1 PRESIDENTS MESSAGE Frank Treibel Greetings to you as we move into the summer program here at Computers West. Many of you will be leaving the area for cooler climates, but at least 1/2 of you will probably be staying in Sun City West, enjoying the slowing down of activities. Please be sure to check out the websites for both the Mac and PC platforms as there still are classes and program presentations going on during the summer. Summer is a good time to take on that Genealogy project, learn how to use the new ipad from Apple, get a new smart phone, update your PC computer to Windows 7, and many other new things you can do with your computer or wireless device as you let the air conditioner keep you cool. If you are leaving for the summer be sure to check in on our website computerswest.org and then click on PC or Macswest to look at the website of each platform group. This way you will stay current with what is happening while you are away and make plans for that class you might want to take when you get back to SCW. The CW board nominating committee is still looking for candidates to be the CW Treasurer or the Assistant Treasurer. We will teach you how to deposit checks, pay bills online, run the Quicken program to balance our accounts, etc. PLEASE think about this important job and give Bernardine Ginsberg, Nominating chairperson for CW a call at 546-2346. Remember that we really need you to sign up to monitor in Room A this summer. Our operating hours in Room A for monitors during June, July, and August are 10:00 AM - 2:00 PM. Please go to our website computerswest.org and click on the words Computers west on the left side of the page, then click on the scheduling of monitors. Look at the calendar and all of the words that show HELP, and then sign up to monitor on one of those dates that are open. We certainly appreciate your help in keeping our club open 5 days a week for all of our members to enjoy. During this summer the Rec Centers is planning on installing new carpet in Room A, B, and C, and also in the Palo Verde room. This may disrupt our scheduling for a few days but it will be worth it. Also this summer we are planning on recovering and powder painting the metal on all of the chairs in the Palo Verde room. We will borrow chairs from the Rec Centers supply so we will not be shutting down during this period of time. I hope that you have a great summer. RANDOM ACCESS COMPUTERS WEST SUN CITY WEST, ARIZONA May 2010 Number 5 Volume 26 623-214-1546 http://www.computerswest.org Computers West Board Meeting - Monday May 10th, 2010 at 1:00 PM Next General Meeting - Tuesday, September 14th, 2010 at 1:00 PM Summit Hall A Palm Ridge Recreation Center
Transcript
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PRESIDENTS MESSAGEFrank Treibel
Greetings to you as we move into the summer program here at Computers West.Many of you will be leaving the area for cooler climates, but at least 1/2 of you will probablybe staying in Sun City West, enjoying the slowing down of activities. Please be sure to check out the websites for both the Mac and PC platforms as there still are classes and program presentations going on during the summer. Summer is a good time to take on that Genealogy project, learn how to use the new ipad from Apple, get a new smart phone, update your PC computer to Windows 7, and many other new things you can do with your computer or wireless device as you let the air conditioner keep you cool. If you are leaving for the summer be sure to check in on our website computerswest.org and then click on PC or Macswest to look at the website of each platform group. This way you will stay current with what is happening while you are away and make plans for that class you might want to take when you get back to SCW. The CW board nominating committee is still looking for candidates to be the CW Treasurer or the Assistant Treasurer. We will teach you how to deposit checks, pay bills online, run the Quicken program to balance our accounts, etc. PLEASE think about this important job and give Bernardine Ginsberg, Nominating chairperson for CW a call at 546-2346. Remember that we really need you to sign up to monitor in Room A this summer. Our operating hours in Room A for monitors during June, July, and August are 10:00 AM - 2:00 PM. Please go to our website computerswest.org and click on the words Computers west on the left side of the page, then click on the scheduling of monitors. Look at the calendar and all of the words that show HELP, and then sign up to monitor on one of those dates that are open. We certainly appreciate your help in keeping our club open 5 days a week for all of our members to enjoy. During this summer the Rec Centers is planning on installing new carpet in Room A, B, and C, and also in the Palo Verde room. This may disrupt our scheduling for a few days but it will be worth it. Also this summer we are planning on recovering and powder painting the metal on all of the chairs in the Palo Verde room. We will borrow chairs from the Rec Centers supply so we will not be shutting down during this period of time.
I hope that you have a great summer.
