This year, I submitted my application to run for the PASS Board and it was accepted. This then is my announcement to all of you and the beginning of my campaign for election. My name is Grant Fritchey and I’m running for the PASS Board.

It’s traditional to either make all sorts of promises for the things you’re going to do or to attack your opponents. I’m not going to do either. I don’t have any grand promises to make. I’m not going to attack my opponents because I know and respect them. I’m voting for James Rowland-Jones myself and so should you. Let’s do this instead. Let’s talk about PASS, you, me, your career, mine, and how PASS can change your life.

PASS changed my life for the better. Like many people, I’m constantly trying to learn how to do my job better. In 2005, I got the opportunity to go to the PASS Summit in Dallas. Just like many of you, I attended sessions and learned all sorts of things. It was great. Right there, PASS can change your life by teaching you more about SQL Server and related technologies. Not life changing enough? Not for me either. While there, I met some volunteers who were helping to run the organization, so I decided to volunteer too. One thing led to another and suddenly, I knew people from all over the country and our “family reunion” was at the PASS Summit. Yeah, a network. No, not to look for a new job. That’s not the primary reason for having a network. The primary reason for having a network is an extended set of knowledge. I know some things my friends don’t. They know some things I don’t. We can help each other. PASS supplies the medium through Summit, SQL Saturdays, the BA Conference, webinars and the local user groups it supports to provide you with the means to build your own network. That’s pretty life changing, right? Yeah, I’m somewhat underwhelmed too. I also started speaking at the local user group that we set up and I started submitting to speak at PASS and finally made the big stage. Oh boy, I get attention. Yeah, that’s one reason for doing it, but, at work I started presenting a lot more too. I was presenting stuff to my team, my boss, their boss, and ultimately to large sections of the organization. Yeah, PASS can help you there too, again through SQL Saturdays, your user group, and maybe, for a few, Summit. There are also opportunities for you to write, record videos, help run the program committee, all sorts of volunteer positions within the organization that will assist you in building your skill set and your presence which will all be completely applicable inside and outside work. I’ve done many of these and they lead me to becoming an MVP and getting a fantastic job for an amazing company. I absolutely attribute all that to PASS. PASS changed my life, and it can change yours.

So, back to this election business. Why am I running for the board? Because I want to do two things. First, I want to help keep the organization going strong and I think it’s time that I volunteered at a higher level to make this happen. Second, I want you to find and take advantage of the opportunities that PASS offers so that it can change your life too. We need to get the word out to a lot more people in order to show them what the organization can do for them. It’s about teaching technology, sure, but it’s also about networking and mentoring and personal growth. This organization can, and will, change your life. The structures are there. You just have to make the choice to reach out and grab those opportunities. I want to share this with others. Those are my reasons for running.

The only promise I’ll make is that if I get on the board, then the passion I bring to, well, everything, will be applied to whatever work I can do there to keep this organization running and get you the opportunities to change your life. Please vote for me. My name is Grant Fritchey and I’m running for the PASS Board.

For more information about the election, to see if you are eligible to vote, to see the other candidates and all the rest of the details, go here.

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