I've been in databases for something like 9 years, and I've never been to a PASS Summit. I haven't been really involved in the SQL community at all until this year, when a combination of factors has me revved up about SQL and networking. To list a few of those things: I'm back at work after a couple of years being a full time mom. I'm on the planning committee for the North Texas SQL Server User Group's 2010 SQL Saturday (our first ever). I'm co owner and videomaker at MidnightDBA.com. I got on Twitter and started following and talking to other SQL DBAs, authors, and MVPs. And then of course, there's the Quest-sponsored contest that SQLServerPedia.com ran in September. I completely threw myself into that, and won!
For kicking butt (and being lucky enough to have my name drawn), I get to go to PASS, and I get my very own netbook (which I'm using to type this blog). Now to quote from the contest information page:
Your community involvement doesn’t stop after you win, though: your responsibility is just beginning. You’ll be part of a team that’s working to bring the PASS Summit to people who can’t attend. Quest will give you a netbook with WiFi, and each day you’ll be responsible for posting at least one blog entry on SQLServerPedia about your experience at PASS.
PASS doesn't start for another week, but as it turns out, there's an awful lot of PASS experience in the leadup, if you know where to look. Here's enough to keep you busy for a couple of days plus:
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First off, you can get a lot from the chatter and blog announcements on Twitter. Go search for your favorite SQL author, blogger, and/or MVP on Twitter, and follow them. There's all kinds of news and trivia and fun to be had. Alternatly, you could just go follow MidnightDBA on Twitter and take a look at my follow list.
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Watch Selected 24 Hours of PASS Recordings: Get a preview of some of our PASS Summit 2009 Pre/Post-Conference sessions!
-Jen McCown
http://www.MidnightDBA.com
Blogging for http://www.SQLServerPedia.com