Webgrrls International has provided the following FAQs to help you understand some basic background information about our organization. If your questions are not answered below, please contact us and we will help you in any way we can.

How did Webgrrls start?

Why is Webgrrls spelled this way?

Why does Webgrrls focus on women?

How is Webgrrls different from other women’s organizations out there?

Who are Webgrrls members?

Can men join Webgrrls?

What kind of memberships are there?

How do I join Webgrrls?

How much does it cost to be a Webgrrls member?

What benefits do I get when I join Webgrrls?

What if there isn't a chapter near me?

What happens when I move and need to change chapters?

What if I want to start a chapter?

What can I do to help the Webgrrls mission?

What are the benefits of volunteering my time for Webgrrls?

Is Webgrrls International a non-profit entity?

1. How did Webgrrls start?
Webgrrls began when Aliza Sherman, president of Cybergrrl, Inc., was looking to network with other women who were working on the Web. After starting her own Internet consulting company in January of 1995 and debuting the first general interest site for women on the Web (Cybergrrl.com), she was unable to find peers in this new industry.

As part of her Cybergrrl.com site, she would find and link to the personal homepages of women around the world. Eventually, she found several women from the NYC area with websites and emailed them. The email correspondence led to their first meeting in April 1995 at a cyber cafe in the East Village of New York City.

Six women showed up and spent the afternoon talking about the Web and their websites. They decided to meet again. Aliza posted information about the meeting on her website. By November 1995, 200 women showed up at the NYC Webgrrls meeting and chapters were forming worldwide after women read about Webgrrls on Aliza's website and asked to start their own chapter.

In less than four years, Webgrrls International has grown to over 100 chapters around the world, including China, Japan, New Zealand, Australia, Italy, Germany, France, the UK, Canada and across the USA.

2. Why is Webgrrls spelled this way?
Webgrrls was a spin-off of Cybergrrl, Aliza's online "alter ego." When she first created a website in January of 1995, she was hesitant to put her photograph on the Web so she drew a cartoon caricature of herself, put a hot pink cape on her, and called her Cybergrrl.

Aliza thought "Cybergirl" sounded too young and "Cyberwoman" didn't have the right attitude and sense of humor. When she linked to other women's websites from her own Cybergrrl.com site, she called them "Webgrrls" for "women with websites."

Soon the name took on a broader meaning to encompass the network or "web" of women worldwide which had begun to form and grow at a rapid rate.

3. Why does Webgrrls focus on women?
While Web and Internet business organizations exist in every community, often the ratio of men to women is roughly 80% male to 20% female. Sometimes, only a handful of women are in attendance at these new media networking groups. Webgrrls has set out to provide a non-competitive, comfortable, supportive and nurturing environment where women can learn from other women about technology.

Often when women come to a Webgrrls meeting, it is the first time they have been able to talk to other women about technology. Many women who attend Webgrrls meetings and join Webgrrls work in environments inhabited by mostly males. Others are relieved to find an atmosphere where they are not intimidated and are able to express their vulnerability in not knowing something without the fear that it will compromise their position in their job or in the industry. Others appreciate the ability to support and teach other women, being the role models and mentors that they never had.

Webgrrls has created both virtual and face-to-face networking communities where women make and are given the opportunities to learn, teach, mentor and help each other develop their professional and personal opportunities. Having all-female spaces can be a positive experience for the women who participate, allowing them the opportunity to be part of a community that focuses on sharing and giving, a rarity in any professional business setting.

4. How is Webgrrls different from other women's organizations out there?
Webgrrls International was the first women's organization to fully utilize the Internet and World Wide Web as not only a means of international communication, but as a way to provide tangible benefits to Webgrrls chapters and members. Webgrrls is the first women's organization to provide both online and offline resources to women at all levels of Internet and technology interest and savvy.

Webgrrls offers a non-competitive environment where women help one another succeed. If one of us succeeds, we all succeed. Webgrrls believes in being an all-inclusive, supportive network and at the forefront of using technology to better serve women. Webgrrls sets out to empower women to take charge of technology for their professional gain.

One of our philosophies is the "Need/Give" philosophy. Often at Webgrrls meetings, we ask that you state what you need from the Webgrrls group and what you can give back.

Empowerment means not only being open to help from others, but also turning around and giving back so that we all succeed. If you don't ask for it, no one will ever be able to help. Even if you don't know immediately what you can give back, once you hear what other members need, you'll suddenly find ways you can contribute. These are things that make Webgrrls different from most other women's organizations.

