June 16, 2009 at 7:19 am
Kit G (6/16/2009)
Cubs? I don't follow football... or it is baseball? :hehe:
Sometimes we're not sure! 😛
-- You can't be late until you show up.
June 16, 2009 at 7:31 am
GilaMonster (6/16/2009)
...As I mentioned, when one of mine was alternate 2 years ago, I didn't hear another word from PASS after that. No request for slides, no reminders of deadlines, nothing. Though, could be that the agreement has changed since then. I haven't yet looked at this year's one.
Maybe ask Linda Rab for confirmation?
I get the impression that there has been some significant changes with PASS over the last 1-2 years. Not only is membership up by a factor of two or more, it also seems like they are a lot more organized and driven than before, maybe someone like Steve has some insight into that?
I am not sure how much this carries over to the particulars of our discussion on alternates, but they are definitely asking me to sign the contract by June 30. The contract definitely says that we have to do everything, BUT it also says that we get free admission, which we know that only the real speakers do.
My suspicion is that they are having us sign it as a "reserve" in case they want to call us up. Since they never sign the contract themselves nor send a fully executed copy back to us, they have no obligations (despite what it says) under it, at least as far as I understand (note: I am not a lawyer).
My personal feeling is that they should not be asking us alternates (like me, I only got one submission selected and only as an alternate) to sign a contract that puts us in such a murky legal (or moral, even if it may have no legal weight) position.
[font="Times New Roman"]-- RBarryYoung[/font], [font="Times New Roman"] (302)375-0451[/font] blog: MovingSQL.com, Twitter: @RBarryYoung[font="Arial Black"]
Proactive Performance Solutions, Inc. [/font][font="Verdana"] "Performance is our middle name."[/font]
June 16, 2009 at 7:32 am
Florian Reischl (6/16/2009)
@Lynn: You really like lmgtfy?😛
Actually, yes I do. Especially when someone else could have done it just as easily as asking a question here on SSC. 😉
June 16, 2009 at 7:50 am
RBarryYoung (6/16/2009)
The contract definitely says that we have to do everything, BUT it also says that we get free admission, which we know that only the real speakers do.
You sure? The results letter says:
Accepted: Abstract has been accepted for presentation at the Summit, speaker receives complimentary registration to the Summit.
Alternate: Abstract has been accepted as an alternate session should an accepted session decline or cancel. Alternates that present will receive a reimbursement of their registration to the Summit.
Alternate: A confirmation agreement will be e-mailed to you shortly, please upload the completed and signed agreement to the Speaker Site. Then register for the conference at... If your session is required you will be reimbursed for your registration fee
As far as I'm aware, only those actually speaking at the summit get free registration.
My personal feeling is that they should not be asking us alternates (like me, I only got one submission selected and only as an alternate) to sign a contract that puts us in such a murky legal (or moral, even if it may have no legal weight) position.
The contract's pretty much the same as the one I got two years back and the one I got last year.
Each Speaker must prepare a PowerPoint presentation for each accepted session(s).
I suspect that the contract for alternate sessions is just so that they have it should the session become accepted later due to cancellation on the part of another speaker.
Mail Elena if you're concerned. I'm just going on prior history.
Gail Shaw
Microsoft Certified Master: SQL Server, MVP, M.Sc (Comp Sci)
SQL In The Wild: Discussions on DB performance with occasional diversions into recoverability
June 16, 2009 at 8:22 am
tosscrosby (6/16/2009)
Kit G (6/16/2009)
Cubs? I don't follow football... or it is baseball? :hehe:
Sometimes we're not sure! 😛
I'm not either that's why I'm following the Twenty20 World Cup in Cricket!
Roy, have you been keeping up with it? Or is 20-20 not your thing?
Bit late but congrats to Gail and Grant (It was Grant wasn't it?) on the PASS stuff. I really must try and swing a visit to it next year.... Budgets, grumble, etc...
Oh and Gail don't leave us!
Jeff - I'd hate to think what it would have been like if you hadn't come back, well certainly a lot less pork chops!
Jack - nice picture - hope the hols were nice... You could have warned us about the picture... :hehe:
Right unless I've missed anything I think that's me caught up...
Rodders...
June 16, 2009 at 8:39 am
OK, walking a line here. I know a lot of people in PASS, especially the Board, so I hear things that I'm not sure should be public. So, I can't really comment on how things work. However I'm also not thrilled with the speaker selection (editorial coming later).
So, with the speakers, every year something happens with someone. Get sick, work, etc. and there's a cancellation or two. Sometimes they show a session 2x if it's popular or standing room only. Sometimes they cancel. I think the alternate is a good idea and if you've got a contract, and you've uploaded stuff, and you come, they could ping you as late as Wed of the conference to deliver a Thur session. Or ping you before that.
Course, you still have to pay for it until then.
There will at least be one less guy in the PD track as I won't send in my contract. I semi-regretted doing it in the first place. I don't need to exposure or admission; I'd rather see it go to someone else.
June 16, 2009 at 8:40 am
GilaMonster (6/16/2009)
RBarryYoung (6/16/2009)
The contract definitely says that we have to do everything, BUT it also says that we get free admission, which we know that only the real speakers do.You sure? The results letter says:
Accepted: Abstract has been accepted for presentation at the Summit, speaker receives complimentary registration to the Summit.
