In 2004 I went to the PASS Summit in Orlando. I happened to attend a pre-con seminar given by Kimberly Tripp (blog | @KimberlyLTripp) on Tuesday morning. Before the session I went down to breakfast, grabbed some food, and sat down with a couple of strangers. After a few minutes we were joined by someone else who proceeded to tell us that he was at his first Summit and was determined to make an effort to meet as many people as possible. I believe the term he used was “come out of my shell”.
That man was Pat Wright (blog | @sqlasylum).
Pat was supposed to be heading to a different pre-con (I believe) but instead switched into the one I was attending. We went in, grabbed seats, and struck up a conversation with the man next to us.
That man was Allen Kinsel (blog | @sqlinsaneo)
We sat at lunch together and after the pre-con was done we went over to the Welcome Reception. Somehow Pat was up on the stage for the Quiz Bowl and Allen and I were in the back of the room laughing and having fun with some folks from Northern Europe (Finland, perhaps?) After the welcome reception was over I believe the three of us had dinner and then met up again the next day. I think we ended up having quite a few meals together that week. One thing I recall from those meals was a discussion on the value of a certification and their guidance led me to conclude that I should look to get certified (which I did in the next year). I also recall how we shared
war stories” about our lives as a DBA. It was quite comforting to know I was not alone in the Universe.
Towards the end of the conference we attended an informational session headed up by Wayne Snyder. The session was put in place in order to recruit people to volunteer for PASS. There were some sign up sheets for various things to help with. In my case I signed up for the Special Interest Groups. In fact, we all did. I am certain that Wayne doesn’t remember sitting at that table with the three of us, but I sure remember the time he spent talking with us.
After the Summit was over we all went our separate ways but stayed in touch over the next year, mostly through our volunteer work for PASS but sometimes just through an email and asking the question “hey, have you ever seen this?”
We’ve been meeting at the Summit ever since.
In 2007 both Pat and myself ran for the Board of Directors. We both lost, but Pat was appointed to the Board to serve out the remainder of a one year term that had been vacated. After he was appointed I told Pat and Allen that it was my dream to have all three of us serve at the Board level together.
Unless Pat runs again it may not happen. But what will happen is that I will have the honor of serving with both of them, just at different times. See, Allen was elected to serve the next two years, one of which will be with me. When I think back to how all that I am started with a few simple conversations with Allen and Pat…well…it makes me think of all we can be going forward as we serve together on the Board.
Congrats Allen, and welcome aboard. Time to see how the sausage is made.
That’s a great story. Here’s hoping that those of us who will be PASS Summit freshman this year will have similar experiences!
I had the same experience last year. I came to the summit without any co-workers which is actually very liberating: You can sit and talk with whoever, whenever about whatever.
Matt, you’re in for a treat. I regret that I won’t be able to make it this year.
I was heading for the same pre-con. I did change several sessions later in the week based on discussions the three of us had. 🙂
I think about this often while at PASS and it’s the primary reason I do my best to find those at the lunch/breakfast tables that need “to come out of the shell” 🙂
I am looking forward to seeing you both on the board. 🙂
I agree with Matt it would be awesome if I can look back a few years and notice that I had a similar experience in November.
I just found out that I will be doing a chalk-talk so I am really excited. Hopefully I can be as lucky as you were in 2007. Maybe this is where preparation meets opportunity for me?
I often think back to that very first day at PASS and I wonder, would my life be different if it werent for meeting you 2 and having that fateful conversation with Wayne. I have to say I believe I wouldnt be anywhere near the same professionally, if it wasnt for those 2 “chance” happenings. It should be an interesting year (or 2) for sure!!
What a great story (it’s a warm fuzzy, too), it is always interesting to know the “history” of people in the community, and what events had an impact on their career. Thank you for sharing! And I agree with Michael, it can be liberating to go to an event like PASS alone. Scary at times, but so much opportunity.
Erin