Last year i was not able to attend the first She's Geeky conference event but remember reading and hearing about how great the sessions and the event was so when Kaliya Hamlin reached out to me this year and asked me if i would be interested in helping with organize the event i jumped at the chance.

A couple months ago a couple of us who wanted to help organize the event got together to start working on logistics (Kaliya and Laurie Ray are doing all the heavy lifting) and as we were introducing ourselves i explained my interest in the She's Geeky event as follows:

When i first moved to the bay area i wanted to be involved in the tech scene - but was certainly intimidated not only is it very male dominated they are also programmers and hard core geeks - something that i got over by just diving in using the will power and skills i have learned in being in male dominated corporate environments over the last 15 years. But while i think i have managed to make the best of the fact that i am not a programmer and not male by establishing myself in various communities it might not be as easy for other women- so an environment like the She's Geeky event is needed plus i have no doubt that there are hundred's of cool she geeks that i might never get a chance to meet otherwise!

So here are the basics for the event:

The event takes place January 30-31 (Friday-Saturday) at the the awesome Computer History Museum in Mountain View. There is also a pre-event social hour on the evening of the 29th in Mountain View and on Friday night we will show the Ada Lovelace movie the Museum has before heading out to dinner.

On Friday the 30th the doors will open at 8am with breakfast and espresso. and then the Agenda making will begin. If you have never been to an unconference event here is how it works:

• At the beginning of the day, we create the agenda. (you can however add suggested topics in advance here as well)
  
• Everyone meets in one room and posts topics they would like to present, see or discuss. This creates a rich assortment of agenda items and makes for an exciting day of learning. There is a PDF called 'unconferencing' that explains how to prepare for an unconference.
• From there, we go to separate areas or rooms assigned to each topic.
  
• The session can be a presentation, inquiry about a question or discussion about an issue or technical field.
  
• One participant volunteers to record the proceedings.
• The notes from each session are collected in the newsroom, then a book is compiled with all the notes from the conference and distributed to everyone who attended.

So what is the main purpose of the She's Geeky event?:

1. Exchange skills and learn from women in different fields of technology.
2. Provide a forum for discussion of issues affecting women in technical fields.
3. Connect the generations of women working in or interested in technology, from those in middle school to the pioneers of the industry who may be elders in their 70’s.
4. Connect women in technology, computing, entrepreneurship, funding, hardware, open source, nonprofit and any other technical or “geeky” field.

What should you plan on getting out of the event if you come out and participate:

1. Build relationships and even partnerships across disciplines.
2. Learn something new from other geeky women.
3. Find answers to the questions that matter to you.
4. Consider business issues related to the technology industry.
5. Be exposed to new ideas for making and keeping technology relevant.

Ok - interested but have questions? feel free to contact me or send a note to info@shesgeeky.org otherwise you can register here http://shesgeeky.org/sg/register/

If you are plan on going and want to advertise the fact on your site or blog, please use these images:

• She's Geeky rectangle BIG
• She's Geeky rectangle little
• She's Geeky Bubble with info color
• She's Geeky Bubble with info - black and white

Here is the official invitation that you can download and send to others that might be interested:
Shes Geeky Poster


She you there Geek Girls!!

You can also find us here:
Facebook Group
Event Page on Facebook
Join the LinkedIn Group
Follow us on Twitter @shesgeeky

Hi my name is Daniela and i am a Geek....

A 'She Geek' that is and that is why i am helping the She's Geeky organizers with the upcoming She's Geeky - Women's Tech (Un)Conferences:

She’s Geeky events are neutral, face-to-face gathering spaces for women who like to geek out. Attendees include women involved in all aspects of technology, including those who like to use geeky tools, not just coders, programmers and engineers. You don’t even have to be from the computer industry. You just have to be a woman who identifies as a geek.

If you’re any of these things, you’re invited to come to She’s Geeky to:

1. Exchange skills and learn from women in different fields of technology.
2. Discuss issues that affect women in the technology industry.
3. Connect with other women in technology, computing, entrepreneurship, funding, hardware, open source, nonprofit and any other technical geeky field.

If you want to learn more about these events, check out the faqs

HURRY the NYC event starts on Dec 5th. To register for the NYC event visit the registration page. (there is a She's Geeky bailout offer for folks who have just been laid-off or on the verge of being 'downsized'). Here is a PDF invite to send to all your east coast She Geekers!

Here is a great video montage from last years She's Geeky event in MountainView, CA- where all the She Geeks proudly proclaim their geekiness!



If you are interested in how it went down in 2007- Additional coverage from the 2007 She's Geeky event follows:

• Wired- Oct 23th 2007 She's Geeky Unconference: Cupcakes, Kids, and Whip-Smart Girl Geeks
• Beth Canter - She's Geeky: Feeling Energized, Connected, and Learning
• A Stitch in Time... - She's Geeky: Women Are Cool
  
• BookBlog- She's Geeky
• Contagious Curiosity- She's Geeky Monday
• Heather Vescent- She's Geeky Session: On Do-ocracy
• This is where I try out: she's geeky (part 1 )(part 2)-
• liz henry- Liveblogging for She's Geeky -
• Hana's Mom- She's Geeky unconference -
• Mary Trigiani - She's geeky, not angry
• She's Geeky, Future of Technology, Visual notes
• San Jose Mercury News - Insight for Women Geeks (archive subscription required)

The San Francisco Bay Area event is Jan 29th-31st and i will be posting more on that event when registration opens- but if you are going to be on the West coast go ahead and put it in your calendar now!