The newly-elected officers for 2015-1016 would like to get acquainted with YOU. Click on About Us in the menu above and then click on each entry there to find photo and bio of these friendly people:
The annual election of Prescott Mac User Group PMUG officers was held Saturday. Here's our officers for 2015-2016: Sondra Bradshaw = President. Art Gorski = Vice President. Secretary = Bobbie Pastor. Treasurer = David Passell.
Yes, Bobbie and David are continuing to serve again. And a big thanks to outgoing Prez Robert Raess, and Vice President Pam Wickstrom. We appreciate everyone who helps make this a really good organization. Check out www.pmug.us
Here's an early "Happy Birthday!" to PMUG, Prescott Mac User Group which officially started twenty-five years ago on August 21, 1989.
At today's meeting new Prez Rob Raess presided, VP Pam Wickstrom encouraged those attending to volunteer to speak to us at some later dates.
We also heard from David Passell, treasurer, and we signed a pretty card to send to Bobbie Pastor, PMUG secretary. Our "cookie lady" Ginger Carlson brought cake for the birthday. Jeff Ian from Think4Ink gave a jolly presentation that informed all of us about printers, ink, and the history of PMUG in Prescott.
Election for our new officers was held last week at the June 21 PMUG meeting. First, thanks to those four hard-working individuals who led us for the last 2 years: Art Gorski, the out-going Prez, Dave Rothgery, out-going Veep, then the two who agreed to be continue and were re-elected: Bobbie Pastor, secretary, and David Passell, treasurer. Give each one a pat on the back!
Meet our new PMUG Officers:
Robert Raess, alias “Rob” is Prez. Here’s a brief introduction to a busy man. He’s been a Prescott resident since 1971. Back in the 80’s he had an Atari for computer games and he remembers “trying to wrap my head around DOS, going to bed with a 2” thick manual on DOS. Fast forward to the mid 90’s we got a PC and never did anything except play solitaire. I remember it giving us fits and became a money pit.”
Anyone else identify with those frustrating early computers?
Rob goes on, “My daughter is a grapic designer and used Macs and helped us get our first iMac running Jaguar, gave us tech support, and we were off.” He exclaims, “Now, I’m swimming in the deep end, time for the big boy pants!”
You can picture his smile as he recites this well-known verse, “I can do all things through Christ who gives me strength.”
Is there more? Rob adds this, “Wood artist, wood turner, and Chinese brush painting, hiking, birding, and Bonsai.”
He’s looking forward to a good year at PMUG, working with the team of officers and all the volunteers that make our group such a helpful and friendly bunch of people.
Stepping up to serve as Vice-Prez is Pam Wickstrom. You’ve seen her helping at the
monthly meetings, but let’s get better acquainted with this smiling gal.
She’s a 17 year resident of Prescott, and has been in PMUG since 2007 when she “invested heavily” in a Mac Pro desktop and 32 inch monitor for her photography and music interests. Acquiring multiple Mac devices and software perpetuate her claim of “being master of none.”
Pam’s education and work experiences have been interestingly varied. After graduating in 1964 with a BS degree from Columbia University she went to Madison WI where she practiced clinical nursing in the university’s neurosurgical intensive care unit. Moves to Rochester NY, Redlake, MN, Salt Lake City UT, and Denver CO were career builders, including her MBA.
Her business years included developing and administering managed care programs for Blue Cross, Blue Shield organizations, then building and directing operations for 10 years as a co-owner of a radiology facility in Prescott. Most recently, she’s been doing intermittent medical consulting.
Pam describes herself as “always challenged by adventures and learning.” This involves completing 10 marathons, including Boston. Then, there’s camping — from tent, to car-top tent, to a truck with camper and finally to her current RV.
Spare time? hiking, antiquing, knitting, playing bridge, grandmothering twins, volunteering at museums at the city of Prescott, and taking OLLI classes. Oh, ask her about her Cavalier King Charles spaniel, Maggie Mae, who Pam says rescued her!
Continuing as Secretary is Bobbie Pastor.
What a clever picture. It grabbed my attention and I just had to read what the article said. Ever said that?
Google to the rescue. Well, first I emailed John Carter to ask where he’d found the photo he posted to the pmug.us website.
When we first posted about the new PR co-chairmen for PMUG we got their photos, and a quick reply from Howard Rieder. That busy gal, Sharon Lampert was traveling and keeping busy, so we didn't get a bio before today. So, today's the day. Scroll back to July 26 to get acquainted with Sharon. PMUG appreciates both of them!
Sharon Lampert will be co-chair for Public Relations for PMUG. She will serve with Howard Rieder.
Let's get acquainted with Sharon.
Sharon has been married 39 years and is step-mom to three, one daughter together, and now five grandchildren spread around the country.
Howard Rieder will be co-chair for Public Relations for PMUG. He will serve with Sharon Lampert.
Well, what do you know? Last week's PMUG meeting was the annual election of officers, and the "old" officers were willing to work another year! So, the "old" is now "new." Art Gorski, president! David Rothgery, vice president! Bobbie Pastor, secretary! David Passell, treasurer! Congratulations and thanks to all those who attend PMUG and help make it a friendly, helpful, interesting group!
Former PMUG Prez Bob Hale and his wife Sue head for Claremont, California. He writes, "Hope all is well 'on the prairie' and with all of our PMUG colleagues. Please keep in touch. We wish you all the best."
