The Div – Where Web Innovation and Creativity Begin

Help Us Spread the Word About Div Jr.

by Lindsey Miller on May 18

Since our announcement of Div Jr. I have been overwhelmed by all the support from our community. I knew when we started Div that we were doing something special for Oklahoma, and our Div Jr. program is already off to a great success.

Many of our friends have reached out to us to show support and lend encouragement. Scratch Camp, our first project to come from Div Jr. is sneaking up on us. We still have spots available for kids interested in this program!

That is where I need your help. Please send this PDF flyer -that can also be attached to an email or just send this link- to anyone you think would be interested: Div Jr. Scratch Camp Flyer (48)

Post it on Facebook, tweet it out, email it to friends, church groups, schools anyone you can think of. We have more programs planned for this summer, but we need your help spreading the word.

Need help explaining what Scratch is to your friends? Look at these featured projects.

Scratch Camp STEM Education — Scratch is a programming language developed by the Lifelong Kindergarten Group at the MIT Media Lab. Scratch makes it easy for children to create their own interactive stories, animations, games, music, and art. This class will be June 8th and 9th and led by Wesley Fryer a trained facilitator. Learn more about Scratch Camp or visit the Scratch site. Already convinced to sign up, fill out the application.

Thank you for your time and all of your help with Div Jr.!

Lindsey
P.S. We still need to cover 5 more scholarships for kids entering camp. If you would like to sponsor a child for $150 please visit our donate page.

0 comments ☞

Help Needed for Our New Kid’s Tech Program, Div Jr.

by Lindsey Miller on May 1

From the beginning, The Div has been intent on inspiring and training the next generation of web tech professionals in Oklahoma.

For us that means reaching and investing in children and helping them embark on a lifelong journey of learning and using web technology that could ultimately blossom into a career, new businesses and, in the process, revolutionize our city and state as well as their own lives forever.

After months of preparation, I’m so excited to announce our new kid’s program called Div Jr. to train kids in web design, development, programming, game development and other unique tech related fields.

[ Full details on Div Jr. are here ]

Our first Div Jr. event will be Scratch Camp on June 8-9, a program started by the MIT Media Lab. It is a programming language that makes it easy for children to create their own interactive stories, animations, games, music and art.

It’s led by Scratch trained facilitator and Div community member Wesley Fryer and we’re super pumped to get Div Jr. off the ground with this first program.

But here’s the deal, we can’t do this alone.

We’ve gotten this far with the generous donations of our founder’s tech companies and the generous donations of other individuals and companies.

But now we really need your help.

We need the Oklahoma tech community to rally to help us get Div Jr. and its impact off the ground and in the air.

We need people to lead other events in your areas of expertise and to pass on your knowledge to the next generation.

We need people, organizations and businesses to donate financially — yes, we’re a 501c3 nonprofit foundation so it’s all tax deductible — to help us continue our programs and do more of these events.

If you’ve benefited from The Div, whether you’ve been to a training class or used the space for a user group meeting, we’re asking you now to step forward and to help in any way you can.

We also ask you to pass this plea along to those you know who can and want to be a part of changing lives and impacting our great city and state with the web tech industry.

Here’s where you can donate today … and where you can signup to help.

As always, I’m here to answer questions. If you’d like to meet to discuss or chat on the phone, I’m happy to do so as this is a very worthwhile goal and program we’ve set out to accomplish.

For the next generation!

P.S. — It also goes without saying that you can help us spread the word to children and parents (as well as schools and media outlets) who may be interested in this first Div Jr. event and subsequent ones. So please send us your contacts or pass along this information to those you think would benefit from the Div Jr. program!

0 comments ☞

Div Jr. Scratch Camp-STEM Education June 2012

by Lindsey Miller on April 16

Scratch Camp, the first event as part of our new Div Jr. kid’s program, is specifically designed for parents and kids entering grades 3rd thru 8th. Scratch camp will be June 8th and 9th. We anticipate that Div Jr. will not only spark an interest in web based technology, but will also encourage the children to seek more education and potential careers in web based tech.

What is Scratch

Scratch is a programming language developed by the Lifelong Kindergarten Group at the MIT Media Lab. Scratch makes it easy for children to create their own interactive stories, animations, games, music, and art — and share these creations on the web. As young people create and share Scratch projects, they learn important mathematical and computational ideas, while also learning to think creatively, reason systematically, and work collaboratively.

Dates: Friday June 8, 5 – 8 pm and Saturday June 9, 9 am to 3 pm
Participants: 10 student/parent pairs (20 total participants)
Student age requirements: for students entering 3rd grade through 8th grade
Technology: none required, but student/parent teams can bring their own laptop with Scratch software pre-installed (it’s free and Mac/Windows compatibile) Laptops and headsets with microphones will be provided for student/parent teams needing them
Fees: $150 registration fee per pair. There are scholarships available
Location: The Div in Edmond (1712 S. Kelly Ave. – south of 15th and Kelly, east side of Kelly)

If you would like to fill out an application please go here.

