dotNET solutions Australia to the rescue
During TechEd AU I had a crisis of faith in my ability to continue with the Canberra Windows (Infrastructure) User Group and pulled the plug. I have been talking with Athena and John Pawlowski from dotNET Solutions since I announced and have an update that I did not expect to be making. Let me address what I said and how it is now:-
- After almost three years I have not grown this to a group, it is still my mouth piece for things I think are cool;
- While I still will want things I think are cool out there I have a team of folk who just accept I’m a Server Nerd and will make sure we have a broader representation of topics.
- If I'm not around the group does not go on;
- We now have a Community focused company that are willing to support groups because there is a need out there and they can help, truly altruistic, I’m blown away.
- For the most part all the content is delivered by me;
- When you are doing everything and get down that burnout path, you tend to not even see where help can come from, fresh eyes, fresh contacts and experience with another group has already begun to show freshness I could have never provided.
- Only sessions I think are interesting get delivered see point 3;
- You will see greater balance and a widening of content to include areas I thought were not really our bailiwick, standby for some great things ahead
- I constantly get requests to run sessions we have already run and sometimes as early as the very next month;
- We are looking at a much extended audience so this may bring some duplicated content from the previous year but there may also be a different perspective with new presenters
- I'm not a people person but wanted Windows Infrastructure content delivered in Canberra, regularly so here we are;
- If you have ever spent time with the Pawlowski’s you may have a similar experience to this one, I have known John and Athena for a couple of years, and more recently Helen. To say that this relationship has been one of my most easy, is to understate, they are very easy to get to know and always make people very welcome and at ease. These folk cannot help but build community around them
- 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 lifelong friend.
- Hmmmm what can I say I’m not nice, John and his family are Nuff said
- 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.
- OK fewer sessions per person to prepare and do = Better Sessions I guarantee it
- 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.
- dotNET solutions Australia to the rescue – Glad that Athena couldn’t let it go because I was ready to
- 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.
- Talk to me about what I like talking about it might be surprising …
So what does all this mean? Athena has stepped up to do all the things I can't (run a group) I will not leave her to do it alone, I will also try to help promote a community where leaders are developed out of the main group. I will provide my Personal and Company resources to help in any way required.
This photo was taken while at TechEd while I was contemplating pulling the pin funny how things work out. So change number 1 you will notice an added session and venue
Events & user groups
Canberra Windows (Infrastructure) user group
Lunch meeting: King O'Malley's Irish Pub
131 City Walk, Canberra City
2nd Tuesday every month
12:30 - 1:30 — Finger food and presentation
http://cbrwinug.blogdns.org/ (to become a member)
http://www.aususergroups.org/cbrwinug (sign up for meetings)
Eventing meeting: Microsoft Canberra Office
Level 2, 44 Sydney Avenue, Barton
2nd Tuesday every month
17:30 — Pizza and networking
18:00 - 19:30 — Presentations
http://cbrwinug.blogdns.org/ (to become a member)
http://www.aususergroups.org/cbrwinug (sign up for meetings)
dotNET solutions Australia