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Happenings Around INETA North America (NorAm) |
It's TechEd Time!
In a few short weeks several INETA Board members and key volunteers will be traveling to Orlando, FL for TechEd. Our Marketing team led by
Scott Spradlin has been hard at work on the INETA booth in the community area. We'll be showcasing our benefits and services to user groups
and their leaders, and as always having a few fun activities. If you are a user group leader, user group member, or just interested in
learning more about user groups please stop by and say hello.
As an adjunct to TechEd we will be holding one of our Community Leadership Summits on Saturday 6/2 in the Orlando area. The Summit is an
opportunity for everyone involved in leading community activities like user groups to get together for a day of discussion and information
sharing on best practices. Rob Zelt of our Community Activities team has been hard at work organizing this great event and details can be
found in an accompanying article in this newsletter. This month is also the kickoff of our new Recognition program headed by Chris Wallace
our VP Membership.
All of these activities are new benefits and services for our members created by our volunteers. Next month and at TechEd look for some
additional services to be launched. Safe travels to those of you going to TechEd and I'll see you in sunny Orlando!
Share Your User Group Successes
We would like to help you share the successes of your user group here in our newsletter. Have you held a special event in addition to your regular
user group meeting? Has your group contributed to a local charitable activity? Have you done a special project like a study group? Share these or
other noteworthy activities through our newsletter. Contact our Marketing team at noram.marketing@ineta.org.
Volunteers
We continue to need volunteers to assist in the Marketing, Sponsorship, and Technology/Web Site areas for INETA North America. If you have time and
are interested please contact noram.volunteers@ineta.org.
Chris Pels, President, INETA NorAm chris.pels@ineta.org
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INETA Community Leadership Summit - Saturday, June 2, 2007 - Orlando, FL |
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INETA and the INETA User Groups of Florida are hosting a free regional
Community Leadership Summit
in Orlando at the Orlando City Hall on Saturday June 2 prior to the start of Tech Ed 2007. The summit is open to
Community Leaders from the area, as well as those attending Tech Ed from across the country and around the world. It is an excellent
opportunity for exchanging information and ideas.
If you are a user group leader, or are involved in the leadership, planning, promotion, or day-to-day operations of a user group community,
this event is for YOU! The summit is an open forum to share ideas, discuss common challenges, and gain from the experience of other leaders.
INETA Community Leadership summits are part of an ongoing effort by INETA to create, improve and share resources designed to strengthen
individual user groups and the community. This meeting will be the perfect opportunity to meet leaders from other groups, benefit from their
success stories, and expand your network of contacts.
For more information on this event or to attend, please visit http://summit.ineta.org.*
Saturday, June 2, 2007 Event Agenda:
| 10:30 | - | 11:15 | Registration |
| 11:15 | - | 12:00 | Lunch |
| 12:00 | - | 12:30 | Opening remarks and Introductions |
| 12:30 | - | 1:45 | Session A - Running A User Group |
| 1:45 | - | 2:45 | Session B - Effective Content and Presenters |
| 2:45 | - | 3:00 | Break |
| 3:00 | - | 4:00 | Session C - User Group Promotion |
| 4:00 | - | 5:00 | Session D - Developing Partnerships |
| 5:00 | - | 5:30 | Closing Remarks |
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Location:
Orlando City Hall
400 S. Orange Avenue
Orlando, FL 32801
Map it
To attend this event,
please register!
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* Registration fee: $0.00
** Value: Priceless
Come early for the invaluable networking opportunities starting at 10:30. There's nothing like complimentary beverages and lunch for forging
relationships.
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INETA User Group Recognition Program |
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"Congratulations on your new INETA user group membership!"
"Congratulations on your INETA user group membership anniversary!"
Sweet words, yes? It's just too bad we all don't say them enough!
Starting today, we are sending a certificate of recognition to each of you, our INETA family of user group leaders. This is our formal way to show you that we deeply appreciate your volunteer efforts as members of INETA to benefit our user group community.
Current user group leaders will receive your certificate shortly after your anniversary month. New user group leaders will receive a certificate when your user group becomes a new member of INETA.