RANDOM ACCESSCOMPUTERS WEST
SUN CITY WEST, ARIZONA
May 2010 Number 5Volume 26
623-214-1546http://www.computerswest.org
Computers West Board Meeting - Monday May 10th, 2010 at 1:00 PM
Next General Meeting - Tuesday, September 14th, 2010 at 1:00 PMSummit Hall A Palm Ridge Recreation Center
........................................................ ...................................President Frank Treibel [email protected]............................................... ........................................Vice President Jim Healy [email protected]
....................................................... ................................Treasurer Charles Horton [email protected]................................................ ........................................................Past President
.......................... ..............................Random Access Newsletter Bruce Merrihew [email protected]............................................. ..............................Webmaster CW Bruce Merrihew [email protected]
............................................. ......................................PC Chairperson Bill Knight [email protected]........................................... ...................................Mac Chairperson Yvonne Stone [email protected]
........... ...................................Membership Chairperson/Office Mgr Eva Weisberg [email protected] Member at Large/
..................................... .....................................Publicity/cell phones Linda Victor [email protected] ........................................... ....................................Member at Large Karen Flores [email protected]
............................................. ................................Parliamentarian Barbara Horton [email protected] ........................................ ......................................Safety Chairperson James West [email protected]
.................. .........................Nomination Election Committee Past Prez + 3 others
During the April CW General Meeting several of our monitors received special recognition for their dedication of keeping the doors open for you our members. The following received Certificates of Appreciation: Monitored at least 5 times since October - Carol Abernathy, Ron Astor, Pat Hixson, Frank Krezel, Mary Riter and Doris Turner. Monitors Monthly - at least once a month - Cynthia Dallmann, Dwayne Dallmann, Leona Galas, Ron Majka, Dwain Mitchell, Rebecca Pettit and Eva Weisberg. Monthly Monitoring - on certain days - Ed
Gallardo - first Friday,Ruth Nuss - first Wednesday, Mary Ann Watchorn - first Wednesday, Red Benoit - third Wednesday and Lila Benoit - third Wednesday. Millard Porter - monitors weekly - Thursdays. Milard received a rousing round of applause for his dedication and support. Ruth West - received her certificate for her support and dedication for the last nine years as the CW Monitor Chair. Congratulations to you all and Thank You.
We also need your help in keeping the CW doors open. Don't leave it to just those dedicated few. Join them! Hopefully, you will receive a special thank you next year. The Summer Hours for June, July and August are 10:00 am to 2:00 pm. The monitors on duty may bring their lunch. It is to be eaten ONLY at the Monitors desk. Keep those red HELP signs off the monitor schedule by signing up and monitoring.
......................................... ..................................... ............................Secretary Bill Charvat 584-2114 [email protected]........................................ ........................................ ............................Treasurer Gary Read 214-9712 [email protected]
.................................. ................................... ............................CW President Frank Treibel 214-9734 [email protected]...................... ..................................... ............................Program Coordinator Bob Walther 546-1213 [email protected]..................... ............................. ............................Instructor Coordinator Maureen Lansing 214-1750 [email protected]
.......................... .............................. ............................Hardware Manager Bob Mulholland 546-6121 [email protected]................... .............................. ............................Network Administrator Bob Mulholland 546-6121 [email protected]
........................... ........................................ ............................Software Manager Jim Healy 584-6899 [email protected]....................................... ..................................... ............................Webmaster Linda Halbe 584-4136 [email protected]
............................. .......................................... ............................Sergeant at Arms Jim West 584-7628 [email protected]
............................. .................................. ............................Member at Large George Skelly 584-8726 [email protected]
............................. ......................................... ............................Member at Large Bill Berry 322-9392 [email protected].......................... .................................. ............................EMail Coordinator Hazel Swailes 546-4625 [email protected]
............................ ...................................... ...........................................PC Monitor Chair Bill Tempel [email protected]
We wish happy trails to our friends who are migrating to their summer destinations. If your summer plans are to enjoy the quiet in Sun City West, visit your club office. Our summer hours will be from 10 to 2. Sign up to monitor. Monitor training is scheduled for May 24th. Keep up to date with all the summer activities by visiting our web site at pcscw.org.
The Hardware Committee has proposed and the Board has approved that we support Windows XP for one more year and convert all PC Group computers to Windows 7 only during the summer of 2011.
