Number 208 - September 2000
Friends Helping Friends
by By Herbert Wong, Jr., NOCCC Director, herbwong@prime.net - April 20, 2000
    Today's computer technology is a never-ending series of trials and tribulations that no individual can triumph over without the help of someone who selflessly gives of their time and expertise.

    Computers are complicated by their many layers. The interaction of flawed adapter cards, motherboards, device drivers, operating systems, applications, utilities, and hostile external agents create the endless permutations of messages, errors, and failures that dog us.

    Our only hope to resolve these computer crises is to get expert advice from someone who has experienced the same problems or who has become a repository of answers.

    In the past two and a half decades, computer hobbyists from all over Southern California have been lucky to have plenty of help from the volunteer members of the North Orange County Computer Club (NOCCC at ).

    The most visible NOCCC personalities are the SIG (special interest group) leaders who organize and make their monthly presentations. However, there are many others who dedicate dozens of hours each month to helping distressed computer users.

    You know many of their faces very well, but not their names. Many of them never go to SIG meetings or attend presentations. You may even recognize the names (such as Alan, John, O.T., Dale, Bert, Cathy, Ed, Robert, etc.) but not be able to connect the faces. Regardless, be sure to thank them for their efforts. Better yet, volunteer yourself and your knowledge. But, I digress.

    For several weekends every month, a couple of people pack up their cars and drive to computer swap meets and events all over southern California to set up a booth to advertise NOCCC. Besides talking about future meetings, SIGs, and membership, they have become known as the computer answer men at these events.

    Like a few other dedicated volunteers, Jim Chilton never went to SIG meetings or the main meetings. He was at his post at the NOCCC Information Desk during meetings and at swap meets.

    Over the past several years, I have seen Jim Chilton patiently listen to computer questions and personal
problems, and give step-by-step answers to them all. The questions are sometimes easy, sometimes tough, and sometimes very trying. The same questions were repeated over and over again; every week, every month, every year But the answers became better and better.

    In March, Jim Chilton became ill, entered the hospital, and was diagnosed to have cancer of the esophagus. On April 4, 2000, he unexpectedly succumbed after a matter of weeks.

    The next day at another user group, I was telling an NOCCC member the sad news. Having overheard, a listener nearby asked who he was, so I described some of Jim's charitable work for NOCCC. The recognition was immediate because I was asked if he was the tall guy who is always at the swap meet? I replied, Yes! That would be Jim Chilton.

    Jim will no longer attend our monthly meetings or the swap meets or help us with our questions. He has left a great void. However, he will not be nameless or faceless in the history of the North Orange County Computer Club, for Jim Chilton personified our motto of Friends Helping Friends.

TOGGLE Editor's Note:
    Every User Group has heroes. We have ours too including deceased members who have gone to the big computer lab in the sky--like Jim Cooke who, when not acting as Secretary/Treasurer cannily administering group funds, lent his expertise to database questions--like Marvin Eidinger who shared with us his knowledge of ergonomics--like Ron Heminway who experimented with some of "fast" CPU's and motherboards which arose to challenge Intel, and reported his failures good-naturedly, who also gave us an informative look at digital camera technology, a couple of years back.

    There are, of course, those still among the living who surface from time to time as resident experts during the Question and Answer period, or with a byline in a newsletter article. In the past, there were more articles by members on how to use the "standard" editing, spreadsheet and database software. Maybe we could get back to that, but the main thing is to participate. As the author says: "Better yet, volunteer yourself and your knowledge." Don't be shy. If just one member learns something from your article it is worth printing. Get busy.
  Number 208 - September 2000