If I’ve missed anything, my apologies, I’m writing this as fast as people are talking.
Chapter News
Greg Low
- DVDs of past conferences
- Four physical mailings a year of PASS related news
- Part of a huge group of professionals:
62 US chapters, 70+ chapters outside of the US
Program
Lynda Rab
- Speaker and abstract management system
- Program to develop new speakers for PASS
- Upcoming speaker resource site in Q1 2009
Volunteer Program
Pat Wright
- Monthly volunteer newsletter
- Volunteer org chart has been put together
- Upcoming task lists to help people contribute to PASS
- Quarterly/annual report coming from board of directors
- Increase in contact with new volunteers
Special Projects
Rick Heiges
- Started a virtual road show in January for SQL 2008
- SecondLife virtual user group
- PASS Tips
Initially designed to help attendees choose content at the Summit.
Moving forward, tips from PASS members on various SQL Server related topics that help us get our work done.
A Live Meeting account will be made available to help people share tips.
Online Content
Chuck Heinzelman
- SQL Server Standard Magazine was acquired 1 year ago.
Print publication discontinued in June (in part due to increased costs). - Transitioning to an online content tool.
This gives quicker turn around, better resource usage, less overall cost.
Quality will be guaranteed by copy and technical editors. - There have been problems getting content in place in the past.
- New content model will be rolled out as quickly as the technology can be put in place.
- The SIGs will be involved in generating and checking content.
- Old content will be added, some has already been staged for release.
Marketing
Bill Graziano
- There will be a marketing committee made up of volunteers.
This is new for this upcoming year. - Microsoft marketing has made a large investment in PASS.
Prominent advertising on the Microsoft website, in publications, etc - A public relations firm has been hired to help align public announcements.
- Updated graphics and logos were created to give a cohesive brand and marketing to PASS
- A repeatable strategic marketing & communications plan has been put together for both the conference and the other parts of PASS (yes, there are other parts of PASS)
Technology
Rushabh Mehta
- The goals of the new web site
- not to replace existing content on other sites
- Provide a hub to search for content and contributions from the community.
- Twitter feed
- RSS feeds will be available, will include tweets tagged with #sqlpass
- Upcoming community portion of PASS website to make networking easier.
Goes live Thursday morning. - PASS website leaves beta on Thursday morning.
- Events registration and notification (chapter meetings!) will be revamped on PASS site and will allow searching by geography, online/offline events, technologies, languages, etc. Coming in the next two weeks.
- Membership management will be integrated into the PASS website.
- Integration modules for DotNetNuke are ready.
Other news
Tim Ford has also blogged about today’s happenings.
