Summer Learning (and Fun) Starts Now

I'm back blogging. We are ready for a fun learning summer program. The group is small, but this gives me the confidence that all of you will be able to complete some terrific projects and you will have an outstanding portfolio by the end of the summer. We do MULTIMEDIA. For those of you who are new to the clubhouse, I encourage you to read the earlier post, make sure you read the clubhouse rules, and know that you must do projects everyday.

Congratulations James and Patricia!

C2C means Clubhouse-to-College/Clubhouse-to-Career. It is an important part of the clubhouse learning. C2C supports Clubhouse members in planning for the future and realizing their potential. Every year, Clubhouse members, who are high school seniors, have the opportunity to compete for college scholarship funds. This school-year two of our Clubhouse members applied for the scholarship. I am pleased to report that James Brown and Patricia Smith have each been selected to receive a $5,000 scholarship to the school they choose to attend. This is the first time any of our Clubhouse members have been able to apply for the scholarship, so it is very exciting to know that our first effort has resulted in both applicants being awarded. Please take the time to congratulate James and Patricia.

A lot has happened since I last posted. As many of you know, my husband was hospitalized over the past few weeks. This caused me to miss some days and my focus was not on clubhouse activities. I can happily say that Mr. Blue was discharged on Friday, 2/13, so it wasn't a bad day for me. He is still sick, but he is doing much better, and I am very happy to have him home. So now I can concentrate on Clubhouse activities. We have two new mentors, Miles and Jewel. They both have strong interests in graphic design. Jewel is multitalented with a background in modeling and jewelry making. She is working on designing her website, Jewel's Jewels and learning more about Photoshop and Dreamweaver. Miles is an artist who has created his own anime character, Gangstar. I see this character in the genre of Spongebob. Somebody may soon be rich and famous -- Miles! They both are in the Clubhouse on Tuesdays and Thursdays, so be sure to see what they are doing and see if they can help you with any of your ideas.

We are getting closer to getting the supplies from the Youth Development Commission mini-grant. I know that we have been waiting since September to upgrade our digital photography and videography activities. It has been several months since many of you signed up to participate in the News Team; since some members have gone and new members have joined I think that we will have to redo the signup sheet. This week, think about the role you would like to play as part of the news team: reporter, camera person, writer, editor. If you want to participate in the News Team, I have a new signup sheet available, so please see me to have your name put on it.

Be a Designer, Creator, Inventor and Explorer

I feel like I got an "A" from my teacher. Some of you may know what that feels like. I recently received an email from an old acquaintance named Stina. Stina is one of the workers from the first computer clubhouse located in Boston. She was there when the first computer clubhouse opened in 1993. She knows the clubhouse mission like she knows her name. She stated that she was glad to read about our computer clubhouse. It made me happy that she would take the time to tell me to keep up the good work.

So, now it is time for me to tell some of you how glad I am to have you as a clubhouse member. It appears that several of you really get what designing, creating, inventing and exploring is all about. While others will soon find themselves sitting at the green table trying to still figure it out. I don't want to document the names of you who did not do any project last week, but you know who you are. If you are spending time on the computer simply listening to music, watching videos and/or playing games, you have stepped into the wrong computer clubhouse. You can choose to leave, sit at the green table, or use the computers to design and create something. Since I don't want to dwell on those who did nothing productive, I will focus on those who are supporting the clubhouse mission. But remember, I expect you to work on a specific project every time you come to the clubhouse.

We have three new members, Alexis, Makayla and Jalan. They have each designed their portfolio cover sheet. Alexis has also created this photo manipulation, where she depicts herself blowing kisses of hearts. Great job, Alexis! You mastered the skill of using the lasso to capture exactly what you wanted and made a design I would be proud to frame on my wall!
I am also proud of the work Charissa did on her recent homework assignment. Charissa was instructed to create a presentation of the city of Paris. She found pictures of Paris landmarks, like the Eiffel Tower, the Louvre, and more. Charissa's teacher said to have at least 5 pictures; Charissa had 11. Wow! She definitely went above expectation! She was the only student to get an "A" on the assignment. Way to go, Charissa!

I observed quite a few good acts in the clubhouse last week. Almost everyone is doing typing practice; Donovan has created several beautiful Bryce designs; Reggie is interested in learning, everything; Adrienne finished and printed her anime stickers project; Hailey is making outstanding picture frames; Emil is swimming like a fish and has won a couple of swim meets; and several members are learning to crochet. Keep up the good work, Alethia. And thank you, Alexis. (Alexis already knows how to crochet so she is helping to teach.)