Scratch Camp is only one part of the Div Jr. Kids Program.

We are actively seeking individuals, businesses and organizations who can financially help us create and continue our kids programs. If you are interested in being a financial sponsor, please use this form to contact Lindsey Miller.

0 comments ☞

Creating Your Why Statement: LifeDev

by Lindsey Miller on April 5

Cory Miller, from iThemes one of The Div’s founding companies has started a LIfeDev project. Thursday, April 19th from noon-1:00 p.m. he will be at The Div

This is from Cory’s Making Waves Campaign website:

As part of LifeDev, April’s theme will be “Defining and Achieving Success.”

One of the first learning events we have scheduled is “Determining Your WHY Statement” taught by veteran business leader and coach Michael Smith of iMentorLeaders.com on Thursday, April 19 from Noon-1 p.m. Central Standard Time.

Michael will talk about creating WHY statements — kind of a short, memorable personal mission statement for yourself or your organization. It’s an 8-word statement with a Verb, Target and Outcome.

My personal statement for iThemes is: Lead our tribes to go far together.

I’m really excited about this class I personally have benefited from his training and expertise as we retain his services for iThemes ongoing leadership development. Michael knows his stuff and this particular subject has helped me hone in what I do for our organization.

RSVP to attend in person:

0 comments ☞

Headway Live Bootcamp

by Lindsey Miller on March 30

UPDATE: After hearing from some of their customers, Headway has decided to postpone their bootcamp. We will let you know when it has been rescheduled.

Headway Themes is proud to present our first Live Training Event in Oklahoma City on April 20th & April 21st, 2012. This action-packed, in-person training will cover the hottest topics with Headway Themes. Not only will you get training by the creators of Headway Themes, but you’ll also be ready to step out on your own and rock out your next site!

You have purchased Headway, but you aren’t sure where to get started. You are considering purchasing Headway and want to know more. With what you learn at this in-person training, you’ll be able to hit the ground running for your next website or client websites. You’ll be setting yourself apart from the average Headway user, once you’ve taken this course.

Build Your Confidence: One of the biggest distractions with new software is the learning curve associated with it. Throughout both days, you’ll be able to learn with peers to give you the confidence of coming away from the training being able to build websites with Headway Themes.

For a detailed agenda and to register go here.

Here is the blogpost the guys at Headway wrote.

0 comments ☞

Class: The Entrepreneurial Side of Innovation April 14th

by Lindsey Miller on March 30

Entrepreneurial Innovation™ is a unique education series designed to equip entrepreneurs, innovators, and everyone with an innovative idea with the knowledge and resources to successfully bring it to fruition, from idea generation to making money, and evertyhing in between.

Attendees will learn key strategies including how to:

Transform your hobbies and Ideas into income generating engines.
Write your own Patents versus paying your attorney.
Bullet-proof your endeavor with Entity Structuring secrets.
Raise Capital without giving up equity or control.
Launch your ideas for free using Leveraging Strategies.
Turn life’s expenses into business Tax Deductions.
Maximize profit by creating your contract Deal Structure terms.

Jay Martin, CP, LP, FAAOP is a career inventor and entrepreneur. He has launched numerous businesses based on his inventions, including helping create the nation’s largest prosthetics research and development company. He now mentors and equips other innovators and entrepreneurs to bring their ideas to fruition, and shares the secrets to his own successes at http://ideamold.com.

Expanded bio at: http://ideamold.com/jay_martin_bio.pdf

0 comments ☞

Goodbye Community Collaboration Days

by Lindsey Miller on March 26

We are 8 months into our little experiment that is called The Div. One of my personal favorite events that we have held is Community Collaboration Days. It has happened every Thursday from 8:30 a.m.-5:30 p.m. since we opened. We have had many Thursdays were The Div was filled with people looking to network, connect and talk about projects. We have other Thursdays where I was sitting alone waiting very patiently for all of you to come through the doors and talk to me!

We are focused on making an impact and want to ensure we’re putting our time and resources into maximizing our impact in the web tech community in Oklahoma.

Thus we have decided to cancel our weekly Thursday Community Collaboration Days for now. As of March 26, 2012 we have discontinued Community Collaboration Days. If you have a special need or events, please let me know and we can make special arrangements with advance notice. The Div is still open by appointment and during all of our scheduled class and event times.

But let me say we have some great plans and projects for The Div coming soon! One of these exciting projects is a Div Jr. program. I will have more information for you in the next few weeks, but here is a quick synopsis: We want to have a kids camp this summer. There will be two classes of 20 students (12-15 age group). One in the morning for a webdesign class and the afternoon for gaming production. Doesn’t that sound amazing?!?

I am currently putting my full-time attention towards our other projects including Div Jr. and raising the necessary funds to make it happen. Thus, I am currently trying to find headline sponsors. Those companies and individuals willing to donate $5,000 or more to help us make this happen. We need instructors, curriculum, snacks, computers and marketing. I am also looking for sponsors for individual kids. You can sponsor a child for $250 and allow them to attend our camp for free!