It is always great to work with people like you – leaders building our user group community. Successful user groups have a strong leader with a strong core support group working for the common good of the developer community which we serve.
Each user group in our INETA family is unique. The success of our independently run volunteer member user groups is based upon each one being a grass-roots effort of local people with a common interest. The best part of a user group and of INETA is its community of members -- face to face, we are a true community.
Building a strong base of volunteers helps each of our user groups face their many challenges, like growing membership, obtaining a venue, getting sponsors, planning meetings, and maintaining a web site. We know that a quality user group will require and demand a continuous effort and huge amounts of your volunteer time -- paid back many-fold in the personal knowledge from which you will gain the highest quality community experience.
Please share your certificate with your user group members, show your family, and display it at your office. When you receive yours, please read the enclosed letter to your user group members. We are proud of you and your user group – each of you are valued members of INETA! Look for more to come as we are committed to recognizing you and your work for our shared community.
"Congratulations!" Yes, sweet words!
INETA - "The Face of .NET" - embodied in you, our user group community leaders and members!
Chris Wallace, Vice President - Membership, INETA NorAm chris.wallace@ineta.org
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Microsoft ISV Partner Webcast Series |
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Microsoft ISV Partner Webcast Series:
Learn to Use Applications Optimized for Mobile PCs
Which applications work best when you're on the go with your notebook, Tablet PC, Ultra-Mobile PC, or Windows SideShow device?
This new webcast series provides an in-depth look at applications built for Windows Vista mobility. Special features include:
- data synchronization
- power management
- ink annotation
- ink recognition
- network awareness
- data access
- enhanced UI for touch
- and Windows SideShow gadgets
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INETA Live -- Focus on Community Leadership Summit |
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In order to focus our resources on the June 2nd Community Leadership Summit and subsequent TechEd activities, the INETA LIVE webcasts
will be deferred until after TechEd. We will return reenergized and revitalized with great topics and material from the leadership
summit; to say nothing of the fertile ground for recruiting new presenters. Yes, that means we are asking YOU to share your tips and
suggestions with other user group members and leaders.
But for now, let's think about the adage that if a job is worth doing, it's worth doing well. With that in mind, we are temporarily
diverting our energies to the June 2nd Community Leadership Summit. In addition to four great sessions on promoting and running user
groups, the summit will provide invaluable networking opportunities. So, if you are going to TechEd, please join us on Saturday
(see registration info above (referring to the CLS article) ). But, if you are not going to TechEd, there's no need to feel left out.
We will be sharing the materials through various channels, including interviews and downloads. Plus, we will be recruiting webcast
presenters -- please don’t make me resort to arm twisting.
And speaking of recruiting presenters ... is anyone reading this? I find it hard to believe that not one of you think that other
members would benefit from your experiences. Sharing your ideas and tips via an INETA webcast is probably one of the easiest
presentations that you will make. User groups are all about helping others. So, let's get with it and fill the schedule through the fall!
Need some topic ideas? Who will talk about how to revitalize a group, or what about a discussion to help new presenters so that their
first time really is great? I'm sure that several of you have ideas on how to plan and run effective meetings. Or here's a project ... how
about consolidating ideas and resources to create some UG website templates, complete with members' only areas for downloads, etc.
I would love to host a panel discussion on that.
So, how about it. Let me hear from you -- whether you want to be a presenter, participate in a panel discussion or have some
specific topic requests. Send me a note at Teresa.Hennig@INETA.org.
Teresa Hennig
Host INETA Live
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Speaker Bureau Updates |
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The INETA Speaker Bureau continues to provide exceptional talent and support to user groups throughout North America. We completed more than 200 events over the last year including 22 in April. We now have 56 well qualified speakers on our roster. This success has increased demand to the point that we need to adjust some of our guiding policies. Effective immediately:
- Calendar year 2007 is completely sold out
- No requests will be accepted until Q3 2007
- Requests will be accepted on a quarterly basis for distribution two quarters in the future (eg: submit Q3 2007 for an event in Q1 2008)
- Groups cannot request two quarters in a row, with a maximum of 2 events per year
- Existing requests will be honored if they fit into the new policies; groups will be notified in May with pending request status
- Additional speakers will be added this summer; look for a formal application process starting in June
We look forward to working with you on future events and welcome any comments that can help us improve our offering.
