Online Communities are Why I'm Excited for GHC15

I've attended almost every Grace Hopper since 2008.  The one exception was 2011, when I was too pregnant to fly.  I found an old blog post about enjoying the conference from afar, where I reflected about being sad to be missing out once the conference started.  Since I'll be missing this year as well, it's nice to re-read this:

Fortunately, the very thing that I have worked so hard to make awesome when attending GHC in the past is allowing me to enjoy this year's edition from afar: the online communities. 

I have a whole new appreciation for the many awesome posts on attendees' blogs and Twitter accounts. While seeing conversations between all the people I am missing out on meeting up with makes me feel sad, I also find myself vibrating with excitement with all the amazing things happening in Portland. From the wonderful keynote speakers to the fantastic panels to the neat e-textile workshop, this conference must be the best one yet.

While there is nothing at this year's conference on e-textiles (at least, not that I know of!), the conference is once again gearing up to be the biggest and best.  Along with that comes our largest set of amazing volunteers ever – they will be giving their time as always to share the conference through our online communities.  And so, the reason I'm excited about GHC15 is the fact that I'll have more blogs, notes, and tweets to enjoy from afar than ever before!

If you'd like to enjoy GHC from afar as well, be sure to check out these amazing sources.

• GHC Community Blog
• GHC15 Conference Notes Wiki
• Official @ghc Account on Twitter
• Community #ghc15 Hashtag on Twitter
• GHC Facebook Page
• GHC LinkedIn Group

Perhaps I'll see you on Twitter this October (I'm @gailcarmichael), and we can share the conference from afar together!

Enjoying GHC14 Remotely

Missing out on attending this year's Grace Hopper Celebration in person? Not to worry! There are many ways to engage with the energy that comes out of GHC, and follow along with the sessions thanks to our wonderful community volunteers.

First and foremost, be sure you bookmark the Community Blog Feed.  This is where all the blog posts from our wonderfully amazing community volunteers are all being collected.  You'll find a lot of general impressions of the conference as well as notes on specific sessions.

Speaking of notes, you'll find plenty of them, again on conference sessions, on our notes wiki.  Once again our volunteers will be providing this great content.

Then of course there's social media:

• Follow the #ghc14 hashtag on Twitter, and follow the @ghc account.
• Join the Grace Hopper Celebration LinkedIn group.
• Like the Grace Hopper Celebration Facebook group.

With all these great ways to engage with the conference from afar, you will surely get a lot out of it! Enjoy, and perhaps I'll meet you online!