Digital Digest March 2006

/:/:/:/:/ THE DIGITAL DIGEST /:/:/:/:/:/ The Monthly Newsletter of DigitalEVE Japan. Promoting women's digital lifestyles by offering a supportive community and programs tuned to women using IT in their workplace and in their everyday lives. http://www.digitalevejapan.org

/:/:/:/:/ THE DIGITAL DIGEST /:/:/:/:/:/

The Monthly Newsletter of DigitalEVE Japan.

Promoting women's digital lifestyles by offering a supportive
community and programs tuned to women using IT in their workplace
and in their everyday lives.

http://www.digitalevejapan.org

................................................

1 March 2006

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This monthly newsletter is a membership benefit of
DigitalEVE Japan and is sent through our mailing list,
de-japan. If you wish to cancel your membership with
DigitalEve Japan, please follow the unsubscribe instructions
at the end of this issue.

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IN THIS ISSUE
-> From the Editor
-> Rota Leader Report
-> Membership Team News
-> Announcement
-> Interview With A DEva
-> Lil's Farewell Message

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FROM THE EDITOR
Yoko Kawabe, Japanese Newsletter Editor
<newsletter@digitalevejapan.org>

It's getting warmer these days, but still cold in the early
morning and at night. Changeable weather makes it harder to
stay in good condition. Spring is a good season to begin
something new, but don't push yourself too hard. Take good
care of yourself, especially if you've been staying up late
watching the Turin Olympics!


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NOTES FROM THE STEERING COMMITTEE

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ROTA LEADER
Ladawan Lhuang-on
Leader's Report

This month's newsletter issue is dedicated to all women from
all over the world, with no national boundaries and no
color, cultural, or other differences. This Wednesday, March
8th is “International Women’s Day”. It is an occasion for
us, women, to get together and look at the progress we have
made so far to bring down the “gender barrier” and to
promote “gender equality”.

I would like to take this opportunity to empower women and
invite all to join the International Women’s Day Public
Forum: “Women in Decision-Making” at U Thant International
Conference Hall at UN House in Tokyo on Wednesday, March 8,
2006 (14:00-17:30pm)

Highlights of the event are exclusive video support
messages from the Chancellor of Germany, Dr. Angela Merkel;
the President of Liberia, Ms. Ellen Johnson-Sirleaf; and
the Chilean President-Elect, Ms. Michelle Bachelet
(expected message). Together they represent the group of
three recently-elected women heads of state/government in
three different regions of the world. Several outstanding
Japanese women will also share their experiences with the
audience. The event will be closed with the messages by the
four female ambassadors to Japan (from Cote d’Ivoire,
Luxembourg, Mali, and Turkey).

Admission to this public forum is free. Advance
registration is required (by March 6).
For more information:
http://www.unu.edu/hq/rector_office/events2006/womensday2006.pdf


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MEDIA TEAM NEWS

Chiharu Kawai, Media Coordinator
<media-j@digitalevejapan.org>

Finally it is becoming warmer after a long cold winter! It
is time for many people to start a new school or work year.
In this season, classified ads are very helpful. Have you
accessed the US-based free classifieds site called
"Craigslist"? They opened the Tokyo and Osaka pages this
year. Individual postings are all free and very easy to
enter, and only job postings are charged. If you like
classifieds, it is a great site.

Tokyo:  http://tokyo.craigslist.com/
Osaka:  http://osaka.craigslist.com/

As I announced last month, an article about DEJ will appear
in the April issue of the Hiragana Times, which will be in
stores in early March. Please buy a copy for yourself!

Hiragana Times website: http://www.hiraganatimes.com/index.html

Lastly, I am looking for a few people who can help me
distribute DEJ flyers at WomenFest 2006 scheduled for Sunday
March 12, 2006 from 15:00 p.m. to evening in Ebisu. We were
at this annual event last year also. If you can help, please
contact me at media-j@digitalevejapan.org.


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MEMBERSHIP TEAM NEWS

Misao Kajiro, Membership Coordinator.
< membership@digitalevejapan.org>

Total membership is 711 as of February 27th, 2006.

5 members had a nice time at Meet the DEvas on the 18th. If
you can organize the Meet the DEvas at your area it would be
a good chance to know each other. Please let me know if you
are interested in planning the meeting in near future.


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ANNOUNCEMENT

"Excel Workshop for Beginners"
Our DEJ member instructor, Smita, will teach you the basic
operational functions of Excel.

Date & Time: 6:00 to 9:00 p.m. on Saturday March 18, 2006
Venue: Women's Plaza (next to the UN University)
Cost: 3000 yen per person
Language: English
Reservation/contact: workshops@digitalevejapan.org

Note: Please bring your own computer and extension cords (important).
If you do not have Excel installed on your computer, please
tell us when you sign up. If you have specific questions
about Excel, please let us know prior to the workshop.


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INTERVIEW WITH A DEVA

We are sad to say goodbye to Kristen Elsby ("Lil"), a
founding member of DigitalEve Japan. Her contribution to
DE-Japan cannot be underestimated. She has recently moved to
Sydney, Australia, to pursue her studies. Farewell interview
conducted by Ladawan Lhuangon

1) If you are not from Tokyo, where are you from originally
and when and why did you relocate to Tokyo?

