Rob Chartier ~ Contemplation... : SQL Server

Microsoft IT Pro and Developer Community in Vancouver

Rob Chartier — Fri, 21 Dec 2007 00:24:00 GMT

Recently, I have been receiving more and more emails asking about the local Microsoft community scene. I noticed more people emailing me directly so I just decided to post up an item to quickly cover it.

Essentially, there are a few key groups that you need to know about:

1. .NET
Name: .netBC Users Group
URL: http://netbc.ca/
Contact: Medhat Elmasry

2. Sql Server
Name:VanPASS (Vancouver PASS Chapter) (PASS == Professional Association for Sql Server)
URL: http://www.vanpass.com/
Contact: Scott Stauffer or Richard Baumet

3. IT Pro (General)
Name: VanTug (which is now free!)
URL: http://www.vantug.com/
Contact: Graham Jones

4. Small Business Server
Name: Vancouver Small Business Server User Group
URL: http://www.vansbs.com/
Contact: Jasminder Rai

Aside from User Groups there are of course two major events which are typically planned either once a year or every 18 months. The first is the big event which I personally put on:

5. Vancouver Technology Festival
URL: http://www.vancouvertechfest.ca
Contact: Rob Chartier
Schedule: About once a year

And finally JR from DevTeach has decided to bring his event to Vancouver as well:

URL: http://www.devteach.com
Contact: Jean-Rene Roy
Schedule: About every 18 months

If you feel your group or event should be on this list, let me know!

Visual Studio 2008 Launch (Orcas + Longhorn Server)

Rob Chartier — Wed, 11 Jul 2007 21:03:00 GMT

John (via Windows Server Blog, via com.com's news blog) just posted news from Microsoft about Windows Server 2008, Visual Studio 2008 and Microsoft SQL Server 2008 is scheduled for release on February 27, 2008. Lets hope they get it right this time! ;)

[UG] - Reminder: PASS Meeting this evening!

Rob Chartier — Thu, 22 Jun 2006 17:32:00 GMT

I will not be making it to this event because I have a class at BCIT tonight, but here is the info either way…

Shamelessly stolen from Scotts Email…

Once Again, a last minute Reminder – The meeting IS tonight!

1. Our Presenter, Nick Duckstein, will be delivering his presentation entitled “Establishing a Data Management Culture as a prerequisite to High Availability”

2. CDI / Polar Bear will be attending to talk about the new certification tracks and official curriculum offered. (They are al picking up the Pizza this month as our Pizza Sponsor – woo hoo!)

3. There is a BIG Microsoft community event this Saturday at BCIT. It’s Called Energize IT – Get Your Geek On! Go to our website, or go direct:
http://www.microsoft.com/canada/technet/energizeit/

4. Scott has PLENTY of Microsoft NFR (Not For Resale) software that was given to him by Culminis (A company Microsoft leverages to look after the communities) - SMS 2003, Virtual Server 2005 Enterprise Edition, Office 2003 Professional among others. He is giving it away tonight…
Note: only those who RSVP with the link on the meeting announcement page will be eligible for the software give-away.

Please go to the Vancouver PASS Chapter Site – http://vancouver.sqlservercentral.com

(you may need to copy and paste the addresses into your browser) for full details of the event .

You will need to login to see the details, so if you were forwarded this email from someone other than me you will be required to register on the site - http://vancouver.sqlservercentral.com/Default.aspx?tabid=148&ctl=Register

Please, RSVP so that we have accurate numbers so that we order enough pizza. If you have already RSVP’ed, you don’t have to do it again. If you changed you mind, please update me – Thanks!

A big thank you to our Venue Sponsor, Sierra Systems

Sierra has provided their downtown location for the last 5 moths and we really appreciate their hospitality. Thanks to Steve Bond for making things happen at Sierra.

Thank you also to last month’s sponsor, Microsoft's TechNet Canada

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