President's Message

Happy New Year and welcome to a fresh term with the Kitchener Tech Club! We’re excited to kick off January with a variety of events that support our mission of learning, sharing, and connecting through technology.

This term (January - March), our Speaker Meetings will be held over Zoom. This not only accommodates weather issues, but allows us to explore alternate formats and speaker opportunities. This month, we will be learning how to distinguish Real or Fake Online, a practical and timely subject for all of us navigating digital information.

We hope that our Share and Learns can continue to be in person, offering a collaborative space for members to exchange ideas and tips on using technology. This month we will be exploring the (Apple) App and (Google) Play Stores and learning how to evaluate apps, as well as download, organize and delete to meet our needs.

We look forward to seeing you at one or more events this month!

~ Susan

Club Events this month

Winter Meetings: Note (January 1 to March 31, 2026): 

All below meetings showing as "IN PERSON" are subject to change to "VIRTUAL" if poor winter driving conditions are forecast for that day. 

• The Zoom link, Meeting ID, and Passcode will be sent in an email reminder to club members at least 24 hours prior to the event.

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WEDNESDAY, JANUARY 14

9:30 - 11:30 AM

DROP-IN (IN PERSON)

Downtown Community Centre:

• Multi-Purpose Room (upstairs)

Click here for more information!

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WEDNESDAY, JANUARY 21

9:30 - 11:30 AM

VIRTUAL SPEAKER MEETING

Online (on ZOOM):

• The Zoom link, Meeting ID, and Passcode will be sent in an email reminder to club members at least 24 hours prior to the event.

Topic: 

• • Real or Fake? How to Tell the Difference Online

Click here for more information!

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MONDAY, JANUARY 26

1:30 - 3:30 PM

VIRTUAL DROP-IN

Online (on ZOOM):

• The Zoom link, Meeting ID, and Passcode will be sent in an email reminder to club members at least 24 hours prior to the event.

Click here for more information!

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WEDNESDAY, JANUARY 28

9:30 - 11:30 AM

SHARE AND LEARN (IN PERSON)

- Coffee and Cookies served ($2 donation suggested)

Downtown Community Centre:

• Multi-Purpose Room (upstairs)

Topic: 

• • Apps: How to Find, Select, Manage Them

Quick Survey:

• • Tell us about an app you use often - click here. Please complete prior to this session.

Click here for more information!

Tech-splorations

In this month's column, we'll explore how to Make ChatGPT Work For You - especially as a Older Adult - except I'm not the one who's leading the exploring this time. I'm letting a 79-year-old expert do the talking. He and his wife have a YouTube channel called AI Made Simple for Life After 50. 

Here's how the authors describe themselves and the purpose of their channel: 

Practical, human-centered AI for curious adults 

We’re Tom and Angela Hathaway, and we help adults 50+ understand and use artificial intelligence with confidence, clarity, and common sense. With decades of experience training, mentoring, and coaching thousands of people worldwide, we’ve always believed that complex ideas should be approachable, practical, and even enjoyable. That hasn’t changed—only the tools have. 

On this channel, we break down generative AI in plain English for people who didn’t grow up with it but want to understand what it means for their lives now. 

You’ll learn how to: 

• Use AI tools to simplify everyday tasks 

• Boost creativity, productivity, and problem-solving 

• Better understand how AI is shaping work, communication, and society 

• Stay informed and capable in a rapidly changing world - without feeling overwhelmed 

If you’re over 50 and want AI to work for you, you’re in the right place. 

A note from Kitchener Tech Club: We're sharing information that's available on YouTube. This source has been chosen because everyone can access it free of charge, without needing to have a Google account. While the Kitchener Tech Club is not endorsing the authors of this video, and your use of any information provided is at your own risk, there are over 11,000 subscribers to the YouTube channel; any of them could easily unsubscribe if information being presented wasn't helpful. 

Remember, you can directly navigate to the Tech-splorations columns anytime on our website. In our website's top navigation menu, click on Tech-splorations. The drop-down menu lists each article in chronological order of publication.

We’re Curious - And That’s Our Strength!

One of the defining traits of our club is curiosity. We ask questions. We explore. We grow. That curiosity is what brings us together at Drop-Ins, Speaker Meetings, and Share & Learn gatherings.

Often, someone else in the room has been exploring a similar question and can offer insights, experiences, or solutions. That shared learning is what makes our community special.

Have you come across something in technology that you found interesting; something we haven’t yet discussed at a meeting? Why not suggest it as a topic?

Talk with one of our executive members - Susan, Ron, Lew, Inge, Jim, Guenter, Ian, Rob, or Jean - and share your idea. It might be perfect for a future Share & Learn session.

Even better, if your discovery came from someone in Waterloo Region, or elsewhere in southern Ontario, tell us who they are and how we might contact them. They could be a great speaker at an upcoming Speaker Meeting!

Let’s keep the questions coming and the learning growing.

Winter 2026 Program Registration

The Winter 2026 term is now in session! That means you need to register with the City of Kitchener for the Kitchener Tech Club activities you want to attend during this recreation season (January 1 - March 31, 2026).

Registration is easy:

1. Visit the front desk of any City of Kitchener Community Centre,

2. Call the City of Kitchener’s Program Registration Support line at 519-741-2907, or

3. Use the City of Kitchener’s ActiveNet online registration portal. We’ve created an ActiveNet Registration Instructions guide for this.

   • The City of Kitchener has its own online information about program registration and using ActiveNet.

The Kitchener Tech Club typically offers four types of activities that you can participate in each month:

1. • • Kitchener Tech Club Drop In (2nd Wed of each month)

     • Kitchener Tech Club Speakers Meeting (3rd Wed of each month)

     • Virtual Kitchener Tech Club Drop In (4th Monday of each month)

     • Kitchener Tech Club Share and Learn Gathering (4th Wed of each month)

New for Winter 2026 Registration: 

1. • • Sign up for a package of activities through one registration! Click the ActiveNet Registration Instructions link (above) for a complete explanation of how to benefit from this feature that you - the members - requested!

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For full details on becoming a member, visit https://www.kitchenertechclub.ca/about/membership-contact.

Connect With Us

There are many ways you can stay up-to-date with what’s happening. Click one of the links below to visit our…

• Kitchener Tech Club website for lots of information about the club, past events, and upcoming dates. 

• Facebook page.

• Instagram page.

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