Digital Literacy
May 11, 2022

Insights from an Email

Insights from an Email
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Samantha learned of Orange County’s partnership with GetSetUp offering free iPads and GetSetUp classes because she prefers to check all her emails for any special updates or offers.

“The Orange County 5th district supervisor along with a unanimous vote offered a program for seniors for free iPads which included free training. I knew I had to pass this information around!”

Samantha, already a published writer, used her skills to inform her residential community. She wrote an article about the free iPad offer for her local community newsletter, reaching about 300 people and encouraging them to alert friends and senior community members. She noted that many people miss out on great programs because they don’t read their email messages, so she tries to include interesting and supportive information in her newsletter updates whenever possible.

Her local Rancho Alipaz Mobile Home Park newsletter, Cheers Magazine, for December 2021 included information on free services being offered to seniors, encouraging them to take advantage of these valuable opportunities. It read:

Samatha gets great feedback from her community on her helpful insights.

“Sometimes, when I walk through the neighborhood people tell me, ‘I’m so glad you put that information in the newsletter.’ as that’s often one of the ways they hear about some of the great programs they can participate in!”

Life-long learning is ongoing on GetSetUp

Before discovering GetSetUp, Samantha didn’t know how to use Zoom.

“It’s hard to imagine now. I had a lot more trouble, though, because I have an older computer. The Zoom classes helped me a lot, especially using my new iPad.”

She believes that GetSetUp offers essential skills for people to manage technology, plus many interesting classes.

“So many people don't know how to use their computers, iPads, and smartphones. There are so many informative and supportive classes!”

Balancing Learning and Volunteering

Samantha would love to participate in more GetSetUp classes, but she’s currently busy studying for her real estate license and volunteering. She helps elderly ladies in their late 90s with services such as gardening, errands, appointments, grocery shopping, and companionship. However, she still enjoys peeking in on some of the cooking classes when she has a chance.

“I am spending more time watching the cooking classes now. Some of the folks really have some great ideas for recipes.”

Expressing Gratitude

Samantha submitted her lentil stew recipe to the GetSetUp cookbook project, and it was selected to be in the 2022 GetSetUp cookbook. Plus she had the opportunity to present the recipe to the GetSetUp community as a live co-host of a cooking class, an experience she really enjoyed.

Thrilled with her overall experience on GetSetUp, Samantha wrote a letter to Lisa Bartlett, the Orange County supervisor who initiated the program, to thank her.

“I was so excited to get a beautiful iPad, and now a lot of companies are offering things. I got a Fitbit from my insurance company.”

Providing access to technology and the internet helps older adults stay more connected and updated on the ever-changing digital landscape.