June 9, 2010 at 10:39 pm
Comments posted to this topic are about the item Who Wants to Lead the Community?
June 9, 2010 at 10:44 pm
I think volunteering is an excellent way to spend your time. Elections and Politics are a different Ball of wax. I would almost say that being on the Board is too high profile and thus makes it difficult to volunteer and serve others in Anonymity. I prefer anonymity - but then again I do spend a good amount of time in the forums.
Jason...AKA CirqueDeSQLeil
_______________________________________________
I have given a name to my pain...MCM SQL Server, MVP
SQL RNNR
Posting Performance Based Questions - Gail Shaw[/url]
Learn Extended Events
June 10, 2010 at 2:28 am
I thought it was a well-written motivational editorial, clearly explaining the costs and benefits.
However, Steve forgot to tell us what PASS is. What is it?
June 10, 2010 at 6:04 am
Steve, I'd love to run, really. Not because I have some great ideas for where to take the organization but because I'm willing to get in there & work. However, I'm already committed to helping run a Troop of Boy Scouts. Right now, that's where my "free" time (ha!) is going. As much as I love the SQL community and feel strongly about the role PASS can and should play within it, I just don't have the time it would need for me to do it justice. So I'd rather not do the job at all than do it badly or half-assed. In a few more years, that's all going to change (the kids are getting older, quick). At that time, I'll be looking for bigger challenges.
But you are right. We need people to step up and do the hard work of keeping this organization on its feet and moving forward. There just don't seem to be enough around. What's more, everyone seems to have similar excuses. They're the same excuses I hear from parents when I'm trying to get them to help the Troop "I just don't have the time." For most people, I'm fairly certain that's BS. but when you look around at the people you'd like to see running PASS, they're running a local user group, organizing SQL Saturday's, working on this or that PASS committee, and, oh, by the way, working full time at some job and raising a family and maybe even occasionally relaxing.
The fact is, the best people are probably over-committed already. We need to convince them to let something go, stop running the user group, don't work on new books for the next couple of years... whatever. That's probably going to be a hard thing to do. But it's where our efforts need to be focused. My 1.5 cents anyway.
"The credit belongs to the man who is actually in the arena, whose face is marred by dust and sweat and blood"
- Theodore Roosevelt
Author of:
SQL Server Execution Plans
SQL Server Query Performance Tuning
June 10, 2010 at 6:38 am
I'd love to find a smaller way to help out with PASS first.
Right now, I just don't have the time to commit to doing anything large in scale. In a couple of months, I will have much more free time to help out with spending more time in the forums, the virtual pass chapters and really working more on my blog.
I say a couple of months because then I'll be living closer to work (30 minute commute instead of 90 minutes each way) and I'm getting married in about a month.
The SQL community is really an inspiring group of individuals and I count myself lucky to be a part of it.
I look forward to becoming more involved in our community.
Kevin Conan
Kev -=Conan The Canadian=-
@ConanTheCdn
June 10, 2010 at 6:46 am
Unfortunately with the economy and my expanding family I can't even make the commitment to attend the Summit, let alone volunteer for a position that requires travel, etc....and my company doesn't believe in professional development (can't figure out that no, they aren't just throwing money in a big black hole in the ground)
Sigh.
June 10, 2010 at 6:51 am
Conan The Canadian (6/10/2010)
I'd love to find a smaller way to help out with PASS first.Right now, I just don't have the time to commit to doing anything large in scale. In a couple of months, I will have much more free time to help out with spending more time in the forums, the virtual pass chapters and really working more on my blog.
I say a couple of months because then I'll be living closer to work (30 minute commute instead of 90 minutes each way) and I'm getting married in about a month.
The SQL community is really an inspiring group of individuals and I count myself lucky to be a part of it.
I look forward to becoming more involved in our community.
Kevin Conan
Go to the web site, http://www.sqlpass.org. There are a ton of volunteer opportunities. One area that always needs help, although right now is their busy time, so you might not hear from them, is the program committee. They're going through all the submissions to put together the program. But there are others. All the virtual groups need help. Click around. You'll find what you're looking for.
"The credit belongs to the man who is actually in the arena, whose face is marred by dust and sweat and blood"
- Theodore Roosevelt
Author of:
SQL Server Execution Plans
SQL Server Query Performance Tuning
June 10, 2010 at 7:12 am
my company doesn't believe in professional development
++
PASS really doesn't do much for me and I can't even attend the conference. If I'm going to volunteer, I'd rather help out with the local User Group, NTSSUG, which is awesome.
