ISerializable - Roy Osherove's Blog

Hi Roy, in regards to the User Group membership cards, perhaps they may be replaced by the upcoming worldwide rollout of the MSDN Connection program (http://www.msdnconnection.com)?

Thus far, rollout has been done only in the Asia/Pacific region, but it slowly being expanded (from what I've heard) to other parts of the globe.

William - one can only hope. Its a shame we can only guess whats going to be. Noone actually said anything regarding these cards (or MSDN connections) anywhere.

Oh ok Roy. Well, for what it's worth, it's been rolled out locally over here in Australia.

And has been rolled out in the asia-pacific region as a test-bed for the rest of the world.(from what i've heard, anyway)

Though, to be honest some things have taken awhile to get to us. Such as the promised free-hosting. Though that has now come. (Apparently they had a few teething problems with the hosting).

The program is a community focused one. For example, the plan has been that when you attend a user group meeting or a MS organised event, you swipe your card, and after a certain amount of points you get awarded.

Thus far though, the only time people have been able to scan their cards was at the recent Australian TechEd 2004. Hopefully, they sort things out and then we will have the RFID scanners available at the User Group meetings, which would allow MSDN Connection Members swipe their cards at the start of the meeting.

There are also other incentives to try get people involved. There are mutiple tiers in the MSDN Connection Program, but i've been told they categorise it differently in Australia/NZ and through Asia. But they mean the same thing. The membership tier is based on recognition of an individuals' contribution to the community.

The lowest tier is basically for everyone. You can move up to the second (or middle) tier by either completing a Microsoft Certification (MCT/MCP/MCAD/MCSD).

Moving to the highest tier requires that you be one of an MVP, MS RD, or are recognised as having made significant community contribution (eg: a community influential... and it is via invite only).

Looking over it, the aim looks quite simple, award those who attend community events, and also those who are seen to be contributing to the community, will be awarded for doing so.

Guess we'll just have to sit back, and watch how things progress. If anything happens, we'll most likely see something on blogs.msdn.com or via feedster.com mentioning it. Because chances are, if something/anything happens, you can be sure at least one blogger out there will make mention of it! (Well, at least I think so anyway!)

Roy,

It is not "bulls**t" to value family time over user group time, depending on one's chosen hierarchy of values. My sincere congratulations on your ambition and success in this career, but there are other rational approaches to balancing a successful career with other interests.

Brad

Brad - I specifically said that I am *not* talking about familiy time (which I highly value myself), but about working time - time you would spend away from your family anyway - is usually better spent at a user group than at work.

Hi Roy,
Regarding the MSDN Connection, we are trying to make this happen for the last 9 months, it involves a lot of work which we are doing right now, it will take some time but at the end we will do it (hopefully not too late).

You have some great ideas in the post that we will take into consideration, this is a good feedback.

regarding the MVP/RD part, it is a great problem at least in Israel to explain what an MVP is. I try to expose them in Ask The Experts session everywhere and on stage too, but as you know not all MVP can present and talk on stage and not all of them wants the kind of exposure we are willing to give them...