Needham Community Education

This program will introduce you to the world of electric vehicles, including electric vehicle basics: how they work, how they differ from traditional internal combustion engine cars, and the environmental impacts. In addition, you will learn about cost savings potential, maintenance requirements, range capabilities, battery charging, regenerative braking, and how to plan for long distance travel. The instructor will also provide information on the future of electric vehicle technology.

Are you ready to “cut the cable?” Watching TV has changed over the last 20 years. Now you can choose from hundreds of channels, watch TV on just about any electronic device anytime, anywhere! This short course will walk you through all the ways you can to watch your favorite shows: traditional cable, over the air, streaming and live TV over the Internet. We will discuss some of the pros and cons of each and whether your TV is “smart enough,” or if you will need additional hardware to use the Internet services. There will be demonstrations and time for your questions.

Heat pumps are a clean and efficient way to heat and cool your home. This class is intended for homeowners who want to understand how heat pump systems can be retrofitted to their homes, and will cover all that you need to know in order to make an informed decision. Learn about what heat pumps are and how they work, how they reduce your carbon footprint, and the difference between air-source and ground source (geothermal) systems. Retrofitting and operational costs, including information on incentives and rebates will be discussed. The instructor will be able to offer guidance on steps to be taken in order to be eligible for incentives, and how to find and evaluate different contractors.

Bookkeeping 101: Tips and Tricks for Success As a business owner, does just reading the word bookkeeping make you want to run and hide? You're not alone! Bookkeeping can feel intimidating, but the great news is you can DIY your bookkeeping with joy and ease, and you don't need an accounting degree to do it! This friendly, accessible workshop will explain in plain English what bookkeeping is, why it's essential, how accounting software (such as QuickBooks) makes bookkeeping easier and more accurate than a spreadsheet (or shoebox) and how proper bookkeeping helps you grow your business strategically to maximize your profits. After this workshop, you will have the guidance you need to turn towards your bookkeeping with confidence. You will get your bookkeeping questions answered and will be set up for financial success in your business. Date: Tuesday, December 3 QuickBooks 101: The Top Ten Tips Are you DIY-ing the bookkeeping for your business using QuickBooks Online? Do you have a sneaking suspicion that you're not using the program correctly or are you spending hours each week troubleshooting online? You're not alone! QuickBooks Online is an incredible accounting program, but it can be tricky to set up properly and it's easy to make a mistake if you don't have an accounting background. This jargon-free workshop will walk you through the top ten tips you need to follow to ensure you are using your QuickBooks account properly. You'll walk away with a clear understanding of best practices to implement for your business so that your books are pristine and provide you with a clear picture of your business' financials. Date: Thursday, December 5 Profits 101: How to Read a Profit & Loss Statement You want to run a profitable business, right? You don't want to be in the red! The Profit & Loss Statement is your guide for understanding your profits, and yet, many business owners shy away from the Profit & Loss statement because they are intimidated by the process and are unsure where to begin. The great news is, you don't need to be an accountant, or even a numbers person, to understand your profits. This friendly workshop will explain in plain English what a Profit & Loss statement is, how you put it together, how you read it, and how you use it to make more money in your business. Date: Tuesday, December 10

PowerPoint is a powerful presentation tool that allows you to do things on your computer you could not do any other way. In this class, you will become familiar with the PowerPoint interface, how to create presentations and the basics of working with slides. We will learn how to make your slides eye-catching by formatting text, applying themes and inserting graphics and links to the Internet. Tips for creating a slideshow, including converting your slideshow into a movie so it can be shown on any computer, will be covered as well. This class applies to all versions of Microsoft PowerPoint since 2010 for both Windows and Macintosh.