Prime Time Replay:
Aliza Sherman and Eileen Shulock
Talk about Webgrrls
MsgId: *emedia(11)
Date: Mon Sep 15 21:01:56 EDT 1997
From: OMNI_Moderator At: 207.116.50.188
Good evening--and welcome to E-Media! Tonight's guests are Aliza Sherman and Eileen Shulock of the Webgrrls, an interactive site for women wanting to contact other women interested in technology and the Internet. I forgot to put up an intro earlier (sorry!). Aliza Sherman is the founder of Webgrrls, a New York City-based website.
MsgId: *emedia(12)
Date: Mon Sep 15 21:02:41 EDT 1997
From: guest At: 207.115.1.33
Hi Aliza! Cindy L. Here! Just wanted to stop by and lend my Webgrrl Support.
MsgId: *emedia(13)
Date: Mon Sep 15 21:02:54 EDT 1997
From: AlizaSherman At: 199.224.6.11
Actually, I'm the president of Cybergrrl, Inc. of which Webgrrls is a part.Hi Cindy!
MsgId: *emedia(16)
Date: Mon Sep 15 21:03:48 EDT 1997
From: OMNI_Moderator At: 207.116.50.188
Eileen and Aliza, how did the Webgrrls get started and when? What is Cybergrrls?
MsgId: *emedia(18)
Date: Mon Sep 15 21:05:35 EDT 1997
From: AlizaSherman At: 199.224.6.11
Webgrrls began in NYC when I wanted to meet other women interested in the Net. I emailed women with websites and eventually we decided to meet at a cyber cafe in the East Village... There isn't anything called Cybergrrls - but Cybergrrl, Inc. is the business I own - entertainment and media company. Now 6 women have turned into over 100 chapters worldwide
MsgId: *emedia(24)
Date: Mon Sep 15 21:07:50 EDT 1997
From: EileenShulock At: 199.224.6.15
The group grew really quickly. When I joined over a year ago, the NYC chapter had hundreds of members.
MsgId: *emedia(25)
Date: Mon Sep 15 21:08:19 EDT 1997
From: AlizaSherman At: 199.224.6.11
Webgrrls mission is to help women succeed in an increasingly technical workplace and world through... networking, exchanging job and business leads, sharing mentoring and internship opportunities. With chapters in just about every major city in the U.S. alone, women finally have a comfortable environment where they can learn about tecnology and the 'Net.
MsgId: *emedia(27)
Date: Mon Sep 15 21:09:15 EDT 1997
From: guest At: 207.115.1.33
Without sounding too much like a commercial, Webgrrls changed my life. I recommend that any woman in or interested in new media join. I made great contacts, great friends, and have learned an amazing amount by taking classes. It's fantastic! - Cindy
MsgId: *emedia(30)
Date: Mon Sep 15 21:09:54 EDT 1997
From: AlizaSherman At: 199.224.6.11
We didn't pay her to say that! ;-)
MsgId: *emedia(29)
Date: Mon Sep 15 21:09:38 EDT 1997
From: OMNI_Moderator At: 207.116.50.188
Sorry about that! Still, can you give more detail about what other projects Cybergrrl has, in addition to Webgrrls?
MsgId: *emedia(31)
Date: Mon Sep 15 21:10:12 EDT 1997
From: EileenShulock At: 199.224.6.15
The groups around the world really help women to bring technology into their lives, whether personal or professional.
MsgId: *emedia(32)
Date: Mon Sep 15 21:10:43 EDT 1997
From: AlizaSherman At: 199.224.6.11
Cybergrrl, Inc. develops content and community for women, both online and off. We have a collection of 6 websites right now geared toward women... Including Femina http://www.femina.com/ which is our search engine for women's websites. We also have a book coming out at the end of the year called "Cybergrrl: A Woman's Guide to the World Wide Web"...which is an anecdotal, conversational, non techy book about the Net with women telling how the Net has really changed their lives. And of course, a TV show is in the works...we're hoping to do an animated show based on the Adventures of Cybergrrl online comic
MsgId: *emedia(37)
Date: Mon Sep 15 21:12:52 EDT 1997
From: OMNI_Moderator At: 207.116.50.188
Was the rapid growth something you expected, or was it a surprise? What was the most interesting connection you found among the women who make up Webgrrls chapters?