Alternate: Abstract has been accepted as an alternate session should an accepted session decline or cancel. Alternates that present will receive a reimbursement of their registration to the Summit.
...
Yes, that was my point (where I say "real speakers" read "presenters"). The contract seems to contradict what we know to be true from other sources (the acceptance letter, experience).
[font="Times New Roman"]-- RBarryYoung[/font], [font="Times New Roman"] (302)375-0451[/font] blog: MovingSQL.com, Twitter: @RBarryYoung[font="Arial Black"]
Proactive Performance Solutions, Inc. [/font][font="Verdana"] "Performance is our middle name."[/font]
June 16, 2009 at 8:50 am
ok, immediately after this post I am going to unsubscribe because no way am I going to get sucked into 'the thread'. 🙂
Despite that I think it very important that all those people who are despairing of the quality of questions or falling standards across the board know that there is light at the end of the tunnel.
Please note that the overall percentage of correct answers for QOTD has recently gone up from 57% to 58%
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June 16, 2009 at 8:50 am
Roy, have you been keeping up with it? Or is 20-20 not your thing?
I have been keeping up with it. Seems like Sri Lanka and South Africa are the best team out there.
-Roy
June 16, 2009 at 8:59 am
GilaMonster (6/16/2009)
Each Speaker must prepare a PowerPoint presentation for each accepted session(s).
The problem is that this statement from the letter is contradicted by this statement from the contract:
Speakers agree to the following:
?Submit completed PowerPoint presentations, as well as any demos or supplemental materials, to PASS by September 30th, 2009.
because we alternates may not know by Sept 30th if we are going to be speakers or not. My understanding of the law is that this then compels us to prepare the presentation as specified for all speakers in anticipation of the possibility that we may become speakers.
This is compounded by the fact that (again based on my understanding of the law), the contract does not permit its requirements to be mitigated or altered by either the letter or any other communication with PASS, thus even if the letter or Elena say that we don't have to do that, it is legally overridden by the contract.
I suspect that the contract for alternate sessions is just so that they have it should the session become accepted later due to cancellation on the part of another speaker.
Yes, that's what I said earlier. The problem is that we are still legally bound, irrespective of that, because it never identifies the "alternate" status or how a transition of status occurs or how this interacts with the timeline of speaker requirements.
These are what's known as "tar-baby" contracts, because no matter what happens, we're still stuck. Very convenient for them, a legal swamp for us.
On the other hand, as I said before since they never "execute" their side, nor return a signed copy to us, I am not sure whether it has any real legal standing (once more, I am not a lawyer).
[font="Times New Roman"]-- RBarryYoung[/font], [font="Times New Roman"] (302)375-0451[/font] blog: MovingSQL.com, Twitter: @RBarryYoung[font="Arial Black"]
Proactive Performance Solutions, Inc. [/font][font="Verdana"] "Performance is our middle name."[/font]
June 16, 2009 at 9:10 am
Barry, interesting point. What if you can't "attend" unless you get the freebie?
I guess you will have to decline in that case to avoid the legal issues.
June 16, 2009 at 9:17 am
Steve Jones - Editor (6/16/2009)
Barry, interesting point. What if you can't "attend" unless you get the freebie?I guess you will have to decline in that case to avoid the legal issues.
My understanding is that you can always cancel if you are not picked up before your own personal deadline. The only penalty is the complimentary registration.
[font="Times New Roman"]-- RBarryYoung[/font], [font="Times New Roman"] (302)375-0451[/font] blog: MovingSQL.com, Twitter: @RBarryYoung[font="Arial Black"]
Proactive Performance Solutions, Inc. [/font][font="Verdana"] "Performance is our middle name."[/font]
June 16, 2009 at 9:59 am
Roy Ernest (6/16/2009)
Roy, have you been keeping up with it? Or is 20-20 not your thing?
I have been keeping up with it. Seems like Sri Lanka and South Africa are the best team out there.
Yep and unless India do something special this evening SL and SA will be in different semi finals!
We should be in for 3 cracking matches for the semi's and final! Both Pakistan and Windies are blowing hot and cold and SL and SA are being solid as ever....
England, as usual, flatter to deceive...
Anyway not long now until some "proper" cricket - Ashes time...
In fact we have a fun few weeks coming up, 2 weeks of Wimbledon where the entire nation bands together and all become tennis fans and forget all about football (soccer), and then 3 to 4 weeks where all of England becomes Cricket fans (and forget about football)...
Then of course it's back to the status quo and it's football football foootball for 40 odd weeks!
Rodders...
June 16, 2009 at 12:48 pm
RBarryYoung (6/16/2009)
On the other hand, as I said before since they never "execute" their side, nor return a signed copy to us, I am not sure whether it has any real legal standing (once more, I am not a lawyer).
Not a lawyer and not at all familiar with US law, but...
I've signed one of those before as 'alternate', not submitted a presentation and not heard a word from them. I read 'Speakers' as one who had an accepted presentation. Last year, I got approached late in Sept and asked to present (out of the blue). Hence my presentation and demos were uploaded very late, well after the deadline. Again, no major comments (though a couple of 'please hurry up' requests)
Gail Shaw
Microsoft Certified Master: SQL Server, MVP, M.Sc (Comp Sci)
SQL In The Wild: Discussions on DB performance with occasional diversions into recoverability
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