PASS Summit 2014 Goals

~ SqlAsylum ~ 2 Comments

SeattleSkyline-1

As I write this I’m packed and ready to fly out for Portland Sunday.  You didn’t read that wrong and I’m not flying into the wrong city.  I tend to fly out on Sundays so I can take some photo adventure before the PASS Summit starts.  This year it’s flying into Portland renting a car and driving up to Seattle.  I did this several years ago and it was great fun.  I will not be taking anything that resembles a straight line to Seattle and I won’t be doing it quickly.  I’ll be catching up with the other Photo Nuts most likely that evening for some good beer and food somewhere in Washington.

I started attending the PASS Summit in Orlando in 2004.  Basically I’ve been to a few and every one that I go to I have some key goals when I attend the Summit.  Many are photo related but some are technical as well and all of them revolve around #sqlfamily.  I wanted to share them with all of you so hopefully some of the people I run into will help me achieve the goals.

Technical/Social/Networking

  1. Come out of my shell: I’ve said this for years and really I’m probably seen as much more of a social person than most but still to this day I have to push myself to talk to new people.  I strongly urge everyone to meet someone new at any technical conference you attend.  If you don’t that’s a huge loss to what you could have received from the conference.
  2. Meet people that are not working with SQL Server: Now why would I attend a SQL Server conference if I want to talk to people not working with SQL Server? SQL Server is still at the core of our architecture but we also integrate and work with other nosql and opensource projects.  My goal is to learn what others are doing and how they are doing it.  I hope to find others that have found ways to integrate with other technologies not just the MS stack.  If you would like to see what I have done feel free to watch this presentation recorded at BMD/SLC SQL Saturday.
  3. Meet Organizers of events: I put on a lot of events (not just SQL Saturdays). I like to hear about the cool things others are doing so that I can find new and cool things for my events.  I have at least 3 events planned in the next 6 months and would love to find out what others do.
  4. Catch up with #sqlfamily: I have unfortunately been very out of the loop for about the last 6 months. Both because of work but also because of events.  I want to catch up with my good friends and find out what they have been working on and what they have been doing.

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Photo

  1. Get “the” shot:  At previous summit’s I would take anywhere from 700-1500 pictures throughout the week.  I’ve learned a lot through the years and know when to hold my shutter button and when to pull the trigger.  I will have 5-6 shots that I want/need at the event and my goal is to achieve those.  If you see me (I’m a large person with a camera on his waist all week) feel free to check in with how I’ve done on the shots and which ones I have planned.
  2. 50mm all day!: I have a fun lightweight 50mm 1.8 lens that would be great for some of the shots I have planned. I’m going to try and choose a day and use that lens all day long.
  3. Night shots: I will have a car on Sunday night so this most likely means a Trip to Kerry park. While I’ve achieved the shot I have wanted from this location we all know things change and getting another copy of the beautiful Seattle skyline is never a bad idea.

I hope that as you go through the summit and you see the big guy with the camera you take a minute to stop and say hi.  Would love to chat with you about photography, Data projects or events you have planned.

Super excited to see all of my #sqlfamily very soon!

 

 

 

SLC SQL Saturday & Big Mountain Data Attendee Reminder Part 3 of 3

~ SqlAsylum ~ 1 Comment

 

SQL Saturday SLC (#349) & Big Mountain Data

The Big Event is tomorrow and we are super excited! You still have time to forward the event to your friends and let the know. Even if they are not registered we welcome walk in registrations!

Thank you for registering for SLC SQL Saturday & Big Mountain Data. We will send out 3 emails to all registered attendees over the next 3 days to give you all the important information you need about the conference. If you miss an email or you registered after the email went out you can find all the email/information here.

  1. Part 1 of 3
  2. Part 2 of 3
  3. Part 3 of 3(this newsletter)

Summary of key information

  1. Cost: FREE
  2. Attendance: 500+ planned
  3. Schedule: Link to Schedule
  4. Location: Spencer Fox Eccles Business Building 1768 Campus Center Drive Salt Lake City, UT 84112
  5. Calendar file: Ics file
  6. Map Link: Map
  7. Register@: Uge Site
  8. Registration opens at 8:30 a.m.
  9. Lunch: 12:20-1:20
  10. Guidebook: Digital Schedule and info about the conference available on most phones. GuideBookSchedule

Saturday Morning

Review the Map and Parking Locations. Look for the Large Blue flags to help you find locations to park and where to go they will guide you to the building. We will also have SQL Saturday signs that will help you find the location.

Registration

You do not need to print anything to bring to the registration table. Just have your name and we will look you up in the system. You will be given a badge, lunch ticket, bag and shirt. The shirts are first come first serve, we do have a chance of running out with how many registrations we have. If you come early you have a better chance of getting a shirt. The Shirts have 4 different sayings on them. If you want to change the shirt for another saying please chat with another attendee about switching shirts or wait till after the first session to switch at the registration desk. This is so we can keep registration moving smoothly.

