Update (10-21): Glenn Allen Berry just blogged about this and he mentioned something I forgot to tell you: at least one of the MVPs asked if they could give away a copy or two of their book. I don’t know if any one else will but one more reason to show up and find out. Though even without the books this is really an awesome way to meet other SQL Server people. Put some faces to names and get some twitter handles and e-mail addresses! “UNITE”

Topics are Finalized

Last week, I introduced the concept of this lunch to you when posting, “Eat Lunch with the MVPs”, well the back and forth with a handful of MVPs and the good (and patient!) folks at PASS HQ is just about done. We have our list of topics for tables!!

Recap

This is a lunch where the attendees can select a table of a topic that interests them. There will be an MVP (and I believe some tables will be staffed by a member of the SQL CAT team) at each table with 9 empty chairs. Pick a topic, get to lunch on time and get to your table. There will be conversation about the topic at the table, a chance to meet others with the same interest, exchange business cards, maybe play some twitter bingo and have a good time.

When I first went to PASS in 2006, the first lunch was a bit awkward at first. I didn’t know anyone, sat a table with some guy named Ward Pond (Blog, Twitter) and had a fun conversation. Worked out well but I was nervous (yeah, I’ll admit it) leading up to that conversation. This may help end some of those jitters and help build our great community at the same time.

This is not my idea. This is a GREAT idea and I applaud those who thought it up at PASS. I can’t take the credit, wish I could. Some folks had replied to me from last weeks post and on the coordination e-mails thanking me for thinking this up or coordinating it. I just saw a call for volunteers put out by Blythe Morrow (Twitter) who works for PASS and answered the call saying, “put me anywhere.” She asked me to help chase people down, go back and forth about topics and report back when done. That’s all I did, the hard part is being done by the people at PASS who work so hard to put this all on. Thank them when you see them!

Remember pick your tables early! Tom LaRock asked me what we were doing for security if any tables got overcrowded. I feared rowdy fans or stampedes. I first thought maybe we could contact a Motorcycle Club to handle security, but then I remembered the stories I heard about Altamont… I think we can use the honor system.

Enough already.. What are the topics??

Oh.. Yeah. The topics. These may not be final with any last minute tweaks. That being said the topics we have for now (we are all filled up with topics, by the way, great response from the MVPs. There were some others who were unable to make it but are standing by in case we have transportation issues)

See You There!

I look forward to seeing you at PASS. I will probably blog once more about a couple things I plan on doing there and I think I may have made it onto the Twitter Bingo card, so I hope you look for me and catch my “passphrase”. Check out the scheduling tool setup for the Summit. Help plan your itinerary, I believe this lunch will be making it in there, if it hasn’t already:  http://www.softconference.com/pass/ScheduleBuilder.asp