PCS ELECTIONS

The Prescott Computer Society will be holding its annual elections at the General meeting on March 13, 2010.  PCS members may vote either at that meeting or prior to it over the Internet.  The Board of Directors is composed of nine officers whose terms are for two years.  About half of these seats are up for election each year - four in one year and five in the next.  There will be four positions open this year.

Are YOU interested in running for a two-year seat on the Board of Directors?  We are always looking for new Board members and remember that you do not have to be a “techie”!  The important attributes of a Board member include being conscientious, dependable and having organizational skills.  You should be concerned about the direction and future of PCS and be willing to contribute a modest amount of time to our organization.

You may nominate yourself or any current member (with their permission, of course.)

Candidates will be asked to supply a picture and a statement of their history, interests and qualifications for office.  It is anticipated that all candidates will have an opportunity to briefly introduce themselves to the membership at the General meeting to be held on February 20, 2010.

Please contact Ray Carlson for further information or to inform him of your desire to be a candidate for a position on the PCS Board of Directors.

CURRENT CANDIDATES (in alphabetical order) AND THEIR STATEMENTS

Phil Ball

Phil Ball was raised in southern Oregon but grew up when Renee married him in 1972. She has continued to tame him in Arizona, where they moved shortly after their wedding. Before they met, they had both served their country in the military. The next few years were devoted to college studies where Phil learned to love creating photographs. Upon receiving a chance job offer from an instructor, they began to work in a photo supply store. This led to a career for the rest of the century when they eventually owned and ran Bradshaw Mountain Photo Company until 1999.

Just before then, Phil, had gotten interested in computers and joined the Prescott Computer Society to learn more about them. Shortly after joining, Phil was elected to the Board of Directors and has served our Society ever since. He has been Secretary several times and has made many presentations to the Society in the firm belief that our motto says it all: “Share what you know and learn what you don’t.” His learning continues today.

Both Phil and Renee do voluntary work for the Prescott VA Medical Facility and their community association and Phil is active with local photography groups.

Ray Carlson

Originally from Pennsylvania, I got my Ph.D. at the University of Chicago and then was a faculty member at the University of Pennsylvania for a number of years. When my wife and I got tired of living in large cities, I accepted the offer of a faculty position with Dalhousie University in Halifax, Nova Scotia, Canada and went there for 25 years.

One of my roles was to identify ways the University could take advantage of the increasing availability of personal computers. I retired in 2001, and Bonnie and I moved to Prescott in 2002. Here in Prescott, I have taken on a variety of volunteer roles, including being a docent at the Smoki Museum and being part of the choir and the chair of the Finance Committee at the United Methodist Church. I also developed and maintain the websites for the Smoki Museum and the Prescott Sunup Rotary Club.

In 2005, I joined the Board of the Prescott Computer Society for a year and took on the role of Treasurer to fill out the term of a member who moved away. In 2008, I was elected to the Board and served as Vice President with responsibility for the programs for the General Meetings. In 2009, I took on the role of President and continued with the responsibility for the General Programs.

Being a member of the Board has been helpful to me creating pressure to keep up-to-date on a variety of computer-related topics as I develop some of the articles for the Courier and search out programs for the General Meetings. In addition, I have enjoyed getting to know the other Board members who I have found to be unusually responsible but also amiable in tackling the numerous issues that confront any organization.

I agreed to run again knowing that I will continue to learn from and get satisfaction from my involvement in this role.

Dave Emery

My wife, Ann, and I moved to Prescott almost 8 years ago, following my retirement after 39 years in the insurance industry in California. Shortly afterward I joined the Prescott Computer Society. A few months later I was privileged enough to be elected to its Board of Directors.

During my first couple years of service on the Board I was responsible for sending out our Weekly Newsletter. I have also arranged for the PCS to obtain Liability insurance. I am currently in charge of the PCS Membership. For two years I was fortunate enough to have been elected as President and have served as VP for the last year.

I have very much enjoyed the time I have spent with the PCS. While far from being a "techie", I have learned a great deal more about computers during the last 8 years, and am grateful for the experience. Should the PCS membership agree, I would be willing extend my period on the Board for another 2 years.

Andy Reti

I have been a member of the Prescott Computer Society for about 12 years and have served on the Board of Directors for about ten years. I was President of the PCS for 3 years and will unabashedly and proudly take partial credit for our growth and the significant improvement in and expansion of our services to our members.

I am running for re-election to the PCS Board of Directors based on the following five major goals I would like to see us achieve:

1. A constant improvement in the quality of the programs we present. This includes good speakers at our meetings and good programs in our SIGs.

2. A gradual but steady growth in our membership. I feel that we need to make a greater effort to reach the huge untapped audience in the greater Prescott area.

3. A greater expansion and diversification in the types of services we provide. I feel we should have more and better Special Interest Groups, a great Web Site and newsletter, and more contact with our brother computer societies.

4. A continuing expansion of our association with the Yavapai College Senior Group to provide PCS members with “hands-on” computer training using our instructors and their computer classrooms.

5. A continuing support and encouragement of increased member involvement in Society activities.

I look forward to serving again on our Board of Directors and hope you will vote for me.