I am looking forward to a huge turnout, and I really hope you can pop over and join us. Here is everything you need to know:

📅 Save The Date: The Senior Expo

• Day: Wednesday, August 12th

• Time: 12:00 PM to 3:00 PM

• Location: Kirkwood Community College: Linn County Regional Center

• Address: 1770 E Boyson Road, Hiawatha, IA 52233

• More Info: crelderly.org/senior-expo

Hello everyone,

I am incredibly excited to invite you to an event I’ve been looking forward to all year. I always say this: the Senior Expo is the Super Bowl for senior citizen service providers. Between the amazing number of seniors that come out, the incredible amount of free stuff given away, and just the overall energetic vibe, it truly is a can’t-miss day for the community.

I am especially proud to be deeply involved in this year’s Expo. I have been serving on the programming committee to help bring it all together, and Technically Easier will be there in full force. I am thrilled to be a food sponsor for the event, and I will be setting up a booth where you can come by, grab some info, and say hello.

Even better, I am honored to be one of the four presenters leading a breakout session! My session will be entirely focused on tech—breaking down confusing topics, answering your questions, and sharing practical tips to make your devices work for you.

If you are planning to attend, please let me know in the comments. Be sure to track down my booth and chat.

This summer has been moving fast, and I have a lot of exciting updates, new community events, and a quick tech breakdown to share with you.

🎉 Recap: Ageless Insights

A huge thank you to everyone who came out to the Ageless Insights event on July 2nd! It was a fantastic time, and it is officially going to be an annual tradition. I’ll be posting some pictures and video from the event down below shortly so you can check out how it went. Looking forward to doing an event like this again next year :)

https://agelessinsightsia.com/past-events/ See a video of my event and all other events they have had at the above link.

📅 Class Updates & New Free Tech Sessions

It has been a busy couple of months in the classroom, and the schedule is only

growing:

Upcoming Tech Classes at Kirkwood

I’m looking forward to getting back into the classroom. If you want to learn how to get more out of your devices or simplify your digital life, check out my upcoming continuing education workshops through Kirkwood Community College:

• Android Basics: We will cover the essentials of getting the most out of your Android smartphone. Many different times and locations that this class is offered.

• Cord Cutting: Tuesday, August 25, 2026 at 5:30 PM. A practical guide to ditching traditional cable and navigating the world of modern streaming services.

• https://www.technicallyeasier.com/classes-offered has full dates times and links to register for the classes with Kirkwood.

• Last Month (MyChart): We had a great turnout for the MyChart class, where we focused strictly on how to confidently use and navigate the portal to manage your medical records and appointments.

• This Month (AI): If you are curious about Artificial Intelligence and how it actually impacts your day-to-day life, I am running a class on AI this month. July 30th @130PM Tech Advice - AI for 55+ Local and more info https://www.bridgeseniorcenter.org/contact

• Upcoming Bridge Class: I will be hosting another Tech class at the the bridge on August 17th at 1:30 PM.

• A Forum on Aging: I will be participating in Session 1 of “A FORUM ON AGING: Resources for your Journey”. It takes place on Thursday, August 27th from 5:00 PM to 7:30 PM in the Community Room at the Marion Public Library. Doors open at 4:30 PM. My business, Technically Easier, will be part of the expert panel, discussing resources available for seniors in the corridor alongside other great local organizations. There will be a drawing for door prizes during the session, and refreshments will be provided!

  

🚨 NEW: Free Public Tech Help (Starting in September)

I am incredibly excited to announce that starting the 3rd Wednesday of the month in September, I will be hosting a free, open-to-the-public tech help session. If you are familiar with the drop-in tech help I do at the Hiawatha Public Library, this will be a very similar format. Bring your devices, bring your questions, and we will get things sorted out.

Senior Expo 2026!

Save The Date: The Senior Expo

• Day: Wednesday, August 12th

• Time: 12:00 PM to 3:00 PM

• Location: Kirkwood Community College: Linn County Regional Center

• Address: 1770 E Boyson Road, Hiawatha, IA 52233

• More Info: crelderly.org/senior-expo

🚌 Catching the Bus to the State Fair

It wouldn’t be August in Iowa without the State Fair! This year, I am taking the bus down to Des Moines to cover my volunteer shifts at the Harper Telephone Museum. Taking the bus is a fantastic way to avoid the parking headache and just enjoy the ride. If you are heading to the fair, be sure to stop by the museum and say hello!

Nothing Compares to the Iowa State Fair- Hiawatha Bus Trip 2026 LINK $45 for the trip.

