The FWIO Partnership Garden is Blooming!

FWIO's ROSE Program and PointerWare Innovations Ltd. have struck a

special relationship in order to make computers and the Internet more

accessible to FWIO Members, their families and friends.    

PointerWare is an easy-to-use computer platform that helps anyone get

online and stay connected with family and the wider world. Even if you've

never used a computer, you can use PointerWare – it's that easy. 

Buttons using large fonts and plain English offer uncomplicated choices

that let you read and send messages to loved ones, play brain-fitness

games, organize photos, see and talk to your children and grandchildren

with PointerWare video chat and even check on the weather, news or

anything else you want to via the Internet. 

If you're a senior (or if you know a senior) who has never used a computer

before but would love to be able to send electronic messages to family or

see what the Internet has to offer, this is a great opportunity.  And while

PointerWare is immensely popular with seniors, it's also an ideal solution

for those who struggle with conventional computer systems.  This innovative

technology is closing the digital divide by providing accessible computing

for special populations with Macular Degeneration, Parkinson's, Alzheimer's

and other physical and mental disabilities. 

Our relationship with PointerWare means a couple of things:

• Members and their families and friends will receive a special

        FWIO discount ($129 versus the regular $149 fee) when

        they sign up for a PointerWare subscription. 

• In addition, PointerWare will supplement our fundraising efforts

        by giving FWIO 10% of the proceeds from every subscription

        sold to FWIO Members and their families and friends. 

This is an exciting opportunity to take advantage of the many benefits

of being online.  Connected individuals are healthier and happier than their

non-Internet using counterparts.  Those who connect with family, friends

and the wider community via email and the Internet are less likely to suffer

from depression.  Age-related dementia can be slowed, and possibly

reversed, when seniors take advantage of computer-based brain-fitness

games. Self-esteem goes up when individuals learn something new, and

some studies suggest that those who take advantage of what the Internet

has to offer are able to stay independent longer.  The list goes on and on. 

Download your free trial copy of PointerWare by going to http://pointerware.com/fwio .

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ROSE CHALLENGE 2010

In the spirit of Canada hosting the Vancouver 2010 Olympic Games, we are

pleased to announce a new ROSE Program Challenge - ROSE Challenge 2010

A friendly competition to encourage as many WI Branches as possible to host

ROSE Sessions - and submit their profile forms to the FWIO Provincial Office.

You don't have to be a star athlete to participate - many Branches are already

hosting ROSE Sessions! They are "short courses," workshops, demonstrations,

guest speakers - in other words ROSE Sessions are anything educational that

involves the public. Several Branches host ROSE Sessions each month as their

regular WI Meeting.

For your chance to bring home the gold, simply host your ROSE Session, and

submit the NEW ROSE Profile form to the FWIO Provincial Office. (The form has

been emailed out to Branches on the email list, can be downloaded from the

FWIO website, or photocopied by your Board Director or AVD.  The form is also

available at the Provincial Office). Your Branch could appear on the prestigious

WI Podium of Champions and win some great prizes for everyone in your Branch.

Contest Details

Submit forms for events that have not previously been sent in - duplicate events

will be disqualified.  ROSE Session Profile Forms must contain ROSE Sessions held

from October 1, 2009 to September 30, 2010.  Participation in ROSE Challenge

2010 is not mandatory. If you are unable to host an event during this time frame,

there is no need to submit a form.  Entry deadline is October 11, 2010 -  NO

exceptions will be made.  Winners will be selected by October 15, 2010 and will

be announced on the FWIO website www.fwio.on.ca and in the provincial

newsletter.  Stay tuned to the ROSE Program E-Updates, our Facebook page and

the new FWIO Blog (www.wirosegarden.wordpress.com ) for news. 

Email your completed form to roseprogram@fwio.on.ca or mail your form to the

FWIO Provincial Office.

** Please note, the new ROSE Session Profile Form allows you to submit 3 events

at once.  You may use the form to submit 1, 2 or 3 events as necessary. **

GOOD LUCK!