I am sitting at the blogger table at the keynote for the 2010 PASS Summit. We kicked everything off at around 8:15AM and are just about 30 minutes in as I am writing this. The energy level is high in the room right now, Mark Souza was just on stage and talked about the SQL CAT team, where we can find them (they are wearing the bright green bowling shirts that say SQL CAT, you really can’t miss them), and how many prizes will be given away. And then Mark backed it up by giving away a Dell laptop to the person that had an envelop under their chair (good thing that every seat is filled in here today!)
The current registration numbers for this Summit is about 3,800 attendees. I think I noticed the increase is numbers as early as Sunday night. This place just seemed filled with people, and it seems as if I know just about everyone here.I have been telling people how this is like going to Summer Camp, but I never went to camp so I guess I should tell people this is what I imagined Summer Camp would have been like if I had an expense account.
Speaking of Summer Camp, I need to get some feedback from the PASS Orientation Committee members to see how their interactions went with their first timers. I don’t have a group myself, but this morning I managed to introduce myself to two first timers and I hope to be able to connect them to others before the week is over. I want to do my best to make certain that everyone that comes to PASS is made to feel welcome, made to feel like they belong, and made to feel like they *must* come back to Summer Camp again next year.
I know that’s how I got hooked all those years ago, so I guess I am trying to do the same for others now. I’d like to think we are succeeding but only time will tell.
