It was a day of warm weather, it was a day of cold weather. A tale of two cities on opposite sides of the world – SQLSaturday comes rolling in with the first events of the New Year 2012, known as SQLSaturday #104 and #116, respectively. Colorado Springs, USA and Bangalore, India couldn’t be further apart, but united in the global SQL Server community. Good news for all attendees, the weather in both places will be moderate temperatures, relatively speaking – in the low 40s for Colorado Springs, and in the low 80s for Bangalore.
I wanted to blog about these two events, because they are the first in a continuing series of SQLSaturdays this year, and are worth mentioning!
In Colorado Springs, (click link for some history) virtually the back yard of SQLSaturday co-founder Steve Jones (blog|twitter), editor-at-large of the world’s biggest on-line SQL Server Community site SQLServerCentral.com, they’re really going all-out. They’re taking SQLSaturday, a day of multi-track SQL training, networking, lunching and learning, and making a day to bring the whole family, with fun and awesome indoor and outdoor events. As the event’s home page for SQLSaturday#104, announces the supper spectacular event, it reminds me of part convention and part carnival. This event truly has something for everyone – young and old, SQL Enthusiasts and Non-Enthusiasts alike. Talk about #SQLFamily! It is a whole 3-day lineup of things to do! It starts today with some fantastic Pre-Cons, see below! The entire event page read is great copy, as it welcomes you, one and all, to SQLSaturday #104! Here is the awesome line-up of events planned:
--Begin Tran
"SQL on the Slopes"
“Feel a burning need to "Thaw Your SSAS" with our Business Intelligence session track? Perhaps you’d prefer to "Get Cozy with SQL" during our Database Development track. Feel free to "Catch a Lift" on the Database Administration track. See the expert speakers that have already submitted! Check out the list here.
What about Professional Development? Not only will we have professional resume writers on site to review your resumes, but we are also working to have professional technical recruiters available to perform mock interviews with you for immediate feedback! With limited time slots available, an early sign up will ensure you have a priority seat. Don’t forget to bring your resume! When you arrive and check in at the registration table, there will be a sign up sheet for time slots. Please note that it will be on a first come first served basis.
That's not all! During lunch, specific tables will host discussions on:
- Women in Technology with Karen Lopez (Web | Twitter), Meredith Ryan-Smith (Web | Twitter), and Thomas LaRock (Web | Twitter)!
- Professional Development
- Sponsors
But wait! There’s more! Are you ready to test your mettle against fellow SQL peeps in Laser Tag? Why not take a break with a round of Miniature Golf while discussing session highlights? Maybe even show off your prowess in a few frames of Bowling? Not only will we have fantastic sessions, but we’re even throwing in time for activities! Bring your family! Mr. Biggs’ Family Fun Center provides hours of entertainment for people of all ages!
Pre-Cons! Get Your Pre-Cons Here!
Anxious for more? No worries! We've got it! With very special thanks to our awesome Pre-Con Sponsors (SSWUG, SolidQ, and Confio), join us on Friday, January 6th for 3 fantastic sessions! Seating is limited so sign up now using the links below!
1. "Scaling SQL Server" (Glenn Berry)"
2. "Data Warehouse Dimensional Design and Architecture Planning" (Erik Veerman)
3. "What's In Your Utility Belt?" (Chris Shaw and TJay Belt)
#SQL Ski
Don’t forget to ski the slopes with us on Sunday, January 8th, as we board the “SQL Bus” to Monarch for a fun-filled day of skiing! Not much for skiing? No worries! Hang out with us by a fire at the lodge toasting your digits and sipping your beverage of choice. Bring your family!
Join us for “SQL on the Slopes” at SQL Saturday #104 in Colorado Springs! Learn. Laugh. Build Friendships.” --End (NOTE: SQL on the Slopes required prior registration and is now closed.)
Meanwhile, a few degrees North of the Equator, the virtual backyard of SQL Server MVP, and founder of another great online SQL Server Community site BeyondRelational.com, Jacob Sebastian, (blog|twitter), also MSDN Moderator,Regional Mentor-PASS
Here, they are serving up two main tracks, they call the “main track”, and the “practical track”, but hey, what’s not practical about learning about all things SQL? From the looks of it, they both cover some pretty interesting topics, at various levels. One really neat thing is they are featuring something called the SQL Server Clinic, think Ask-the-Experts booth, where they will have resources from SQL Server support at Microsoft available for Q&A. If you have a question about how things work in SQL Server, how to make best use of them, or something is broken and you need help - walk over and talk to experts from Escalation services at SQL Server support at Microsoft. The clinic will be hosted by SQL Server Microsoft expert Tejas Shah.
In addition, SQLSaturday in Bangalore, wouldn’t be complete, without some of our favorite and famous Indian SQL Server Gurus, such as author and speaker Pinal Dave (blog|twitter), Technology Evangelist with Microsoft India, best known for his hugely popular and world-wide SQL resource site, SQLAuthority.com. He will be presenting, a sure to be standing room only presentation, SQL Server Performance Tips and Tricks. Also, speaking will be Microsoft’s Amit Banerjee, who maintains his site, Troubleshooting SQL, and Vinod Kumar, also technology evangelist at Microsoft. Another interesting session about Avoiding Errors, will be presented by Super Certified (not enough room here 🙂 and
Well, that the SQLSaturday news from around the world! Just remember, it’s nice to know that somewhere in the world, on either side, this Saturday, someone will be learning and loving SQL! The world keeps on spinning, and we have #sqlwinning! The community just keeps on growing! SQL Citizens of the world – unite! (Ok, I know when to quit J)
I’m your global SQL Correspondent, Robert Pearl, signing off for now……..Enjoy!
You can follow both events on Twitter, by using the respective hash tags #SQLSat104 (Colorado Springs), and #SQLSat116.
(P.S. There's also one more thing that makes this Saturday, January 7, 2012 special to me: My son, sql_jr, will celebrate his 10th birthday! He has actually accompanied me to a few SQL events, and so I wanted to wish him a very special Happy & Healthy Birthday filled with love, laughter, joy and electronic toys 🙂 May all his dreams and desires come true!)
Follow me on Twitter @PearlKnows, join me on LinkedIN, or find me at http://www.pearlknows.com.
