Nan Bosler is committed to the growth and development of ASCCA as it seeks to empower Seniors Computer Clubs to help older people use modern technology. She was the foundation president of ASCCA.
Nan feels strongly that learning is a lifelong experience. She was over 50 when she first went to University, has five tertiary qualifications covering Adult Education, Community Organisation, Local and Applied History and she completed her last qualification, Masters in Local Government Management in 1996. In this last year she had added Cert. IV Business (Governance) & an adapted Cert. IV Training to her qualifications.
She has been involved with community organisations for more than 60 years, holding positions ranging from member to National President. She has community awards including Anzac of the Year, the inaugural Apia Adult Learning Ambassador Award and an OAM. Nan has represented seniors at conferences and events both in Australia and internationally.
She is a published author and has written books on Local History, War History, Craft, Creative Development of Pre-schoolers, Creative activities for disabled children and Community Management. She has also written many articles and made presentations about the value of computer technology for seniors. Before retiring she worked in Local Government and was an Adviser and Lecturer in the Faculty of Adult Education at the University of Technology, Sydney.
While serving as the President of ASCCA she has successfully sought funding that has enabled ASCCA to employ three part time staff; and has organised partnerships and sponsorships between ASCCA and a number of philanthropic trusts, organisations and businesses.
Nan represents ASCCA on many committees and is a member of the Digital Switchover Expert Group and the Cyber Security Awareness Week Committee. She is a member of the consortium that is rolling out the Federal Government funded Broadband for Seniors Kiosks across Australia. She is also a Carers NSW Representative and is a member of the inaugural Carers Advisory Council. Senator Stephen Conroy, Minister for Broadband Communications and the Digital Divide has just announced that Nan has been chosen as a Broadband Champion.
Joan Craymer became a director of The Australian Seniors Computer Clubs Association (ASCCA) in 2006, and in 2007 became ASCCA's newsletter editor. In November 2009 she became ASCCA's Vice President.
Joan actively promotes the work and ideals of ASCCA and believes it provides the structure that gives the opportunity for senior people to help their peers gain knowledge that minimises isolation in a rapidly changing technical environment; as well as giving them a strong voice in government and business.
Joan is a foundation member of Computer Pals for Seniors - Epping Inc. which began in March 2000 and has a membership of 450 seniors. She has served as Secretary, Vice-President and is currently President. Joan hosts and enjoys the Creative Writing Group and is also an active member of the Digital Photography Group. She has been a trainer in Genealogy, Managing Your Computer, Microsoft Word and Microsoft Works, Scanning & Image Enhancement, Introduction to Computing, Microsoft Publisher, Travel Planning and Newsletter Creation.
The original motive for joining a computer club was a desire to learn new skills to apply to her many personal interests; including genealogy, history, writing and painting. However, she soon became so inspired by the eagerness and generosity of spirit, of both the volunteers and learners she encountered, she could not resist helping and joined the Committee as Secretary.
Of course, she acknowledges that she has learned a great deal about computers; but tells anyone who will listen; about the blessings of friendship the computer club has brought to herself and most others involved. As a result of skills learned, she has also made many interesting connections and friendships with previously unknown distant overseas relatives and been involved in co-operative genealogy research of great mutual benefit.
Jim Parker is a UK Chartered Accountant and member of the Institute of Management Accountants, who retired from full time employment in 1994. He worked for thirty years as a Director of subsidiaries of two UK multinational groups and has since carried out a number of consulting assignments in finance and general management.
Jim has recently held voluntary finance related positions supporting not for profit organisations, one of which was the Australian Network on Disability.
He joined Computer Pals for Seniors Northern Beaches in 2007 in order to be a student in a Picasa course. Jim’s volunteering spirit led him to become a trainer at Northern Beaches, where his particular interests in genealogy and digital photography have been of great benefit to many students.
In 2009 he accepted the role of Treasurer for Northern Beaches and became a member of the committee of this Club. Jim enjoys the community spirit within his local Computer Pals Club and was invited to join the ASCCA Board to fill the casual vacancy in the important job of Treasurer. He took up this position in August 2011.
Allan Mikkelsen is a retired IT professional, having spent all of his working life in the employ of the Federal Government, as a programmer, analyst, and manager when IT was still known as ADP. He has a Bachelor of Science from the University of Queensland and a Graduate Diploma in Statistics from the Canberra College of Advanced Education (now the University of Canberra).