I must also thank others that I saw helping in the clubhouse last week. Like Adrienne helping Makayla get pictures of Keisha Cole; Makayla went on to use the picture on her portfolio cover design. Bryan helped Jalan find a game on the Internet. (Of course, I would have preferred that Bryan help Jalan design his portfolio cover.) Adrienne also helped take pictures. She was the photographer of Alexis' picture.

Finally, Keyona was scheduled to perform in "Always and Forever" in the Wayne State Community Art Auditorium on Saturday. I know the weather was really bad on Saturday. I hope the event was not cancelled. I look forward to hearing about it and seeing any pictures. Congratulations Keyona, on getting your part!

Happy New Year! Now Let's Make Something Happen!

It is great to be in a new year and have things going great! The year started out with my computer being down, which wasn't great, but after fighting (upgrading) with it over the past few weeks, I'm am good-to-go and glad-to-go. And it is better than it was before I foug..., ugh upgraded it.
So it has been a while since my last post, but, trust me, you will be reading a new post each week from now going forward (if not more often). I am working on several projects that will improve the NWAC Intel Computer Clubhouse. Probably the most important project is the Northwest Activities Center website. I know that the NWAC website is going to provide space for the clubhouse to showcase what we do. Our clubhouse will be creating the content for the site, so all teams should prepare to be kept busy, because we want http://www.nwac-detroit.org/ to be one of the best sites on the net. The site is schedule to open on January 16, 2009, so next Monday, prepare to go to work at providing input on how to make it better.

The clubhouse often gets new members, so it is important that I repeat information. I want every member to be responsible and know the rules. It is important that every member:

1. Sign in when you enter the clubhouse
2. Select a computer and do typing practice (Use Quick and Easy Typing)
3. Log the results of your 3 - 5 minute typing test
4. Check your email for information about your Team(s)
5. Send an email to Mrs. Blue (mrs.blue1@gmail.com) telling me about your team and project you are working on
6. Select and do one (or more) project(s):
   

Remember, sometimes I will require you to do a specific project, but most of the time you will be able do the projects you choose. When picking a project, think about MULTIMEDIA

• Text: Do you want to write?
• Graphics: Do you want to draw or take pictures?
• Audio: Do you want to record sound?
• Video: Do you want to make a movie?
• Animation: Do you want to make a game?

Robotics can also be built - try using the legos to build something and make it move (see Patricia's video). Patricia Smith holds the clubhouse record for building the most Lego robots. She made a video using Microsoft Movie Maker of herself demonstrating how several of her robots worked.

Multimedia overlaps, so you may write a story that includes pictures (text and graphics) or you might create a Talking Book Using PowerPoint (text, graphics and audio, - and possibly even video and animation). Use your creative juices. We have a lot to cover this year. You must have a 3-ring binder. You should get your parent to buy you a clear-view 3-ring binder. We will create your cover for it. If you are able to also get some sheet-protectors and a set of 5 tabs, these will help you organize your printouts . You can get all of these items from the dollar store or any office supply store. If you have trouble getting any of these items, see Mrs. Blue.

You have the opportunity to sign up to participate with several teams:

1. Arts and Crafts - help to create frames for members' artwork; create sales items for clubhouse fundraising
2. Photography - Take pictures in the clubhouse and around the NWAC. Remember, your pictures may be used on the clubhouse website or in the clubhouse magazine or framed for our fundraising.
3. Videography -Record video programming for clubhouse viewing and website; you will be responsible for taking care of the clubhouse video cameras
4. News Team - Every Week the Northwest AC News is video recorded

If you have not signed up for a team, please see Mrs. Blue. It is possible to sign up for more than one team. Teams usually have only four members, but there are more than one of the same team. For example: a Photography Team may take pictures in the NWAC Health Club and another Photography Team may take pictures at an event hosted by NWAC, perhaps in the DeRoy/Young Ballroom or in the Paul Robeson Theatre.

There are several goals we want to achieve before June 1st:

• We want to have a link off of the NWAC website at http://www.nwac-detroit.org/
• We want to have our magazine CompClub Detroit available each month at issuu.com
• We want to have an Arts and Crafts fundraiser sale on May 2, 2009

I know that I have a lot of smart, creative and energetic members, so we will achieve these goals. Let's Make Our Goals Happen!