Monday, April 10, 2006
ZOEY'S ROOM OFFERS FREE WEB SEMINAR
GIRLS & INTERNET SAFETY: QUICKIE LUNCH-TIME SEMINAR EASES PARENTS’ FEARS
Rockland, Maine - Apr 10, 2006 Zoey’s Room, an interactive online community for ‘tween girls, is rapidly becoming a leading expert on girls’ issues stemming from the Internet, including cyber-bullying and the pitfalls of MySpace communication. Starting Thursday May 4 at 12 noon, and repeating every Thursday of that month, Erin Reilly, Executive Director of Zoey’s Room, will conduct a FREE half-hour online seminar titled “Internet Safety for Girls” with a virtual walk through the features of Zoey’s Room that are monitored and protected.
“Lately we’ve been hearing so many horror stories about Myspace and other chat rooms cropping up in the news,” said Reilly, “and parents and educators have admitted they know so little about this technology, they are afraid for their daughters to even use the Internet. I wanted to arm them with a little knowledge so they can teach their girls how to protect themselves. At the same time, I want parents and educators to know more about how Zoey's Room is keeping girls safe. And the way we’re going to do this is so easy and convenient. People can eat a sandwich at their desks while they’re logged into this web seminar.”
Reilly, who has more than 10 years of experience studying girls' issues and multimedia, co-founded Zoey’s Room with business partner Vinitha Nair in 2001. The program, geared to get girls into technology in Maine, has since spread nationally and has expanded to include math, engineering and science. Fewer than a dozen Science, Technology, Engineering, Math (STEM) websites are currently available online for ‘tween girls right now. Of them all, Zoey’s Room is the only character-driven website that features a multicultural character “Zoey” who appeals to both rural and urban ‘tweens. The website is being touted as one of the safest STEM interactive communities around. Its unique registration process ensures the identity of every single girl by verifying her identity twice, once with a parent, and second with a trusted school or organization. The chat room, which is the glue to get girls engaged in the site, is monitored every day after school and chat transcripts are reviewed daily by staff.
How do I sign up?Anyone who would like to register for this opportunity may email programzr@zoeysroom.com or call 207-594-1842 to specify which Thursday in May is preferred. Check out the home page of www.zoeysroom.com to see recent articles on MySpace.com and other Internet issues affecting girls.
Can't make this event...but I know a special girl in my life who'd love this program!Go to Zoey's Room and click on Join Now. Register and pay for that special girl online or download a paper registration and mail it in.
Take me to Zoey's Room...
About Platform Shoes Forum
Founded in 2003, http://www.platformshoes.org
MEDIA CONTACT:
Erin B. Reilly
Executive Director
email: erin@zoeysroom.com
phone: 207-594-1842