June 10, 2010 at 8:02 am
chrisn-585491 (6/10/2010)
my company doesn't believe in professional development
++
PASS really doesn't do much for me and I can't even attend the conference. If I'm going to volunteer, I'd rather help out with the local User Group, NTSSUG, which is awesome.
Is your local UG PASS affiliated? Helping out locally is a great way to help PASS overall.
Jason...AKA CirqueDeSQLeil
_______________________________________________
I have given a name to my pain...MCM SQL Server, MVP
SQL RNNR
Posting Performance Based Questions - Gail Shaw[/url]
Learn Extended Events
June 10, 2010 at 8:07 am
Grant Fritchey (6/10/2010)
Steve, I'd love to run, really. Not because I have some great ideas for where to take the organization but because I'm willing to get in there & work. However, I'm already committed to helping run a Troop of Boy Scouts. Right now, that's where my "free" time (ha!) is going. As much as I love the SQL community and feel strongly about the role PASS can and should play within it, I just don't have the time it would need for me to do it justice. So I'd rather not do the job at all than do it badly or half-assed. In a few more years, that's all going to change (the kids are getting older, quick). At that time, I'll be looking for bigger challenges.
I think BSA is a good place to spend your time. Teaching the youth as a volunteer is an extremely worthwhile activity / time commitment.
But you are right. We need people to step up and do the hard work of keeping this organization on its feet and moving forward. There just don't seem to be enough around. What's more, everyone seems to have similar excuses. They're the same excuses I hear from parents when I'm trying to get them to help the Troop "I just don't have the time." For most people, I'm fairly certain that's BS. but when you look around at the people you'd like to see running PASS, they're running a local user group, organizing SQL Saturday's, working on this or that PASS committee, and, oh, by the way, working full time at some job and raising a family and maybe even occasionally relaxing.
I couldn't disagree with this. I have seen the same kind of excuses from parents with boys in Scouts - until it is a really cool thing that we are doing (eg whitewater rafting).
The fact is, the best people are probably over-committed already. We need to convince them to let something go, stop running the user group...
Tough call here. The local groups need to be built up so they can help build the overall organization. Take out the support stake of the leadership in a group and some of them could crumble.
Jason...AKA CirqueDeSQLeil
_______________________________________________
I have given a name to my pain...MCM SQL Server, MVP
SQL RNNR
Posting Performance Based Questions - Gail Shaw[/url]
Learn Extended Events
June 10, 2010 at 8:18 am
I agree that local groups - of whatever kind - are good and valid places to contribute, and it's also where leaders grow - finding out how to make things happen in small groups and from that deciding if they want to try with a large group and all the challenges that brings.
No good answers on the rest. I think we should all try to look for people with the ability and the potential and make sure they that they know they have the ability and the potential - making sure they see the possibility. From there it's up to them if they can make the commitment and find a way to find value in the experience.
Time seems to be the constraining factor for most people I talk to. We're trying to reduce the time it takes, but that will take another year, probably two, to get it down to something closer to a traditional board role.
June 10, 2010 at 8:21 am
Where does one find how to nominate somebody or even more info on elections in general?
Jason...AKA CirqueDeSQLeil
_______________________________________________
I have given a name to my pain...MCM SQL Server, MVP
SQL RNNR
Posting Performance Based Questions - Gail Shaw[/url]
Learn Extended Events
June 10, 2010 at 8:36 am
Yesterday at our staff meeting we learned that there will be no professional travel or training in the next fiscal year, for the third year in a row. I think it likely that many people in this forum are better qualified than I for such a position, but perhaps they're in a similar situation that I'm in. Basically, just thanking God that you're still employed, because there's nothing left over for anyone to do anything.
Kindest Regards, Rod Connect with me on LinkedIn.
June 10, 2010 at 8:47 am
Jason, look for all of that in the next 1-2 weeks. Right now the nominating committee is being formed by Wayne Synder, immediate past President. Once that is complete the process and timeline will be announced.
June 10, 2010 at 9:25 am
Good comments, and I completely understand if someone can't run, or volunteer. I have my reasons, similar to Grant's. However make sure they are really good reasons and that you are being honest with yourself.
I think most of us can volunteer somewhere, and if you choose to help out in your career field, help a user group, some committee inside PASS, or something else. You can help out at events.
For those of you that don't have your company helping with training, we are trying to help you. Here at this site, and with PASS as well. They are providing quite a few free chances for training with virtual chapter webcasts, SQL Saturdays, and more.
One note, if you were elected to the board, you'd get travel covered to the PASS conference, and some other events. Not sure how much time you'd have to learn, but you would get some funding. Same for some other volunteer efforts.
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