MsgId: *emedia(38)
Date: Mon Sep 15 21:13:12 EDT 1997
From: AlizaSherman At: 199.224.6.11
That's what Cybergrrl is up to right now! Cybergrrl has helped finance the efforts of Webgrrls to bring tech support to women.The rapid growth blew me away - it was so amazing to see that I wasn't alone in my love of the 'Net and the Web... The most interesting connection I found was that regardless of language and cultural difference, we all just simply loved the Net and the possibilities it held
MsgId: *emedia(41)
Date: Mon Sep 15 21:15:40 EDT 1997
From: EileenShulock At: 199.224.6.15
I think that each chapter has been able to create a really supportive community among its members, many times only by email. People communicate, share leads, tutor -- and eventually meet in person and put names to faces.
MsgId: *emedia(42)
Date: Mon Sep 15 21:16:29 EDT 1997
From: AlizaSherman At: 199.224.6.11
We're a very organic and very sharing community that crosses all borders and geographical barriers. We have a whole list of chapters at http://www.webgrrls.com/howgrrl.html
MsgId: *emedia(43)
Date: Mon Sep 15 21:17:34 EDT 1997
From: EileenShulock At: 199.224.6.15
Plus, it's very easy to share via email and the net. Even the 'more shy' among us feel free to contribute.
MsgId: *emedia(46)
Date: Mon Sep 15 21:19:25 EDT 1997
From: OMNI_Moderator At: 207.116.50.188
Is the Webgrrls site solely for women with technological backgrounds and/or a deep interest in the Web -- or could a Net neophyte log on and feel comfortable with the talk? When creating Webgrrls, what were issues you wanted to avoid, as far as a woman-specific site was concerned?
MsgId: *emedia(47)
Date: Mon Sep 15 21:19:38 EDT 1997
From: AlizaSherman At: 199.224.6.11
Eileen, tell them about Intl Webgrrls Day
MsgId: *emedia(48)
Date: Mon Sep 15 21:19:38 EDT 1997
From: EileenShulock At: 199.224.6.15
On 10/22/97, we're celebrating International Webgrrls Day -- and women everywhere are welcome to join us!The Webgrrls site, first and foremost, helps women find a chapter near them ... or encourages them to create one. It does provide some helpful resources as well, but we've found it's most helpful for even the newest "newbie" to hook up with a local chapter.
MsgId: *emedia(50)
Date: Mon Sep 15 21:21:27 EDT 1997
From: AlizaSherman At: 199.224.6.11
When Webgrrls formed - by accident as I say - I realized that we had a very diverse group of women and made sure that we stayed on our common ground - the Net- and achieved our common goal - helping each other succeed in or with technology.
MsgId: *emedia(51)
Date: Mon Sep 15 21:21:35 EDT 1997
From: OMNI_Moderator At: 207.116.50.188
And, Eileen, you'll have to give details! :-) When does it begin? Is this a Web-only event, or will there be events offline as well?
MsgId: *emedia(53)
Date: Mon Sep 15 21:22:18 EDT 1997
From: AlizaSherman At: 199.224.6.11
Although indirectly, Webgrrls could be considered "political" just because it exists - we make it clear that Webgrrls is about advancing our careers and knowledge of technology, not about particular politics
MsgId: *emedia(54)
Date: Mon Sep 15 21:22:54 EDT 1997
From: EileenShulock At: 199.224.6.15
As we get closer to International Webgrrls Day, we'll post more information at the site. Each chapter will celebrate together in their own unique way ...a party, an HTML class, a guest speaker. And, as possible, we will hook up via the Net to share the events together.
MsgId: *emedia(56)
Date: Mon Sep 15 21:24:59 EDT 1997
From: AlizaSherman At: 199.224.6.11
IWGD is based around an event we held last year in NYC - NYC Webgrrls Expo - where Mayor Giuiliani declared the day "Webgrrls Day" and we celebrated women-owned tech businesses, demo'd product and learned from women in high powered new media positions (including Esther Dyson). We wanted to continue a tradition of celebrating Webgrrls and women in this industry as well as helping open the door for other women who are interested in learning or getting into the business. We all have to help one another. For anyone in the NYC area, you can also call the Webgrrls hotline at 212-642-8012 for more info on joining.
