First local LaidOffCamp draws 200

The line stretched out the door and down the sidewalk as the first local LaidOffCamp began Thursday afternoon.

The free, informal event was part of a nationwide movement for laid off workers to get together to commiserate, network and reevaluate their skills. About 200 people came to Thursday’s camp, which paired fun stuff — free massages and beer — with serious subjects, such as seminars on starting small businesses and resume writing sessions in an unused office building near Lake Avenue.

Valerie Croke Schoenherr, who runs her own human resources consulting business, organized the Colorado Springs event after hearing about a camp in another city. She said she was thrilled with the turnout and hopes others will step up to organize more camps.

“This has been really fun and rewarding,” she said.

Felicia Music volunteered to help run for the event, and planned to catch a few of the workshops herself.

“I just got laid off as of yesterday,” she said (adding she knew the move was coming), “but I put a bug in someone’s ear, so I think I’m employed again.”

Travis Dorr lost his job in electrical engineering in April. He said the opportunity to network was what brought him to the camp.

“Obviously, Monster doesn’t work,” he said of the popular job search site. “I know that networking is by far the way to go.”

Kellie Crist, a business manager and recruiter for Odyssey Systems, came to collect resumes and see what the camp was all about.

“I’ve never seen this done before,” she said. “It’s a great opportunity for people who don’t know how to write resumes or haven’t interviewed for awhile.”

Being unemployed is frustrating and frightening, but it can also be an opportunity, said Debi Bauer, a performance and business coach who was holding counseling sessions at the camp.

“I am helping job seekers look at their skills, but I’m also helping them look at what it is they really want to do,” she said. “If you find your passion, now’s a perfect time to follow it.”