Monthly Update - July 2024
Welcome back to our monthly blog! It is hard to believe that we are halfway through the summer already and the pesky “back to school sales” commercials are about to start.
In a typical year, computer output slows down over the summertime as schools and many other programs take a much-needed break. This summer is not like the ones in the past! We exceeded our monthly distribution goal by 200 computers while additionally working on 500 laptops for a special project in partnership with the Ministry of Children & Family Development, and prepping equipment for the September (dare I say it??) Back to School Garage Sale. Our thanks go out to our amazing clients and our hardworking technicians.
In July we welcomed three new CFS Interns, Reva, Anson, and Hal to our team. They have admirably stepped into some large orders and have risen to the challenge of completing their assignments on time, collaborating as a team, and delivering quality refurbished products for our clients.
We are excited to work with two new school districts; Pacific Rim and Fraser Cascade. Both districts requested a few ‘extras’ which we were happy to accommodate. First, through consultation, we provided test units to ensure that particular make/model of laptop would work well for them, and offered to install district images on the machines. This imaging service is available to any client who wants to save time and resources while we are already doing the software installation work. In 2011 we distributed 1400 computers to the Greater Victoria School District with their image preloaded on the machines allowing for that huge install of equipment into school labs over a 3-month period. It worked so well for them as it became “plug and play”.
We would love to hear our current client’s thoughts on offering imaging services regularly. Is this something your school or non-profit would benefit from? Let us know by sending an email to ClientServices@ReuseTechBC.ca. We appreciate your feedback!
We received a lovely message from a satisfied client. Ann received her first-ever computer from BC Tech this month, and since then has been able to learn how to use Google search, and YouTube. Thanks to Ann and her sister Violet for sharing! We’re so glad to have been able to offer you a laptop at a low cost through BC Tech programs.
We’ll leave you with an interview with our longest-standing Board Director, Peter Vogel, to close out this month’s blog. Enjoy the rest of your summer, and stay cool out there.
Meet Our Board
Director: Peter Vogel
What is your role at BC Tech and what skills do you bring to the organization?
Director at large. I bring an educational perspective, having dealt with CFS / BC Tech for school gear almost from the inception of the program from my career as a teacher in a Vancouver Independent school.
When did you join BC Tech’s Board?
In 2017.
Why did you want to join the board of directors?
CFS (as it was then) was part of day-to-day work looking after educational technology in my school. We benefited directly from the CFS program on a number of occasions. To be able to be part of the operations side, through a board position, seemed to me to be a terrific opportunity.
What impacts are you most excited about?
It's been wonderful to see the organization develop new programs, all the while maintaining the original mandate of putting otherwise end of life gear back into productive, educational use.
What do you enjoy doing in your spare time?
I am very active with computer, radio, and satellite and photography technology. I also write a biweekly newspaper column on technology impacts.
What’s the best piece of professional advice you ever received?
From a photographer: If you think you are close enough for that shot, take one step closer.
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