[plug] LinuxChix (OT)

[Jacqueline McNally]

Hi

LinuxChix.org is hosted in Melbourne by Jenn and Dancer Vesperman. It is 
run entirely by volunteers and most of the activity is on the email 
discussion lists.

I am one of the list admins for the [Issues] list and look after the Linux 
Linx on the website. Many volunteers attend to each of the web pages and lists.

There are a number of Women in IT groups in Australia, including AIIA, 
Women in IT, ACS, DigitalEve, WISE, Webgrrls, and IEEE.

DigitalEve Japan is on the same time zone as Perth, so I participate online 
there, and also manage the DigitalEve International [TechDevas] list.

I suggest that you listen in on some of the email discussion lists and read 
the FAQ to find out if LinuxChix is what you had in mind. Some of the women 
(and men) at Linux.conf.au 2003 are members. Also, some of the LinuxChix 
have been interviewed by Tina Gasperson and are up on NewsForge.

Although I participate in the ICT sector, my work is mostly in the areas of 
science, engineering and more specifically electronics. I think of myself 
as a human bean first, and I guess I'm fortunate that being a woman does 
not often present itself as an issue.

When it does, it is not usually from the men in the Linux community :)

If you are interested in getting more girls into IT, then WISE may be the 
go as they arrange events and activities for girls to attend and spark 
their interest in such things.

Also, National Science Week in August is a good time with a lot happening 
around Australia. Many national organisations get behind this including the 
ABC.

All the best
Jacqueline McNally
http://mc2.vicnet.net.au/users/zenryaku/

Community Contact, Australia/New Zealand
OpenOffice.org Marketing Project
(www.openoffice.org)

Are you a computer angel? (www.ca.asn.au)

At 08:37 PM 01/28/2003, you wrote:
>Hi all,
>
>After attending the conf, and listening to the occasional outbursts
>regards "no women" at the conf.. and various debates about why..
>
>It occurred to me that perhaps there are women on this list that
>already have a "linuxChix" type association or group that is
>not openly published.. to that end if anyone knows of such a
>group please post back to me as I would like to speak with any
>persons involved regards an article in linmagau.
>
>I have checked out LinuxChix which appears to be a US based
>(but with a couple of .au(Syd/Melb)chapters) fem network
>so I am considering starting a Perth/WA group ?
>
>The whole "no women" in IT thing gets my blood pressure
>rising for a number of reasons, not the least of which is that
>to some extent it seems "localized" to Australia.
>(at least that has been my limited experience)
>
>What are we doing wrong.. apart from not getting girls aged 7
>into Linux.. (thanks Bdale) :)
>
>Any interest, or suggestions, please spam me back.
>
>Thanks
>Kimberly Shelt
>--
>http://www.linmagau.org