Learning Center of the Year!

SeniorNet, the nation’s leading technology educator of older adults, today announced the recipient of its first annual Chairman’s Award, a new program designed to recognize SeniorNet Learning Centers and Online Programs from the past year that have demonstrated exceptional work in bringing technology access and education to older adults, and innovation in the use of technology to further adult education. SeniorNet is proud to honor the Don Weidman SeniorNet Learning Center in Huntington, New York as one of the inaugural recipients of its prestigious Chairman’s Award. Created by the organization’s Board of Directors, the award honors outstanding achievement by a SeniorNet Learning Center and a SeniorNet Web Program. SeniorNet students, Learning Center coordinators and site sponsors nominated 22 Learning Centers for consideration over a period of two months. The Board of Directors then made a selection based on the following criteria: innovative teaching/sharing methods, community outreach, Learning Center growth/sustainability planning, and participation in the national organization’s activities. It was a very difficult decision. All of the nearly 200 SeniorNet Learning Centers are doing exceptional work to help bridge the “Digital Divide”, said Leslie M.Smith, SeniorNet board chairman. But as the board and staff evaluated the nominees, the Don Weidman Learning Center excelled in each criteria area and truly exemplifies what it means to be an outstanding SeniorNet Learning Center.?As the 2007 SeniorNet Learning Center of the Year, the Don Weidman Learning Center will receive $1,000.00 to advance its technology education and access programs for adults age 50+ living in the greater Huntington, New York community. The Don Weidman Learning Center, located at the Family Service League (790 Park Ave., Huntington, NY 11743-4516), offers sixteen different computer-related classes year-round and has served more than 4,000 students since it opened in 1999. The Learning Center continues to attract new students and volunteers by offering new classes, conducting open houses, promoting their courses at local libraries, community centers, churches and senior events and submitting articles to the community newspapers. Its website, newsletter, SNUG (SeniorNet User Group) and regular training workshops keep volunteers and students informed and engaged in the Learning Center’s activities. In addition to support from SeniorNet headquarters, the SeniorNet Learning Center has proactively sought and received funding from its site sponsor, the Family Service League, as well as from the KeySpan Foundation, Suffolk County Office for the Aging, State Assemblyman Andres P. Raia, 18th District Legislator Jon Cooper, and the Town of Huntington. These efforts have made it possible for the center to feature the latest computer technology in its classroom. In addition, students at the Don Weidman Learning Center give back to the community by refurbishing its older computers then donating them to local families and organizations in need. SeniorNet volunteers also take SeniorNet on the road to local assisted living facilities where they assist older adults one-on-one with tasks ranging from email and Internet searches, to photo editing, creating greeting cards and genealogy research. Moss Rawn, SeniorNet coordinator, accepted the award on behalf of the Don Weidman Learning Center. For more information, visit http://seniornet.org http://seniornet.org About SeniorNet: Founded in 1986, SeniorNet is an international non-profit organization that has taught hundreds of thousands of adults age 50+ to use computers and the Internet and has enriched the lives of millions through its award-winning website, http://www.seniornet.org www.seniornet.org . With a thriving online community and a network of more than 200 locally run Learning Centers in the U.S. and abroad staffed by more than 3,500 volunteers, SeniorNet offers both offline and online destinations to a population that was originally neglected in the information revolution. With sponsorship by major corporations and foundations, private and public donations, and a backbone of individual members and contributors, SeniorNet continues to grow and offer new opportunities to those touched by its mission. SeniorNet headquarters is located in Santa Clara, CA. More about Moss Rawn, presently Co-coordinator of SeniorNet and Director of Education, and a long standing instructor. Moss retired in 1998 after forty years in the private practice of psychotherapy and psychoanalysis. He received a PhD in psychology in 1955 from NYU. He followed this with post-doctoral training at a psychoanalytic training institute. He was a professor of psychology at C.W. Post College, and also taught at NYU, and at post-doctoral psychoanalytic training institutes. (So he has taught psychology, psychoanalysis and now computers with us at Senior Net. He has never been very far away from the classroom!). In addition to clinical practice, Moss has taught and supervised students enrolled in psychoanalytic training institutes, written papers published in professional journals, been involved in educational administration, and been an officer and Board member in several psychoanalytic organizations. He served for four years as President of one of the psychoanalytic organizations. Following retirement, Moss returned to an early interest of his: the study of science and especially of computers. He quickly became enamored with computers, taking several computer courses at a nearby University. He joined Senior Net about six years ago (2000). At first he coached every course at least once and then began teaching. He has taught Word Processing, Windows, Introduction to Computers I & II, and a course he personally designed called Computer Maintenance and Security. He was appointed Director of Education in 2003, and elected Co-coordinator in 2004.