Revised and updated PC Group Operating Policies and Procedures have been approved by the Board and will be submitted to the CW Board for approval in May. They will then be posted in Room A and on our website.
Many of us will travel this summer and we will carry a laptop computer to keep in touch with family and
Joe DeMichael from COI will join us for our last General Meeting until the fall. Joe will talk about the latest technologies available to us today, such as the Intel Core processors i3, i5, and i7. And solid-state hard drives and what they offer in terms of advantages and disadvantages.
Additionally, Joe will discuss touchscreen monitors for Windows 7 and the big one - - “When should I
Continued on page 5 Chairman Continued on Page 5 Program
PC Group Chairman’s MessageBill Knight, PC Group Chairman
PC Group General Meeting
May 11th, 2010, Summit Room APalm Ridge Recreation Center
buy a new computer” or “When I should replace my existing computer?”
The raffle will follow the presentation, make sure you have picked up a raffle ticket, one per person, and have swiped your membership card through the card reader on our Computer Center window. The attendance count is very important to the club and to the Recreation Center as well.
Please call the Computer Center (214-1546) to make sure that the club is open if you plan to come to the club during the summer hours. Summer hours begin June 1st and end August 31st.
Don't forget to stop by the Monitor’s table and give a little time back.
See you there - Bob WaltherProgram Coordinator
friends. The computer may connect to the Internet through a public WiFi connection. This type of wireless connection is not secure. Sometimes the provider will suggest turning off the firewall to connect to their WiFi. Do not do this! To connect WiFi, turn the WiFi adapter on. There may be a switch somewhere around the periphery of the computer or a combination of keystrokes. Turn the adapter off when not connected. Usually when WiFi is in range a window will pop up noting wireless networks are available. Highlight the network of interest and click “Connect.” A password may or may not be required. The firewall program may or may not request permission to connect and the type of connection, trusted or public. If requested, select public. Windows Vista and Windows 7 will ask for the network location; select “Public location.” Alternatively mobile broadband may be used to connect to the Internet. Mobile broadband, also called wireless wide area network (WWAN), devices and software are available with various data plans from cellular companies. This type of connection, used also on smartphones, has been secure to date. For eMail and surfing the web, public WIFi connections are convenient. For online shopping and banking, mobile broadband is the better choice. Stay safe.
Our calendar of activities, presentations and classes is less busy for the coming summer season. In the Palo Verde Room “Walk-In” presentations for May include Windows 7 “How To” Course, Beginning Windows, Windows Live Mail, How to Fly and How to Buy a Computer (this class is open to all members of the Sun City West community). Special interest meetings include Genealogy Group Meeting, Flight Simulator and Linux. For help with various annoyances, visit Open Discussion of PC’s.
Classes and meetings in Beginning Windows, Windows Live Mail, Open Discussion of PC’s, Linux and Flight Simulator continue during the summer months of June, July and August. On July 19 and August 16 there will be an introduction presentation on Windows 7, open to all members of the Sun City West community. For the latest information and schedule, visit our web site at pcscw.org and on the left-hand menu click “Palo Verde Calendar.”
Room B “Hands On” classes in May, which require sign up and a small class fee, include Windows Basics Level 1, Win 7 and Open Office. For the latest information and schedule, visit our web site at pcscw.org and on the left-hand menu click “Room B Calendar.”
“We can't help everyone, but everyone can help someone."
Ronald Reagan
Continued from Page 4 Chairman Continued from Page 4 Program
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HELP WANTED
The CW board nominating committee is still looking for candidates to be the CW Treasurer or the Assistant Treasurer starting Jan, 2011. We will teach you how to deposit checks, pay bills online, run the Quicken program to balance our accounts, etc. PLEASE think about this important job and give Bernardine Ginsberg, Nominating chairperson for CW a call at 546-2346.