5. Who are Webgrrls members?
Webgrrls is open to any woman interested in learning more about the Internet, technology, new media or looking to find a new job, gain new skills, move up in their current position or start their own new media businesses. Women with any professional and educational background can join Webgrrls.

Webgrrls members are of all ages, professions and skill levels. Our members include women who are marketing managers, software engineers, and web designers, to women who are journalists, architects, artists, students, small business owners and stay-at-home moms.

Most Webgrrls members are very supportive of one another, which is what makes Webgrrls a special community. Simply by being a Webgrrls member, doors will open up to you, opportunities will be plentiful and other Webgrrls will offer you information, resources, support, advice and time, just because you are a Webgrrl.

Please note that Webgrrls makes no claims to any level of expertise, work ethic or other from any Webgrrls members. Webgrrls is a forum for women to network. Any business done beyond that is between individuals.

6. Can men join Webgrrls?
Webgrrls chapters does not exclude men from joining our organization. While there are many other coed technology-related organizations out there, if men are genuinely interested in helping to educate and mentor women in their careers or if they are in the position to give donations and sponsorship to the group, their support and participation are welcome. Some chapters have had the active support of men behind the scenes.

It’s our mission to provide women with a unique, non-competitive networking forum and a comfortable environment for learning about technology; this is the guiding force and focus of all our undertakings.

7. What kind of memberships does Webgrrls offer?
Our chapters currently offer regular and student/unemployed memberships. In the future we will develop corporate membership programs as a way to work with corporations to support their employees, customers, and to help women within their companies to network with other women in new media.

8. How do I join?
You can join SLC Webgrrls in three ways:

Attend a local event.

Send an e-mail message to slcwebgrrls@yahoo.com.

Go to www.egroups.com/group/wg-saltlake-announce/info.html and click the subscribe button.

Or go to Webgrrls International to join.

9. How much does it cost to be a Webgrrls member?
Most chapters offer basic benefits for non-members at no charge to provide women in their communities with useful resources, particularly related to the Internet, new media, technology and job opportunities. Announcement lists, an international website and various chapter websites with articles, links and helpful resources are free and open to the public.

As a paid member, you can tap into the Webgrrls network and receive many added-value benefits (see #10 below)

10. What benefits do I get when I join Webgrrls?
When you join Webgrrls International through Headquarters, you can count on:

An email list for members that includes job listings.
An email newsletter from Headquarters about international news and opportunities.
Access to an international online and offline community of women.
Discounts on industry and business events (both within and outside your location).
Discounts on products such as software, hardware and electronic equipment.
Online tutorials and resources to gain skills.

When you join a local chapter near you, you can count on the benefits above, plus the following:

Access to an international online and offline community of women.
Monthly meetings (face-to-face) to network.
Frequent events such as panels, speakers, presentations.
Affordable classes from basic HTML to Photoshop to Javascript and more.

11. What if there isn't a chapter near me?
Women who do not live near a chapter where they can attend real world meetings and events on a regular basis, can join Webgrrls International directly by contacting Webgrrls Headquarters through the Webgrrls website to receive virtual benefits and access to online resources. When members travel to different locations, they receive the same benefits as a local members (including discounts for conference, shops and other services).

12. What happens when I move and need to change chapters?
Your membership is good at your new location until the date your membership is due to be renewed. You can also join any local mailing list of chapters that are of interest to you as a paid member of a Webgrrls chapter. Members from different chapters not only join their chapter's mailing lists, but they can also join Special Interest Groups (SIGs) which are international online discussion groups based around common interests such as Online Advertising, Graphic Design or Entrepreneurship.

Webgrrls members have an excellent reputation for helping any other Webgrrls member who is interested in relocating to other parts of the country or world. For example, when a member from LA Webgrrls (Los Angeles, California) moved to the Seattle Washington area, Seattle members helped her with everything from offering to dog sit to providing her with job leads to recommending apartments and resources that would help make her feel at home.

The newly relocated member appreciated the openness and warmth that she had received from Webgrrls she had never met. "What was incredible was that everyone offered to help me and no one asked for anything in return. Our network rocks!"

13. What if I want to start a new chapter?
If there is no chapter near you, and you are interested in starting one, please fill out the participation form Webgrrls International and hit the submit button.

The information will go to Webgrrls International Headquarters for review. Other women in your vicinity may have already expressed an interest in starting a chapter. If more than one person in an area is interested, they need to meet (online or face-to-face) to decide who will be the Leader. The other interested parties could form a Steering Committee to help lead the chapter.

