Center in Girard helps students get in touch, online with today’s skills

By Linda Linonis

GIRARD — The Girard Multi-Generational Center powers up the computer skills of a wide variety of people.

Many of the students in the center’s computer classes are displaced workers trying to get back into the work force, but many others take the courses to help with volunteer work or for personal enrichment.

Volunteer instructor Robin Stears taught Microsoft Word this week and next week will teach Microsoft Excel.

David Berringer of Howland and Chuck Cornell of Girard, friends since kindergarten, are taking the Word and Excel classes. Both lost their jobs.

The 50-year-old Berringer was a property manager with Simco Management. Cornell is laid off from Indalex Inc., an aluminum extrusion company, where he was a supervisor for 20 years.

“This class is wonderful,” Berringer said. “It’s a great opportunity for people.”

Berringer said Stears answers all his questions. “I’m hoping the class will improve my computer skills,” he said.

Cornell agreed. “The class is helping me feel more comfortable on the computer and learn different formats,” the 48-year-old said.

Both men were appreciative that the Girard center offered such classes. The distance-learning lab with computers can accommodate 15 students; 10 are taking the current classes. The men said companies want people with computer skills.

“This is something you have to have,” Cornell said.

“It’s what companies want,” Berringer said.

Another student, Dorothy Mayoras of Girard, who is on the center’s board, said she also wanted to improve her computer skills but for her personal use. She said she was glad the former Tod Woods School was being used as the center.

Cecil B. Monroe of Liberty Township said he wanted to fine-tune his abilities to correctly set up a letter and use the computer for research. The retiree from Youngstown Developmental Center in Mineral Ridge said he works on a computer in connection with volunteer service and his church. “It will help me in those areas,” he said.

Stears, who said she’s worked on computers since 1978, said she wanted classes “not to be scary” and make the computer more accessible to her students. She said sessions help students get more comfortable as they use the computer and learn the ins and outs of various programs.

Laura Carey-D’Rummo, administrative director of the center, said computer classes are one component of activities offered. She said a Computer Caf also has computers for people to use. Students from the Girard High School robotics team and Liberty High School, who are doing community service, provide one-on-one computer tutoring for senior citizens.

“The students help them set up e-mail accounts so they can communicate with grandchildren and other family,” Carey-D’Rummo said.

“We get a mix of people who want to learn computer skills,” Carey-D’Rummo said. “We’re trying to reach out in these economic times.”

The center has offered classes in the past; depending on interest and instructor availability, other sessions may be scheduled.