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Flight Simulator GroupMay 2010
The Computers West PC Flightsim Group will begin “How to Fly” classes’ starting February 11, 2010. Using Microsoft Flight Simulator software and the group’s flight simulator controls, students will have a near-to-real life flying experience. Every student will have “Hands On” flying time in a Cessna 172 the world’s most popular aircraft for flight training. Bill Eckenberg a former flight instructor and B-29 pilot will be your instructor. The class is free; however, you must be a Computers West PC Group member. No software to buy, no hardware to buy and no registration fee. For all of you wannabe pilots, now is your chance to experience the thrill of flying. Class size is limited, so sign up now by contacting Bill Berry at 623-322-9392 or e-mail [email protected]
Things are winding down for the summer, so be sure to check our website (www.computerswest.org) for updated information regarding the PC Group ( w w w . p c s c w . o r g ) a n d M a c s W e s t (www.macswest.org). Both groups have continued summer activities going on. Be sure to check out Computers West in each month’s “Rec Center News” under the Club Corner. As always, you can go to www.rcscw.com to check it out online. Make note that the Computers West office will have reduced hours in June, July and August. We will be open from 10:00-2:00, Monday thru Friday. Be sure to sign up to monitor so that we can remain open. Be sure to check on the bulletin boards in the back of Room A. Events and many classes are posted there, as well as, things for sale by club members. Thanks for the great job that you are doing in helping Computers West continue our quest of collecting old cell phones for “Cell Phones for Soldiers”. As one of their sponsors, we have collected 4,120 phones as of the middle of April. That equates to 412,000 minutes of phone calling time for our troops overseas. (100 minutes for each phone) We are proud to be a part of this great cause and hope to see that number continue to grow. If you purchase a new phone, or know of someone who is purchasing one, make sure that you bring those old ones into the CW office or wherever you see a Cell Phone box around the community. Our CW box has collected 110 phones since the first of the year. The Metal Club has collected 52, McDonalds-39, PORA-35, Posse-31, Fire Station-29, and Library-24. Thanks to all who have contributed. If you know of someone serving overseas who is not getting phone calling cards, go to the website (www.cellphonesforsoldiers.com), and sign up for he/she to receive phone calling minutes. The Bergquist Family is trying to reach as many soldiers as they can.
Random Access is published nine times per year and is copyrighted by Computers West. No part of this publication my be reproduced without the permission of Computers West. Subscription to Random Access is included in the annual membership dues. Memberships are available in the club offices located in the Palm Ridge Activity Center at 13800 W. Deer Valley Dr in Sun City West. Checks only (payable to Computers West). Please remember to bring your rec card for verification of residency.
The Linux Group meets every Friday in the Palo Verde Room from 8 AM to 12 Noon utilizing the following schedule:
8 - 9 Technical help 9 – 10 Teaching Session 10- 12 Open Discussion
Those wishing to learn more about the Linux operating system are invited to attend Friday sessions. The software is provided free of charge which includes the current Operating System of Ubuntu. You don't have to buy any additional software when using Ubuntu, all applications are included with thousands more readily available for installation. Instructional classes are offered periodically throughout the season. Check Random Access for announcements or the Palo Verde room schedule for dates and times on the Computers West website.Hot Item Linux group is installing the Linux operating system on donated PC desktop and laptop computers and giving them away FREE. If you would like one of these computers or would like to donate a Windows XP or newer computer for this purpose we want it. If you want Linux installed on your existing computer we will do that too. Please come to the Linux meeting on Friday mornings from 8 am to 12 noon in the Palo Verde Room for any of the above.
Dick RotyDick Roty, former Computers West Webmaster and long time CW member is now in a nursing home in Youngstown. His address is:12207 N 113th AveRoom 124Youngstown, AZ 85363
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Comments From The Chair
MAC MESSAGEhttp://www.macswest.org
Yvonne StoneMay Events Calendar
Tue. May 4 1-2 PM Q & A PV Fri. May 7 1-2 PM Gen. Mtg; E Cards PVTue. May 11 1-2 PM Q & A PVFri. May 14 1-2 PM Something iTunes PV Tue. May 18 1-2 PM Q & A PVFri. May 21 1-2 PM Internet for Back Up PVTue. May 25 1-2 PM Q & A PVFri. May 28 1-2 PM NO MEETING Please join us every Tuesday through the end of May for our Questions and Answers sessions. Beginning in June, through the end of August, MacsWest meets only in Fridays for a short presentation and a Q&A session. Regular meetings begin again on September 10., 2010, with a General Meeting (coffee and goodies) and a presentation. Tuesday Q&A sessions begin September 14. Have a great summer!!
