T-SQL Tuesday #36 – SQL Community

This blog entry is participating in T-SQL Tuesday #36, hosted this month by Chris Yates(Blog|@YatesSQL). You are invited to visit his blog to join the blog party. You are welcome to write your own participating blog post for the party or just to read more blogs participating in this month’s theme: SQL Community.

The SQL PASS Summit 2012 just came to a close so there’s no surprise that we’re talking about SQL community. Whether you call it SQL community or SQL family, very little strengthens or personifies this spirit like a gathering of like minds. The SQL PASS Summit is the premier event for building SQL community, and one story from this year’s Summit sticks out more than any other for me. I am not going to name names in this blog post. If that person wants to share his story with the community, that is his place to do so. I’m going to relate the story, but not who it is about.

A friend of mine who lives outside the United States flew in for the full week of SQL events surrounding the PASS Summit. He attended the Summit and both SQL Saturday events scheduled in conjunction to it. When he presented at SQL Saturday #172 in Portland, OR, he commented that he was a “DBA for hire” looking for a position. His long-term goal is to relocate to the USA and work here. Fast forward to one week later at SQL Saturday #166 in Olympia, WA, and when I see him, he is very excited. He tells me that he has great news. He got a contract with a company while attending the PASS Summit. He will work remotely in his home country. If all goes well, perhaps it could turn into a permanent position here in America for him.

This is a short story, but I think it really shows the power of community and networking at events. Congratulations to you my friend and congratulations to the company for which you will be working.