Hello again...

I just got notified that this BLOG got hit by over a dozen SpEam Messages. The feedback feature is suppose to be used for our members to make comments about my statements on the topic of the BLOG, not for other companies as an advertisment medium. To combat this, I set a Spam Filter ON to block the spamers that already got in. New ones can still get through.

I am also sorry that I haven't posted for quite awhile. I was suppose to post any thing new through the summer season while the newsletter is not published.

Speaking of newsletters, I just printed out the September issue and it's a dilly. Besides the normal content, I added an "About Page", News & Views has the annual "I know What You Did Last Summer". I reprinted a larger picture of the old pool from the June issue and the History of Robert's Pool with Pictures of when it was a race track. For Computer people, I gave details on how I troubleshot a Trojan Horse. I still have a couple of pages of Jokes and cartoons. Profiles of a couple of new members and the sad passing of Betty Patterson.

Also included is a removable two page Members Profile List

This newsletter will be Distributed at the September 9th Breakfast at Crystal Lake Dinner. That is on the second Thursday because of a late Labor Day.

Richard

In the first time in the history of our monthly breakfast, we had to cancel. Not because of bad weather, or conflicts in scheduling, but because of lack of attendance. On June 2^nd, the day before the breakfast, we made telephone reminders to most of our members. Eleven out of eighteen said they couldn't attend. Five said they could and two were unknown. Three of the five that said they would be there, decided that there wasn't enough attending to have the breakfast, therefore canceling it for the month of June.

Distributing the last (June) issue of the newsletter can be a problem. Only ten of our eighteen members attend the pool. They will receive their newsletter there, the first time they attend. The other eight is a problem. If possible, you can pick up your copy at my house. (132 E. Palmer Ave. Collingswood) If this isn't possible, call (858-3249), maybe we can come up with some other arrangement. If you don't want the newsletter, let me know so I can pass it on to someone else..

Pool schedule for Roberts Pool in Collingswood, As far as I know and if there isn't anymore changes... The pool will be opened for the weekend of June 12^th and 13^th , and then opens for the season starting June 19^th. Senior swim is still 11 am to 12 noon.

Pool badges? We don't know? There are all kinds of rumors floating around, just like last year. Borough Hall wants to enforce the checking of badges and the pool staff wont without a gate keeper on duty. We are not sure what will happen until the start of the season. More later...

...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

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.

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

Breakfast Management Notice

You all heard me complain about the high cost of printing the newsletter for members without computers. Several methods were either tried or disposed of, such as, use smaller fonts (size of the print which makes it harder for seniors to read). Or, for the same reasons as above, print several pages per sheet. Another method would be to print in draft mode (gives poorer Quality). We tried cutting back on content by deleting anything to do with computers. We are now printing both sides of the paper (saves paper but not ink). The printer I am using, hiccups sometimes when it feeds paper causing the newsletter to have out-of-order pages. To fix this would cost more than the printer is worth and reprinting would use more paper and ink. If your copy has out of order pages, you now know why.

We are now trying to save on printing costs by cutting waste. At the last breakfast (September), when the last newsletters were distributed, I had 4 copies (containing 10 pages each) unclaimed. These were no shows. Now, if they don't claim them by the next issue, I will be stuck with them.

What we're going to try now, is have some sort of Call-In system. If you can't make it to the breakfast, then you would call me (858-3249 or e-mail richc77929@gmail.com) at least a week earlier if possible. It wouldn't hurt if you called in even if you are going to attend. The Crystal Lake Dinner always ask us, how many will be attending.

Call anyway, if you didn't know prior to, or after the breakfast date to arrange a way of obtaining the newsletter. If you call before one week before the breakfast, and say, “I don't want the next newsletter”, I won't bother printing one. The other options you have are,,,

“I want the next newsletter...”

• “Save a copy for me, and I will get it at the next breakfast.”, or
• “Give it to [your friends name], and they will get it to me.”, or
• “I will pick it up at your house (132 E. Palmer Ave, Collingswood).”, or
• “Mail my issue by the US Postal System, I will pay postage.”, or
• [any other method you can think of]

If you don't call and don't attend 3 times, or you don't pick up 3 issues, you will not receive the next issue.