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Birds of a Feather |
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INETA is again co-chairing the Birds of a Feather track at
TechEd 2007,
sharing the duties with our sister organization, Culminis, on the IT Professional side of the house. As the two premier user group associations for Microsoft technologies, we bring the community face to TechEd. And you can get involved, help us, and help INETA in four different ways!
If you haven't been to one, a Birds of a Feather session is an open discussion lead by a moderator. They are not presentations, there are no projectors. Unlike the keynotes and breakout session, unlike everything else at TechEd, Birds of a Feather sessions are about people talking with people - connecting, sharing, networking, and creating community. It's that simple, and that's what we do best.
The BoFs are of, by, and for the community, which is a critical part of their success. Together the INETA and Culminis BoF chairs solicit session proposals - the public votes on sessions they want to attend - and then we select, schedule, publicize and run the Birds of a Feather sessions. From beginning to end, the BoFs belong to the community.
Building on our success of the past several years, conference sponsor Microsoft is continuing the increased visibility and integration of the Birds of a Feather session into the TechEd conference. Tuesday evening, June 5, is an All-BoF Night from 6:00 to 10:00 PM. The evening will feature multiple concurrent sessions in multiple timeslots. With many topics to choose from, you are bound to find several that interest you. Come early, stay late. Make an evening of it.
By popular request, Birds of a Feather sessions will again run during the daytime, Monday through Friday, June 4th - 8th, parallel with the conference breakout sessions. This represents a sustained commitment of time, money, and space in the BoFs, building on last year's dramatic increase and reflecting well on the quality job that we've done at past conferences.
Okay, so we said there are four ways you can get involved and help make the Birds of a Feather sessions a success at TechEd. Here they are.
1. Get the word out. Blog about the BoFs, post about them in forums, tell all your friends, shout it to the world. You can find
the list of BoF sessions in the TechEd Session Builder,
select "Birds of a Feather" for session type. As additional BoF sessions are confirmed, they will appear in the list.
2. Volunteer. You can lend a hand. As a BoF host, you keep the session on time, make some introductions, and fetch help in case
something isn't just right. It's a simple job, particularly for a session you already plan to attend, and we can't overstate the value of having
a host. And we have some general assistance positions to help keep everything running smoothly. Contact our volunteer coordinator,
Nancy Mesquita, to sign up today.
3. Participate. We've got a stellar lineup of BoF sessions this year. If you've never managed to fit a BoF into your conference
schedule in past years, you'll find new opportunities with our this year's schedule. And when you get to the BoFs, join in the conversation. It's
amazing what happens when someone asks an interesting question.
4. Feedback. Past feedback has gone a long way to shape this year's Birds of a Feather sessions, so make your voice heard this
time around. We are eager to hear what you think of the innovations, the sessions, the moderators, the facilities, whatever is on your mind.
Let us know what was good, what was not, and how it can be better. We're all ears.
Birds of a feather really do flock together! See you in Orlando!
