It's AZGiveCamp time again! Our third event is coming up in under 2 weeks, Oct 21st-23rd 2011 at the Park Central Mall (Central Ave. between Thomas and Osborn) in midtown Phoenix. Please sign-up to volunteer as a developer, designer, or analyst at http://azgivecamp.org/Volunteer.aspx.

Special appeal: we need graphic designers! If you’re a pro or amateur, it doesn’t matter. Designers are always the most popular people at any GiveCamp!

Those who participated in the last 2 events already know that AZGiveCamp is the local component of a national event where the software development community comes together to support local charities and non-profits by developing or improving their web sites and applications. It's fun, it's agile, it's geeky, and it's good for the community.

We had a fantastic time at the last 2 events and, in Arizona alone, have helped more than 20 non-profits with their development needs. As someone who has now participated in GiveCamps as both a participant and as an organizer, I can honestly say the experience is very, very, worthwhile.

You can find out more about AZGiveCamp at http://azgivecamp.org and about the national organization at http://givecamp.org.

I am very excited about this event and look forward to working with all of you at AZGiveCamp III.

At 6pm on March 3rd we will begin the journey toward our third AZGiveCamp event. If you are interested in being a part of the team that organizes this event, please come by the US Airways Rio West offices at 52nd St. and Rio Salado Parkway in Tempe (not the Corporate office on Mill - directions below) as we kick-off our next event planning.  Existing teams will need additional members and some new teams will be forming.  All types of help is needed, from financial and logistical planners to website, social media and other technical talents, so please come-by at 6pm and become part of this amazing team of volunteers.

If you are not familiar with AZGiveCamp a GiveCamp is a weekend event where the software development community comes together to support charities and non-profits by developing or improving their web sites and applications. These events have been occurring all over the United States for about 4 years now, and we have had 2 such events in the Valley of the Sun over the last year.

To get to the US Airways Rio West offices, take the Priest Dr. exit off the 202 (flag A) and head south. Make a right turn onto Rio Salado Parkway, and follow the road to where it starts to curve south (becoming 52nd St.).  You want to turn left at the last entrance into the parking lot before the traffic light.  If you reach the traffic light, you’ve gone too far, although you will be able to see the light from the parking lot entrance.  Make an immediate right in the parking lot and park anywhere along this side of the building, which is numbered 2021.  Enter at the first set of doors (the most northern doors on the west side of the building) labeled “Suite 101” and “US Airways Main Entry”.  You’ll be able to see the tower at Sky Harbor airport if you look to the west and there will probably be airplanes landing just over your head.

The next AZGiveCamp will be held starting January 14^th 2011 at the Phoenix campus of Devry University!  Please see AZGiveCamp.org for more details.

The 1st AZGiveCamp organizers meeting will be held on Thursday, October 15th from 6-8pm MST at the Microsoft Phoenix Offices (2929 N. Central Ave. #1400 Phoenix AZ 85012).  If you are interested in helping to organize this event, please sign-up on EventBrite.  To learn more about Give Camp, you can visit http://www.givecamp.org and follow us on Twitter @AZGiveCamp. You can even call us at 623.252.GIVE if you have questions.

The preliminary agenda for our first meeting is as follows. If you have any comments or suggestions on this agenda, please make them by commenting on this post, via Twitter, or by phone above.