Seth Meyer/Nevada Appeal Volunteers Jerry Shafer, left, and Robert Lukacs work in the Computer Learning Center at the Nevada Rural Housing Authority. They were recently honored with the June 2004 Jefferson Award for their dedication to the center.
Neither Jerry Shafer nor Bob Lukacs intended to become volunteer instructors and program writers for the Computer Learning Center in Carson City.
Lukacs was reading a newspaper when he saw a short article asking for volunteers to teach classes at the center.
"I answered the request," Shafer said. "I left a message on the recorder.
"Then I went back East and forgot about it. And when I had just about given up hope, Carol Short called me. I came, I saw, tried to conquer, and I'm still here," he added with a laugh.
Lukacs, 61, is a retired manufacturing engineer and has a data-processing background with the federal government. He and his wife, Jeanette, moved to Mound House in 1999 from San Diego after he retired from the federal government after 34 years.
"This program has been very successful," Lukacs said. "We've graduated more than 600 seniors since we started just three years ago."
Shafer, 60, said the hardest part of the course for a senior is walking through the door.
"They're very scared of a computer," Shafer said. "But after a short while, they lose their inhibitions and are eager to try new things. Learning to use a computer can be a person's window to the world if they ever become homebound."
Shafer saw the same article asking for volunteers. He was looking for a house as he and his wife, Janice, were about to move to Carson City from Oregon. Shafer retired as an engineer from the U.S. Forest Service in Eugene, Ore., where he created several computer programs for the federal agency.
"I taught at the University of Oregon and the Eugene senior center computer classes. So I decided to do it here."
Shafer and Lukacs agree a person has to be slow, methodical and have a lot of patience to teach seniors to use computers.
"Teaching's not for everybody," Shafer admitted.
"It takes a special kind of person to teach seniors computers. But the most rewarding thing for us is to see the reaction on their faces when they finally 'get it.' It's worth every moment."
The men's hard work has not gone unnoticed. They were recently honored for their volunteer work by KREN-TV with a Jefferson Award.
The award is given to individuals who do extraordinary things without expectation of recognition or reward. They were nominated by Short, service coordinator.
"These guys have worked their butts off," she said. "They set up the computer lab, built all the computers, and programmed them. They're just wonderful."
"This is my way of giving back to the community some of my knowledge," Lukacs said. "We see a 100 percent improvement from the day they walk in to the day they leave."
"Bob and I built all the computers, networked, wired them, and designed the curriculum. We enjoy it," Shafer said.
The next four-week seniors' class begins July 12.
If you go
What: Computer Learning Center classes for seniors
When: Two-hour classes two days a week
Where: Southgate Apartments, 2100 California St.
Call: Carol Short, 887-1747, ext. 2
Contact Rhonda Costa-Landers at rcosta-landers@nevadaappeal.com or 881-1223.