We were chartered in July, 1996 as a non-profit corporation, originally named "Raleigh SeniorNet Learning Center" with funding and equipment provided by Raleigh Community Hospital (now known as Duke Raleigh Hospital), IBM and the Bell South Corporation.
In the summer of 2007 , Red Cross joined as an additional sponsor and in August, 2007 we moved our Learning Center classrooms to the American Red Cross building on N. Peartree Lane.
During the summer of 2011, we moved our Learning Center to the Marsh Creek Community Center on New Hope Road. We also started working with the City of Raleigh Parks and Recreation Dept., preparing to move into our new City of Raleigh Senior Center and become the technology training resource for seniors in the Raleigh area.
In February 2012, we separated from the national organization and changed our name to Raleigh Senior
TechEd.
In summer we moved into the brand new Raleigh Parks and Recreation Five Points Center for Active Adults and started classes there in September and at the Anne Gordon Center for Active Adults shortly thereafter.
In December 2017, the City of Raleigh transferred the responsibility for technology education from volunteers to city employees. Raleigh Senior TechEd found two new facility sponsors, the Town of Knightdale Parks and Recreation and St James United Methodist Church. In March of 2018 we started classes in both of these locations.
In 2018 we celebrated our 22nd anniversary. Since our beginning we have:
- formed a non-profit corporation with a Board of Directors and Officers to direct activities.
- averaged approximately 40 volunteers per year (instructors, tutors and support staff).
- offered nearly 3200 courses.
- taught more than 4700 students (many taking several courses).
- averaged nearly 3800 student hours per year.
- averaged almost 4800 volunteer hours per year.
Raleigh Senior Tech Ed has expanded our outreach for technical help (includes help with PCs, laptops, Apple devices, Smartphones, etc.) into several Senior Living communities in our area. The latest addition is the Overture at Crabtree starting with Meet & Greet Open Help* on Nov. 16 at 11am. *Open Help Sessions at Overture/Crabtree have recently been expanded to include genealogy questions.
These Help sessions focus mainly on tech issues. ANY question & ANY problem -- e.g., "how do I take pictures with my Smartphone?" I can't get my printer to work with my laptop," "how can I find the file I just saved?", etc. The sessions have been set up for the convenience of the residents of Overture, and are currently scheduled for the 1st & 3rd Thursday of the month. The Overture management has graciously permitted the sessions to be open to the public.
Besides Overture @ Crabtree, we also hold these events at The Cambridge @ Brier Creek, Whispering Pines Adult Community on Lead Mine & Sawmill Rd, A.E. Finley YMCA at Six Forks & Baileywick Rds. (just off of I-540) and St. James UMC on New Hope Church Road near Buffalo Road.
As an organization, we are proud of what we have done -- and even more excited about plans for the future!