Roanoke Times
Copyright (c) 1995, Landmark Communications, Inc.
DATE: THURSDAY, September 2, 1993 TAG: 9309020878
SECTION: NEIGHBORS PAGE: E-34 EDITION: METRO
SOURCE: Charles Stebbins
DATELINE: LENGTH: Short
The source of her elation is the school's new computer lab, which Washenberger admits has her "real excited."
The lab was set up after the school received 15 free computers from the ELFUN Society, a community service organization made up of General Electric retirees and employees nationwide.
ELFUN members recondition computers that have been retired by GE and then donate them to nonprofit groups.
Tom Blakley, a member, said Carver is one of several projects his group has undertaken recently in the Roanoke Valley. Computers - and training in their operation - have been given to other schools and charitable organizations throughout the area, he said, including a computer lab at Glen Cove Elementary School in Roanoke County.
A GE employee who has a child attending Carver put the society in touch with the school, Blakley said.
Each classroom already had an Apple computer, but Washenberger said she has wanted to get a computer lab for a long time.
When this offer came along she jumped at it and Blakley said "it was unbelievable how she moved" when the offer was made to Washenberger for the used GE computers. "In just two days she had found a room, gotten approval of the superintendent and started picking up the computers," he said.
Washenberger said the computer lab will greatly expand her school's training. Many different educational programs can be loaded into the computers, she said.
by CNB