CAP - Community Access Program

May 2005

News!etter

Archives

» Grand Opening of the Centre Scolaire et Communautaire des Grands-Vents

» CAP Taking Off in Hare Bay

» Spotlight On... Native Friendship Centre

» Editing the News in Baie Verte

» CAP-YI Success Stories

» Tech Corner - Buying a Computer

April 2005
46238 users
179+ Training Sessions
142 Sites Reporting

The Association communautaire francophone de Saint-Jean (ACFSJ) is a non-profit organization dedicated to inspiring and supporting the development and action of the French-speaking community in St. John’s. The staff at CAP NL would like to congratulate the ACFSJ on the grand opening of their community centre the “Centre scolaire et communautaire des Grands-Vents” (CSCGV) located in St. John’s. The CAP Site is now located in the Resource centre of the CSCGV at 65 Ridge Road. This impressive new building also houses several francophone organizations, the francophone school (pre-school to grade 12), a centre for early childhood, a seniors room, a youth room, a French library, a gymnasium, a theatre/auditorium, a lobby with terrace, three conference rooms and a cafeteria. Several of these spaces are available for rent and can accommodate up to 300 people for functions such as meetings, conferences, and luncheons, etc. To become a member, to arrange a tour of the facility, or to find out more about the services offered at the CAP site, you can contact the ACFSJ at bonjour@afsj.nf.net.

Debbie Yetman, librarian at the Baie Verte CAP site, has found a fun way to engage members of the Juvenile Book Club in the writing process. The group of 9 and 10 year olds have been busy planning their new publication. The children have learned to use the site’s digital camera and scanner and will combine their written pieces with photographs they have taken to create an illustrated newsletter. Each month a new member of the group will be chosen to take on the role of editor/publisher. The audience is currently limited to family and friends, but who knows how far these budding journalists may go.

CAP and TOPS work
together in Hare Bay

Taking off Pounds Sensibly (TOPS) is an international weight loss organization with over 10,000 chapters including one in Hare Bay, Newfoundland and Labrador where the members use the local CAP site as a part of their meetings. While at the CAP site, the ladies explore the many perks this site has to offer, from browsing the Internet, to learning about digital technology, to scanning recipes and health information. A few of the ladies were also given training on Internet basics by the librarian, Robin Collins. The group particularly liked the displays that were done for their benefit, which included pertinent web sites (such as health, fitness and healthy eating), nutritional food choices, and food portions. Most of the participants had never been to the CAP site before and after finding out what is now at their disposal, promised to return. This is an example of how local organizations can make use of your local CAP site. It only takes a little advertising or campaigning on your part to interest these types of groups.

CAP sites are not the only ones that benefit from the CAP-Youth Initiative (CAP-YI). Since 1996, the CAP-YI program has helped over 850 youth from across Newfoundland and Labrador obtain career-related work opportunities in their communities, enabling them to gain valuable skills related to Information Technologies (IT) and develop their confidence in public speaking. Many use their experience gained through working in CAP sites to obtain more permanent work at home and abroad.

Here is what some 2004-05 participants had to say when asked about the social, educational and economic benefits created through the CAP-YI program:

Jennifer Bobbett of Hermitage

I have gained experience in this job that will assist me when I finally reach my goal of being a teacher, and when I actually get out into the 'real' world. - Jennifer Bobbett, Hermitage CAP Site, Summer 2004
This Internship has benefited me because it gave me experience in my field of trade. Also it has opened my outlook on the way people with vision impairments deal with everyday life; how they manage to do things like use the computer and navigate the web. - Daniel Kenny, CNIB in St. John's, Fall 2004
I would have to say that it has been a very rewarding experience to be an intern with the Community Access Program. It has greatly enhanced my computer and social skills. – Beverly Anderson, Mount Pearl YMCA, Winter 2005
My internship at CAP has been a pleasant experience. It was rewarding to be part of such a wonderful program. Public Internet access is a vital service in today’s society and will continue for many years to come. - Josephine Eastman, Gambo Public Library, Fall 2004
Before I started working with CAP, I was not much of a people-person. I used to choke up when I had to stand up in front of people and do presentations. But after working as an intern, I am very comfortable in dealing with the public. – Trent Brinston, North Harbour Lions Club CAP Site, Winter 2005
My time working as a youth intern has been fun and very rewarding. I believe that I have gained new skills to help me succeed in future employment. - Andrew Pearce, Twillingate Public Library, Winter 2005

Buying a computer for a CAP site can sometimes be a tough decision. On one hand, you want to get a computer that you know is advanced enough that it will last you a long time. On the other hand, you only have limited funds and you do not want buying a new computer to wipe out the majority of your budget. Today you can get computers in a wide price range. More often than not, if you shop around, you will find a good, reliable computer at a reasonable price.

The first thing you will want to consider is what services your CAP site offers. If you do not allow intensive game playing, you will not need a computer with an expensive video card. If you do not allow people to save files on the hard drives, you probably will not need to buy a computer with a very large hard drive. In most CAP sites you will be able to purchase a suitable computer that will satisfy your patron’s need for a long time for less than $1000. With this in mind, we don’t recommend the purchase of any refurbished machines.

Some other things that you will want to consider when buying a computer. Does it have a recent operating system included (ie. Windows XP)? Does it have a quality processor (ie. Pentium 4)? How long is the warranty good for?

For more information about buying a new computer, check out the following web sites:

Next Month: The CAPStats Program


	The St. John's Native Friendship Centre Association is a non-profit organization designed to assist Aboriginal people in their everyday needs. Located in downtown St. John’s, the CAP site provides Internet access and basic computer training to its members and to the general public. Former CAP-YI youth intern Mark Penney is on staff to provide assistance. Group training sessions including “Introduction to Computers”, “Setting up E-mail”, “Search Engines” and “Resume Writing” are offered on Mondays and Wednesdays. On June 21, 2005, the center will host celebrations for National Aboriginal Day – a special day to celebrate the unique heritage, cultures and contributions of First Nations, Inuit and Metis people in Canada. To learn more about the association or to sign up for a training session, contact the centre at mail@friendshipcentre.nf.net.


	The inside and outside of the Native Friendship Centre CAP Site in St. John's