Kathie, a member of Alamo PC since about 1995, developed a serious interest in computers when she returned to school for a Masters degree in Library Science. That was in Kentucky. Now, she's into a variety of computer operations: database management — both in her profession as librarian at Smithson Valley High School and in her Alamo PC work as Volunteer Coordinator, computers as teaching adjuncts at S-V, and troubleshooting for other teachers there. She loves Susan Ives’ monthly Net Nerds column and, with her permission, frequently uses material from the column in teaching. Kathie assumed the position of Volunteer Coordinator for Alamo PC about a year ago and is most apt to be spotted arranging special events such as the recent holiday party and the Microsoft Corporation's presentation on Office 2000.

Kathie’s travels as a military wife took her far beyond Kentucky, of course, occasionally into near scrapes that she can laugh about now. Once, for example, she and several friends — ladies alone, traveling by car on a shopping trip but on somewhat unfamiliar roads — saw the landscape around them changing. It took on the appearance of a no-man’s land…became barren. Then they saw the barbed wire and judiciously decided to turn around. They soon discovered they'd inadvertently crossed from West Germany to Czechoslovakia! Except for an occasional “oops!” like this, Kathie enjoyed the ease of driving in Europe, and shopping, the scenery and the camaraderie of the friends she met in their travels.

Of a retirement locale, “This is about as far south as we wanted to go,” says Kathie. She and Walter are originally from the Valley and Walter's dad still lives there. Son Jim writes source code for platform oil rigs — something that must be absolutely correct before the rig is submerged, says Kathie. Son Bryan, a 1^st Lieutenant in the Signal Corps at Ft. Campbell, runs computers in the 5^th Special Forces Support Group. Daughter Judy, a school nurse who works with special ed kids, lives here in San Antonio. The whole family is now into PCs, including the three grandkids.

Kathie invites others to join her in greeting the 21^st century as an Alamo PC volunteer.