From Sue

Hello everyone,

This is SeniorNet Kapiti’s first newsletter for the year and what a start to the year! We have been busy finalising Term 1 timetable and have started to draft Term 2!

A number of tutors were busy at Coastlands in Paraparaumu, at our first Open Day for the year. Here are a few tutors talking to perspective members who wish to join SeniorNet Kapiti.

We are looking forward to face-to-face classes, and will start with Term 1 on 8 February with a How do I…? session.

The weather has been (and still is) great! But I’m sure we’re all keen to get back into our routines. So why not start off by booking a class with SeniorNet to learn something new, or just to revise what you started in 2021.

As mentioned the tutors have started to plan Term 2. A meeting is being held to ensure that we understand the current Red traffic light restrictions to engage with our members at the Learning Centre.

I’m sure many of our members are still finding that in some cases, we are unable to visit different countries. At least technology is giving us all, the opportunity to meet with friends and family using Zoom or other similar apps, and we can still learn from home.

Please take the time to look at SeniorHangouts which has recently started new sessions (more below).

And last but not least, I would like to welcome you all back to the Learning Centre, over the months to come. We will keep you informed of any changes that may arise as the year progresses.

Sue Connor
Chair, SeniorNet Kapiti Inc.

In the meantime, why not try a SeniorHangouts session – they’re free to all SeniorNet members. You can see the latest offerings at this page (click here) on the SeniorNet Manawatu website. It’s just one click to start a session – no Zoom required!

Membership & 2022 Course/Workshop Fees

Please keep in mind that the Committee agreed that all Course and Workshop Fees will be reduced by 50% for the entire calendar year 2022 (with a minimum charge of $5).

To enroll on courses or workshops (if required) please contact Elaine at SNKBookings@gmail.com or phone 021 169 6256.

Support From Pelorus Trust and The Pub Charity

We mentioned last year that we had applied and were successful in gaining a grant from Pelorus Trust and The Pub Charity. We are now putting the grant to use by upgrading the PCs in the Learning Centre so we can support both Windows 10 and Windows 11.

We are very pleased that we have successfully ordered the computers from Dell. We have received 4 computers and although they have only just arrived, a group of Tutors led by Peter Jones will be setting up these new computers for use at the Learning Centre in the near future. We are upgrading 8 machines to All-In-1’s (yes, far fewer cables!).

Paraparaumu Library

SeniorNet Kapiti – Community Help at Paraparaumu Library

Toward the end of 2021 a number of tutors were assisting at the Paraparaumu Library, for members of the community to register for the vaccine pass. Then, it was a matter of either download the pass to their smartphone or print out a copy (sometimes both). This may occur again, as people in the community start to get their booster shots. So the need to update your vaccine pass will arise again.

The process to update a vaccine pass will be the same as you went through before. You can ask one of our Tutors for help or call the Ministry of Health on 0800 222 478 and they will talk you through the process.

Changes Due to Covid-19 – we are Open

We will start Term 1, 2022 on 8 February.

We will be at RED in the Traffic Light system, announced by the Government, so we can all expect things to be a little different at the Learning Centre. We can expect most or all of the following changes (depending on the colour of the light!);

Our landlord (KCDC) has agreed in writing, for SeniorNet Kapiti to open the Learning Centre. This will be under the new Traffic Light System, (per Govt guidelines related to the Traffic Light level at the time).
Tutors will be required to be fully vaccinated in order to run face to face classes
Only fully vaccinated members will be able to enter the Learning Centre to attend face-to-face classes or other functions – Vaccine passes (now they are available) will be used for validation with the NZ Verifier app.
For privacy reasons, no vaccination information will be retained by SeniorNet Kapiti – validation is all that will be required
SeniorNet will assist all our members to get the vaccination certificate App working on their smartphones or to print a paper certificate
Masks will have to be worn in the Learning Centre based on the Traffic Light level at the time – the Lead Tutor is not required to wear a mask when teaching (there will be a 1mtr distance from participants).
Tutors will be discouraged from handling members devices (laptops, smartphones etc)

SeniorHangouts is Running – every day

SeniorHangouts, the online learning platform run by SeniorNet, is still operating (with fancy new branding too!)

All current members of SeniorNet Learning Centres in New Zealand are welcome to participate (free) and you don’t even need Zoom to join.

If you are interested in what’s coming up next week (and every week), we’ve found this excellent site (thanks to SeniorNet Manawatu) which is updated Sunday evening once the weekly timetable is published. It also includes direct links to the upcoming sessions – just click and go!

To watch old sessions, go to the SeniorHangouts website, where you can watch previously held sessions in the extensive library on a wide variety of topics that may interest you.

Remember, at SeniorHangouts we are always in a Green Traffic light!

No senior is left alone in the technology space! We have added a few elements into the SeniorHangouts program to spice it up and to make the sessions very interesting.

For those of you have have not participated before, SeniorHangouts is a daily opportunity for members and anyone else you would like to invite, to meet, talk technology and socialise with other seniors. There is no cost to you; its a membership service and for anyone in isolation – it’s a lifeline! It’s SeniorNet in your pocket and it can be accessed from your Learning Centre, from home, your armchair, your car, on any device, on any day of the week and it can be active or passive. Join in or just watch – it doesn’t matter.

From the Team at SeniorNet Kapiti

Happy Learning!

Please Support our Sponsors

Please don’t forget to support our National sponsors – they’re important to SeniorNet and help us at the local level in many ways, including offering discounts to our members.

Always show your membership card and ask if there’s a discount for SeniorNet members – you might be rather surprised!

The best example is Noel Leeming where the SeniorNet discount extends well beyond computers to everything in their store but please be insistent that they scan your barcode before they give you a price!

Suzuki has recently reconfirmed their offer to our members of free on-road costs on new vehicles so it always pays to ask.

There are more details about the individual sponsorships on the Federation’s website here