David Mackies Blue Brain

The things that make my friends just shake their heads.

Receive Email Updates

Important Notices and Content

I'm no longer a Community Leader, but looking to finding someone I can provide support to moving forward.

During TechEd I had a focus changing epiphany, I was challenged to ask myself why I run a user group. I have thought about many aspects of what I do and why here is my summation as to why I would be best to let it go.

  1. After almost three years I have not grown this to a group, it is still my mouth piece for things I think are cool;
  2. If I'm not around the group does not go on;
  3. For the most part all the content is delivered by me;
  4. Only sessions I think are interesting get delivered see point 3;
  5. I constantly get requests to run sessions we have already run and sometimes as early as the very next month;
  6. I'm not a people person but wanted Windows Infrastructure content delivered in Canberra, regularly so here we are;
  7. If attendees need to be hugged and stroked to have them feel welcome and build the community, then we need a Vice President for smiling as I'm sure I could only name 5 people who come regularly, given that I am not really built for making everyone I meet my life long friend.
  8. I was talking to someone at TechEd about some of my comically failed sessions recently, and they related that someone was having problems with some of their TechEd sessions, the difference being that TechEd is a paid event. I think this is a little off the mark; either you do a good job or you don't, and recently I have not done as well as I had in the past.
  9.  I have spoken to members of the group while at TechEd and asked the very specific question if I stopped running the group would it effect You? Would you help run it and help find presenters and new members? The universal answer is I would be upset to have no group and no I don't want to help.
  10.  I don't work for Microsoft but seem to be expected by the punters to conduct monthly product briefings. I do love Microsoft technologies but am starting to dislike talking about them. Not good to develop a technical readiness specialization within Synergistic.

So what does this mean?

Until another group of individuals stand up and organize meetings and content the activities of the Canberra Windows (Infrastructure) User Group are suspended. I will actively seek to find & support a new leader, I am happy to present occasionally and produce content to assist others if needed, but I am no longer interested in being to only community contributor and single point of failure.

Does this mean I will be a hermit until someone else starts doing what I did? Maybe? I am looking at doing some more globally reaching things online around one of my special interest areas Small and Mid Market technologies so lookout for new content on SMEMANAGED.COM.

Posted: Aug 11 2007, 11:38 PM by David Mackie | with 3 comment(s)
Filed under: , ,

Comments

Athena said:

Dave,

I'm putting my hand up.

You've put your heart into this group and I wanna do my part to make sure we can keep it going.

I would love your support.

You've put too much effort in to walk now.

I can do the leg work. Arrange the speakers, collateral, manage invitations/registrations etc.

Lemme know.

Athena

# August 12, 2007 5:21 PM

David Mackie said:

Welcome Athena, as I say you have all the support you need from me.

I don't want to walk away I just don't want to do it alone and must say I never considered asking for help from leaders of other groups because I know what a tough ask that really is.

I really do want to have a strong successful Infrastructure Group in Canberra and look forward to working with you.

Thanks for making me see a way forward.

# August 13, 2007 2:10 PM

David Mackie's Blue Brain said:

During TechEd AU I had a crisis of faith in my ability to continue with the Canberra Windows (Infrastructure)

# August 21, 2007 10:36 AM