Journeys of a cranky community organizer..
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  • Good By Bellevue, thx for the memories #MVP10

    Posted on February 20th, 2010 HandyAndy No comments

    Thankx Microsoft for arranging such great weather for the summit this year :>) It was a wonderful summit, and you guys really rolled out the red carpet for the 1400 or so of us you herded into Bellevue for the event this year.

    It was great to see all my peeps and old MS friends again and meet the new folks in the HSBS product groups. I learned a lot ( yes I remember the entire week is under NDA) and hopefully provided some useful feedback as well.

    I would also like to send out a job well done to Al, Kym and the gang at Steward Transportation, most of you won’t even know who they are, but that is because of the great job they do getting us where we need to be, when we need to be there. It makes them invisible, believe me a few years ago the busing was a complete cluster and since they have taken over, it is almost a pleasurable experience, well it is sill a bus ride after all :>)

    So long gang, travel safe back to your respective corners of the world, I am headed to Calif before making the trek home to the east coast.

  • Become an SBSC! (Free Exam Vouchers)

    Posted on February 12th, 2010 HandyAndy 2 comments

    Copied from Mark Crall’s Blog, Plagiary is the sincerest form of flattery :>)

    • Do you sell to small and medium-sized businesses (SMBs)?
    • Do you provide your SMB customers with Microsoft technologies and related services?
    • Do you want to differentiate yourself in your marketplace?

    If you answered “Yes,” have you considered joining the Microsoft Small Business Specialist Community (SBSC), a group of 6,500 trusted technology advisors focused on selling to Small Business customers. Benefits of joining include access to exclusive marketing dollars, recognition from displaying the SBSC logo, support from an Online Technical Community, and increased exposure to partners and customers through the Microsoft Partner Finder and Solution Finder.

    As an SBSC Advisory Council member, let me tell you why I am part of this Community.  Proving my company not only has the technical skills necessary to serve small businesses but the understanding of how technology must be applied differently than as the one-size-fits-all mentality applied to most larger business solutions. The Small Business Specialist competency shows our customers we “get” small business.

    You too can become a Small Business Specialist in just 2 easy steps, as an Action Pack Subscriber:

    1. Take a Small Business Sales and Marketing Skills Assessment
    2. Pass one of five technical exams

    Currently, Microsoft is offering a 100 percent off voucher applicable to exams 70-653: TS: Windows Small Business Server 2008, Configuring and 70-654: TS: Windows Essential Business Server 2008, Configuring. Alternatively, we are offering a 50 percent off exam voucher to complete the other three exams.

    Call 877-254-6825 or send a message to msppexp@microsoft.com by March 15, 2010 to pick up your voucher, and an expert agent will guide you through the sign-up process.

    1. One Response to “Become an SBSC! (Free Exam Vouchers)”

    2. FAQ:
      Where do I pick up my voucher/how do I sign up?:
      Call 877-254-6825 or send a message to msppexp@microsoft.com for all voucher related questions

      What is SBSC? I need Details
      Please visit https://partner.microsoft.com/US/program/smallbusinessspecialist for details on the community, benefits and requirements

  • Tarheel AITP & Triad SBS Groups Present Windows 7

    Posted on February 10th, 2010 HandyAndy No comments

    Our Next Meeting is Something Different
      March 4, 2010
    Different Venue, Different Time (this meeting only)
    Last meeting was January 5, 2010 (due to weather in February)

    Tarheel AITP & Triad SBS Groups Present Windows 7
    Presenters: Yung Chou and John Baker, IT Pro Evangelists, Microsoft

    In association with the Tarheel AITP Group we are putting together a morning presentation with Microsoft. Two of the best presenters I know will be delivering the Windows 7 content. The agenda is below. We were only able to book a room large enough for 75 people so this event will fill up fast and we will not be able to extend it. You will need your confirmed reservation to attend. You can sign-up now at http://www.clicktoattend.com/?id=145662 . Please do not wait to sign up, I will feel terrible if I have to turn you away. There is no cost to attend this event except your time and attention!
    Keep an eye on our website for updates www.tSBSg.org

    Agenda
    Pre-Session 7:30AM Breakfast and Registration

    Welcome & Introductions 8:30AM

     Session 1 = 8:45AM Cloud Computing Overview and Direction

    Session 2 = 9:15AM: What’s New and Why Windows 7
    Windows 7 uplifts Enterprise IT abilities to address business needs to a new dimension with many new innovations and improved functions. This session highlights the new features and capabilities of Windows 7 by walking through Windows 7 desktop fundamentals and business scenarios using Windows 7 optimized desktops including BitLocker to Go, Windows XP Mode, Direct Access, and Virtual Desktop Infrastructure.

    Break = 10:15am

    Session 3 = 10:30AM: Windows 7 Deployment
    Deploying Windows 7 is easy if you’re using the Microsoft Deployment Toolkit (MDT) 2010. This session will walk you through the various tools that can help simplify your deployments. We’ll drill down in the MDT Workbench and look at how the MDT process helps you create a reference image, which can then be easily deployed to the target computers. We’ll look at how to configure the deployment environment, show how you can add operating systems, applications, drivers, and language packs using the Deployment Workbench, and then finish up by creating a task sequenced deployment to a target computer.

    Closing = 11:45AM
    Q&A, user group and communities information sharing, prize drawings, etc

     You can sign-up now at http://www.clicktoattend.com/?id=145662