Comments on: Why I Voted For Seattle

By: Something for the Weekend: SQL Server Links 12/03/10

Something for the Weekend: SQL Server Links 12/03/10 — Tue, 13 Mar 2012 10:16:23 +0000

[…] Why I voted for Seattle – In response to all the community chatter, PASS Board member Thomas Larock explains why he voted Seattle. I’ve got a lot of respect for Tom here for “saying it like it is”. […]

By: Thomas LaRock

Thomas LaRock — Thu, 11 Mar 2010 23:30:49 +0000

In reply to Rod Colledge. thanks Rod, i was just trying to gather more details, as i don't really know what it is like to travel from down under. and i see your point, both that it is not a dealbreaker, and the fact that we are squabbling over a difference of a few hours. but everyone has different priorities. for some, that burden is simply not something they want to endure each year, and i can understand that as well.

By: Rod Colledge

Rod Colledge — Thu, 11 Mar 2010 23:25:50 +0000

Tom – It would probably be about another 500 bucks and another 8 hours or so, but as I said, that’s not a deal breaker for me. My point is that you guys are very lucky (regardless of where you are in the US) to be so close to the action, both geographically and timezone wise.

By: Thomas LaRock

Thomas LaRock — Thu, 11 Mar 2010 23:19:28 +0000

In reply to John Sansom.

Thanks John. And I forgot to mention the fact that we have managed to have two Summit’s disrupted by hurricanes. One in Orlando, another in Dallas (it actually hit Houston). The idea that we have to book cities years in advance does not help the fact that we need to contend with Mother Nature as well. If we continue to have Summits in the Fall, then I am more likely to vote against having it in an area that has the possibility of a hurricane.

With Seattle, we only have to worry about earthquakes…and volcanoes…

By: Thomas LaRock

Thomas LaRock — Thu, 11 Mar 2010 23:08:58 +0000

In reply to Rod Colledge.

Rod,

Can you tell me what the difference is in cost and time for you to travel to, say, Orlando or perhaps even Charlotte?

I’m lucky to be in the middle here. It is about six hours for me to go to Seattle, and seven hours to get to Europe. But I know that not everyone is located here, either. No matter where we go, it will make things more difficult for one group or another. And while some might advocate “sharing the pain” by rotating it around every year, I just don’t feel that same way. I think Seattle is equally inconvenient for the majority of folks that attend, with the exception being Microsoft, of course.

By: John Sansom

John Sansom — Thu, 11 Mar 2010 23:07:55 +0000

Good points and well made Thom. I for one appreciate your honesty and taking the time to share your thinking with the community.

By: Rod Colledge

Rod Colledge — Thu, 11 Mar 2010 22:56:53 +0000

Tom, thanks for pointing out the obvious regarding the time/cost of travel for non-US people.

As you know, I’m from Australia, and I’ve sat back and watched this conversation with amusement for a while now. It takes me ~24hours and ~$2500 in airfares to get to Seattle. Perhaps I’m just conditioned to it, but I don’t think it’s a big ask for people to travel from the East Coast or Central given the obvious value they derive from this great event.

My view is that you go along to events such as PASS because they’re a great investment in your career, not because they’re cheap and located just down the road.

Cheers,
Rod