MACS WEST USERS GROUP SUN CITY WEST, AZ MAY 2010
Summer is rapidly coming and many us winter visitors are busily making
preparations to leave. For those Mac members who stay, the Mac Club continues to meet on Friday's at 1PM in the Palo Verde Room. The meeting format will include topics of interest and Q&A. Of course there will be an ice cream social in July. The regular meeting will start in September again. I am one of the winter visitors, but I leave you in the capable hands of Wally Bock who will continue to see that the Mac Club runs smoothly until my return. That will be when the fish have stopped biting, or our hands get to cold to fish anymore. Remember, Room A is open this summer from 10:00 to 2:00. Have a great summer and see you in the fall.
May Programs
Education CornerJean Christiansen
Monitoring NotesJudy Archer
We look forward to an exciting year of classes next year. Along with our standard
classes we will be having a class in Garage Band for members who like to dabble with music and compose their own renditions. The introduction of the iPad has opened up a new venue that will be explored for ways to share and learn how to get the most out of this new instrument. For those who would like to record your memories for your grandchildren, we are working on a writing program that we will introduce in the fall to see if there is interest.Mac Basics class will be offered in October. All other Mac classes will officially begin in November.We would like to thank following members who volunteered to teach our 2009-2010 classes: Wally Bock, Jane Burke, Jean Christiansen, Bob Doyen, Helen Naleid, Keith Rauch, Bob Saindon, Ross Stapleton, Doris Turner, Bill Turvin, Carolyn Turvin, Ron Watson, George Williams, Ed Zacko, Ellen Zacko and to Ray Hicks for Green Apples.Thanks to the following helpers who assisted in the classes: Carol Abernathy, Bill Atkins, Margaret Atkins, Wally Bock, Bea Edwards, Bob Hamilton,Joan Konigsvik, Jim Laas, Allan MacLeod, Mary Neal, Nancy Pines, Anne Record, Bob Saindon, Ross Stapleton, Doris Turner, Linda Victor , Ed Zacko and Ellen Zacko.
On Friday May 7 after the business meeting, Melanie Schoenfeld, our former chair, will visit us via iChat and demonstrate how to create entertaining E-Cards using Keynote and iWeb.Then, Friday, May 14, Bill Turvin will show us the joy of using iTunes in several imaginative ways. Bruce Merrihew shows us how to use the Internet for backing up data and using ‘cloud’ applications on May 21. There is no meeting on May 28 since it is the Memorial Day weekend.
YOU YOU YOUThe weather is getting warm. The snow birds are flying away for the summer. As they go, MacsWest has a smaller population from which to draw monitors. To keep the Computer’s West office open you will need to volunteer to be a monitor. Really, YOU need to volunteer.In May, the Computer’s West office is open both morning and afternoon (8 AM to 4 PM). Therefore, four (4) people per day are required. If you are not one of these 4 people the office might have to be closed. Sign up on-line by going to the MacsWest.org It all depends on YOU!
.................. ....................... ....................CW President Frank Treibel 214-9734 [email protected]. ........................... ....................Green Apples Chairman Ray Hicks 215-4515 [email protected]
May 2010
MAC COURSE INSTRUCTOR TIME DATE
................ ......................................... .................Mac Board Meeting Y. Stone 11:45 - 1:00 PM Tues. May 4
................ ........................................ ..............Program Committee W. Bock 11:30 - 12:30 PM Fri. May 14..................... ......................................... ..................Monitor Training J. Burke 1:00 - 3:00 PM Mon. MY 24
Only items listed at press time.
Please be sure to check our web site, http://www.macswest.org Since the Mac Message goes to press by the middle of the month, expect changes to take place.
Membership in Macs West is open to residents of Sun City West who are members of Computers West. Annual dues in Macs West are $30 US. ($23 for MacsWest plus $7 for Computers West) and $48 for both
MacsWest & PCUG.Mac Message is published monthly, September through May by Macs West, the Users’ Group of Sun City West, Arizona as an
insert in the Computers West newsletter, Random Access. Entire contents copyright@2010, unless otherwise noted. Permission is hereby granted to other Apple and Mac Users’ Groups to reprint original articles if credit is given to the author and this publication. Other material may not be reprinted without the express permission of the Editor.
