2nd Girl Geek Dinner on the Way

The second Saskatoon Girl Geek dinner is in the works. It's planned for November 17, 2008 at 6pm at Point2 Technologies (Circle & 8th).

Topics of interest can be posted on the Facebook group wall. If you are interested in speaking or know someone who is Melanie Cey is the organizer, so please contact her directly for more details.

Saskatoon BarCamp 2008 Declared A Success

Of the three years we've done BarCamp in Saskatoon, this was the most successful.

Over 110 attendees, great topics, engaged participants, sexy t-shirts (sadly I haven't been able to locate mine, afraid I forgot it in the cab), willing volunteers, friendly and accomodating staff at the Cellar - it was all so good.

This year we didn't have to explain to people what BarCamp is, and I think next year we might have to look for a bigger venue. It seems Saskatoon people are ready and willing to get together to collaborate and share and that is encouraging in terms of building the community and our industry.

Being able to finally put faces (not just avatars or icons) to many names of people I've connected with in the past year is what I got the most out of this year. It was exciting to meet and talk to people I've had online interactions with and meet and talk to others who I knew only by name or company. I had an opportunity to enter a deeper conversation with some people I've talked to before and discuss technical business in a free and unselfconcious forum.

This year's BarCamp leaves me with hope that we are on the right track to bringing the Saskatchewan tech community closer together. This hasn't been easy for us, and if it's happening naturally that's important considering the challenges we face geographically, economically, politically and historically.

I was an advocate before, but BarCamp '08 really makes me proud to be from Saskatchewan and working in Saskatoon. Seeing, hearing and meeting these intelligent, entrepreneurial, funny, beautiful people makes me feel extremely lucky and grateful. I knew this was a great place to live and work, but this is one of the rare ocassions where I've had the opportunity to discuss what I'm most passionate about with others who share the similar views - and it was energizing and reassuring.

Thank you Saskatoon BarCampers.