HIDDEN VALLEY LAKE – Technological innovation is spreading in South Lake County thanks to free WiFi and Poken, a social media flash drive device from Switzerland.

On Sunday, Nov. 8, from 2 p.m. to 4 p.m. a social media meetup workshop is scheduled to be held in the dining area of the Hidden Valley Food Mart. The workshop will be a team effort by Mark Rudiger of Lake County Websites and Lamar Morgan of CDMM-Synergistic Business Marketing.

The workshop will make use of the dining area's 42-inch HDTV to showcase in slides ways small businesses can benefit from being in the social media space on the Internet. This will include ways to help your computer run more efficiently and effectively.

Free flash drives will be handed out with special software programs to enhance your computer's operation. There also will be a hands-on demonstration of how to rid your computer of the old files that slow it down.

Pokens will also be introduced into the mix. A Poken is a flash drive device that transfers social media data between people at the touch of a four-fingered Poken hand. Pokens are spreading in popularity around the world – especially at business networking events – including Tweetups, meetups, BNI functions and chamber of commerce meetings. For some, a Poken is "the new business card" of the 21st century. Pokens have already been utilized by IBM to help conduct major business conferences.

The Hidden Valley Food Mart has set itself up as a free WiFi hot spot. Folks can now do more than simply get the car filled up with gas and purchase groceries at the convenience store off Highway 29.

Soon you should be seeing a large, four-foot blue sign out by Highway29 announcing that Hidden Valley Food Mart is a free WiFi hot spot. The Internet access is made possible by AT&T/Yahoo and is high-speed DSL. However, the WiFi signal is also being made secure. That is being accomplished by The WiFi Co. of Colorado, which also provides an advertising splash page for branding purposes.

All those desiring to attend the upcoming workshop at the Hidden Valley Food Mart are encouraged to call 707-709-8605 for more information and to make a reservation.

The fee to attend the workshop is $30 (which includes a free flash drive you can take home and use with your computer).

Bringing one's laptop is encouraged because hands-on help will be available during the two-hour workshop. Seating is limited.