Some people miss the breakfast date, because they forgot. I keep telling everyone to mark their calendars. But for this to work, you need to have one, or to look at it often. I am going to add printed version of our on-line calendar in each issue of the newsletter. If you X out each day as it passes, you would be forced to look at it.

Each month, I send e-mail reminders on any SICC event. If you don't have a computer, but knows someone that does (check the library), have them contact you. The last alternative, is to have us remind you of any of our events.

If anyone has any ideas or better solutions to this problem, please contact me.

Thank You --- Richard Cohen

Sometimes you don't know what's real and what isn't. It's hard to realize that the pool is closed. It went  unbeiveable fast. It only been over a week but I still think that I should get ready to go to Robert's Pool.

Last weekend, I drove by the pool. The main pool is empty and I assume the other two are also empty. All the benches are stacked in the pictnick area. I couldn't see any thing else. No digging or any type of construction yet.

Oh Well!  Only 9 more months to go...

Yesterday, Thursday September 10th, was our first breakfast of the 2009-2010 season. There was 13 membes attending and everyone appeared to have a great time. Again we got a new waitress and she seem to have a difficult time. She forgot to serve some items ordered and everything ran slowly. She appeared to be serving the whole room.

Now remember, the next breakfast will be back on the first Thursday, October 1st. So mark your calendars and let your friends know who don't have computer access.

It happens every time. As soon as I get a new Members Profile sheet out and have it published on the Web, someone reports an error. I will have to add an Erratum Sheet to the web site and newsletter. This time, I made a typing error on Bob Garber's birthday. Its on June 22 and not the 27th.

Everyone should check their own listing on the Members Profile list an on the web site, for wrong or mis-spellings, missing or wrong birthdates, or missing pictures. Pictures must be sent to me that were not avilable.

ERRATUM   (Add this to your Members Profile sheet)

• UserID:        109
• Last Name:   Garber
• First Name:   Bob
• Birthday:      Jun 22   <- was Jun 27

[ rest of the infomation was ok ]

Happy Labor Day.

Not so happy Labor Day, the pool will be closed on the next day Septemmber 8th. Way back in June 6th,  it was the first day of then new swim season of 2009. It was a cold windy day. Onely three of us showed up. Bea Doris and Richard. We didn't go in he water. Just sat around and chat. Fast forward to Septmeber 7th, the last day of the 3009 season. the last day of the 2009 season. The weather is the same. The same 3 people who didn't go in to the water and sat and chatedl. Next year we  will most likely do it again.

Don't forget the breakfaast Septembner 10th, Tell your friendes that don't have compputers.

Read our BLOG for information that don't make the content of severals issues.

Visit our web site. it now ,contains new navagation, access to the weathe, easy access to the members, calendar, news links, etc.. There is a lot there, so visit us oftem. And before you leave, sign our Guesst Book or use many different ways to contact up.

See You All Soon! -- Richard

There are web sites called American Towns, one of which is for 

Collingswood. I have a link to it on our SICC's News page under News 

Links. A while back they wanted to post local BLOG's, so I entered 

our BLOG. Now they have a feature of listing the best BLOGs and ours 

came up at the top of their list.   

=======================================================

Congratulations...    To the Collingswood Marlins Swim Team for winning the American, 

National Division Championship.   

 ==================================================

Breakfast reservations...    Someone put in reservations for the first 

breakfast of the season. That would be okay, except that the 

reservations were for September 3rd (the first Thursday  of the month), 

and not the 10th which is the 2nd Thursday. Whoever did this didn't 

know that we voted to move the breakfast to the 2nd Thursday because 

the senior swim was extended until after Labor Day (September 7th). 

Other reasons for delaying the breakfast is when the first Thursday 

falls on a holiday. Or when the weather is very bad. Because the 

Crystal Lake Dinner received the wrong date, they set up the tables 

on the wrong date. Because of this, only one person should make 

reservations. Someone who knows the schedule and if there are any  

delays or cancellations.    

====================================================

Richard