills.

Pictured left is Club President, Cherry Hammett, at the computer with tutor Kerry Winterbottom from Coleg Ceredigion and club members giving encouragement.

For many years the production of print and publicity material has been carried out by one now elderly member - the club felt that they should all learn to share these tasks and also improve their emailing skills - 20 members now have email addresses (two do not).

A detailed list of all aspects of club publicity material was submitted to local Further Education College (Coleg Ceredigion). The scope of the work was outside the 'General' Courses offered by the College so they set up a programme specifically for Cardigan Soroptimists. Each member paid just over £20 for the course.

Members have covered Group emailing techniques and netiquette, PowerPoint, the use of 'Table' function and Filing methods. It was remarkable to see the enjoyment of a mature group of women who discovered their latent skill in advancing their computer knowledge. The course certainly contributed to considerable confidence-building.

Communication within SI MUST take advantage of modern IT technology if we are to become a really efficient organisation. More clubs should be encouraged to set up Advanced computer courses through local FECs - in this century there is no room for adopting an ostrich-in-the-sand mentality regarding IT technology. We must progress!