The 6^th breakfast of the year was held yesterday, February 4, 2010, without any problems. Attendance was better than what we thought. We had 11 out of 18 attending. Not as good as previous months, but it's not so bad considering it's mid winter. We were lucky weather wise. We didn't get the snow we were suppose to get on Tuesday and Wednesday.

The next breakfast will be held March 4, 2010, 9:30 AM at Crystal Lake Dinner.

Also Appears to be a bad year, health wise

While making the breakfast reminder phone calls on February 3^rd, we learned that some of our members were having health problems. Ben Patterson had a stroke. His wife Betty Patterson's cancer returned. And, Dale Carey got pneumonia. Even at the Nutrition Site at Audubon Park, one healthy gentleman had a heart attack and another has prostate cancer. Even my son-in-law had a heart attack.

I don't know what happened but is the second time I post this message? The first one got lost alond the way.

...with a lack of web site readers. Other non-profit organizations are also having attendance woes. One of them, The Cameden County Nutrition Project. especialy, the Audubon Park site, the one I frequent.  The last time this happened, they had to close some sites. Site 9 in Collingswood was one of them.

I was thinking of expanding our Website and newsletter to include them. There is some problems though. First of all, I believe we need their permission? My printing cost woiuld go up and I don't believe that they (the nutrition program) sould afford to compinsate me. Outside printing may be cheaper in large quanities, I have to look in to this. If they sponsor us, it would be hard to give honist reviews on them. Another problem is that we would need volenteers at each site to gatlher news for us. Getting volenteers for this this adventure has always been a problem.

The way I look at it at this moment, this would add about 3 or 4 new pges to the newsletter. Each month there would be an artical on each site, the history of the program, etc.. The menu and it's rear page can be moved to the newsletter, and our own Food Page can be expanded. The newsletter should be free to all attendies. I don't think that anyone would want to pay for such a thing? The website is always free to anyone with a computer with Internet access.

I created a abreavated FREE 5 page sample Newsletter, with the idea that it's  to be distributed at Nutritions sites. You can request a e-mail attachment of it, in PDF firnm  as long as you provide Feedback on it.

Richard

I am over flowing with a lot of unclaimed stuff here in my computer room. I was about to shred and dump it, when it occurred to me, that some of you would like to have it. As usual, if you are a member that attends our monthly breakfast frequently, you can have it FREE as long as you will pick it up at the breakfast. Everyone else must pay a small fee for postage and handling. Anyone with a computer that can access the Internet and can view PDF files can download it FREE also. Here is what is available at this time.

Includes Postage and Handling – Non-Members only Above data is subject to change.

Also FREE to Members with computers with Internet access

• Download Pictures from the SICC On-Line web site's Photo Album

• Music Files “On The Way To Cape May”. “12 Days of Christmas” and more. Sent by e-mail attachment

• Video's of all types sent by e-mail attachment. Panama videos, cartoons, educational etc.. (Request a list)

• PC Computer programs Open Source* . Sent by e-mail attachment or I will provide a link. (Request a list)

  *Open Source or any program that has a free license to the public

I am trying to increase SICC Newsletter ourcirulation. For a short trial period, I am going to open the newsletter up to non-members on a subscription bases. They will not have access to critical material, like the Membership Profiles for example. They will have to pay a fee for printing costs and mailing fees. Members, who attend the monthly breakfast frequently, will still receive the newsletter free as before. Here is the details of my proposal...

• Non-members get SICC Newsletter for $2.00/copy, $15/year (10 issues)  Includes Mailing
• Members get SICC Newsletter FREE who attend the breakfast
• SICC On-Line is free to everyone. Will not have any content that is in the newsletter.

If you know anyone (not a member) that might be interested, let me know!

Richard

Here it is, the middle of January and I am posting the second BLOG of the month. So much for New Year Resolutions.

 Now that I have some free time from not working on the web site, I have two new projects going on . First, I am returning to computer programming, the art of telling computers what to do. I dropped out when Microsoft over priced the tools and the Internet became more popular with it's own tools.

