REC NEWSLETTERNews and information for our members In this issue:

Rothsay Education Centre, 6 Rothsay Gardens, Bedford. 01234 3022031 P.T.O

MESSAGE FROM DAVID - CHIEF OFFICER COURSES RUNNING VIA ZOOM

July 3rd 2020 Issue 8

*Message from David *Zoom Courses

*Zoom Practice Meeting*Members’ Zoom Feedback

*Tutors’ Zoom Feedback*Zoom Artwork

Have you yet to book on one of ourcourses running via Zoom as you feel alittle apprehensive? Zoom is now verysecure due to passwords and waitingrooms so no one can enter the coursewithout the tutor allowing them in.

Zoom is free to download and use andcan be installed on PCs, tablets andlaptops etc. https://zoom.us

Thank you to all who have renewed yourmembership and signed-up for courses in ournew 2020 programme which successfully wentlive without any glitches last month thanks to agreat effort from staff. Given the pandemic anduncertainty we’ve been reasonably pleasedwith the level of take-up but we need more.Like all organisations coronavirus has affectedus and we do need as many students as possibleto sign-up. All courses will be online throughthe summer holiday and Autumn term andwhile I appreciate that classes on Zoom are notthe same as at the Centre, the feedback we aregetting from tutors and students as you’ll see inthis newsletter and on the website is that thelearning is just as good. Plus, many classes arealso providing an opportunity in their coffeebreaks for some social catching-up! So, if youhaven’t signed-up already please do so as soonas possible.

Would you be interested in attendinga practice Zoom meeting with a RECstaff member? If so, please emailadmin@recbedford.co.uk to expressyour interest.

The Zoom Edi t i on!

2 www.recbedford.co.uk

And finally.........ZOOM ARTWORK!

ZOOM FEEDBACK FROM OUR MEMBERS

Zoom is a fantastic tuition method. I can see 'the right way up'.....you can [only] see a little part of the demo atthe REC and with all my stuff infront of me I no longer forget what I must do by the time I have got back to mydesk. I miss seeing others but I don't miss having to pack bags or the journey. [Art]

I had never done Zoom before but it's really easy. I did register so I could use it for a family quiz but you don't needto. You just type in the password number and that's it. The only thing I’ll miss is having a chat at coffee time - youcan chat with others but it's not as good as face to face!

We would all love to be at the REC building, chatting with friends and fellow students, having a coffee or lunch atthe café, but, for now, we can't. So if you love your lessons, whether art or languages etc, enjoy having somestructure while at home, then Zoom is excellent. Zoom is easy to use after a little practice and you can see others butnot be seen yourself if you wish. I am so glad that Zoom is being used to keep our interests alive. Do try it at least.

I have thoroughly enjoyed Frank's course and the way he handles it. It has even enabled us students to socialiseduring the coffee break and I feel I have got to know some new , people if only from a distance!

Just to say how much I am enjoying the 'one off'  Zoom sessions! The ones I have joined so far have beeninteresting,  and being with others, albeit in a virtual kind of way, has helped enormously to lessen the feelingof isolation.  Thank you.

ZOOM FEEDBACK FROM TUTORSLike many of us, I had never even heard of Zoom until a few months ago. Now, I am Zooming withREC students five times a week, and really enjoying every session. Of course, we all have to acceptthat there will be technical glitches and hitches from time to time; so we are cultivating patiencewith each other. A moment I always enjoy is when I click on 'Admit all', and little by little the galleryof faces appears, and each participant's face lights up as (s)he sees and waves to those we now thinkof as Zoom friends. We often catch up on how our week has been going, we have a coffee or teabreak, and give each other a cheery wave as we say our goodbyes. Cats and dogs make guestappearances from time to time, as do partners, and if all goes well, perhaps we shall glimpse theoccasional grandchild before too much longer. Jenny

Look what can be achieved in aZoom art class! This fabulouspicture was created by one of ourmembers in David Lewry’s ThursdayWatercolour & Drawing Challengecourse. David has invested in somehi-tech equipment to enable him todemonstrate various techniques tohis students so they can see hisdrawing and painting in great detail.The painting to the left is just oneexample of the outstanding artworkcreated by our members.

Zoom must be one of the most user-friendly programs in current use. You receive the invitation tojoin the meeting [course] click on the link and you're in. It's as simple as that. Even those new to it arepleasantly surprised. I don't know of a single instance where it hasn't worked. Tim