Search results matching tags 'Developer Community' and 'SQL Server Community'

SQL in the City Event Dates Announced!

andyleonard — Sat, 18 May 2013 06:00:00 GMT

If you didn’t know that already, you know it now. The latest evidence to support this claim is the publication of the schedule for US SQL in the City events. They are:

9 Oct – Pasadena
11 Oct – Atlanta
14 Oct – Charlotte

Registration for these events opens 24 May.

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QwikTalk and SQLPeople™ Announce Free SQL Help by Phone!

andyleonard — Mon, 29 Aug 2011 14:30:00 GMT

Introduction

I received some awesome responses from I Am Here To Help™! One of them was an email from Josh Breinlinger, founder of QwikTalk.com. Josh and I spoke on the phone later that day to discuss using QwikTalk’s platform to provide free support to folks with SQL Server-related questions.

It’s Like #SQLHelp on the Phone!

QwikTalk connects people with questions to people with answers. Here’s how it works (my version, anyway – see the link for Josh’s version):

You have a question about SQL Server.
You remember reading a blog post (this one!) about getting SQL Server help on the phone, find it, and connect to QwikTalk.com.
You select “SQL” from the Categories list:

When you arrive at the SQL Help – Free Phone Consultations page, you type your question and click the Ask a Question button:

(Some magic happens)
You phone rings a few minutes later, connecting you with someone who answers your question.

How cool is that?

And it’s free!

The Magic

The magic actually starts when willing people sign up to be experts. I did this and the process is very smooth. I entered my information, including my cell number. I got a text from the QwikTalk number requesting a reply. I replied. I was in the system. I got another text with instructions on how to set my availability On and Off. Josh and I tested it.

Think of it as a live forum. Experienced SQL Server DBAs and developers with some time can set their Availability to On, help out some folks SQL Server questions, and then set their Availability to Off when they have something else to do.

It. just. rocks.

“What Does QwikTalk and SQLPeople Get Out Of This, Andy?”

Excellent question – I’m glad you asked! We get the best thing ever: we get to help. We get to see the SQL Server Community – already vibrant on social media – become even more connected.

Conclusion

Did I mention the cost? It’s free! Check out the QwikTalk SQL page today!

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On Starting a Technical Blog…

andyleonard — Thu, 25 Aug 2011 13:30:00 GMT

Introduction

My friend and brother K. Brian Kelley (Blog | @kbriankelley | SQLPeople) recently wrote a meta-blog (blog about blogging) post entitled Don’t Wait to Start Blogging. Just before that, I received an email response to an earlier post (I Am Here To Help™) requesting advice on how to get started blogging. I directed the person asking me for advice to Brent Ozar’s (Blog | @BrentO | SQLPeople) awesome series called Blog Better Week.

Getting Started

Starting anything is hard. Steven Pressfield tackles this fact head-on in The War of Art and Do the Work; two excellent books on creating, in my opinion. When communicating with folks interested in starting a technical blog, I’ve noticed a pattern; a theme:

“I don’t have anything to say.”
“All the cool stuff has been covered.”

Bah! No, no, no!

While the objections may be technically accurate, there’s a lot more to consider:

You have a unique way of expressing the technical details.
You are writing after other people who have blogged before you.
More is better.

Allow Me to Elaborate:

You have a unique way of expressing technical details…

Geeks often suffer from terminal humility. We believe what we know must be easy to learn because, well, we know it. We think the stuff others know and that we want to learn must be hard because we don’t know it. Not all geeks suffer from terminal humility (I wish many that don’t, would…).

How long did it take you to learn the last thing you learned? Did you find a blog post, forum post, article, or book that was exactly what you needed? I bet the answer is “No, Andy. I had to dig around and I found part of the answer here and another part of it there.” That. is. a. clue! Put everything you found in one location – blog about it! Don’t present the ideas as all original because they’re not. You found the information in several locations. Link to them! Always attribute the work of others and never plagiarize.

Do I have to write this? Yes, yes I do: Plagiarism is copying work from somewhere else and representing it as your own. If you find yourself beginning an explanation of how someone’s work got on your blog with the word “But” – that’s also a clue. Don’t rip people off. Never. Ever. Got it? Good. Let’s continue…

Expand on the ideas you found. Some of what you read may not have worked for you. I may be simply incorrect or it may be outdated. This brings me to the next point:

You are writing after other people who have blogged before you…

Why is this important? Because technology changes daily! Odds are the posts and articles that helped you were written months ago. There’s been a new release, Community Technology Preview (CTP), service release, or patch since that time. You have the latest and greatest information available – right there in your head with you. Why not share that?

