WordPress Melbourne User Group

WordChicks Melbourne

March 7 · 5:30 PM
1000 £ Bend

Look away boys!!

Girls, this one's just for you!! I've had in mind for a while that it would be really cool to get the local WordPress chicks together, to socialise, chat and share what we're doing with WordPress and what else we'd like to do! Maybe put our heads together over some projects, or help each other out if we're stuck.

If you're keen RSVP below. The first meetup will be pretty informal so we can chat about what format we'd like to move forward with, and how often/where we'd like to meet up in future!

For this first meeting 1000 £ Bend has free wifi and is pretty low key, drop in as you can get there after work!

Interested in where we can take? Have ideas? All thoughts welcome, leave comments below.

Dee

Edited to Add:

I'm stoked to see so many girls keen to come along, thanks for the positive responses!

To those who are concerned about the 'segregation', here's the rationale, just to put your mind at ease.

We have an incredibly vibrant and active tech community in Melbourne, it's part of the reason I moved here. We also have a fantastic group in this Meetup, many members of which, guys and girls alike, I'm glad to call friends.

However, the amount of women participating in speaking at meetups and things like WordCamp is not nearly representative of the diversity of our larger group.

I have no wish to get into the sociological workings of why that may be but I'd like it to change, I'd like not to have to work so hard to get girls speaking at WordCamp, and frankly I'd like to see more girls sitting in AND participating in the tech stream at WordCamp.

I have thrived there, and I want to see others do the same.

This 'segregated' group is meant simply as a bridge to the wider group, the wider WordPress community; a hand up if you will, to give girls the confidence to get out there and show all of us what they can do.

Also - just a reminder that WordCamp Melbourne is scheduled for April 27th & 28th. Grab your ticket here http://2013.melbourne.wordcamp.org/

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Dee Teal

WOW! You girls are awesome. That was so much fun! Keep I. Touch via the discussion birds and we'll plan the next one as soon as we get the venue sorted.

How was Thurs for you? Happy to keep it going at this time/day?

3 · March 7
- View all 4 replies
- Kirstie
  
  Thanks for organising the session Dee, it was great to hear about Genesis, will have to do some exploring! Good to meet you all.
  
  0 · March 7
- Dee Teal
  
  Discussion birds? I was clearly typing that on the phone!! >.< Great to see you too Kirstie!
  
  0 · March 7
- Ana de Carvalho
  
  Hi Dee, I tried to finish work earlier, but I couldn't manage it. So sad that I've missed the event. I really wanted to be part of it, but 5:30pm is a bit early. Would it be possible to have the next event at 6 or 6:30 pm? I think a lot of people finish work at 5:30 or 6pm...
  
  0 · March 10
- Dee Teal
  
  Hey Ana, anything is possible, shame you couldn't come, it was really casual, people were dropping in as they were able. We may keep the same start time, find a venue where we can combine social with the program and start the program part a little later, everything is up for grabs, but as always, it's not going to be possible to cater for everyone, we just need to work around the possibilities as best we can. See you next time, I hope
  
  0 · March 10
kittybaroque

Love the idea of a CBD location but noisy. Do you think we could hire from hub, inspire nine, butter factory or similar? Alternatively, maybe a dinner at Kinfolk?

0 · March 8
kittybaroque

Thx for an amazing inaugural meet all - would love to have caught up with you but hope lots of future meets

0 · March 8
Jane D

Great, thanks for organising event Dee, lovely to meet lots of interesting women on the eve of International Women's Day. I look forward to the next event.

1 · March 8
Fiona

Thanks Dee for organising and for all the awesome tips. City location I think is great, and we managed okay with all the competing noise in the end! Great people and hope to see everyone again soon. If not, looks like Wordcamp is a must-attend.

0 · March 8
Kerrin

Thanks for organising this great event, a lot of fun and information shared.

1 · March 7
Athy Giannopoulos

Awesome event.....thanks for organising Dee. Enjoyed connecting with some amazing ladies and sharing thoughts & ideas. Look forward to catching up again ;-)))

1 · March 7
Hanina Rind

Had a lovely time ... Great to meet all these smart ladies.. Looking forward to the next!!

2 · March 7
Cat

Is this at 5:30 or 6?

0 · March 7
claire

Have to work late sorry

0 · March 7
Kimberley

I just got my geek on and signed up for Wordcamp, can't wait ;) Thanks for organising this, looking fwd to tomorrow!

