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Pennsylvania Center’s Reopening Celebration Highlights Increase in Resident Participation


06/09/2009
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East Stroudsburg, PA—Disappointed and sad. That is how senior residents of the Shirley Futch Plaza apartment complex felt when the Shirley Futch Plaza Neighborhood Networks Center closed in 2006 due to staffing issues. With the closing, residents who frequented the center lost a familiar place for recreation and activities, as well as free access to technology and other programs.

All this changed with the arrival of Sharlotte Giberson, the property’s new computer facilitator. One of Giberson’s immediate goals was to reopen the computer center. However, Giberson first had to figure out a way to draw residents back to the center and reassure them that it would not close again. Giberson believed that if she reached out to the residents and established a relationship with them, she could earn their trust and confidence. This is precisely the plan Giberson set in motion, and just four months after it had closed its doors, the Shirley Futch Plaza Neighborhood Networks Center was back in business.

Celebrating Two Years of Success
On March 11, 2009, the Shirley Futch Plaza Neighborhood Networks Center celebrated two years of operation under Giberson’s direction. To mark this milestone, Giberson planned and advertised a back-in-business anniversary party that focused on thanking the residents for making the learning center so successful.

“I was really excited about hosting this event for the residents,” stated Giberson. “I advertised it in our monthly newsletter and placed flyers on each floor of our building. I also promoted the party on the blog that I created when I became the computer facilitator. The blog lists upcoming programs and events. I invited both residents and nonresidents. I also extended a special invitation to residents who frequently visited the center within the last two years and promised to honor them at the party.”

Thirty-three residents and three nonresidents attended the anniversary party. Before Giberson could follow through with her promise and recognize those individuals who often visited the center during the past two years, she first engaged attendees in an icebreaker activity and presented a progress update.

Let’s Relax and Celebrate
To ensure an enjoyable time for attendees, Giberson started the party with a game “Sticky Hands.” For the game, the attendees sat in groups at tables and threw sticky plastic hands with gooey handles at objects, such as wrapped candies, on the table. Whatever object their hand grabbed was theirs to keep.



Shirley Futch Plaza Social Services Coordinator Sue Gehris (right) watches Carol Gueiss play a game of "sticky hands."

“It was so much fun to watch attendees laughing and talking, and trying to grab hold of the wrapped candies,” Giberson added. “They really got into it.”

Once the icebreaker segment ended, Giberson thanked all of the attendees for coming, reminded them of their importance to the center, and assured them that they are the reason the center thrives. Then, using a laptop and liquid crystal display (LCD) video projector, Giberson presented a comprehensive progress report that highlighted the increase in center participation and usage between 2007 and 2008.

“In 2007, users logged a total of 1,029 hours at the center,” reported Giberson. “In 2008, that number jumped to 2,031 hours. I used a line chart to show the monthly increase in resident participation, and a bar chart to compare the numbers of total hours for February 2007 through February 2009. Statistics also showed that the total number of resident visits in 2007 was 674, while in 2008 that number more than doubled to 1,382.”



Shirley Futch Plaza Neighborhood Networks Center Computer Facilitator Sharlotte Giberson compares 2007 and 2008 center computer usage statistics. In 2008, center users logged 1,002 more hours on the computers than in 2007.

Promise Keeper
After the presentation, Giberson again thanked the residents for supporting the center’s programs and activities. She also presented certificates of appreciation to the top 13 most frequent computer center users, including Petra Berrios, Jean Bruck, Marie Counterman, Helen Detrick, Norma Dutter, Patricia Fogarty, Judy Griswinski, Eileen Honsberger, Monika London, Nettie Martling, Verna Overpeck, Carol Romansky, and Lucille Schmidt.

“Our presentation and awards ceremony concluded with hot pretzels and citrus water,” said Giberson. “The party was a huge success, and since the party, the center has seen an increase in participation.”

Never to Old to Learn
While Giberson’s charts and statistics clearly demonstrate the success and value of the Shirley Futch Plaza Neighborhood Networks Center, perhaps nothing is more powerful than hearing what an impact the center and Giberson have had on actual users:

“I didn’t have to stop learning because of my age,” said Mary Ann Armillei. “The center has opened a whole new vocabulary to me, as well as a way to communicate with the outside world, especially with fellow cooks. I am very pleased with the opportunity. Thanks to our very capable facilitator, Sharlotte Giberson, there is nothing she can't teach you to do with this fantastic computer. What a joy and a boost to my ego.”

“I love the computer. I make cards to send to my family, create labels, e-mail my children and friends, conduct research, and play games. I think Sharlotte is the greatest teacher I ever had,” said Helen Detrick.

“Sharlotte and the computer room have changed my life and way of thinking about computers in so many ways. What a blessing she is. I now know how to do things I never dreamed I could. For example, I send e-mails, make cards, and send and receive pictures of my family in California. I now have my own computer, printer, and digital camera. I guess you could call me a computer geek now. I’m proud of what I can do and it’s all because of Sharlotte and the center,” explained Carol Romansky.

“I always said I did not want to learn how to use the computer, but now I am so glad I did,” said Verna Overpeck. “Sharlotte is such a great teacher. I learned how to make cards and sign-up sheets for all of our events. I keep in touch with friends and family through e-mail. I can’t wait to visit the computer center.”

For more information about Neighborhood Networks centers in Pennsylvania, contact:

David R. Kolar
U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development
Pittsburgh Multifamily Program Center
339 Sixth Avenue, Sixth Floor
Pittsburgh, PA 15222-2515
(412) 644–6866

Susan J. Noce
U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development
Philadelphia Multifamily Hub
The Wanamaker Building
100 Penn Square East
Philadelphia, PA 19107-3380
(215) 861–7583

For more information about the Shirley Futch Plaza Neighborhood Networks Center, contact:

Sharlotte Giberson
Computer Facilitator
Shirley Futch Plaza Neighborhood Networks Center
4 South Kistler Street
East Stroudsburg, PA 18301
(570) 421-1517


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