‘Geek Girl Camp’ Set to Launch First Event; Empowering Women on Technology
March 17th, 2008 -- Geek Girl Camp, a technology meetup for girls/women with a desire to educate themselves on computers, the Internet and technology, is holding its first educational endeavor on April 17th on Cape Cod, MA.
For only $25, a laptop and a desire to learn, 100 geek girls will assemble for a 3 hour interactive seminar with six local, female technology professionals who will lead hands-on workshops like organizing your PC or Mac, archiving files, Photoshop skills, web sites, online marketing, blogging, social networking and Internet buzzwords.
Each session will last 30 minutes, with the facilitator spending 15 minutes on quick and helpful tips and then 15 minutes on questions from the attendees; some of those questions will be obtained online in the forum prior to the event.
The purpose of Geek Girl Camp is to educate and empower girls and women on the use of technology and not be afraid of it.
“I guess I just grew tired of hearing women at conferences or meetings who would dismiss their lack of knowledge on computers by deferring to someone else, usually a male figure in their life”, states Geek Girl Camp founder Leslie Fishlock. “They will say, ‘Oh, I will just have my son do it when he gets home’, or ‘my husband is a whiz on the computer’. This is all wrong. Women need to empower themselves in all things technology, or be left behind.”
Fishlock, the President/CEO of Genevate, a professional web applications and development firm, knows this story all too well. She frequently hears from women about the “…snotty know-it-all kid” who handed them a laptop with no instruction. Or the sales clerk who makes women feel “stupid” as they try to buy a computer or cell phone. The list goes on -- which Fishlock does not accept.
“Faced with success or failure, you need to take responsibility, get educated and not feel so helpless. Ask questions!” she says. “Don’t be a coward. Educate yourself online before buying a product, do your research. There is no excuse for being helpless with all the great information available.”
“Eleanor Roosevelt once said, ‘No one can make you feel inferior without your consent.’, says Fishlock. “Technology, computers, iPods, wireless, the Internet; they are all here to stay. As citizens of the world, women have two choices: help yourself and learn or be left behind. Geek Girl Camp is designed to propel women forward. You have to want it.”
Based upon the success of Geek Girl Camp, Fishlock and crew are planning more events around Massachusetts, and beyond. A website has been set up with registration, and soon a blog and forum will be added to create a community around these events. They even have a mascot in the form of a ‘hot and wired’ geek girl complete with a laptop, earphones and sharp glasses named ‘Giga Byte’.
Geek Girl Camp is looking for talented female presenters/speakers, and local and national brand sponsors for the events to offset the expenses of putting them on, as well as offering companies a huge opportunity to market to women, a significant, untapped market for consumer goods and services.
If Geek Girl Camp has caught your interest as an attendee, sponsor, media outlet, blogger or geek girl wannabe, find out more information on the website, http://www.GeekGirlCamp.com
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