MsgId: *emedia(58)
Date: Mon Sep 15 21:27:15 EDT 1997
From: EileenShulock At: 199.224.6.15
This time around, we're making it a global event! Just this evening, we learned that our Ft. Lauderdale chapter is hooking up with the South Africa chapter to celebrate on 10/22 -- isn't that amazing?<
MsgId: *emedia(59)
Date: Mon Sep 15 21:28:04 EDT 1997
From: OMNI_Moderator At: 207.116.50.188
In creating Webgrrls, did you find that many women were resistant to joining what seemed to be "just" another women's group at first (say, something similar to AOL's women's site)? Do you have male members at Webgrrls?
MsgId: *emedia(62)
Date: Mon Sep 15 21:29:50 EDT 1997
From: EileenShulock At: 199.224.6.15
From the very beginning, we decided that our format would be based upon women introducing themselves to the group, and telling the group what they 'need' and what they can 'give'.
MsgId: *emedia(63)
Date: Mon Sep 15 21:30:27 EDT 1997
From: AlizaSherman At: 199.224.6.11
Well, Webgrrls has never been just another women's group. It was a group for women interested in the Net which immediately set it apart from other women's professional networking groups.
MsgId: *emedia(64)
Date: Mon Sep 15 21:30:34 EDT 1997
From: EileenShulock At: 199.224.6.15
It's very participatory, and supportive
MsgId: *emedia(65)
Date: Mon Sep 15 21:31:17 EDT 1997
From: AlizaSherman At: 199.224.6.11
Actually, it would be hard to know if women were resistant to joining Webgrrls because if they weren't interested, we wouldn't see them. But in NYC alone, we would get 50-100 women at every single meeting and had to have meetings 2x a month to keep up with the demand.
MsgId: *emedia(66)
Date: Mon Sep 15 21:31:54 EDT 1997
From: guest At: 207.115.1.33
Webgrrls is a great organization. Extremely supportive. You have to experience it to believe it. And again...I'm not paid to say this, right Aliza? - Cindy
MsgId: *emedia(67)
Date: Mon Sep 15 21:32:27 EDT 1997
From: AlizaSherman At: 199.224.6.11
We've had a few men ask to join but when we ask them why they are interested in joining a group for women who are interested in the Net, they can't really give a good reason and eventually realize that the group has a purpose and usually opt not to attend meetings. We do have...coed parties - mixers, as we call them. Also, I've always encouraged the men to start a Webboyz auxilliary but they never do.
MsgId: *emedia(69)
Date: Mon Sep 15 21:33:19 EDT 1997
From: AlizaSherman At: 199.224.6.11
Cindy - check is in the mail. hahahaha
MsgId: *emedia(70)
Date: Mon Sep 15 21:33:23 EDT 1997
From: EileenShulock At: 199.224.6.15
In most networking situations, it's left up to chance who you meet. You might meet the one person who can help you because you both like the spinach dip. At Webgrrls meetings, we talk about what we need. We've then established a common ground, and we know how we can help each other.
MsgId: *emedia(72)
Date: Mon Sep 15 21:35:05 EDT 1997
From: AlizaSherman At: 199.224.6.11
Women who do attend Webgrrls usually come away from the meeting feeling incredibly empowered and excited about the possibilities that being in a room full of supportive, non-competitive women all interested in the same topic brings. It's really not like anything else.
MsgId: *emedia(73)
Date: Mon Sep 15 21:35:10 EDT 1997
From: guest At: 207.70.67.120
The chicago group has great meetings and is growing by leaps and bounds.
MsgId: *emedia(74)
Date: Mon Sep 15 21:35:56 EDT 1997
From: EileenShulock At: 199.224.6.15
Besides the face-to-face meetings, there's also the email listservs ... so if you don't make the meetings, you can still participate on a daily basis.
MsgId: *emedia(75)
Date: Mon Sep 15 21:36:03 EDT 1997
From: AlizaSherman At: 199.224.6.11
It's very exciting to know that we've got Webgrrls in the audience from different parts of the world. That is the power of Webgrrls!