📧 The “Big Three” Email Options

Let’s talk about email. Most people set up an inbox years ago and never look back, but you have choices. Depending on how much you value privacy versus convenience, here is a quick breakdown of the three main options you should consider:

• Gmail: The undisputed heavyweight. It is incredibly convenient, ties seamlessly into Google Docs, Drive, and Android devices, and has excellent spam filtering. The trade-off is that Google scans your data to serve targeted ads.

  http://gmail.com/

• Proton Mail: The privacy-first powerhouse. Based in Switzerland, Proton uses end-to-end encryption, meaning not even the company can read your emails. It is fantastic for keeping your personal communications secure, though it takes a little adjusting if you are used to the Google ecosystem. https://proton.me/mail

• Tuta Mail: (Formerly Tutanota). Another excellent, highly secure alternative. Like Proton, it offers end-to-end encryption and a strict zero-tracking policy. It is open-source, fast, and has a very straightforward interface if you want maximum privacy without any extra clutter. https://tuta.com/

Have you ever considered switching away from Gmail, or does the convenience keep you locked in? Let me know in the comments!

As I officially hit the mid-thirties mark, I’ve been reflecting on how this past year has shaped my views on public service, free speech, and the wild, rewarding journey of being 100% self-employed.

1. From the Sidelines to the Dais

If you had told me a few years ago that I’d be sitting on the Hiawatha City Council, I would have been skeptical. But after being sworn in last November, the perspective shift has been profound.

Serving on council isn’t about grand political posturing; it’s about the granular details of how a community actually functions. It’s a lesson in transparency and a daily reminder of the weight of Free Speech. In local government, protecting the right to speak means actively listening to ideas you agree with and, more importantly, those you don’t. True civic duty requires the courage to speak up and the discipline to listen.

2. Going All-In: The Power of Print and the Local Media

The biggest personal shift of this past year was leaving the corporate structure of a W2 job to go all-in on Technically Easier. Transitioning to full self-employment is both liberating and terrifying, but the community response has been incredible.

Recently, I had the honor of being featured in two great places. Midwest Marketing LINK featured my business in a wonderful blog post, and I was also featured in the Sunday print edition of the Cedar Rapids Gazette LINK.

I quickly learned a valuable marketing lesson: never underestimate the power of physical print. Turns out, a lot of senior citizens still love reading the Sunday newspaper. That single print feature brought in about three dozen new customers the very next Monday, and the referrals haven’t stopped since.

3. Finding My Voice (and some comedy) in Advocacy

A huge focus of my business is bridging the digital divide for older adults, and this year has brought some incredible opportunities to connect with leaders in that space:

• Cedar Rapids Elderly Consortium: After about two years of networking and waiting for a slot, I finally got the chance to speak in front of this amazing group. It went incredibly well—several people told me I was practically a comedian with how I communicate tech concepts. More importantly, it gave me a deeper understanding of my own “why.” I walked away with new individual clients and invitations from local institutions to host monthly recurring classes at their facilities.

• The Corridor Conference on Aging: I recently hosted a booth at their inaugural event. It was great to connect with folks—I already knew about a fourth of the attendees! A lot of them were actually surprised and disappointed that I wasn’t on the main stage, so I’m happy to share that I’ll be back next year as a featured technology presenter. https://www.kirkwood.edu/programs/community/corridor-conference-on-aging

• The Bridge Senior Center: I’m proud to serve on their Board of Directors and teach monthly classes there. Because they had a major event landing right on my 35th birthday, I decided to bring the celebration to them and host my birthday party right at the center.

  https://www.bridgeseniorcenter.org/

• Looking Ahead: I’ve also joined the programming committee for the upcoming Horizons Our Place Senior Center and look forward to building out tech curriculum for when they open their doors in about a year.

4. The Horizon: Building a Sustainable Future

Everything is culminating this August, as I am serving on the planning committee for the upcoming Senior Expo happening August 12th at the Linn County Regional Center right here in Hiawatha. https://www.crelderly.org/senior-expo

Looking back at the path to 35, I feel incredibly blessed by the life-enriching people and opportunities that have come my way. Whether I’m teaching my regular continuing education classes at Kirkwood, helping someone solve a frustrating tablet issue in their living room, or voting on city ordinances, it all feeds into the same goal: building a sustainable, long-term business that is deeply, mutually beneficial for me and the community I call home.

Thanks to everyone who has trusted me with their technology, their votes, and their support. Here’s to making 35 the most impactful year yet.