Teaching is in Cecilia Plante's blood. As a retired teacher, Plante still feels the need to help others learn, this time with a new focus. Her knew focus? RSVP's new program, Senior Surfers.

Statistics show that more seniors have computers now than just five years ago. The reason for this may be as sons and daughters become more dependent on email as a form of communication, they buy their parents computers so they can write emails back and forth. However, this is a kind of fish-out-of-water situation for many retired people. As seniors are pressured to use computers by a generation who has grown up on computers, they may become frustrated.

As a Senior Surfer Volunteer, Plante and her fellow volunteers help seniors who are learning basic computer skills: Windows, email, word processing, and the Internet. Senior Surfers takes a peer-to-peer approach to teaching. Retired people coming from similar backgrounds and experiences may relate better with each other.

Joe Karas, a past Community Ed. class teacher, says Plante has been invaluable to the class's success. He said, "Cecilia has been great. She always seems happy sit down with a person who is starting to fall behind and help them catch up. She offers another set of hands as we go through the class."

Cecilia Plante's help with the Community Ed. classes is just the beginning. RSVP is trying to recruit a group of retirees who have experience with computer. The goal is to have these Senior Surfers, along with a curriculum that is being developed, go to people's homes and help them send email, use Microsoft Word, and navigate the Internet.

If you feel that you would like to be part of Senior Surfers, contact Jan Aamoth at 281-8289.