Prizes

We have lots of great prizes to give out.

  1. Journey Team will be giving away an Xbox one
  2. Profisee will be giving away a Dell Venue pro Tablet
  3. Dell will also be giving away a Dell tablet

These are just some of the few prizes to give away. To be entered to win these prizes please visit the sponsor booth. For most sponsors they will just need to scan your badge and you will be entered. Some of the sponsors may have you fill out a form to be entered for the prizes. We will hand out prizes at the end of the day in the open area around registration. You must be present to win at the end of the day.

Ask the Experts Room

We have reserved a whole session room in the afternoon to give you the chance to chat with experts in the area of data. Consider this a chance for you to bounce ideas off others, perhaps ask some other experts about a new architecture/design you are working on. Get a review from experts on the design you just published to production and what pitfalls you might run into. This is your chance to really whiteboard with an expert something you have been considering or want to know. Bring your ideas and problems and get them solved!

Session Feedback

We will have a new way for you to provide feedback for each session.

  1. You will be able to scan a QR code with each room you go into and that will bring up a survey in a browser window on your phone
  2. The Schedule located here. Will have a link to a survey form for each session.

Good feedback is critical to speakers so they can improve their speaking abilities. We hope that you will take the time to provide feedback. Please be detailed in your feedback and tell the speakers what they can do to improve. Things like “Speaker needs to talk louder”,”Speaker needs to engage audience”,”Speaker should be better prepared and have tested demo to make sure it worked properly”. All of these things help the speakers to improve specific parts of the session.

Event Feedback

We will send out an email Saturday morning to all registered attendees with a link to take a survey about the event. We always strive to improve our events and we hope you can help us do that by providing feedback.

Be Respectful

Finally we think this barely needs mentioning because we have an awesome membership! Please be courteous and respectful of others. We want you to debate and discuss technology and find ways to make things better for everyone and we want everyone to enjoy themselves.

Thank you

SLC SQL Saturday & Big Mountain Data organizing committee

 

SLC SQL Saturday & Big Mountain Data Attendee Reminder Part 2 of 3

~ SqlAsylum ~ 1 Comment

SQL Saturday SLC (#349) & Big Mountain Data

Thank you for registering for SLC SQL Saturday & Big Mountain Data. We will send out 3 emails to all registered attendees over the next 3 days to give you all the important information you need about the conference. If you miss an email or you registered after the email went out you can find all the email/information here.

  1. Part 1 of 3
  2. Part 2 of 3(this newsletter)

Summary of key information

  1. Cost: FREE
  2. Attendance: 500+ planned
  3. Schedule: Link to Schedule
  4. Location: Spencer Fox Eccles Business Building 1768 Campus Center Drive Salt Lake City, UT 84112
  5. Calendar file: Ics file
  6. Map Link: Map
  7. Register@: Uge Site
  8. Registration opens at 8:30 a.m.
  9. Lunch: 12:20-1:20
  10. Guidebook: Digital Schedule and info about the conference available on most phones. GuideBookSchedule

Volunteers

We have record attendance at this event and we need help! We are seeking volunteers to help direct traffic between the first couple sessions and at lunch time. If you are willing to help please email [email protected]

Lunch

You will be given a bag when you register in the morning with a ticket inside the bag for lunch. The red ticket will be for the 1st floor and the blue ticket will be for the 3rd floor. We don’t mind where you end up but please pick up your lunch on the floor based on the ticket you received. We will be separating lunch across the 1st and 3rd floors so that everyone can move through the lunch lines quickly. Our location has asked that we not eat in the classrooms but instead use the hall/open space areas. We will be providing box lunches so that this is easy for you to sit down in an open area and eat. A cafe is located on the 5th floor with lots of room to sit. Lots of other open areas exist throughout the building as well.

Sessions

The session schedule has been updated on the site and should not be changing before the weekend. Now is a good time to head over to the schedule and make sure of what sessions you want to see Link to Schedule.

Session Feedback

We will have a new way for you to provide feedback for each session.

  1. You will be able to scan a QR code with each room you go into and that will bring up a survey in a browser window on your phone
  2. The Schedule located here. Will have a link to a survey form for each session.

Good feedback is critical to speakers so they can improve their speaking abilities. We hope that you will take the time to provide feedback. Please be detailed in your feedback and tell the speakers what they can do to improve. Things like “Speaker needs to talk louder”,”Speaker needs to engage audience”,”Speaker should be better prepared and have tested demo to make sure it worked properly”. All of these things help the speakers to improve specific parts of the session.

We will have another email sent out tomorrow with the final items that you need to know.

Thank you

SLC SQL Saturday & Big Mountain Data organizing committee