Things are winding down for the summer, so make sure that you check our website (macswest.org) for updated information.
We will be c o n t i n u i n g o u r F r i d a y, 1 : 0 0 meetings throughout the summer. Make note that the Computers West office will have reduced hours in June, July and August. We will be open from 10:00-2:00, Monday thru Friday. Be sure to sign up to monitor so that we can remain open. Mark your calendars for our fall picnic on Tuesday, October 12th.
The Hospitality Committee (Gail and Karen) would like to thank the following people for bringing goodies for the Friday, April 9th General Meeting:
Nancy Pines Judy Van Sickle Judy Archer Pat and John Fishback
Reminder: The MacsWest Library is accessible from 12:45 p.m. until 1:00
p.m. before MacsWest meetings on Tuesdays and Fridays. Librarian Judy Van Sickle will aid you in checking materials in and out. A $30.00 check payable to Computers West is needed for a deposit to check out materials. The check will be returned to you upon your return of the materials.
GenealogyDoris Turner
On Saturday, April 10th we again had a small group of Genealogists. Since hearing
of the website GEDitCOM.com, I had asked Naomi Schoenfeld our former facilitator what she thought. She responded with the following:"Yes, GEDitCOM for Mac has been around for a while, but has never been one of my favorite pieces of software. The interface just seems clunky to me, somehow, and not as flexible as I tend to like it. Besides – since Reunion imports and exports gedcom files just fine, I've never felt the need to look elsewhere for that feature.”Then Naomi also remarked on Gedcom Imports:"A new family file is a good idea when importing a large batch of information such as a gedcom, but it's not a requirement. Start Reunion up (with a new family file under File —> New Family File, or your main one), and under the File menu, select Import/Export —> Import Gedcom. Follow the prompts, and, you're done. I do suggest that at the options window (where it has 'general' and optional fields' at the top... it comes up right after you select the file to import) you set an automatic flag/ mark – if you do, every person in that import will be given that flag automatically, which makes for very easy sorting later on."After going over much of the basic Reunion 9 procedures for a new member who had done Genealogy with her PC, we discussed Gedcom and the fact that none of us were really very sure about it, led us to have each of us search Google, learn as much as we can about Gedcom, and share this info and possible demo at our May 8th SIG. This will be the final until Fall.Further info: Doris Turner 214–6856 or [email protected]
Cell Phones for SoldiersSteve & Linda Victor
Thanks for the great job that you are doing in helping Computers West continue our quest of
collecting old cell phones for “Cell Phones for Soldiers”. As one of their sponsors, we have collected 4,120 phones as of the middle of April. That equates to 412,000 minutes of phone calling time for our troops overseas. (100 minutes for each phone) We are proud to be a part of this great cause and hope to see that number continue to grow. If you purchase a new phone, or know of someone who is purchasing one, make sure that you bring those old ones into the CW office or wherever you see a Cell Phone box around the community. Our CW box has collected 110 phones since the first of the year. The Metal Club has collected 52, McDonalds-39, PORA-35, Posse-31, Fire Station-29, and Library-24. Thanks to all who have contributed. If you know of someone serving overseas who is not getting phone c a l l i n g c a r d s , g o t o t h e w e b s i t e (www.cellphonesforsoldiers.com), and sign up for he/she to receive phone calling minutes. The Bergquist Family is trying to reach as many soldiers as they can.
Welcome, New MembersLouise AdamsJean HarderFran KOdat
COMPUTERS WEST13800 W. Deer Valley Dr.Sun City West, AZ 85375
Phone 623-214-1546
PRSRT STD
U.S. POSTAGE
PAID
SUN CITY ARIZONA
PERMIT NO. 326
ADDRESS CHANGESTHE POST OFFICE WILL NOT FORWARD RANDOM ACCESS. THE PREFERRED WAY TO CHANGE YOUR ADDRESS IS TO GET A “CHANGE OF PERSONAL INFORMATION” FORM FROM THE MONITOR. INCLUDE YOUR NAME AND REC CARD NUMBER. OR YOU MAY SEND IT BY E-MAIL TO Eva Weisberg at [email protected]
NEXT GENERAL MEETINGDate: September 14th, 2010Time: 1:00 PMPlace: Summit Room APalm Ridge Recreation Center
