Thinking about Chapters (aka Groups)

I think it was 2003 or 2004 when someone from PASS came to Orlando and helped start what became OPASS. They stressed the need to find speakers each month and the need to have multiple people involved so that the group wouldn’t die if someone moved on. The formula was find a sponsor, find a […]

Improving Networking at PASS Events–Part 1

This week I’m spending some drive time thinking about how we might improve networking at SQLSaturday and that led to me thinking about the general state of networking within PASS. Some early thoughts on networking in general: It’s not enough to put people in a room and say “network” It’s not enough to put like […]

Does SQLSaturday Increase Chapter Attendance?

One of the big goals for SQLSaturday was for it to be a membership drive. It’s worked hugely well in some ways; we’ve added tremendously to the number of PASS members, grown the size of the Chapter mailing lists (for those that held a SQLSat), and introduced a lot of people to PASS/Chapters. But has […]

Marketing Materials for PASS Chapters

I brought this back with me from SQLSaturday South Florida. It’s postcard sized and laminated, and information dense in a good way. It feels like something that would be kept far more than a paper flyer or a business card. Might be interesting to make it magnetic to get it on the fridge at work […]

The Appearance of PASS Chapter Websites

Imagine you’re new to SQL Server, or new to a city, and you start looking around for networking and learning opportunities. With luck and/or experience you find your way to the local PASS Chapter web site. Once there, what do you find? Does it look professional? Is it current? Can you see what the last […]

Thinking on PASS Chapter Elections

One of the conversations I had at SQLSaturday Austin was about Chapters, governance, and edge cases. To really condense and generalize, most Chapters are fairly small in terms of attendances, assets, and revenue. I’d bet it’s a handful or two at most that have bothered to incorporate and without having access to solid numbers, I’ll […]

Deciding On a Presentation Topic for 2015

I’m spending some time this week and the next few weeks thinking about what I want to talk about next year. 2014 was about learning plans and I will continue using that presentation in 2015, but my focus this year is to pick a topic that will work well for chapters/user groups. That really speaks […]

Thoughts On A State of the Chapter Statement (and Doing More)

This is a follow up to a thought I voiced on Twitter last week – the value of a once a year “state of the chapter” message from each chapter (or at least the Orlando ones!). Before we cover that, some background. I’ve never been terribly happy with how PASS measures Chapters. Around 2007-2009 the […]

Thoughts on Speakers and Topics for PASS Chapters

After wrapping up my part of SQLSaturday Orlando this year I’ve been thinking on what if anything we might do to increase attendance at oPASS & MagicPASS. Attendance at both is reasonable right now, this is just me looking and thinking about what we could add to what we have now. Is more better? I’ll […]

Thoughts On Raising Funds and Spending Funds for PASS Chapters

Based on limited but practical experience I believe chapters typically work hardest to find speakers and sponsors, the latter being the main (often only) way that funds are raised for the chapter. Sometimes the sponsors give cash, sometimes they just provide the food. Many chapters have close to zero cash on hand, in part due […]