10 Hours Left in Kickstarter: Notable Women in Computing

Notable Women in Computing Deck

There are only ten hours left to support Notable Women in Computing playing cards! We have already raised $14,621 to print the second edition (487% of our initial goal). There have been nominations for dozens of schools, teachers, and programs to receive the donated decks and posters. If you want to buy more cards or posters (for yourself, your institution, or to donate), please go to the website soon:
https://www.kickstarter.com/projects/jessidg/notable-women-in-computing-card-deck.

While you are on the Kickstarter site, also check out the 12 updates and new videos we have posted – including some new funding categories:
https://www.kickstarter.com/projects/jessidg/notable-women-in-computing-card-deck/posts

After the Kickstarter ends, we will enter the production phase – to get cards and posters to those people and institutions who have so generously supported us. As a follow up to this project, I encourage you to write Wikipedia articles on Notable Women in Computing. Instructions and guidance are on Duke University’s webpage: CRA-W and Anita Borg Institute Wikipedia Project – Writing Wikipedia Pages for Notable Women in Computing.

Thanks to Jessica for the image above, in her Final Inspirational Hand of the Week blog post.

Update: About four hours ago, our Kickstarter closed after raising $15,010 in crowd funding. That is, we made 500% of goal. Thanks to our great team: my daughter Jessica Dickinson Goodman, and Dr. Susan Rodger (Duke University). It is a pleasure to work with you!

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TechWomen in Washington DC – Day 4

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Yesterday, the TechWomen visited the US State Department, including a formal lunch at the Benjamin Franklin State Dining Room. This is one of my favorite events during the TechWomen program!  I was honored to sit next to the fascinating Ambassador Catherine M. Russell of the US State Department Office of Global Women’s Issues at lunch.  I was very proud of Everwise Emerging Leaders Seham Al Jaafreh (Jordan) and Mai Temraz (Palestine) for both speaking to US government dignitaries and officials during group discussions.  Mai was one of two Emerging Leaders asked to be on the luncheon panel.  They have both started their post-TechWomen journeys to see some more of the USA: Seham to New York City, and Mai to Chicago.  I already miss them both very much.  Their intelligence, energy, and vibrant enthusiasm are an inspiration.

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Images Copyright 2014 by Katy Dickinson

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TechWomen in Washington DC – Days 2 and 3

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Yesterday, eleven of the TechWomen visited to the National Zoo together. The ladies from Kenya left early (since, as they said, they see many of these animals on the way to work every day). In the afternoon, we all went on a Potomac River Cruise at sunset. Today was our first day of meetings at the US State Department.  I was very proud of Everwise Emerging Leader Mai Temraz (Palestine) for addressing Senior Advisor to the Secretary of State David Thorne. Mai talked about the importance of professional women being persistent and open with their government (and with their husbands!) about their vision and accomplishments – to get the support they need.

I took the opportunity of US Chief Technology Officer Megan Smith meeting with the TechWomen to present her with a deck of the Notable Women in Computing playing cards. She loved them!  My favorite quotes from her talk:

  • “We are the ones we’ve been waiting for.”
  • “If not us, who?”
  • “Things don’t magically happen, people do things.”

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Images Copyright 2014 by Katy Dickinson

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Touring the Capital with TechWomen – Day 1

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Yesterday, a group of between five and ten TechWomen Emerging Leaders from Africa and the Middle East and I toured Washington DC, seeing the Smithsonian (Air & Space, American History, and Natural History) and Washington Monument, and a very big dog.  We had dinner at the excellent Food Corner Kabob House (all halal!) with several other groups of TechWomen out and about. We then walked through a cold wind to the White House and Lincoln Memorial at night. It was inspiring to join in their enthusiasm for this remarkable place!

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Images Copyright 2014 by Katy Dickinson

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TechWomen in Washington DC

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My TechWomen Emerging Leaders Seham Al Jaafreh (Jordan) and Mai Temraz (Palestine) did a great job on their final presentations to the Everwise teams – live in San Francisco, and calling in from New York and Minneapolis, on Thursday. Yesterday, we traveled to the nation’s capital, and today we start our meetings and tours in Washington D.C.

During our short month together, Mai passed two amateur radio operators exam levels (the first Palestinian woman to do so!), Seham won a big funding award then remotely managed her Mutah Knowledge Station team in Jordan to complete the follow up requirements, and together we created seven videos in Arabic about mentoring for Everwise, to be posted on YouTube.  I am so proud of Mai and Seham!

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Images Copyright 2014 by Katy Dickinson

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World Series Parking

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Tomorrow at 5 pm, the San Francisco Giants baseball team will play the first home game of the 2014 World Series a block from where I work at Everwise. Parking will be scarce and expensive. Normally costing between $10 to $15 per day, parking rates near the stadium will jump to between $90 to $200. I plan to take the train from San Jose tomorrow.

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Images Copyright 2014 by Katy Dickinson

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New Tablecloths from Africa

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I just picked up my two new tablecloths and sets of napkins from Alterations by Ioana (in Willow Glen, San Jose, California). I challenged Ioana to take the two lovely bolts of polished cotton I bought in Rwanda with the TechWomen delegation in February 2014, and turn them into something that would fit my formal dining table. By adding panels to the sides and using the pattered selvage as the border, Ioana did a great job!

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Images Copyright 2014 by Katy Dickinson

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