Limelight America: Janis Weber amazes
Written by Michael Drew Shaw | | news@toledofreepress.comVicissitude: noun – a difficulty or hardship attendant on a way of life, a career, or a course of action and usually beyond one’s control
When things went wrong my father used to say, “Just the vicissitudes of life, son,” and I never forgot his easygoing way of accepting things he couldn’t do anything about. Lately, we all have had our share of vicissitudes.
With the economy currently in the tank and our attitudes toward the vicissitudes hard pressed to remain positive, Americans still seem capable of rising above the present storm on the sea of life, but, are we? Alone, probably not.
To borrow a line from one of my audio books, “On Earth we are all angels with one wing, able to fly only when we embrace each other.” I’ve noticed a lot of embracing lately.
Janis Weber, a Toledo entrepreneur, is doing her share by reaching out to teach computer skills to individuals who are desperate – literally – to learn the basics. She owns a company called Ohio Computer Training. Her mission is to teach computer fundamentals to the community and small businesses.
Reading large manuals on how to use business software is not only time-consuming, it can be overwhelming. The simple hints Janis provides often amaze her students, whether she is tutoring individually or teaching a class at the University of Toledo’s Eberly Center for Women, Lourdes College or Monroe County Community College. Janis helps people understand the fundamentals of a computer, how to use the Internet to its fullest capacity, and she does it with amazing patience … which is what has become her trademark, particularly among those who are a little embarrassed about not knowing much about the technology revolution, other than the fact the IBM electric typewriter with the little font ball has gone from endangered to extinct.
The truth is many people now out of work can’t even apply for a job without at least minimal computer skills. The other side of the catch-22 is that it can cost up to $160 an hour for personal training. Who’s got that kind of money lying around if they’re unemployed! Janis to the rescue again. She’s affordable.But wait, there’s more!Talk about making lemonade out of lemons, Janis, always anxious to make the best of a bad situation (those vicissitudes) has come up with a novel idea. But that’s what entrepreneurs are expected to do, right?Ohio Computer Training has just launched “Computer Parties” … like those Tupperware, Mary Kay and Amway get-togethers. Only this time you get to flex your head, learn what you need to learn and walk out with sufficient brain-gain to create documents, spread sheets and other valuable paperless assets. If you’re job hunting you’ll be able to submit a resume with confidence. Or, who knows, maybe even start a business of your own someday.
The idea is for the host to invite friends and neighbors with their PC laptops to their home where Janis will teach the group a predetermined subject such as basic computer functions and maintenance, Microsoft Word 2007, Excel 2007 and other software applications. This is casual, yet professional training guaranteed to show beginners the ropes while they’re having a good time. Snacks and beverages are optional, but good grief how can you have a party without something to munch on!
The biggest hurdle is many people anxious to participate don’t have the necessary tool, so OCT is reaching out, hoping to find individuals or companies willing to donate old laptops for those without one who want to attend a party or organize one. If you’re in a position to do a little of that embracing stuff now’s the time. Just go to OHcomputerTraining.com and join the party as a giver of something that may be gathering dust that could be changing someone’s life.
Limelight America can be heard online at www.limelightamerica.com.
You can -email Michael Drew Shaw at mds@limelightamerica.com.
