Introduction

[Geordie Birch <geordie@resist.ca>]

  Hi.  My name is Geordie Birch.  I live in Vancouver Canada.  

  I have been a user of Debian since July 1999.  In the past I have been 
involved in local projects that encouraged the use of computers and 
networks by people who might not otherwise have access.  In 2000 we set 
up a computer lab running KDE under Debian.  While open to the public, 
its presence was advertised only within local community activist circles.  
Many women made use of the computer lab.  Also I am and have been 
involved in various projects providing network services to community
activist groups.  These projects run Debian on their servers, and
include a significant number of women among their admins.

  I would like to see more women - especially non-geek women - using 
Debian as it is in my opinion an excellent desktop platform.
Unfortunately all of the Debian resources prior to D-W are somewhat
alienating to non-geeks in general and, i would imagine, non-geek
women in particular. 

  The D-W community is valuable to me for two reasons: to facilitate my
presentation of Debian as a realisic option for women interested in
running a Linux based OS; and as a technical resource to further my own
technical ability - D-W is a friendly place, lacking the macho and elite
feel of so many other technical forums.

  I subscribed to the D-W mailling list shortly after it was
established; I sit in the D-W IRC channel a lot as well.  I have a non 
computer job and don't have a lot of time to IRC these days although I 
find the technical discussions interesting to read.

  Geordie.