All of the instructors are volunteers, seniors like the students. Thanks
to Susquehanna SeniorNet, a program housed in
the James V. Brown Library, these seniors are
learning basic skills that will allow them to
use the internet, email, word processing and
other computer programs.
Art Kline, Chairman of Susquehanna SeniorNet’s
Advisory Board, says that the program is the
only one of its kind in the area. To take similar
classes, seniors would have to travel to Harrisburg,
the closest community that has a SeniorNet program.
Kline says that the program’s students prefer
this setting, because the volunteer instructors
have all been in the same seats as their students,
and can relate to their questions and problems.
Classes are tailored to be at a pace that is
comfortable for each student.
The program began in the late 1990’s, and
since then, over 600 seniors have graduated
from the program. It is entirely volunteer-run,
and the small fees passed on to students cover
things like printing the manuals that each student
may keep.
Kline says that learning about
computers helps seniors in countless ways. Using
email brings seniors in touch with family that
may live out of town, and access to the internet
provides information on health issues. Additionally,
the classes help keep seniors socially active,
and promote friendships.
With grant funding provided by the Foundation,
the SeniorNet program was able to purchase new
workstations for the classroom, keeping its
students up-to-date on today’s computing.
There is so much more we’d like you to know
You can make a difference in the life of
a senior in your community. If you would like
to help fund innovative educational opportunities
for students, the First Community Foundation
of Pennsylvania can help. For more information,
contact the office at
fcfpa@fcfpa.org,
(570) 321-1500 or toll free, (866) 901-2372.
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Men
and women sit facing a row of flickering screens
in the Susquehanna SeniorNet computer lab. The new
computers are there with the help of a grant from
the Williamsport-Lycoming Community Foundation.
Many of these students have not seen the inside
of a classroom in years, yet they feel comfortable
here. 
Sadie,
a student at South Williamsport Area High School,
holds a glass rod just above the blue flame of a
torch until the glass starts to form a bead. The
woman next to Sadie gives her instructions on how
to keep the glass hot enough to work with, but not
too hot that it will melt. Soon a multi-colored
glass bead takes shape under the watchful eye of
the artist. 
What
do you do when your children’s program is so successful
it won’t fit in the building anymore? Build an addition!
With help from a grant provided by the Williamsport-Lycoming
Community Foundation, founding affiliate of the
First Community Foundation of Pennsylvania, the
W.B. Konkle Memorial Library in Montoursville built
a children’s wing. 