I started programming in the late 1970's using my first computer, the TRS-80 from Radio Shack in a language that was called BASIC (Beginners All-purpose Symbolic Instruction Code). Back in those days all computers came with BASIC as an operating system. Now, I am starting again with a programming language called Phython. (No, it wasn't named for the snake, but was named after Monty Phython Flying Circus.. Why? I dont know!)

The second project is that I became a Verizon Update Beta Tester. When there is new changes to FIOS system, and before it is released to the public, Verizon depends on selected customers to run and report the good or bad, any errors and suggested changes. More on this later

I will let you know how I am progressing in both these projects.

I Just returned from the January Breakfast. Although it wasn't too bad, It wasn;t as good as previous breakfaces of this year. Nine said they intended to attend, four wasn't sure and four said they would not attend. Actualy  12  did attend and  four didn't. I think this was very good considering the cold weather. we were having. 

Every one at the breakfast received 3 handouts. One is a paper on the changes we are making this year. The printed version of the SICC Newsoetter and a new SICC Membership profile (which still has errors). More on this later.

One of our steady members that wasn't at this months breakfast was Ben Patterson and his wife Betty. We gpt word that the reason he wasn't there.because he had a brain tumer and was operated on and was expected to returnto his  home today. We all signed a Get Well card and sent it out today.   We all hope you get better soon, Ben.

My New Years Resoution  is...  I hope to post BLOGs  more often in 2010.

The website is down to 2 visitors a month (not counting me) which is down from 8 last September. Most requested the printed newsletter instead. The trend is that we may have to go with the newsletter for everyone and drop the website.

I for one, hate to do this. I believe there is a lot of neat features that will be lost. Although the website is updated monthly, there is still some features that have daily content. The News and Weather Links, a daily cartoon and 3 previous ones. You can also go back to view cartoons you have missed. The Today & Reference Page has the following daily content. Word of the Day, Article of the day, This Day in History, Today's Birthday, In the News, Quote of the day, and the following word games. Spelling Bee, Match Up and Hangman. None of these are published in the Printed Newsletter.

You would also miss the ease of communication such as the new Automated Mailing List that I used to send you special e-mails and the e-mail Fill-In Forms that you can send to me. But the most important reason to keep the website, is distribution. You are guaranteed to receive your copy on the computer than  appearing at every breakfast to receive the printed version.

How can you help save the website? Visit the website several times per month and sign our Guest Book, event if you done so before. Get friends and relatives to visit our website. Anyone, anywhere in the world can visit us. And help me find new ways to improve the site so that everyone will want to visit us again.

Richard

We Wish Everyone A Merry Christmas, and

A Happy New Year.

Like the November breakfast, this one was also a success. 14 active members attended and 4 didn't. Like last month, we were seated in the main dinning area to get the waitress we wanted. Some members don't like the area because it's too noisy. One big surprise was the appearance of El Crossan. We haven't seen her at all at our breakfasts and only once last summer at the pool. A bigger surprise was when she paid our tab in full. What a nice Christmas present she gave us.

It appears that we can not attribute the Monday Call-Ins for our improved breakfast attendance. Last month we only received only 3 call-ins, 1 e-mail and 2 in-person notifications of attending, Two canceled out on the last day. Several were received after the Monday deadline. I believe this feature don't work well enough to continue. From now on, you do not have to call in for attendance for the Monday before the breakfast.

The Phone Reminders may not be working as well. We made 3 calls to remind members that the breakfast is the next day. We will give this feature another month.

So, What Is The Good News? Good news for you, but not me!

There will be NO more Surveys, Voting on proposals or any other type of Feedback from now on. This seems to be very unpopular feature I tried to use this information to make a better web site and newsletter, but no one wants to answers them. From now on, if I, or someone has an idea, we will try it. If it works, fine. If not out it goes. We will still have other methods of feedback. The fill-in-the-forms e-mail is so easy to use, I don't know why no one wants to try it.