Bob served as Prez from November 2005 until January 2008. Sue spoke to PMUG, and they hosted a PMUG Christmas party at their home in Prescott Valley.
He adds, "We have skipped the Lion upgrade, so we're still happily running the venerable Snow Leopard OS's on our Intel iMacs, as are our two sons here."
De Prez Howard LaPittus announced to Saturday's PMUG meeting that Ann Schwab has volunteered for the PR position. Ann is now appointed to the Board and will specialize in public relations for our Mac group.
If you haven't already meet our smiling new gal, here's a little about Ann in her own words.
Ann Schwab is a new resident of 2 years to Prescott, moving from Orange County, Calif. Originally from a Naval family that moved often, Ann grew up in LA and attended college in the northwest. Working in Calif. as a speech therapist for the Anaheim High School district, she was a speech therapist at St. Jude in Fullerton for several years and at various rehab hospitals. Prior to that Ann had a banking career, but didn't find that it had enough verbal opportunities!!
"Moving to Prescott for semi-retirement, my current job is focused on school age clients and luckily I can do it in just half a week."
Ann has an adopted dog and cat who take a lot of energy. The dog is a Doberman who needs lots of walks, and luckily Prescott has wonderful trails and parks. She adds, "Bike riding is also favorite of mine and I am hoping to meet more people who ride."
She concludes, "The Mac users group was appealing because of networking opportunities, but also learning new ways to use and enjoy a computer. Most of my experience with computers was in my former life as a banker and more recently with assistive technologies for communicatively-handicapped persons. But, being at home in a beautiful place and using the computer to keep in touch with others is truly rewarding, and I am looking forward to learning more ways to do just that!"
Maybe you saw the original posting on 12-31-10. It's updated today, Jan. 27, 2011:
De Prez Howard LaPittus sends us this announcement, "New Board Member To Be Appointed." He describes this opportunity which awaits one of our PMUG members.
"The PMUG Board will be appointing a New Board Member who will be in charge of Public Relations. This person will be responsible for newspaper announcements, brochure distribution, radio announcements, surveys, etc. No experience necessary. If you would like to volunteer for this great, new fun experience please let me know. I will support this person with guidance, details of responsibilities, goals and objectives. If you are interested please email Howard LaPittus."
See the January 27, 2011 entry for the latest!
Today's Daily Courier features PMUG's former vice president, Bill Williamson, on the front page in the story, "Sons, daughters of Pearl Harbor survivors tell their stories." See the online version here. Two photos and quotes from Bill make this an interesting article.
At today's PMUG meeting we officially sent De Previous Prez Allen Laudenslager off to Denver, to his new home. Elaine read the following:
Howard has over 40 years (yes, he is old) of diversified business management experience in the commercial film processing, photographic equipment, consumer catalog, and educational supply industries.
One of the most exciting and rewarding experiences came when he had the responsibility of managing the JPL account in Pasadena. This involved the acquisitions, delivery and installation of photographic processing equipment that was used to process the first pictures from the moon.
Howard, his wife Carol and dog Oliver moved to Prescott in 2005 from PA. Howard’s first computer experience was running an IBM Tab Card installation which including writing computer programs in RPG in the 60’s. (Yes, he is old!) Howard switched from a PC to a Mac in 2005. His hobbies include photography, meteorology and stamp collecting. And, “long walks on the beach, smoking his favorite cigar,” he adds.
Joining the local computer club, he decided to change careers and go into programming for a living and wrote programs in assembly language and FORTRAN for real-time flight simulators. He bought an original Macintosh 128 in early 1985, and eventually upgraded it to a Mac Plus. Later Macs included a PowerBook 100, PowerBook 2300, PowerMac 7200/90, and a G4 Cube (still owns it).
He retired and moved to Prescott in 2007 and spends his time running a couple of websites and generally geeking out. He has a very sophisticated gigabit home network with a network attached storage server.
She loves gardening and has a high maintenance landscape. She is Vice-mum for the Diamond Chics Red Hat chapter. She uses a lot of computer techniques that she has learned from being a member of the club and hopes to get a newsletter and website up for the ladies. Home decorating and photography is of great interest, however, she doesn't seem to find the time for them.
She lives with her "special needs" fur child, Archie. He is not only blind, but he is socially challenged. He loves to help her in the yard, and one of these days we will actually find time to grow vegetables!
In 1961 he was telecommunications engineer at JPL (analyzing spacecraft data, writing reports, and writing FORTRAN programs). He did technical writing (IBM, Litton, Associated Writers, Conrac) retiring in 1996 from Ameritec, Duarte, CA.
Betty and David came to Prescott in 1996. His Mac history: Apple II - 1978, MAC portable - 1991, Mac TV - 1995. Currently he has a MINI, an iMAC, and a G3. In PMUG since 1997, he’s been President twice and continues as Treasurer.
Today's meeting was the annual election. But, first, a big thanks to this year's leadership, Allen Laudenslager serving as De Prez, Bill Williamson as VP, David Passell our treasurer and Bobbie Pastor our secretary. We appreciate your time, talent, and good sense of humor!
It's that time of the year again. Who would you like to see as PMUG President, Vice President, Secretary, Treasurer? May is when nominations are received, June is the election, July is when new officers take office. Your suggestions will help make PMUG a great organization!
Today's Daily Courier has a nice photo of our Bill Williamson playing his banjo. Look for page 1 C. Looking good!