I’m originally from New Zealand, lived in Australia from
1994 to 1998 and then moved to Tokyo in 1998 to experience a
totally different culture and living environment. I
particularly wanted to live in a vast metropolis where
English wasn’t the first language. Now, 7 years later, I’ve
just relocated back to Sydney, Australia, for the next 12
months while attending grad school.

2) How long have you been a member of DigitalEve Japan?

I was one of the original co-founders of DigitalEve Japan,
along with Misao Kajiro, Kristen McQuillin and Khris
Schaffner, who formed the organization out of the disbanded
Japan Webgrrls. We launched DE-J in February 2001; Kristen
and I became co-leaders at that time. I formally stepped
down at the beginning of 2003.

3) How did you find out about DigitalEve Japan and why did
you decide to join?

See above.

4) What DE-J activities/resources have you participated in?
Of these, which do you find the most advantageous and why?

From early 2001 to early 2003, I participated in and co-ran
all of DE-J’s activities while I was co-leader! It was a
hectic but really enjoyable time. We ran monthly hands-on
computer workshops, monthly social events such as networking
evenings for web designers, and I attended several retreats
in Chichibu as well, including a really fun one on digital
video. They were excellent opportunities for getting to know
other like-minded women in Tokyo!

5) Are there any other activities and resources you would
like to see offered by DigitalEve Japan?

I think DE-J’s greatest assets are its members! It would be
great if there were more members actively involved in the
organization, contributing their knowledge and expertise. In
order to thrive, DE-J really needs people from all skill
levels contributing to running the organization,
participating in its activities, and interacting with each
other. Unfortunately, most people have very busy lives so it
is very challenging to try to achieve this.

6) What are your interests in digital technology?

I love all things digital! I own an iPod, several digital
cameras, a Palm Tungsten C, a 3G mobile phone, and numerous
other gadgets. I don’t have the same desire to upgrade all
of my ‘toys’ with the latest model the way I did a few years
though.

7) What kind of computer do you use?
I use a Powerbook G4/1.67 GHz 15” laptop running Tiger
(Mac OS 10.4.6).

8) Are you a member of any other technology-related groups
and if so, which ones?

Not at this time.

9) Please tell me a little bit about where you work and what
your responsibilities are.

I have just given up my job at United Nations University
where I worked for five and a half years in order to pursue
my studies. For the past two years, I was head of the Office
of Communications of UNU where I oversaw the media
relations, communications and PR activities of the
University.

10) Do you have any favorite software programs? If so, why?

As a photographer, I use Photoshop on a daily basis. I also
use a great little utility called PhotoReviewer
http://www.sticksoftware.com/software/PhotoReviewer.html
that allows you to review your latest batch of photos in
slideshow format and immediately delete the bad ones while
saving the good ones! It’s excellent for sorting through
large volumes of images. I also like Extensis Portfolio
http://tinyurl.com/8utnj for managing and cataloging my huge
collection of images.

11) What is your favorite computer-related activity? (for
example, games, email, surfing the net, etc.) Do you have
any other hobbies?

I like to use my computer to watch TV/movies, listen to
music, chat to friends online, look for information, read my
favourite blogs, edit my photos, shop online, and catch up
on the latest current events.

12) What is your favorite website and why?

I love flickr.com http://www.flickr.com/photos/esthet/! I am
an active travel and documentary photographer; for years, I
didn’t publish my work online but since joining Flickr about
15 months ago, I have really enjoyed the community aspect of
sharing my photography and interacting with other
photographers. I highly recommend the site to anyone who
likes taking photos and/or sharing their photos with their
friends.

13) Name three things you will always find near your
computer.

Lavazza coffee, compact flash cards/card reader, and my
Onkyo computer speakers/sub-woofer (I’m a big iTunes
listener).


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LIL'S FAREWELL MESSAGE

After having lived in Japan for 7 years, I now find myself
in Sydney and about to begin an entirely new phase of my
life as a postgraduate student again! DigitalEve Japan
played a huge part in my life between late 2000 - when
Misao, Khris, Kristen and I began talking about how to set
up the new organisation - and early 2003 - when I finally
stepped down as leader. During that intense 2+ year period,
I worked very closely with 9 incredible women on the
Steering Committee and with the 30-40 volunteers who
collaborated or participated in various projects. I am very
grateful to have had this fantastic opportunity to meet and
work with kindred spirits with a keen interest in digital
technologies and to make some great friends. While DE-J is
no longer as active as it once was, it still has an wealth
of talent, enthusiasm, and creativity amongst its membership
base. It is my hope that more members will step forward,
contribute their time and energies, and take an active role
in DigitalEve, ensuring the long-term viability and
sustainability of the organisation. The more you invest, the
more everyone benefits!

Finally, thank you to everyone who played a role in building
DE-J and I wish you all the best for the future.

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SUBMISSIONS TO THE NEWSLETTER

Have an announcement to make? An article to submit for
consideration? (We can't pay you, but we'll give you a
byline.) Please send your submissions in plain text format
to: newsletter@digitalevejapan.org

The Digital Digest is brought to you by the Newsletter Team:
Noriko Hasegawa, Koko Iwata, Misao Kajiro, Yoko
Kawabe, Mayumi Tanimoto, Stacey Ward  and Ailsa Wylie.