​We had two sessions in March. Again, we discussed the Internet and made sure all participants were connected to the U3A Internet by looking for the appropriate network and then entering the passcode.  If already connected previously then we checked that devices were set at automatically connect.

​To save time we added the Be Connected site to our Home Page as a direct link eliminating a Google search.  

​The ensuing lessons were focused on ‘Using Email’:
​

• What is email?
• Creating an email account.
• Sending an email.

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Jenny Sawyer

Welcome to all Be Connected participants, old and new.   

Be Connected has added new courses and topics to the program. The 2022 Course list handout now comprises seven pages. 

Seeing as we are at the beginning of the year, we have gone back over some of the introductory information.   We started with ‘What is the Internet?’ and ‘Using the Internet’.    It was interesting to reflect on these topics, even for seasoned users who are using the Internet every day.
​
Jenny Sawyer

​Safer Internet Day – ‘Play It Fair Online’, is a time to consider ‘best practice’ in internet safety in terms of our own online presence as well as protecting ourselves from online scares. The ‘Safety First’ online topic resources on Be Connected will continue to be drawn upon in 2022 and we will continue to regularly raise the issue of protection against scams—a topic at a Meet and Mingle presentation last year. ​

Protect against Scams

Be alert. If you get an email or phone call you suspect is not genuine:

1. Verify –Check using contact details you get from a phone book or independent online search.
2. Avoid clicking links – before clicking, hover your computer mouse over the URL (web link) and the ‘from’ email address:
   • If an email address doesn’t end with the company’s name and .com after the ‘@’ symbol, it’s likely to be a scam.
   • If a URL is different from the link description, it is probably a scam.
3. Take your time – many scams will try to create a sense of urgency. Don’t be rushed into handing over your personal information.
4. Consider your privacy – Only provide information such as Medicare numbers and credit card security codes to organisations you can trust. Requests for private data should ring alarm bells.
5. Report – If you think you have provided your account details to a scammer, contact your financial institution immediately.

​In November we revisited the ‘All About Data’ Course.  This is divided into five units.   We have been working systematically through these during our last few sessions:

• What is data?
• Choosing a data plan
• Managing your data
• Home data vs mobile data
• Going overseas

How timely is it that our last unit to complete next month is ‘Going overseas’ just when the pandemic rules are being revised to allow overseas travel!   ✈️


​Jenny Sawyer

​Over 20 U3A Benalla members attended the Be Connected lunch held on the veranda of the Senior’s Centre on Wednesday 20 October 2021. This was part of the Get On Line week celebrations supported by the Good Things Foundation who run the Be Connected course for the Federal Government.

There were many pleasing aspects of the lunch. First the food from Hide's Bakery was delicious, and the outlook from the veranda of the Senior’s Centre was magnificent. U3A Benalla has never used this as a venue before, but on a beautiful sunny October day the setting worked very well.

We also welcomed three new participants Joy Campbell, Terry Campbell and Trish Saker who wish to join our digital classes.  We were pleased to see our Android Convenor Robyn Lukey joining in the fun.

Another pleasing aspect of the lunch was the interaction between members who were able to share their skills of attaching a vaccination digital certificate to the Services Victoria App for other members who needed assistance. We also distributed a photocopy of the method for attaching the vaccination certificate to the Services Victoria App to several other members.

The lunch ran until Jenny Sawyer’s Apple class commenced, everyone voting that it was a very enjoyable way to celebrate Get On Line week.
​
Margaret Jenkins  

Jenny Sawyer

In addition to Jenny’s Sawyer’s Be Connected classes on the 1st and 2nd Wednesdays of the month from 2 to 3.30 pm, we are currently piloting a small group ‘Zoom’ short course for beginners and on-line mentoring sessions for members keen to try hosting Zoom sessions themselves.  There are also some useful ‘self-help’ resources on the website – go to  https://u3abenalla.weebly.com/using-zoom.html. If you are interested in learning to attend or host Zoom Meetings, please fill out the online application form at https://u3abenalla.weebly.com/news/are-you-interested-in-learning-how-to-attend-zoom-meetings or call Margaret Jenkins on 5762 6944.

Also related to Be Connected, U3A Benalla are celebrating Get On Line Week with a Pizza Lunch at the Senior's Centre on Wednesday 20 October at 11.45am. Depending on how many people are allowed in the Senior's Centre that day, plans have been made to use the verandah outside our U3A room for some tables and chairs so that we can enjoy the lunch without breaking COVID regulations.  If you have neighbours or friends who would like to join our computer classes next year, please bring them along to the lunch so that we can provide them with information regarding the various digital classes available in 2022.
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Margaret Jenkins, Bev Lee and Jenny Sawyer

U3A Benalla is hoping to have a Pizza lunch at 11.45am on Wednesday 20th October 2021 in the Senior’s Centre as part of Get On Line week for U3A members.  This will follow Meet and Mingle which will be held at 10am that day.

The theme of this year’s Get On Line week is “Get Connected”. The Committee understand that this needs to be a COVID safe event, and are hoping that lock down will be relaxed by that date.  

​Margaret Jenkins