More is better…

When you did that search for information about your issue and found the answer scattered across 2-17 sites, that search took you five minutes or less, right? Wrong! It took hours. The more information out there, the easier it is to find it! Get your post out there so it can help someone struggling with the same issue.

Conclusion

Brian and Brent offer fantastic advice about blogging. Jump in, the water’s fine.

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Hang Out With Me Tuesday at 11:00 Am EDT

andyleonard — Mon, 08 Aug 2011 14:00:00 GMT

Inspired by Grant Fritchey (Blog | @GFritchey), I am hosting a Google+ hangout tomorrow (9 Aug 2011) at 11:00 AM EDT.

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SQL Solstice

andyleonard — Wed, 29 Jun 2011 11:00:00 GMT

Introduction

My friends in North Carolina have decided to create a new event called SQL Solstice. Details:

18 - 20 Aug 2011
Holiday Inn Brownstone & Conference Center
1707 Hillsborough Street - Raleigh, NC 27605
Toll Free 800-331-7919

18 Aug - A Day of Deep Dives ($259)

Day-long presentations delivered by folks with real-world, hands-on experience.

Louis Davidson on Database Design
Andrew Kelly on Performance Tuning
Jessica M. Moss on Reporting Services
Ed Wilson on Powershell
(me) on SSIS

19 Aug - Extended Sessions ($129)

These 90-minute sessions take a deeper dive than the usual 60- or 75-minute presentation. There are 20 sessions across 5 tracks.

20 Aug - Community Day ($15.00)

30 1-hour sessions across 5 tracks, and food and beverages are provided.The call for speakers is open!

Conclusion

SQL Solstice is a new event in the ever-expanding SQL Server Community! The organizers are working hard to deliver a first-class experience for attendees and presenters alike.

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The PASS Elections Review Committee Needs Your Feedback

andyleonard — Sat, 26 Feb 2011 02:02:00 GMT

Introduction

PASS has had an ERC (Elections Review Committee) forum running for a few months now. There's been surprisingly little feedback, though lots of reads. Here's what it looks like tonight:

That's 1,662 views and 37 replies by my count. Not very many replies...

Jump In!

Now's the time to let PASS know what you think about the current elections process. The ERC members are good people who are trying to make things better. If you have something to add - as simple as "love it!" or "hate it!" - they need to hear from you.

Solution

Personally, I have definite opinions about PASS Elections. I think I'm right (but I'm biased); and I also realize well-intentioned people can disagree. For me, it's all about community. You don't have to be an expert in community governance to express an opinion.

So let the community be heard! Speak up!

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Unsung Heroes

andyleonard — Fri, 21 Jan 2011 12:00:00 GMT

Introduction

I was honored earlier this week to present at Steel City SQL - the SQL Server Users Group in Birmingham Alabama. I've also had the opportunity to work alongside Tracy Hamlin (blog | @tracyhhamlin) this week. It's given me a fresh perspective on the amount of work it takes to build and sustain a user group, and reminded me of the sacrifices of UG leaders. In my opinion they're all...

Unsung Heroes.

From the outside looking in, leading a User Group looks easy. How hard is it to show up, eat pizza, drink soda, and introduce a speaker? If only that was all there was to the gig...

User group leaders - like Tracy, John Baldwin, Robert Cain (blog | @arcanecode), Ashley Singletary, and Morgan Smith (listed as officers of Steel City SQL here) - do so much more than meets the eye. Before each meeting, they:

Locate and reserve a venue;
Lock in a sponsor;
Find a speaker;
Create website content announcing the meeting;
Send email to members of the mailing list;
Create a schedule;
Assemble volunteers to help with food, sodas, and the cleanup afterwards;
Coordinate this activity through a couple dozen emails and phone calls;
Attend;
Facilitate;
Lead;
... and coordinate the remainder of their lives around the meeting!

They make it look easy because they are professionals and they care, but they are taking time away from already-hectic schedules at work, home, church, and other social activities. I know of no User Group leader who receives compensation for their work. They do it for love, and it shows.

Not The Only Ones...

User Group leaders aren't the only community volunteers who sacrifice for the benefit of others; leaders and organizers of virtual events, blogging events, SQL Saturdays, Code Camps, and other events also give back. It makes our community stronger and increases our intellectual wealth. Thank you too!

Conclusion

Tracy tells me the meeting this week was the largest ever for Steel City SQL. Thanks to all who showed up! I sincerely appreciate the leadership of User Groups around the world. Thank you for your tireless efforts month in and month out to support our community and profession.

Yall rock!

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