Seven Lakes Computer Club

The Computer Club of Seven Lakes meets Tuesday, Jan. 13, at 3 p.m. in the game room at Seven Lakes North.

Guest speaker Jim Anderson will discuss "Optimizing Windows Performance using Windows and Vista."

"All are welcome," says a spokesman.

Women of Weymouth

Women of Weymouth will start off 2009 with a program titled "Africa One by One," presented by Jesse McKay and Talmage Bandy.

The pair spent eight weeks in Tanzania last summer teaching art, English and pastoral care. They shared a simple block duplex on the college grounds in Doduma, a seven-hour bus ride from Dar Es Salaam, the location of the nearest major airport which was a 27-hour flight from home.

McKay grew up in England and Connecticut and spent her business career in the United States and England. She has traveled widely, including several trips to Africa, and her Africa paintings were highly received.

One New York critic said she "is recognized in the art world as an artist who can go from the most desirable tourist destinations in Europe to the impoverished heart of Africa and capture the colors of both places, as well as the people, with a great deal of sympathy."

For nine years Bandy has been a deacon for pastoral care at Emmanuel Episcopal Church in Southern Pines, where McKay is a member. She also served as a lay hospital chaplain for 18 years and had been to Africa in 2006 where she stayed at a Benedictine monastery in South Africa on its working farm.

The two friends have traveled together previously and will return to Africa this coming summer. They plan to set up a foundation for the schools and home care. Mackay and Bandy will share their experiences with a talk and Power Point presentation for the WOW meeting Jan. 19. Earlier this month they gave presentations in three churches in Wyoming.

The Weymouth program follows a 9:30 coffee time and a short 10 a.m. business meeting.

"This is a wonderful opportunity to hear this fascinating program," says Kathy Evans, president of WOW. "We invite members and guests to attend."

Computer Club

The Computer Club of the Sandhills meets Monday, Jan. 12, at 4 p.m. in the lower level of the Whispering Pines Village Hall.

Paul Steel will present "New Technology in Peripheral Equipment for Computers." Since 2006, Steel has been the department chair and an associate professor of computer engineering technology.

He has been involved for the past 20 years in local and state level computer curriculum improvement projects and offers hardware, software and networking services to local businesses. He will discuss the latest innovations in external hard drives, speakers, printers, monitors, networking, and the new netbooks.

The Computer Club meets on the second Monday of each month, and visitors are always welcome.

For additional information, contact Art Reetz at (910) 949-3733 or George McNally at (910) 949-2294.

Civil War Round Table

The monthly meeting of the Rufus Barringer Civil War Round Table will be held at the Pinehurst Town Hall, Rattlesnake Drive, Thursday evening, Jan. 8, at 7 p.m.

The special guest will be Edwin Cole Bearss. Bearss was the chief historian of the National Park Service for 28 years, and the author of 16 books on the Civil War.

Call (910) 315-1213 for information.

College Computer Club

Sandhills Community College Computer Club will hold its regular monthly meeting on Thursday, Jan. 8, a week later than normal because of the holidays. The club meets in Van Dusen Hall on the college campus.

The featured speaker will be Lynn Beith, director of the ed2go program at the college. Ed2go is a quality learning program featuring the ability to learn in your own home or office. The program features a broad array of learning opportunities, at your own pace on your own computer, at a surprisingly low cost.

SCC Computer Club meetings start promptly at 3:30 p.m. and end promptly at 4:30 p.m., with light refreshments served. There is no cost, and there are no membership requirements.

SCWC

Sandhills Christian Women's Connection will hold its monthly luncheon Thursday, Jan. 15.

Massage therapist Bobbie Miller will offer tips on relaxation techniques. Lydia Macinta will perform.

The guest speaker is Susan Ely of Cary, whose topic is "Turtle Come Out," about leaving the safety and security of one's own "shell."

All Sandhills women and their guests are welcome to attend the luncheon held at the National Golf Club in Pinehurst from noon to 1:30 p.m. Call Joan at (910) 673-5146 or Anne at (910) 215-0074 to make reservations.

"Be sure to let us know if you will be taking advantage of our free nursery," says a spokesman.

The cost of this month's luncheon is $13, all inclusive. A courtesy call is requested no later than Tuesday, Jan. 13.