Tech Heroes: Geezer Squad Volunteers Help Keep Residents Connected
Not all heroes wear capes, fly through the sky, or drive emergency vehicles. At Lenbrook, many residents consider the Geezer Squad members as heroes. This volunteer resident group assists fellow Lenbrook Residents with a range of technology-related issues and helps them better understand and use their devices.
The Geezer Squad started in 2018, when founding member Jim Cochrane, a self-described “computer geek with no formal training,” gathered a group of volunteers to be on call to assist other residents with their computers. The team soon began to spend about 12 hours a month helping others.
Today, the Geezer Squad operates in the Computer Room on Tuesdays and Thursdays. Seven volunteer members help residents with Windows, Android, iOS, and macOS needs: John Corsiglia, Warren Culpepper, Tilda Kaplan, Lewis Kravitz, Corrie Schweigler, Steven Steindel, and Paul Tribble. They do not have formal IT training, but each one has spent years working with modern technology in their careers and personal lives.
“The biggest joy is helping other residents with day-to-day computer issues,” said Steven Steindel. “From ordering something online to correcting a password to solving deeper technical issues, we are here to help. We do not generally work on desktops, printers, or other peripherals, as the Lenbrook IT team helps with those.”
The biggest issue the Squad assists others with is forgotten passwords and encourage residents to use password manager programs. They also provide helpful tips for staying secure online and navigating today’s digital tools with confidence, like using technology such as Zoom and FaceTime to support regular communication with children and grandchildren. Finally, they help residents identify spam messages, although they cannot assist victims due to legal issues.
Residents consistently tell Squad members how grateful they are for the assistance these volunteers provide.
“We enjoy helping our neighbors solve technology problems,” Steindel said. “If we don’t have an answer, we try to point folks in the right direction.”