THE GENESIS OF SRSIG - By M.Gray Donaldson

A sociological happening in the United States has given rise to an organization called SrSIG --an acronym for Senior Special Interest Group. It stems from its acronymic parent, AMUG--or Arizona Macintosh User Group. Stand by for a moment or two and I'll recite the details of this unlikely merger of the elderly and one of the most arcane developments of this technological age: the computer.

You see, there are more than fifty million seniors in the United States today--ranging from age 65 to 100--with the number growing each year. They're living longer, in better health, with more money and time on their hands than any previous generation. And there's another and even more striking difference from the past. Formerly, the elderly had but limited options in their retirement years--the passive rocking chair, innumerable recreation activities, and volunteerism in many organizations. Yet, and although these are worthy activities, they did not completely fulfill the needs of some seniors who sought something else--something through which they could make a different contribution to society and, at the same time, greatly enrich their own lives.

Then a device came along to solve the problem. It was a machine, whimsically called the Macintosh. Like most computers, it has incredible performance capacity, but unlike others, it has the amiable quality of welcoming hesitant and fearful users with a warm embrace. This makes it one of the few high tech devices seniors can adapt to and find pleasure in operating--with far reaching benefits to themselves, those around them, and to society generally.

Recognizing this, the senior members of AMUG formed SrSIG. They believed there were many Mac users and potential Mac users among the elderly in the Phoenix metropolitan area, and they were right. SrSIG is now the largest and one of the most active SIGs of AMUG. This is because it is specifically programmed to meet the needs of seniors. It offers varied programs for all Mac users from the less to the more competent, procedures like morning meetings instead of night, special sessions for the beginner and the like.

Essentially it provides group instruction with answers to questions and solutionsfor problems, plus a "Buddy System" for even more personal help--all to the end thatmembers can become more effective with the Mac as they take part in this speciallevel of life's activities.

December 29, 1995
1995 M.G. Donaldson