During a recent discussion among some AERC directors, we were trying to figure out the best way to notify members of upcoming issues and get their feedback in an efficient manner. Endurance News, mass mailings, notification at rides, etc., were all brought up but the first method mentioned was the computer.

A few years ago this would never have come into my mind. I figured computers would always remain a mystery to me as I was way past school age. While I continue to learn new things about our sport, I figure something that complicated was far beyond me.

Then my daughter was able to learn to use a computer at work, bought her own PC and started printing out all the horse stuff and jokes for me to read. Soon I was sitting in front of her computer taking lessons. Luckily I took typing back in the Dark Ages when I was in high school. I know if I had to "hunt and peck" I would have given up. Now I spend an hour or so every day I am at home "talking" to new and old friends all over the world. Writing letters is a lost art and I save a fortune on phone bills thanks to instant messaging.

I have been on one small "chat list" since that day when I got my very own PC for Christmas and that group is just like my immediate family. We share the good and the bad times and every year I hope to meet another one face to face.

These days, when this sport and AERC are growing bigger and bigger, I think it is great that we can keep in contact with each other in this manner. But, I try to remind myself and others that there are still quite a few folks who are not and will not be at ease with the computer and we must continue to pursue the other methods of staying in contact with our members.

The board of directors is currently working on a questionnaire that will be sent out to the membership. There will be many different questions from personal information to your feelings about the workings of AERC. When you receive your questionnaire, I hope you will all sit down and fill it out and mail it back. It is so much easier for the board to find out how you feel on issues before we act, but if you donŐt tell us, we cannot know.