Hello everyone,

I am very pleased to announce that Wikimedia NYC and Wikimedia DC working in collaboration to host the first national Wikimedia conference in the United States!

We are looking to assemble a strong team of volunteers during the days of the conference to help out with everything from technology and recording to information and catering. We hope that we can assemble a strong team of volunteers within the Wikimedia NYC chapter so if you are interested in a role in the conference, please sign up to volunteer on the conference page or email wikicon@wikimedianyc.org with questions.

Here are the details for the conference:

*Dates: *Friday, May 30, 2014 - Sunday, June 1, 2014 *Location: *New York Law School (185 West Broadway, New York, NY 10013) *Website:* http://wikiconferenceusa.org *Email:* wikicon@wikimedianyc.org *Registration: *http://wikiconusa.eventbrite.org/

For more information, please review our official press release below! We hope you will join us and help us spread the word!

Thank you, Jennifer

Jennifer Baek jen@wikimedianyc.org

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*PRESS RELEASE* *For Immediate Release*

*Email: *wikicon@wikimedianyc.org

*Website:* http://wikiconferenceusa.org

*Twitter: *@WikiConUSA https://twitter.com/WikiConUSA, #WikiConUSAhttps://twitter.com/search?q=%23WikiConUSA&src=typd

*January 28, 2014*

*WIKIMEDIA CHAPTERS ANNOUNCE WIKIPEDIA CONFERENCE **"WIKICONFERENCE USA"*

*The first national Wikimedia conference in the United States to be held in New York City.*

*NEW YORK, --*Wikimedia District of Columbia and Wikimedia New York City are excited to announce the inaugural WikiConference USAhttp://wikiconferenceusa.org/, the first national Wikimedia conference in the United States. The conference will be held on May 30 - June 1, 2014 at New York Law Schoolhttp://www.nyls.edu/, located in the Tribeca district of New York City. The conference will focus on the grassroots efforts of the Wikipedia and Wikimedia movement in the United States and related matters of free culture and digital rights.

WikiConference USA will concentrate on the future of Wikimedia and will include workshops, panels, and presentations on Wikimedia's outreach to cultural institutions, community building, technology development, and Wikimedia's role in education. There will also be a dedicated day of "unconference," where the participants choose the topics to discuss. The keynotes and select workshops and panels will be video recorded and livestreamed for remote participants.

WikiConference USA is made possible by a grant from the Wikimedia Foundation, the organization that operates Wikipedia.

Sign up for our mailing listhttps://groups.google.com/forum/#!forum/wikiconusa to receive updates about WikiConference USA.

*Register*

To register for the conference, visit: http://wikiconusa.eventbrite.com.

*Who Should Attend?*

WikiConference USA is open to all participants, regardless of previous level of involvement with Wikipedia or the Wikimedia projects. We welcome the curious, the skeptical, and others wishing to engage in meaningful conversation about the Wikimedia movement in the United States, free culture and digital rights, advocacy and outreach, community building, and technology.

*Submit a Session*

WikiConference USA encourages potential attendees to get involved by submitting proposals for conference sessions. We invite you to submit a proposal http://wikiconferenceusa.org/wiki/Submissions to lead a session at WikiConference USA!

*Apply for a Scholarship*

WikiConference USA will be providing travel scholarships for a limited number of individuals who are in need of financial assistance. The scholarship will cover the cost of travel and stay in New York City. We are currently accepting scholarship applications. Please review ourScholarship page http://wikiconferenceusa.org/wiki/Scholarships before applying. Applications are due by February 28, 2014.

*Get Involved*

We're always looking for people to volunteer or contribute to the planning of the conference. If you're interested in volunteering or contributing, email wikicon@wikimedianyc.org.

*About Wikimedia District of Columbia*

Wikimedia District of Columbia is an official affiliate of the Wikimedia Foundation, serving Washington, D.C., and the surrounding states of Maryland, Virginia, West Virginia, and Delaware. Wikimedia District of Columbia, a nonprofit educational organization, is dedicated to the advancement of general knowledge and the collection, development, and dissemination of educational content under a free license or in the public domain. Our projects seek to benefit Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia, as well as other projects of the Wikimedia Foundation. To learn more about Wikimedia District of Columbia, visit www.wikimediadc.org.

*About Wikimedia New York City*

Wikimedia New York City is an official affiliate of the Wikimedia Foundation, serving the New York City metropolitan area. Wikimedia New York City, a nonprofit educational organization, is dedicated to the promotion of free culture. To learn more about Wikimedia New York City, visit www.wikimedianyc.org.