This month on a general note, I’d like to make an appeal to every member to invite a friend, neighbor or co-worker to our meetings. Our membership is declining. It’s slow, but it’s happening, and we need suggestions from our membership on how to improve it, but, most of all, we need new faces. Email me at MerleNic@tampabay.rr.com with your suggestions.

Our cash doorprize has been doing well since we started two months ago. The proceeds are small, but needed. Our thanks to Mary Sheridan, who suggested that it be revived and volunteered to collect it at both meetings.

Our longtime hardworking Comm SIG leader Charles Howe has resigned from the Board of Directors. Charles has steadfastly dedicated his time for the SIG for many years. It will be difficult to replace you, Charles. Thanks for these many years of dedicated service, Charles.

On a personal note, I’d like to mention my foray into graphics and photo editing. I bought a scanner just before Christmas and then in January picked up an HP722C deskjet printer. This printer is one of two inkjet printers that use a larger, newer type of ink cartridge. It started with the professional series 820C, replaced by the 890C. The 890C ($400) and 722C ($300) have labels on them "Includes Kodak Image enhancements". These printers render just outstanding color pictures. I’ve bought photo paper and also a pack of greeting card paper. My photo editing so far has been limited to cropping and red-eye elimination and some brightness/contrast adjustments. I’ve sent two cards out to relatives, with photos and personal notes using Printmaster. They were just delighted with the cards. The prices on scanners have just hit rock bottom. A hundred dollars gets you a good parallel port model and for $20 or so more you can get one that uses a SCSI interface. Great fun. See you at the next meeting. u