Don Piller Brings "OASIS to You"
After retiring from a job as a professional trainer and consultant, Don Piller found that he really missed teaching people. He looked around for a new opportunity to fill that role and found it at OASIS in Escondido.
For the past four years Piller has taught OASIS Connection computer classes like Windows, Excel, PowerPoint and Quicken. He also mentors staff and volunteers who are learning new technology skills for use on the job.
"I love training people. I love the challenge of it and the way people respond," Piller says. One man in the Excel class told me 'Now I am really starting to understand this!' I derive a lot of satisfaction from that."
Piller is now working with Escondido OASIS director Donna Toro on the Connections outreach project funded by the AT&T Foundation to bring more computer classes out to the community. They started with a program called "OASIS to You," bringing laptops donated by Qualcomm to a senior residence and offering classes. Piller modified a rolling cart to make transporting the equipment easier. Toro and Piller are now planning more Connections classes at other community sites convenient for mature adults.