He has been a member of the PC Users Group (ACT) Incorporated since 1986 and is currently on the committee as Immediate Past President, having spent all but two years since 1996 on the committee in a range of positions including President, Secretary, Treasurer, and Vice-President. He has also previously served on the Canberra Branch Executive Committee of the Australian Computer Society but is no longer a member of that group.
Outside computing, his current major interests are bushwalking and travel. He has spent many years on bushwalking club committees including terms as President of two different bushwalking clubs in the Canberra area. He has also served on other community group committees outside the computing and bushwalking field including a term as Treasurer of the Canberra Philatelic Society.
He is currently also a volunteer systems administrator on the ISP that the PCUG runs for its members and a member of the Internet Services Sub Committee which manages the ISP.
Allan joined the ASCCA board in early 2012 and his interest in ASCCA relates primarily to a wish to see how services can be better delivered to Clubs and members outside the Sydney region. If re-elected he will attempt to find further ways that ASCCA can serve clubs outside Sydney.
Annette started work in 1955 at the MLC Assurance Company in Sydney. In 1959 she went to Papua New Guinea where she spent 18 years working for the Commonwealth Government. It was there she was introduced to computers, commencing with mainframes and moving on to PCs.
While in PNG she was Secretary of the Four Mile Social Club for five years and the Secretary of the Hawks Rugby League Football Club for four years.
Back in Australia she gained her Victorian Certificate of Education through TAFE Outreach Learning in Bairnsdale, Victoria and received an Associate Diploma in Social Science - Community Development. Whilst in Victoria Annette was the Secretary of the Deddick Valley Isolated Women's Group.
She joined the Westlakes Seniors Computer Club, Lake Macquarie in 2000 at its inauguration. She was elected Secretary in May 2000 and still holds that position.
Annette is also a current Justice of the Peace for the State of New South Wales.
With a BA/Diploma of Teaching from University of Queensland, Eric spent 10 years with the Education Department before joining IBM and gaining computing experience from mainframes to PCs. He finished his career on 2009 running the Australian Centre for Advanced Computing and Communication.
Eric is a member of the Computer pals for Seniors – The Hills where he is a Senior Trainer and member of the Management Committee. He is also involved with U3A, and a volunteer mentor to small business owners as part of programs run by the NSW Department of Industry and Trade.
Eric was invited onto the ASCCA Board in 2012 to fill a casual vacancy. He is hoping to help ASCCA members by pursuing his lifelong interest in the use of technology to revolutionise the delivery of education. His education philosophy - “it’s not about what the course covers, it’s about what the student discovers”.
Jennifer is from Western Australia and became a member of the ASCCA Board effective November 2011. She was at that time the only Director outside New South Wales.
Jenny has a wealth of experience in the business world behind her – having spent twenty years with a national trading company based in Perth. It was here that Jenny gained valuable knowledge about policies, procedures, computers, systems development, logistics, administration, marketing and sales.
In 1995 and with family off their hands, Jenny and her husband relocated to Walpole, an isolated town on the South Coast of WA to take up ownership of a small beef farm. She joined the then Walpole Telecentre and became its’ Coordinator in 1996.
Walpole Community Resource Centre as it is now, some 17 years on, is in the top ten percent of Resource Centres in the WA Resource Centre Network, numbering some 109 centres. Walpole CRC has been particularly strong in the areas of innovative and creative marketing, training and supporting Volunteers and community capacity building.
Since joining the ASCCA Board in November 2011 Jenny initially listened a lot to gain an insight into the various activities and areas of involvement ASCCA undertakes in order to continue supporting affiliated clubs. Board members constantly seek funding, establish new and innovative methods of training delivery, liaise with government and corporate sectors in order to achieve the goals and aims of the organisation. Over recent months the Board has undertaken housekeeping in the areas of policies and procedures, promotion, membership fee re-structure and web site upgrade in which Jenny has taken an active part. Jenny has represented ASCCA in the NBN Rollout promotion and Digital Switchover Taskforce; she promotes ASCCA throughout the CRC Network and acts as a conduit between affiliated clubs in WA and ASCCA; Walpole CRC recently produced the new ASCCA brochure and business cards.
Jenny believes that in many ways both the CRC and ASCCA Networks have similar goals and aspirations and she looks forward to continuing in her role as Director and contributing to ASCCA in whatever manner may present itself.