Once the interested parties begin to organize and meet, the group can form their chapter in coordination with Headquarters. Then they establish their local membership fee and collect dues, and a portion of their membership fees will be available to the group to use for chapter events.

14. What can I do to help the Webgrrls mission?
Recommend Webgrrls to a friend, sister, mother, wife, girlfriend, co-worker--any woman you feel can benefit from joining Webgrrls. Whether you know someone who is looking to develop her skills or start a career in new media or simply needs help getting online, Webgrrls is the network that will get her what she needs. Help spread the word about the Webgrrls mission and what we do, feature Webgrrls in your company, community or trade newsletters, on websites and in media programs.

As a mission-led corporation, we look to work with companies and organizations interested in sponsoring community and online activities as a marketing vehicle for their products and services.

Whether it's having banners and literature at International Webgrrls Day world-wide events, local networking meetings or sponsorship of future programs such as a member-to-member online database or Webgrrls awards ceremony, any company can benefit from being a part of meaningful Webgrrls programs and reaching the global network of techno-savvy women. In turn, their participation can help provide new and bigger benefits to the Webgrrls membership. Webgrrls provides unique, multi-media marketing opportunities to sponsors while providing concrete benefits to Webgrrls everywhere.

15. What are the benefits of volunteering my time for Webgrrls?
Webgrrls International has grown due to the volunteer efforts and commitment of its Chapter Leaders and the active members who have helped and continue to help women in their own communities and around the world. Volunteering for Webgrrls is a great opportunity for you to:

Get to know other women in your chapter and around the world. In addition to getting the benefit of the services we offer, when you join Webgrrls, you instantly belong to a pool of interesting and talented women. Many members have developed strong friendships and working relationships by working together on Webgrrls projects both online and face-to- face.

Gain access to women who may have the skills, experience and contacts that you may be looking for? If you are a designer or a writer, you might find a programmer to work with. If you are in marketing or sales, you may find someone who is hiring for a position that is perfect for you. You never know where opportunity may be. Webgrrls opens doors for you internationally.
Learn or improve leadership skills. Working or leading a team or committee for Webgrrls helps you hone your leadership skills such as delegation, organization and communication. By working on projects with other members, especially in a volunteer setting, you can develop valuable skills and experience to help you succeed in any work situation.

Develop the experience and skills required for the career change you want to make. Thinking of moving from teaching to online editing or writing? Have a flair for design but don't know what programs can help you create great websites? Investing in your career not only means spending money on things such as classes or printing new resumes, but investing your time can help you gain new skills as well as make important contacts.

Offer your time to help build your local Webgrrls chapter website, manage the chapter listserv, coordinate a local event or design brochures and flyers. These are only a few examples of things you can put on your resume showing how you are applying your skills. Webgrrls looks great on any resume and has led to jobs with major new media and technology companies including Microsoft, Oracle, IBM, Razorfish, Agency.com and more!

Be a part of building an organization that focuses on supporting women. Webgrrls has members who have gone on to start their own companies because they attended our workshops, networking meetings and online events. You, too, can gain confidence by teaching, assisting and mentoring other women to help carry out the Webgrrls mission of helping women succeed in an increasingly technical workplace and world.

16. Is Webgrrls International a non-profit entity?
Webgrrls International is a mission-led organization incorported as a for-profit company.

Webgrrls provides a forum for women in or interested in new media and the Internet to network, exchange job and business leads, form strategic alliances, mentor and teach, intern and learn the skills to help women succeed in an increasingly technical workplace and world.

Because it is about the empowerment of women worldwide, Webgrrls International serves women without being a charity cause and without the limitations on flexibility that tax-exempt status tends to impose. With more than 20,000 members globally and many more joining each day, the organization is structured to be responsive to the needs of women in every part of the world. Here are a few of the benefits for chapters and their members:

Money generated from memberships and sponsorship programs go directly back into running the respective chapters as well as supporting the international organization as a whole to better serve Webgrrls members and women in communities around the world. Each chapter can then provide and develop programs that best meet the needs of their members and community.

Each of the 50 US States and each foreign country has different rules and regulations regarding everything from tax status and labor laws to doing business and liability issues. A for-profit corporate entity as the umbrella over such diverse chapters is the best solution to handle these varied issues.
New media and the Internet are changing at an incredibly rapid pace and open up a multitude of legal issues to tackle. Successful organizations that operate in this industry need flexibility and freedom that a for-profit status offers.

We have put into place a series of turn-key systems and solutions within this incorporated international entity to keep the amount of administration each chapter must deal with to a minimum.

WebgrrlSLC is a local chapter of Webgrrls International.