OK so this will be another first for me…. I’ve done plenty of remote presentations (via LiveMeeting) for PASS Chapters around the world but this will be the first time I’ve actually flown to another PASS Chapter (OKPASS)  and presented live in person!

Something that I’ve always envied about speakers in the US is how easy it is for them to travel (either by plane or driving) to other PASS chapters that are nearby.  From where I live (Edmonton) the ONLY PASS Chapter that is not an minimum of a 10 hour drive is Calgary PASS (Where I’ll be presenting in July) so this is really exciting for me.

PASS is trying to help Regional Mentors get out to the chapters in their region for more “face time” by (currently on a trial basis) allocating some budget money for regional mentors travel expenses.  I think this is an amazing opportunity for Regional Mentors to get out to a chapter that they haven’t been to before, do a presentation, and get some face to face contact.  I know I wouldn’t of been able to present in person for OKPASS if it wasn’t for this so I’m really excited (and thankful) for the opportunity!

Meeting details below:

Date: May 26th 2012
Time: 3:00 pm – 5:00 pm
Location: Landmark II Building, Suite #702, 1708 Dolphin Ave. Kelowna, B.C.
Speaker: Colin Stasiuk
Topic: SQL 2012 – When Worlds Collide

Session Abstract:

This intro to SQL Server 2012 presentation is going to look at some of the new features and functionality for not only the DBAs (EDMPASS) but also the developers (EDMUG). For the developers in the audience we’re going to discuss and demo new features like paging, result sets, sequence numbers and throws and for the DBAs in the room we’ll discuss AlwaysOn, contained databases, and user defined server roles. Hopefully this will help get you prepared and excited for the upcoming newly released version – SQL Server 2012.

Presenter Information: Colin Stasiuk ( blog | twitter )

Colin Stasiuk is an MCP, MCTS SQL 2005/2008, MCITP DBDEV, and MCITP DBA. Currently, he is an independent consultant contracted to Invidi Technologies Corporation and also provides remote database support and monitoring through his SQL Wingmen service offering. Colin is an accomplished Microsoft SQL Server DBA who has been working with SQL Server since 1996. He is the owner of Benchmark IT Consulting and is always willing to lend a hand with questions in many SQL Server community forums and via Twitter. His specialties include SQL Server Administration, Performance Tuning, Security, Best Practice / Standards, Upgrades, and Consolidation. Colin is the Regional Mentor for PASS Canada, President and founder of EDMPASS, and co-author of Pro SQL Server 2008 Policy-Based Management.

If you’d like to chat with me about this or anything else (SQL or other) please leave a comment or hit me up on my Twitter: @ColinStasiuk

http://www.eventbrite.com/event/2653305107

Please be sure to not only click the “Add to my calendar” but also the “Register” button so that we can plan accordingly for food and drinks.

Date: January 12th 2012
Time: 5:45 pm – 7:00 pm
Location: 6th Floor Room 7 (Stanley A Milner Library)
Speaker: Ryan Adams
Topic: Mirroring: The Bare Necessities

Session Abstract:

Remember Baloo the bear from the Jungle Book? Well we are going to get down to the “bear” necessities of mirroring and more. Mirroring can be an integral part of your high availability and disaster recovery planning. We’ll cover what mirroring is, how it can fit into an HA/DR plan, the rules surrounding its use, configuration via the GUI and T-SQL, as well as how to monitor mirroring. This presentation is designed to not only give you an overview of mirroring, but to also walk you through a basic implementation. At the end you will have learned what mirroring is, how it can fit into your environment, what business requirements it solves, and how to configure it.

Presenter Information: Ryan Adams ( blog | twitter )

Ryan is a highly skilled Microsoft oriented administrator and has worked for a Fortune 100 company for 14 years (2 of those as a contractor). In his time there he has supported everything from desktop to server. Most recently he has served as a senior Active Directory Architect and Identity Management (MIIS, ILM, FIM) Consultant. He is the sole SQL Server DBA for his group, supporting both vendor databases and custom databases. His primary focus is database design and performance, but also works with SSRS report development, and SSIS ETL. He enjoys being involved in the SQL community and serves on the Board of Directors for the North Texas SQL Server User Group as well as the PASS Performance Virtual Chapter. He also serves as a Regional Mentor for the Professional Association for SQL Server. He is well versed in many core Microsoft technologies, has implemented and supported them both nationally and internationally for a company of 250k+ users, and holds the following certifications: MCP MCSA MCSE MCDBA MCTS MCITP

Agenda:
5:00 pm – Pizza and Socializing
5:30 pm – Sponsor Presentation
5:45 pm – Feature Presentation
7:00 pm – Wrap Up and Draws

If you haven’t signed up already at EDMPASS.com please do so now to receive meeting notifications, news, and updates from EDMPASS.