1 · March 6
- Dee Teal
  
  See you then!
  
  0 · March 6
Sarah

Apologies.

0 · March 6
- Dee Teal
  
  Next time, Sarah, I hope
  
  0 · March 6
Sam Batsas

Cant wait!

0 · March 6
- Dee Teal
  
  Thanks Sam, looking forward to seeing you!
  
  0 · March 6
Cat

sounds great!

0 · February 28
- Dee Teal
  
  Thanks Cat, I'm stoked to see such a positive response :)
  
  0 · March 6
A former member

I think this is a great idea Dee (see also Girl Geek Dinners). Hope it's a success.

1 · March 2
- Dee Teal
  
  Thanks Tom
  
  0 · March 6
gusseting

dee - kudos to you for organising, great to see it happen - could we set a date pronto for the next one? might a months time, thursday april 4 be doable?

0 · March 4
- Dee Teal
  
  Let's make that plan after we've spoken to the group tonight, I'm open to it being a monthly thing, but if Thursdays or city doesn't work for the gang we'll rethink it
  
  0 · March 6
kittybaroque

Absolute newbie-newbie - need to set all up & move Typepad blog over. Signed up for Wordcamp & doing blog course so gotta get this show on the road. Can I still attend?

0 · February 28
- Dee Teal
  
  Of course, we'd love to see you!
  
  0 · February 28
- kittybaroque
  
  Yaaaahhhyy, thx Dee - there closer to 6pm
  
  1 · March 6
Alik Barsegian

I wonder if you realize that this kind of 'girls only' or 'boys only' gigs proliferate sexism? I'm not complaining - if you girls want to get together - green light to you. Just think of the symbolic meaning of what you're doing.

1 · February 28
- Dee Teal
  
  I have given a great deal of thought to the meaning of what I'm doing.
  
  Thanks for your input, if you're interested, I've edited the above to outline what those thoughts look like.
  
  0 · March 1
- kittybaroque
  
  Thanks for the permission Alik ;-P Do appreciate your point but it's a massive chasm to go into the male dominated industry so I think a Girls only tack can be helpful & build confidence.
  
  1 · March 6
kittybaroque

Just letting you guys know I'll be there closer to 6pm - in Southern X and don't finish till 5.30pm
Looking forward to meeting all

0 · March 6
Sandra Geitz

Hopefully an ongoing event and can attend next time!

1 · March 3
Bala

Look forward to come for his event

0 · March 1
Lifey

Dee, I would love to attend, but the date is already taken. The venue also, could be challenging for me to get to. Richmond works much better for me. Time of day is not an issue for me.

Not fussed about the gender mix, or lack thereof. Would like to say however, that Amelia's suggestions could be exactly what I need. Look forward to future announcements. :)

Gotta master this come hell or high water!

0 · February 28
Bartlomiej Marian Klimczak

venue awesome, banning men not so awesome

0 · February 28
Laura Dinstell

Great idea. Unfortunately, I can't make this date. Hopefully there will be a repeat. Have fun ladies!!

1 · February 28
- Dee Teal
  
  There'll be others! Thanks Laura!
  
  0 · February 28
Louise

Hi Dee,
Ditto interested to stay in the loop on this but the timing doesn't work for me as I'm not based in teh city.

Regards,
Louise

1 · February 28
- Dee Teal
  
  The early start is a guide at this stage Louise, particularly for this event it will be pretty informal and 'drop in' if that suits people better, but I'm open to moving the event for further iterations if people find town tricky. Keen on Fitzroy as well, or back to Richmond - post your ideas or what works for you, hopefully as things develop we'll find a workable consensus
  
  0 · February 28
Amelia

Hi Dee, Unfortunately the timing is off for me to attend the first one, but I'm interested if another one comes around. Amelia :)

1 · February 28
- View all 3 replies
- Dee Teal
  
  Thanks Amelia, I realised it was short notice but wanted to get things underway, there'll be plenty more so we'll see you at the next one!
  
  1 · February 28
- Amelia
  
  I was just thinking that it would be great to talk at how we can raise the profiles of WordPress chicks as I think the boys get their fair slice of it ;)
  Also how we can use the group to help the local community around us. Perhaps ways of providing help/mentoring/education for other women wanting to get started with using WordPress....
  Just my thoughts...
  
  1 · February 28
- Dee Teal
  
  Great thoughts Amelia, thanks for the input! Love the idea of teaching/mentoring, sounds brilliant
  
  0 · February 28