Yes, it's Monday again, and not only that - it's another edition of Meme Monday (the first of 2012), started by SQL MVP and Confio confabber, Thomas LaRock.  Inline with the start of a new year, January's meme topic of the month is "What do you want to do for your #sqlfamily in 2012?" 

Perhaps, let's echo President Kennedy's famous speech "Ask not what your #sqlfamily can do for you, ask what you can do for your #sqlfamily"  (Actually, Mr. Kennedy of course used "country" in place of "#sqlfamily"  Nonetheless, many interpret those famous words as a call for the nation to give back to the country - the country that's helped millions, and by it's unwavering ideal of freedom for all, that allowed the opportunity for many to prosper. (Was a nice notion back then, huh - but I digresss 🙂 

Therefore, Tom is basically asking us to tell the #sqlfamily what it is we would like to do for them, and give back.  So, in a nutshell, here are the things I'd like to do for my #sqlfamily.

Primarily, I will continue to write, here on the PearlKnows blog.  This blog space, generally unedited, is the quickest way for me to disseminate my thoughts and any important news, upcoming events, etc. with the SQL Community.  If I have something (of value) to say, I'll say it here first.  Having control on what and when things gets published, has been very effective in reaching out to you, without having to wait for editorial approval and/or publishing schedule. I'm rarely controversial, although now and then I'll take a dig at something or someone (right Tom? :-D)  I'm also fairly respectful in my blogs, and try to keep the trash talk out of this arena as this in NOT the online Enquirer 🙂  Sure, it may increase my hits, but I'd probably be blacklisted too.  But, since my goal is to be informative, technical and entertaining at the same time - making SQL entertaining.

Plus, I can be myself, as opposed to some of the rigid publishing format of articles, books, etc. And I think that has worked successfully so far, since I was very appreciative and humbled to have made the Top 10 favorite SQL Server Bloggers list, in the 2011 SQL Server Magazine Community Choice Awards.

Hopefully then I will keep covering interesting things and topics around the #sqlglobe (man those hash tags are addictive), and share articles, resources, links and my own perspective on things. I often write about and cover SQL Server events, happenings, training and news coming out of the MS/MVP community.  I also think, in addition to technical stuff, you also enjoy reading about your favorite industry Microsoft experts, and SQL MVPs, and therefore, I hope to bring you some more "personal" interviews from them, and get their backgrounds, goals, know-how, and personal stories.  I did many of these types of articles/write-ups on folks in the community, and think that formula worked well. 

I think that the SQLPeople innovation founded by Andy Leonard, plays to that notion, where you can now find dozens of interviews by ordinary SQL folk, on how they became a SQL DBA, and their perspective on SQL and the technology world around them!   You too can be a SQLPeople, and submit your own profile story here: Become a SQLPerson page.  As SQLPeople strives to be about giving back, and about the #SQLCommunity (which preceded the evolution to #SQLFamily), I think that the coordination and desire to help bring the 2nd SQLPeople successful event, last year to the Big Apple (NYC), SQLInspireNYC, gave me the opportunity to be personally involved in giving to the #sqlfamily. 

In addition, the  successful SQLSaturday saga continues, with the recent 2012 firsts to kick off the year, SQLSaturday #104 in Colorado Springs, CO, and SQLSaturday #116 in Bangalore India.  I recently blogged on A Tale of Two Cities, and how this phenoma has "gone global". 

Thus, I will continue to write about and promote these SQL Events, at the least, and hope to be able to plan, coordinate, volunteer, present, scout sponsors, and even be a sponsor myself (which I have been), for some of these events throughout 2012.  And, if the opportunity to volunteer comes along, I look forward to taking up the cause.

Moreover, I will also contribute various articles and tips on our favorite SQL Server community sites as well.  I also manage a group on LinkedIN called DBA.Connect, where members ask & answer questions, share articles, resources, links, local events, career opportunities and jobs.  The stated goal is to have a place for DBAs to connect get valuable information, share views, and hopefully find a new job role, if so desired.  You're all invited to join, by clicking  DBA.Connect.

I'm sure there's more that I can and will do, and look forward to getting together at many more #sqlfamily gatherings, and meeting many more of you!  But, enough about meme, the sql community is all about youyou! 😀  Thanks for reading.....

Follow me on Twitter @PearlKnows, join me on LinkedIN, or find me at http://www.pearlknows.com.