For those who are unable to attend in person here is the Live Meeting Attendee Link:

https://www.livemeeting.com/cc/usergroups/join?id=78DJ42&role=attend&pw=X%5E2Bxh2wg

Hope to see you there.

EDMPASS HOMEPAGE

If you’d like to chat with me about this or anything else (SQL or other) please leave a comment or hit me up on my Twitter: @ColinStasiuk

http://swflorida.sqlpass.org/ – SWFSSUG

Doing virtual presentations add a bit of a “weird” dynamic as you can’t see the faces in the room and get a read/feel for things like:

• Is anyone lost?
• Am I going too slow/fast?
• Is anyone asleep?

Here are some of the things that I try and do to help make virtual presentations run smoothly:

• Use good equipment (high speed internet, good lighting, professional microphone, HD camera)
• Clear all distractions (no Twitter, phone, dogs, family, etc)
• Periodically ask if there are any questions/concerns/too fast/too slow
• Print the slide deck w/notes on hand
• If you’re making video of yourself available try to appear as you would of you were presenting live (no housecoats and boxer shorts)

I guess this list really can be used for both physical and virtual presentations but I think the focus on making sure these things do not become a distraction are that much more important when you don’t have a “warm body” in the room with the session attendees.

If you have any additions to the list please leave a comment and I’ll be sure to update the post!

If you’d like to chat with me about this or anything else (SQL or other) please leave a comment or hit me up on my Twitter: @ColinStasiuk

I was able to breakdown what #SQLFamily means to me into 3 categories:

• Technology
• Professional Development
• Personal Relationships

Technology

I cannot think of another technical community out there that offers so many great opportunities to learn about a product like SQL Server.  I’m not just talking about the “paid” events like the PASS Summit, SQLConnections, or SQLRally.

I’m also talking about all the free training out there the local PASS Chapter meetings, SQLSaturdays, 24 hours of PASS, websites, blogs, etc…. people are PASSionate about SQL Server and love sharing their knowledge which is AMAZING.

There are also social networking tools like Twitter (#SQLHelp, #SQLPASS, #SQLFamily), Facebook, LinkedIn, and my new found friend Yammer to use to find even more knowledge.

There are so many ways to get amazing information from some of the best in the business.

Professional Development

Being part of the #SQLFamily means that you are able to surround yourself with people who are like you and people that you aspire to be like.  I can honestly say that if I didn’t jump into the SQL Server Community with both feet I wouldn’t of met the people responsible for helping me:

• Start Blogging here at BenchmarkITConsulting.com
• Start EDMPASS (The Edmonton PASS Chapter)
• Co-Author my first book (Pro SQL Server 2008 Policy Based Management)
• Become the Western Canada Regional Mentor for PASS

All of which has helped me professionally to grow my knowledge,  name, and business as an Independent Consultant.

Personal Relationships

This is what I believe REALLY sets the #SQLFamily apart from other technology communities.

(This is the hardest section of this blog post to describe because to me it is such a phenomenon so bare with me)

The people care, they really do care.  It really is like a family… you might not see everyone as much as you’d like but when you do it’s like you haven’t skipped a beat.  The friendships and camaraderie that I’ve developed through the #SQLFamily are not just “work friends” but real honest to goodness friends.

If someone’s child is sick, they care.  If someone needs to find a new job, they help.  If someone needs an extra $25 in his Movember campaign to take first place, they donate (thanks Jason Strate BTW)

I’m a better person professionally and personally because of my #SQLFamily.

If you’d like to chat with me about this or anything else (SQL or other) please leave a comment or hit me up on my Twitter: @ColinStasiuk

I’m so excited to announce that I’m the new PASS Regional Mentor for Western Canada!!  PASS.ORG link

I’m pretty pumped about this because being from Canada (at times) I know we feel like we’re kinda “out there” on some of the happenings and I want to make sure that the PASS Chapters in Western Canada feel connected and supported by me and PASS in general.  I think there are some challenges that we face (getting local speakers, SWAG, etc) that are unique to us due to our location and I want to help bring us up to speed and more inline with our friends from the south.