MsgId: *emedia(76)
Date: Mon Sep 15 21:36:20 EDT 1997
From: OMNI_Moderator At: 207.116.50.188
Hey, Cindy--and that isn't the sound of a check being made, is that? :-) What about male members? Also, does Webgrrls work with young women (12-21), to introduce girls to technology and the Net at an early age? Does Cybergrrl have outreach programs to get young girls and teens interested in more scientific areas?
MsgId: *emedia(77)
Date: Mon Sep 15 21:37:59 EDT 1997
From: guest At: 207.115.1.33
We do have Webgrrls events to teach young girls (grrls :-) ) about the net. - Cindy
MsgId: *emedia(78)
Date: Mon Sep 15 21:38:22 EDT 1997
From: EileenShulock At: 199.224.6.15
We reach out to girls in the community through an event called Team Webgrrls. We bring young girls together with our members, sit them down in front of computers, and let them discover the Internet and the WWW. Our Webgrrls members supervise and provide some tips and guidance.
MsgId: *emedia(79)
Date: Mon Sep 15 21:38:34 EDT 1997
From: AlizaSherman At: 199.224.6.11
Actually, no men have yet been serious enough about joining Webgrrls to actually do it. I think they aren't into the non-competitiveness. As I said before, we've asked men to start an auxilliary of Webgrrls called Webboyz, but I don't think they are cut out to handle the responsibility. hahahahahahahahaha
MsgId: *emedia(81)
Date: Mon Sep 15 21:39:11 EDT 1997
From: guest At: 207.115.1.33
As far as men at meetings. I was only at one meeting where there was a man and he was there because he wanted to make money off us as a headhunter. He wasn't there to give back to the group and that's a big deal with us. I didn't see him again. - Cindy
MsgId: *emedia(82)
Date: Mon Sep 15 21:39:36 EDT 1997
From: AlizaSherman At: 199.224.6.11
Anyway, when you think about it, why would a man want to join a group for women? What exactly would they be looking for?
MsgId: *emedia(83)
Date: Mon Sep 15 21:40:38 EDT 1997
From: AlizaSherman At: 199.224.6.11
He told me he really enjoyed the meeting but realized that he didn't fit in.
MsgId: *emedia(84)
Date: Mon Sep 15 21:40:41 EDT 1997
From: EileenShulock At: 199.224.6.15
In NYC, we recently had a guy from the Girl Scouts organization attend and talk about job openings. That was great ...
MsgId: *emedia(85)
Date: Mon Sep 15 21:41:04 EDT 1997
From: AlizaSherman At: 199.224.6.11
I was referring to the guy from Girl Scouts that Eileen was typing about. Most men are totally encouraging and respectful of what we are trying to achieve with Webgrrls and send their sisters, moms and girlfriends
MsgId: *emedia(87)
Date: Mon Sep 15 21:41:50 EDT 1997
From: EileenShulock At: 199.224.6.15
Aliza types faster than I do ;)
MsgId: *emedia(88)
Date: Mon Sep 15 21:42:40 EDT 1997
From: OMNI_Moderator At: 207.116.50.188
Well, it's along the lines of men being called "feminists", which strikes me as odd, too. But it would be interesting to know that there are men who work in technological fields who support women's organizations which are also technologically-inclined....
MsgId: *emedia(89)
Date: Mon Sep 15 21:43:23 EDT 1997
From: AlizaSherman At: 199.224.6.11
I did have one man yell at me on the phone about not being able to attend Webgrrls classes (I actually didn't say he couldn't, just asked him why he wanted to and he said "because I want to and don't want to be told that I can't" - well, I finally got him to calm down long enough... to say to him "well, listen to how you are speaking to me on the phone. do you actually think I'd feel comfortable having you around me in person?" He was doing the old "dominating the conversation" trick - something you don't ever see at a Webgrrls meeting...
MsgId: *emedia(90)
Date: Mon Sep 15 21:44:14 EDT 1997
From: EileenShulock At: 199.224.6.15
Whenever we're at "co-ed" events, conferences, etc. we have guys tell us all the time that their wives / sisters / girlfriends belong to Webgrrls ...
