Last Updated on August 11, 2025
CHUG Charlestown User Group
Co-Leader Ann MacKay
Co-Leader Hope Tillman
Ann MacKay started the Apple Charlestown User Group in March 2013 to offer monthly programs geared to Apple devices. Hope Tillman, a co-leader with Ann, started basic hands-on help with a Technology User Group for beginners and novice users of both Apple Mac/iOS products and PC/Android products. CHUG is both a registered Apple user group for residents with Apple products and a Windows/Android user group for residents with Windows and Android products.
CHUG meets monthly except for August and December.
The website is https://chug.info Check the website for the latest meeting announcement.
Google groups (CCI-CHUG@googlegroups.com) is used for a private email list for meeting announcements and other information. Call one of the leaders to get on the mailing list
This group is for residents who want to develop comfort with technology using laptops, computers, smartphones, tablets, and other devices. Learn something new or refresh your memory.
Basic help will be offered twice a month, and Apple programs on new applications and updates will continue once a month.
All events will be advertised on one flyer.
Contact Information: See the Resident Directory for contact information
| Schedule | Times | Focus | Location |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1st Monday | 11:00 AM – 12:00 PM | Apple Help | Brookside Classroom 1 |
| 2nd Monday | 11:00 AM – 12:00 PM | PC/Android Help | Brookside Classroom 1 |
CHUG table at CGO Expo September 2024
CHUG table at Fruits of our Labors September 2023
CHUG Offers Some Gift Ideas for Apple Users
The Apple Charlestown User Group (CHUG) will not meet in December, 2021. However, they have submitted a list of gift ideas for Apple users.
Apple Gift Ideas
If your children or grandchildren are struggling to figure out what you need for a holiday gift, circle an item on the list below. Suggest they pool the money for one big item rather than multiple small items. Consider last year’s model for iPhones or Apple watches.
• Apple Watch 4 or above with fall detection if you have an iPhone already
• Upgrade the iPhone with walking steadiness on the Health app
• AirPods if you are not wearing hearing aids
• M1 iMac 24-inch in 7 vibrant colors
• M1 MacBook Air
• M1 Mac mini to use with existing monitor and keyboard
• Air Tags to add to your keychain or put in your purse or on anything that you tend to misplace.
• iPad 9th Generation offers all-day battery life at a budget-friendly price.
• Apple Pencil (first-generation) for $94.88 to go with the new iPad 9th Generation
• iPad Air 4 has Touch ID, USB-C charging and supports the second-generation Apple Pencil.
• 2nd generation Apple pencil to go with a new iPad Air
• iPad mini 6 also supports the second-generation Apple Pencil.
• AirPods Max are Apple’s high-end over-the-ear headphones if you wear hearing aids.
• Accessories for any item.
• Podswap.com to trade out older AirPods and now iPhones.
• Gift of their time to help you with the setup and transfer of information from old devices.
Contact Ann MacKay to get on the mailing list. Contact information can be found in the Resident Directory, available on MyErickson.
IOS15 Features – Apple Charlestown User Group (CHUG) Nov. Meeting
The Apple Charlestown User Group (CHUG) meets on November 18 at 1:00 p.m. This will be a ZoomAI Companion is a generative AI-powered assistant from Zoom (for those with the paid version). It uses large language models from OpenAI, Anthropic, and Meta, and has also trained itself by listening in on thousands of meetings between Zoom employees. Some of its uses include:
• Summarizing... READ MORE meeting.
We will cover some of the new features in the iOS 15 for the iPad and iPhone. We will highlight the Walking Steadiness feature in the Health App on the iPhone. It is designed to identify people who may be at risk for falls.
Contact Ann MacKay (info is in the Resident Directory) to get on the CHUG mailing list and get the ZoomAI Companion is a generative AI-powered assistant from Zoom (for those with the paid version). It uses large language models from OpenAI, Anthropic, and Meta, and has also trained itself by listening in on thousands of meetings between Zoom employees. Some of its uses include:
• Summarizing... READ MORE link.
CHUG October Meeting
Add October 21, 2021, to your calendar for the Apple CHUG meeting at 1:00 p.m. Depending on the status of the county COVID positivity rate, we may be using Zoom.
Marie Skane returns as the presenter offering the fundamentals to help you be more adept with your iPhone or iPad. Titled Tips & Tricks & Email Etiquette, she will help you learn to cut and paste, close applications, and follow the etiquette for using email reply all or blind copy.
Marie is an excellent teacher and plans lots of interaction and time for questions.
The CHUG program for November will cover the new iOS 15, which rolled September 20. Many Apple users prefer to wait a few weeks before updating, so a later date to review the features is planned.
Hope Tillman held her first Technology User Group (TUG) meeting in September. TUG compliments CHUG as she focuses on the beginner user.
Ann MacKay
CHUG Leader