One of my goals this year as a regional mentor is to bring a SQL Saturday to Alberta, Canada.  I think between Edmonton and Calgary that we can get a great turnout and hopefully this would also help in getting a better network of local speakers that are willing to present in person at the Edmonton and Calgary PASS Chapters.

I have a bunch of ideas and I can’t wait to get started working with PASS on to do my best to help the SQL Community grow within Canada.

If you’d like to chat with me about this or anything else (SQL or other) please leave a comment or hit me up on my Twitter: @ColinStasiuk

INSERT INTO PuntaCana
SELECT     FirstName, LastName
FROM    dbo.Family
WHERE    LastName = 'STASIUK'

Don’t be alarmed if you don’t hear from me for a week or so I’ll be having a girlie drink or two too many on a beach and leaving this cold weather behind (temporarily)

Stay tuned when I get back for some exciting news on a more “geeky” level but until then……….

If you’d like to chat with me about this or anything else (SQL or other) please leave a comment or hit me up on my Twitter: @ColinStasiuk

http://www.eventbrite.com/event/2447251796

Please be sure to not only click the “Add to my calendar” but also the “Register” button so that we can plan accordingly for food and drinks.

Date: December 8th 2011
Time: 5:45 pm – 7:00 pm
Location: Virtual (sorry the room was booked Live Meeting Link to follow)
Speaker: Jes Borland
Topic: Reporting Services 201: From Basic to WOW!

Session Abstract:

You have mastered the art of linking a dataset to a table in SQL Server Reporting Services. You have solid, reliable reports that you and others depend on. Learn how to take them from basic to “wow”, using features such as tablix, lists, images, and charts. At the end of this session, you will be familiar with:

- Report properties such as headers, footers and backgrounds
- Tablix properties such as ToolTip and NoRows
- How to build and customize a matrix
- How to effectively use lists, an often-overlooked feature
- Adding charts to make reports visually appealing and easy to understand

Presenter Information: Jes Borland ( blog | twitter )

Jes Schultz Borland is a Database Administrator at Kimberly Clark. She holds an AAS – Programmer/Analyst degree. She has worked with SQL Server since 2007, focusing on Reporting Services and day-to-day administration. She is an active member of PASS, the PASS WIT virtual chapter, and the MADPASS chapter. She is also an avid tweeter, blogger and runner.

Agenda:

5:45 pm – Feature Presentation

If you haven’t signed up already at EDMPASS.com please do so now to receive meeting notifications, news, and updates from EDMPASS.

Hope to see you there (Virtually ).

If you’d like to chat with me about this or anything else (SQL or other) please leave a comment or hit me up on my Twitter: @ColinStasiuk

If you’d like to chat with me about this or anything else (SQL or other) please leave a comment or hit me up on my Twitter: @ColinStasiuk

OK maybe not “harder” but I just found a DMV that I didn’t know existed that is going to help me make “better, faster, stronger” an old way of doing things.

I wrote a blog post back in 2009 called: Check SQL Server Agent Status on all SQL Servers

This scripted used the sysprocesses table to check for the existence of a row where the program_name = ‘SQLAgent – Generic Refresher’.  If the row existed then that told me the SQL Server Agent was up and running.

While poking around SQL 2012 CTP3 I stumbled upon the sys.dm_server_services DMV (which basically returns information about the SQL Server and SQL Server Agent services… information like whether or not they are running ).

I thought I’d check books online to see if this was something new introduced in SQL 2012 and apparently this has been around since SP1 of SQL 2008 R2.

Whenever I find something like this and can tweak / fix /modernize something I’ve used for what seems like forever I feel like I’m evolving

If you’d like to chat with me about this or anything else (SQL or other) please leave a comment or hit me up on my Twitter: @ColinStasiuk

The next three EDMPASS meetings are on the calendar as we get back into the swing of things after the PASS Summit.

December 8th – Jes Borland ( blog | twitter )

January 12th – Ryan Adams ( blog | twittter )

February 16th – Jason Strate ( blog | twitter )

March 15th – Colin Stasiuk ( blog | twitter )

The first three will be “Virtual” presentations as we don’t have the budget to fly these fine folks out to Edmonton but the March presentation will be given by me live and in person!

The presentation abstracts and speaker bios will be available over at EDMPASS.com as we get closer to the meeting.

If you live in or around Edmonton, work with SQL Server, and want to “Get Your Speak On” please feel free to contact me as we would love to have you.

If you’d like to chat with me about this or anything else (SQL or other) please leave a comment or hit me up on my Twitter: @ColinStasiuk