MsgId: *emedia(92)
Date: Mon Sep 15 21:44:43 EDT 1997
From: guest At: 207.115.1.33
Aliza..don't forget about Webgrrls that bring their sisters to meetings. Mom is next. - C
MsgId: *emedia(93)
Date: Mon Sep 15 21:44:46 EDT 1997
From: EileenShulock At: 199.224.6.15
and they're really happy that they have found such a great support system.
MsgId: *emedia(94)
Date: Mon Sep 15 21:45:23 EDT 1997
From: AlizaSherman At: 199.224.6.11
Men definitely do support the organization. Belonging the it doesn't necessarily translate into supporting it, though. Men can definitely be feminists - it just means that they believe women are equal to men and deserve equal pay, etc. It's not an unusual concept.
MsgId: *emedia(96)
Date: Mon Sep 15 21:46:36 EDT 1997
From: EileenShulock At: 199.224.6.15
I think a lot of men realize that they are very much in the majority in a lot of technology companies.
MsgId: *emedia(97)
Date: Mon Sep 15 21:47:14 EDT 1997
From: AlizaSherman At: 199.224.6.11
Cindy's right about Webgrrls bringing sisters and moms, too. I've had guys drop off their girlfriends who were too nervous to show up alone, but then they leave to walk around the neighborhood until the meeting is over. Anyway, Webgrrls is about women benefiting from technology, not about politics or personal political views.<
MsgId: *emedia(98)
Date: Mon Sep 15 21:47:29 EDT 1997
From: EileenShulock At: 199.224.6.15
After spending a full day working with the guys, a lot of women really appreciate the opportunity to talk about those experiences, or just about technology, with the grrls.
MsgId: *emedia(99)
Date: Mon Sep 15 21:47:32 EDT 1997
From: OMNI_Moderator At: 207.116.50.188
Aliza and Eileen, what are your backgrounds? How long were you working in technology before you joined Cybergrrl, Inc. and Webgrrls?
MsgId: *emedia(101)
Date: Mon Sep 15 21:49:11 EDT 1997
From: AlizaSherman At: 199.224.6.11
Well, my background is quite eclectic. I was in the music biz for over 6 years (management for Def Leppard, Metallica, etc), then quit to run a nonprofit on domestic violence awareness, then got held up at gunpoint, fled NYC, discovered the Web in Santa Fe, then started Cybergrrl, Inc.
MsgId: *emedia(102)
Date: Mon Sep 15 21:49:33 EDT 1997
From: EileenShulock At: 199.224.6.15
In my "past life", I worked for several years as fashion director of a major retailer. When I left that job, I had to buy a computer to do some consulting work. I discovered the whole concept of the Internet and WWW ... it blew me away. Just from a communications perspective, I thought "This is great" -- but my background and skills weren't at all technical. So I started surfing and browsing and surfing and browsing ... and eventually found my way into a PR and marketing job for an Internet Service Provider. Plus I joined Webgrrls, and learned even more.
MsgId: *emedia(103)
Date: Mon Sep 15 21:49:43 EDT 1997
From: AlizaSherman At: 199.224.6.11
All along, I was online as a personal hobby - started back in 1989 on my first computer and local Bulletin Board Systems. I'm living proof that you don't have to be a techy to be in this industry and also that you don't need a college degree to own your own business and find personal and professional success. I loved school but could never make up my mind. Fashion, pre-law, baroque music, creative writing... My motto is "just do it" - oh, wait a minute, that sounds awfully familiar (sorry, Nike).Eileen is a godsend to Webgrrls - she helped out at the Webgrrls Expo doing registration and that is how I got to know her. Once we knew that I couldn't run the group alone anymore (with parttime help from Ruth Levine) on top of all the business stuff, I knew she would be perfect for the Director job. I'm so grateful she accepted the position!
MsgId: *emedia(110)
Date: Mon Sep 15 21:53:21 EDT 1997
From: EileenShulock At: 199.224.6.15
So we're both living proof of the power of Internet communications -- which is something that women tend to do really well, by the way -- express themselves and communicate.awwww ... thanks Aliza ... it's amazing to be here!
