Athena's Ramblings

So last night I presented at the SQL Server user group. The presentation was on the new generation of Microsoft Certification's. I'll be presenting it (in more detail) to the .NET developer UG and the Window's UG in the coming months. Anyway, that's not really what I'm blogging about. While I was there I saw someone I hadn't seen since Tech-Ed. Yes Shaun, I'm talking about you!!! Well the last time I saw Shaun I was on his apartment balcony with others discussing (and taste testing) the advantages of home brewed schnapps...YUM. This was AFTER the Influence party, discussed in a previous blog. Well, being 'under the weather' as you might call it at the time, I had forgotten about an 'event' that occurred while we were on that balcony. Shaun KINDLY reminded me about it last night.

As luck would have it, for us that is, not the bloke in this story, a police car pulls up an old red car right in front of the hotel. We're all looking over Shaun's balcony and the URGE hit me. Now I grew up in Melbourne and if you did too you'd understand the URGE I'm talking about! "....You're going home in the back of a divvy van...". It seems that I was a little 'happier' than the other people on the balcony for me to shout this out. So like any decent person I respected the wishes of others and kept my mouth shut. Now, those of you know know me would appreciate the difficulty I would have with that!!! So the poor bloke who was pulled up by the cops was breath tested, and unfortunately for him was asked to abandon his car and accompany the police. So my little 'Jig' became even more appropriate. So I again ask permission to entertain the neighbourhood. Once again I was declined. By NOW I'm bursting, I gotta say it. When the cops drive off with the drunk dude finally my Victorian heritage wins. Sorry guys, it HAD to happen. Respect your roots I say. I'm afraid it proved that deep down I'm still a Victorian!!!!!

During Tech-Ed, Greg Low conducted a presentation on running User Groups. Well our local Canberra Windows User Group leader Dave Mackie, already thinking of walking, decided after viewing the presentation that it was time to walk.

Dave has been running the group for quite some time and unfortunately without much support. He does many of the presentations himself each month (which takes up more than enough time in learning), he sends out invitations, manages attendees, organises the food, arranges topics, updates UG site, etc. It's a LOT of work for one person.

So after hearing Dave's cry for help I put my hand up to help. The outcome is posted here on Dave's site. So I'll be more involved in getting the meetings going. We have already organised presenters until December (and no Dave isn't one of them) and have decided to also run meetings at lunch in the City(just like the dev user group). Topics/Presenters and location are below. So far we've received quite a bit of support from Microsoft and the other Canberra user group leaders, specifically Jeff Wharton. Microsoft are also sending us Windows Server 2008 Beta DVD's to distribute to meeting attendees so that should also help.

Canberra Windows User Group Future Topics
Sept - Scott Deakon from Microsoft on 'How Hot Fixes and Service Packs get delivered'
Oct - Jeff Alexander from Microsoft on 'Deploying High Performance and Scalable Networking with Windows Server 2008'
Nov - Rocky Heckman from Microsoft on Security - yet to be finalised

Time & Location: 2nd Tuesday each month
Lunch Time
King O'Malley's Irish Pub
131 City Walk, Canberra City
12:30 - 1:30 — Finger food and presentation

Evening
Microsoft Canberra Office
Level 2, 44 Sydney Avenue, Barton
17:30 — Pizza and networking
18:00 - 19:30 — Presentations

Until I figure out how to register people feel free to email me your interest and I'll add you to the list :-) (athena@dotnetsolutions.com.au)

So thank you to the ITPro's in Microsoft for offering your support. Lets see if we can build this group. Also a big thanks to Dave. He's kept the group going for so long we owe it to him to support him for a change.

Well Tech-Ed is over for another year.

I helped out on the Microsoft Learning booth and our staff helped out in the Hands On Labs as usual. It was our 5th Tech-Ed so we are now well rehearsed as to how it works and what's required. For me this means lots of networking.

Once again the Gold Coast put on spectacular weather for us. After spending a day defrosting it was time to start 'work'. I use the term loosely because I really enjoy helping out on the booths. It's a great way to meet people and also gives me a change from the everyday. I must say that Magdalena Toth (the Microsoft Learning Partner Manager) did a great job this year with the stand. It was great to work in a collaborative team environment with other CPLS partners towards a common goal. Not only did the CPLS partners work well together but I think the delegates got more out of it too. The stand was sometimes 3-4 people deep, it was great to see. So 'on ya' Magdalena. It was really great.

Another thing worth a mention was the Influencer Party. This was organised by Jeff Wharton and sponsored by Wardy IT, Cybner Computer Systems, Charles Sturt Uni and IT Masters. I think I can safely say that out of all my years at Tech-Ed, this was the best party so far. It was particularly enhanced by the dancing of certain sponsors (see pics). The music was fun, the drinks were flowing, there was enough room for all and not too much that everyone was segregated. By far the best Tech-Ed party yet.

The final item I want to mention is the time I spent with Rocky Heckman. Now anyone who knows Rocky knows that he's a great bloke. He's been in Canberra for a while now working with various companies and has attended the Canberra .NET user group on and off over the years. He now works for Microsoft. Rocky is one of those rare people who will make time for anyone, regardless of how busy he is. He's a gem and I really enjoyed getting to know him better. I must ask though....why does it take going interstate to get to know someone you are in the same city as???

So that's it. It's over for another year. I'm a little more tanned, a little more wise and a lot more energetic about Microsoft and the people that support Microsoft.