Posted by Briland Community Computer Center on July 22, 2001 at 09:41:49:
This week's exciting kickoff of the newest alliance between the Briland Community Computer Center and IBM Nassau resulted in jampacked training sessions at the center's temporary digs at the Harbour Island All-Age School. Instead of the 16 per class maximum expected for the series, twenty-eight folks from Abaco, Eleuthera and Harbour Island packed the morning workshop, while twenty-six adults from Batelco, National Insurance Board, North Eleuthera Airport, the Police Force, high school teachers, office workers from area hotels, school principals, social workers and musicians crowded in for the evening session. As the course became more popular throughout the region, folks brought their own computers in to join the training. IBM Instructor Marcella Elliott was warmly received throughout the week, and looks forward to making a return training engagement as soon as same can be arranged.
The Center is now making its move to the Sir George S. Roberts Memorial Library on Dunmore Street, and looks forward to your continued hardware, software and financial support. Because of the narrow budget extended to Harbour Island local government by the central government in Nassau, the local district council can no longer afford to host complementary Internet access for the community, maintenance of the computer network in tandem with Donald Sweeting of Computer Concepts in Spanish Wells or offer custodial support of the library facility. The local business community has responded in force, with electrician Christopher Lewis underwriting the first month's of community Internet access. A new account has been established for local contributions at the Royal Bank of Canada. For more information, please e-mail info@briland.com.
New center managers include students Otis Johnson, Lothario Higgs, parent Sheril Johnson, and artist Maxcene Johnson joining long-time center directors Naomi Percentie Fowler and Ann Sawyer in running the center and ensuring its availability to the community. The newly-certified graduates of the IBM training program will also be offering training services at the library, in addition to $1-for-5 minute Internet access and colour, BxW printing services now available at the center. The Center is presently equipped with six computers, and will be offering Internet access service to visitors once more computers are installed.
Many thanks go to Commissioner Alex Williams, Batelco's Tyrone Williams, local contractor Cody Cartwright, electrician Christopher Lewis and musician Chad Cleare for their assistance in preparing the library for the addition of the Center. A Goombay round of applause goes out to Lothario Higgs, Ann Sawyer, Giovanni Imlach and Larry Winder for their outstanding assistance with this week's training program ... and the entire workshop thanks Robert Arthur of Arthur's Bakery for the generous donation of fresh-baked cookies throughout the program.
Thanks again for checking in --
Kimberly