MsgId: *emedia(112)
Date: Mon Sep 15 21:55:07 EDT 1997
From: guest At: 207.115.1.33
Make that three of us. I'm not a techie either. In one year from joining Webgrrls....my career is finally on the right track. I am a Content Manager at a major Super-ISP - C
MsgId: *emedia(113)
Date: Mon Sep 15 21:55:42 EDT 1997
From: AlizaSherman At: 199.224.6.11
Cindy is a high powered, high tech woman!
MsgId: *emedia(114)
Date: Mon Sep 15 21:56:05 EDT 1997
From: OMNI_Moderator At: 207.116.50.188
Do you have problems with other websites also named "grrls"? What is the age range of most members of the Webgrrls' chapters? Have you had older women (45+) join Webgrrls?
MsgId: *emedia(115)
Date: Mon Sep 15 21:56:34 EDT 1997
From: AlizaSherman At: 199.224.6.11
The biggest message I'd like people in the audience today to take with them is that all of us can do anything we want to do - just follow you dreams. And also, help others. If you achieve something, make sure you give back.
MsgId: *emedia(116)
Date: Mon Sep 15 21:57:25 EDT 1997
From: EileenShulock At: 199.224.6.15
Age varies. Some women are just out of college and looking into what seems to be a growing industry ... But lots and lots of women are well-established in their careers, and looking to transition from one industry to another (ie new media). Or to bring Internet knowledge into their current jobs. This is a field with a lot of promise and opportunity, and it shows in our membership.
MsgId: *emedia(119)
Date: Mon Sep 15 21:58:59 EDT 1997
From: guest At: 207.115.1.33
Good night everyone! Thanks for a great chat. - C
MsgId: *emedia(120)
Date: Mon Sep 15 21:59:22 EDT 1997
From: AlizaSherman At: 199.224.6.11
Well, Cybergrrl and Webgrrls are trademarked and we do have a family of "grrl" branded sites. But as long as they don't use variations of Cybergrrl, Webgrrls or any of our other brands, then we don't mind. There is something called "confusingly similar" in trademark law. If they have a site called Lawyergrrl - then it isn't confusingly similar to Webgrrls. But if they have a site called Webgirls, it is. Ultimately, the message behind our name is strength, attitude and fun. And that is the message behind everything we do.
MsgId: *emedia(123)
Date: Mon Sep 15 22:01:20 EDT 1997
From: EileenShulock At: 199.224.6.15
One of the great things that Webgrrls provides for women who are making some kind of transition is a path ... surely there is someone who has made a similar kind of job move before ... with tips and support to help.
MsgId: *emedia(124)
Date: Mon Sep 15 22:02:29 EDT 1997
From: OMNI_Moderator At: 207.116.50.188
It's 10 PM -- which means it's also the end :-(. But I want to thank you both, Aliza and Eileen, for coming on OMNI tonight and discussing Webgrrls and Cybergrrl, Inc. Aliza Sherman and Eileen Shulock are President (Cybergrrl) and Director of the group. Again, the International Webgrrls Day is October 22. Anything else to add, Aliza/Eileen?
MsgId: *emedia(125)
Date: Mon Sep 15 22:03:14 EDT 1997
From: EileenShulock At: 199.224.6.15
Coming from an industry (retail) that has seen its share of hard times, I can't tell you how encouraging it is to be in an industry that is full of opportunity.
MsgId: *emedia(126)
Date: Mon Sep 15 22:03:28 EDT 1997
From: AlizaSherman At: 199.224.6.11
Thanks for having us - please stop by the Cybergrrl Webstation at http://www.cybergrrl.com or Webgrrls site at http://www.webgrrls.com for more info and content for women online. Thanks. Now it's time for dinner! Bye all!
MsgId: *emedia(128)
Date: Mon Sep 15 22:04:23 EDT 1997
From: EileenShulock At: 199.224.6.15
Check out the Webgrrls site for more details about International Webgrrls Day on 10/22. It's a great reason to join us, and a great opportunity to see what we're all about. Thanks!
MsgId: *emedia(129)
Date: Mon Sep 15 22:04:27 EDT 1997
From: OMNI_Moderator At: 207.116.50.188
Good-night from OMNI!
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