About MAGIC

CONTENTS
Introduction
Charity Status
Officers / Contact
Bylaws, Officer Duties, Expense forms

Introduction

MAGIC, The Macintosh Appreciation Group of Island County, is a charitable organization that serves people who use Macintosh computers, software, peripherals, and the Internet. The majority of participants are located on Whidbey Island. Our goal is to educate Mac users and potential users in the community, share information and help users to become more productive. There are no membership requirements or fees, and the general public is invited to attend all functions and access all of the group's products.

Participants cover the entire spectrum of expertise: they use their computers at home, at work, and at play. Everyone has a different focus and, therefore, different needs and problems. More experienced users offer advice, and newer users receive an education on the efficient use of Mac computers and the Internet. Monthly meetings give participants a chance to discuss computer problems and share ideas with other Mac users, and to attend presentations by featured speakers on specific topics. The group also offers a monthly newsletter and a public website both of which are primarily used to provide news and education about Macs and the Internet. Hands-on classes offered in the community provide education and training to all Mac users.

The group is an authorized Apple Macintosh User Group (MUG). This gives the group access to additional resources and regular contacts from Apple, access to the online Apple Computer Store, and the opportunity to preview new Apple software. We also hold a federal 501(c)3 tax status which means that donations of cash or merchandise to the group are deductible from the donor's federal income taxes.

Membership is currently free. Benefits include monthly notice of the monthly newsletter in addition to those described above. An electronic application for membership can be sent in by clicking below.

Charity Status

MAGIC has been established as a charitable organization and enjoys 501(c)(3) tax exempt status. This means that all donations to MAGIC are tax deductible where allowed by law. Donations can be made to any officer or through the donations page on this website. Receipts will be issued for tax purposes.

Officers / Contact

MAGIC has a general email which can be used to contact us. "For more information, send email to magicmug@whidbey.net

Office	Holder (Click for Bio)	Exp. date	Contact Details
President	Michael Turnbull	January 2027	email Michael.
Vice President	Ron Sharp	January 2026	email Ron.
Treasurer	Carol Heimgartner	January 2027	email Carol.
Secretary	Wendy Shimada	January 2026	e-mail Wendy.
Newsletter Editor	Ron Sharp	indefinite	email Ron.
Webmaster	Robert Elphick	indefinite	email Robert .
Director-at-Large	Samuel A. Aaron	January 2027	email Samuel.
Director-at-Large	Robert Elphick	January 2026	email Robert .

Michael Turnbull

Mike Turnbull grew up in the Philadelphia area and received a B.S. in Transportation and Logistics from Penn State and later in life an M.P.A. from Portland State. After Penn State he began a 42 year career in the freight railroad industry working for two private railroads and the federal government’s rail regulatory agency. He’s moved a lot, and prefers the PNW to the midwest.

Along with a patient wife (Debbie), he has a daughter & son-in-law living in Mill Creek which influenced their decision to buy a house in Clinton in 2019. His other choice was Point Roberts and he’s glad that didn’t work out. Since being on Whidbey, he has joined multiple groups such as Clinton Community Hall, Friends of the Clinton Library, Whidbey Camano Land Trust, Whidbey Audobon Society, two hiking groups, and due to his total lack of experience with Apple Mac, MAGIC.

His work computers were almost always with Xerox or Microsoft operating systems. However, his cell phones for the last 12 years had been various editions of the iPhone. Because of his iPhone work experience, upon retiring he bought an iPhone 12 Pro Max and a Mac Book Air 13 (M1 chip) and immediately needed Mac help (and still does). That’s why he joined the MAGIC Zoom group since since he enjoys learning and re-learning Apple tricks.

Ron Sharp

I was born late in the evening and the constellation Apple was bright in the sky! In the early 90's an Apple computer found me. It was a 16 MHz with 80 MB drive. I was already into technology, diagnosing automobile driveability problems, when I completed an Apple Technical Training course on DVD. Things have changed a lot since then but my interest remains and I enjoy the diagnostic challenges. I'm currently studying Objective C in hopes of writing software eventually, but time will tell how far I get with that hobby.

I'm a Northwest native, lived in California a few years, and moved to Whidbey in 2000. I have some interest in writing and took on the MAGIC newsletter project. Although my computer skills are much better than my writing skills, I continue to do the newsletter. (Newsletter tips or comments are welcome)

Carol Heimgartner

Carol lives in Coupeville.

Robert Yule Elphick

Robert was raised and educated in the UK earning degrees in Applied Physics and Geophysics & Planetary Physics. He moved to North America in 1974 where he worked in the energy and space industries. He moved to Whidbey Island in 2002 after becoming partially disabled. He has used Macs since 1986.

He spends most of his time doing volunteer work - including teaching for MAGIC as well as 4-H, designing and building websites, and providing help solving computer problems at homes and small businesses. He lives in Blaine with his wife Margaret.

Wendy Shimada

Before buying my first Mac in 1987, and becoming a lifelong convert, I confess to spending my first couple of computer years with a TI 99, Commodore Vic 20 & 64. A resident of Whidbey for 10 years, my “previous life” was not as anchored. I moved 10 times back and forth across Canada during my first 20 years, then another 11 times throughout Germany, Connecticut, Utah and Puget Sound over the following 30 years. This allowed for interesting careers in photography, publishing and marketing management. Though mostly retired, I still have a few photography clients & rarely am found without some kind of camera within arm’s length. Other passions include art, gardening, reading, Scrabble & the natural world. I also enjoy occasional travel with my husband, Gary.

Samuel A. Aaron

I was born and raised in Sebring, Florida and graduated from Florida A & M University with a degree in Mathematics. I served 15 years in the U. S. Army and 25 years with the Federal Aviation Administration(FAA). While in the Army I served two tours (30 months) in Vietnam and while in the FAA I served 40 months as the manager of Brussels International Field Office in Brussels, Belgium. Debra, my wife, and I moved to Whidbey Island in 2006 and reside in Coupeville. My first Apple product was an iPod and my first iPhone was the iPhone 3. My first Apple computer was a MacBook Pro purchased in 2007.

I rode motorcycles until I was sidelined by a box truck in an accident in Greenbank in 2012. These days photography is what I do in my spare time.

Downloads

Click here to get a pages format file of the MAGIC expense form. Last updated April 2012.

Click here to get a pdf format file of the Officer Duties of MAGIC. Last updated April 2017.

Click here to get a pdf format file of the Bylaws of MAGIC. Last updated January 2023.

Click here to get a pdf format file of the Articles of Incorporation of MAGIC.