Bob Goodearl and Stuart Celarier
Birds of a Feather track co-chairs, TechEd 2007
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Upcoming INETA Speakers Bureau Events |
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| User Group | Location | Speaker | Date |
| South Colorado.Net | Colorado Springs, CO | Brian Noyes | 5/1/07 |
| Capital City .NET Users Group of Florida | Talahassee, FL | Chris Menegay | 5/3/07 |
| New Mexico .NET User Group | Albuquerque, NM | Tim Huckaby | 5/3/07 |
| Orange County C# Developers Group | Rancho Santa Margarita, CA | Scott Cate | 5/8/07 |
| San Luis Obispo .NET User Group | San Luis Obispo, CA | Scott Stanfield | 5/8/07 |
| Austin .NET User Group (ADNUG) | Austin, TX | Tim Huckaby | 5/14/07 |
| San Diego .NET User Group ASP.NET SIG | San Diego, CA | Phil Weber | 5/15/07 |
| Sarasota .Net Developers Group | Sarasota, FL | Wally McClure | 5/15/07 |
| Naples .NET Developers Group | Naples, FL | Wally McClure | 5/16/07 |
| .NET Miami Users Group | Miami, FL | Wally McClure | 5/17/07 |
| Capital Area .Net Users Group | Vienna, VA | Shawn Wildermuth | 5/22/07 |
| SacDotNet | Sacramento, CA | Scott Stanfield | 5/29/07 |
| Central Maryland ASP Professionals | Columbia, MD | Sahil Malik | 6/5/07 |
| Tech Valley .NET User Group | Latham, NY | Les Pinter | 6/5/07 |
| CNY .NET Developer Group | East Syracuse, NY | Les Pinter | 6/6/07 |
| Cleveland .NET Special Interest Group | Cleveland, OH | Brian Noyes | 6/12/07 |
| TRINUG (Triangle Net User Group) | Research Triangle Park, NC | Rocky Lhotka | 6/13/07 |
| Little Rock .Net Users Group | Little Rock, AR | Chris Menegay | 6/14/07 |
| Dayton .NET Developers Group | Miamisburg, OH | Scott Cate | 6/18/07 |
| Cincinnati .NET User Group | Cinncinnati, OH | Scott Cate | 6/19/07 |
| VTdotNet | Burlington, VT | Keith Pleas | 6/19/07 |
| Chippewa Valley .NET User Group (CVNUG) | Eua Claire, WI | Robert Green | 6/19/07 |
| Fox Valley .NET User Group | Appleton, WI | Robert Green | 6/20/07 |
| San Gabriel Valley .NET Developers Group | Monrovia, CA | Tim Huckaby | 6/20/07 |
| Central Ohio .NET Developers Group | Columbus, OH | Scott Cate | 6/20/07 |
| Northwest Ohio .NET User Group | Toledo, OH | Scott Cate | 6/21/07 |
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Become an INETA Live Presenter |
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INETA Live is all about sharing expertise with you fellow developers and leaders. They extend your reach far beyond your local
community - all from the convenient location of your computer. Our first year included several topics to help user group with
marketing, attracting sponsors, using SharePoint and creating a web site. While maintaining that type of support, we will be adding
additional webcasts on technical topics. That's where YOU come in.
We need YOUR suggestions for TOPICS and PRESENTERS. I'm sure that most of you have more to share than you expect. Think about how you've
answered a question or two at a meeting, or how a client or co-worker exclaimed over a cool tool or technique that you developed. INETA
Live is the perfect forum for sharing that with others. Combine a few PowerPoint slides with a demo and it's easier than you think.
The bonus is that you're helping others while you're having fun and building credentials. All that is the time it takes for your lunch break.
Still don't know what to present. Well, if it's something you're interested in, then other people reading this newsletter will probably
be interested as well. Technical topics can run the gamut, so I'll leave that up to you. The following are possible topics, but we want to
hear what YOU have to say.
- Networking - how to encourage networking at meetings; techniques to get more out of each encounter; building confidence.
- Boosting Attendance - where to advertise; locating prospects; why don't they return?
- Powerful Presentations - Scheduling Speakers
- Sponsorships - More than a One Night Stand
- Delegate and Elevate - Spreading the work, the honors and the rewards
attracting and rewarding volunteers
- Taking Charge - Setting the tone and running effective meetings
So, are you ready to sign up? Or maybe you just have speaker or topic to suggest. Please email
Teresa.Hennig@INETA.org
For more about INETA webcasts, please visit
LIVE.INETA.org
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From the Editor |
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As you can see above, plans are sailing smoothly for this year's TechEd. If you're not already registered for it and can go, sign up and stop
by the INETA community space and say hello. We have several "unadvertised" user group benefits for those that stop by the booth. Who knows,
someone might buy you lunch in the mess hall.
So, do you have any summer time attendance booster ideas that have worked for you in the past? If so, email them to me and we can share them
with the other user group leaders!
Scott Spradlin, Vice President - Marketing, INETA NorAm scott.spradlin@ineta.org
Archived newsletters are available on the INETA website at
www.ineta.org/newsletters.
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President's Note