If you are interested in getting more details about our sponsorship opportunities please let me know.

While we are talking about sponsorships. If you want to donate any amount to The Div, we will forever be grateful. We cannot continue any of our projects without our communities financial support. I hope you will consider a donation of any amount to The Div today and help us continue our work.

So, goodbye Community Collaboration Day, but hello to Div Jr!!

1 comment ☞

Class: Understanding Your Brand June 6th at Noon

by Lindsey Miller on March 20

Join us June 6th at noon, for a class by Sarah Mason Sears: Understanding Your Brand.

Sarah will discuss the following points:

-Defining an Identity

Brand identity and its significance and value to your business.

-Building Consistency in Your Brand

Why consistency is important and how to set up standards to maintain an effective brand.

-Maintaining and Strengthening Your Brand Over Time

How to consistently fine-tune your brand as it ages to build strength and equity.

Sarah Mason Sears, Principal S Design Inc. and AIGA Fellow Sarah Sears established S Design Inc. in March of 1994. Her ability to articulate her clients’ objectives and create tailor-made graphic design and branding strategies lead S Design to become one of Oklahoma’s foremost graphic design firms. Word spread, and S Design’s client base quickly grew to include prominent small businesses, health care organizations, oil and gas companies, law firms, State departments and community events. S Design has been honored with many awards and published internationally.

Sarah earned a Bachelor of Arts in Design and Illustration from the University   of Kansas. Since then she has served as an integral member of the design and business community, and in 2009 she was awarded an AIGA Fellow. Sarah has been an adjunct instructor at Oklahoma Christian University. She has juried student competitions and served on advisory boards for local AIGA groups, Oklahoma Christian University, Francis Tuttle and Metro Tech.

In 1996, Sarah founded the Oklahoma chapter of AIGA. She served as president from 1996-1999 and as a board member and advisor for more than a decade. In 2004, Sarah was chosen for the Journal Record’s “Achievers under 40” and for “Forty under 40” in OKCBusiness. Sarah has also been honored as a three-time finalist for the Journal Record Woman of the Year and 2006 marked her induction into the Circle of Excellence.

Sarah is an Advisory Board Member for the Greater Oklahoma City Chamber, a board member of the Casady Alumni Association, a member of Rotary Club 29, a member of Leadership Oklahoma City’s Class XXV, and serves on the Alumni Board for Leadership Oklahoma City and the marketing committee for the Arts Council of Oklahoma City.

0 comments ☞

Class: Money Management April 27th

by Lindsey Miller on March 19

Christin Baker is back for another round of Money Management. We always have a great turn out when Christin comes to The Div. If you missed this seminar last time you will want to make it to this one!

Here are the objectives you can expect to learn about in the Money Management Seminar:

Setting Financial Goals
Getting Organized
Cutting Spending Waste
Building Your Budget
Saving Made Easy
Monitoring Your Credit

Brought to us by Allegiance Credit Union

Christin Baker is the Social Media Manager/Communications Specialist at Allegiance Credit Union where she has worked since May of 2009. She is very active with the Edmond Young Professionals where she serves on the Steering Committee and is the current Chair of the Ambassador Committee. She is also a member of the Women’s Network Council of the Edmond Chamber of Commerce. Christin serves on the Institutional Advisory Board at Brookline College and sits on the Business/Marketing Career Tech Advisory Committee for the Putnam City School District. Over the past two years she has been presenting financial education seminars to various businesses, schools, and organizations throughout the Oklahoma City metro.

LUCH IS PROVIDED FREE OF CHARGE.

0 comments ☞

The Div is back from a successful SXSW

by Lindsey Miller on March 16

We had a great time at SXSW (South By Southwest) this year. Oklahoma has truly put their money where there mouth is, so to speak, when it comes to promoting technology in our great state.

If you did not know, I was asked to head up the interactive committee for SXSW for The Buffalo Lounge. What is The Buffalo Lounge? It is more than just SXSW they actually do events and promote local music and film year round. However, during the epic film/interactive/music festival in Austin every year it transforms. Members of The Greater OKC Chamber, The Film and Music Office and Travelok.com put months of work into promoting Oklahoma at this festival. Abby Kurin, Julie Porter and Josh O’Brien are the leaders of this endeavor. They spend months planning the execution of The Buffalo Lounge for the one week it exists.

The Div was able to serve as a sponsor for The Buffalo Lounge. The first two hours we heard from technology companies and startups in our state. They were able to pitch us their products. It was absolutely amazing to see all of the innovative, creative talent we have. We heard from CCEW, New Spin 360, ONEsite, MadeByWheat and Quibids. After each of these comapanies showcased what they were working on, the party started! There was a live band ready for rock-aroke!

We were able to use our time networking with other Oklahomans and catching up with old business friends from around the world. The great thing about SXSW is that you are constantly meeting new people, new connections who will be your friend for years to come.

Here is a gallery of pictures from SXSW this year. Enjoy! Let me know if you made it to The Buffalo Lounge and what you thought in the comments section.