Alabama Tech Events

Rodney Landrum has been architecting solutions for SQL Server for over 10 years. He has worked with and written about many SQL Server technologies, including DTS, Integration Services, Analysis Services, and Reporting Services. He has authored three books on Reporting Services. He is a regular contributor to SQL Server magazine, sqlservercentral.com and Simple-talk.com. His three recent articles in SQL Server magazine on building a DBA repository with SSIS and SSRS have been well received and implemented widely by DBAs around the world. Rodney also speaks regularly on SQL topics at such events as SQL Saturday in Florida, his home state. His day job finds him overseeing the health and well being of over 100 SQL Servers as manager of database administration in Pensacola, Florida. He is also the Vice President on the Pensacola SQL Server User Group

Like many DBAs, Rodney has squirrelled away a large number of routines that he uses almost daily to check on his servers and databases. Of this large collection he chooses five that he wouldn’t want to be without. and there is something for everyone in this DBA’s Script Collection which goes with him on his ‘Script thumb’.
If you have any SQL scripts that help you with your day-to-day work, bring them along this event should inspire you to get involved.

  Office Mall South
  3100 Cottage Hill Road
  Building 3
  Mobile, AL 36606

This meeting is not yet sponsored! If you enjoy the free presentations and the opportunity to network and promote yourself, we need sponsors! Talk to your company about sponsoring these events.Sponsorship can be as little as providing some refreshments for the event (pizza, coke, chips, etc) or providing giveaways (books, software, hardware, t-shirts, anything nerds like!) But sponsorship is a two-way street. A short, five minute presentation is given at the start of each event to let attendees know about our sponsors (who they are, what they do, job opportunities, etc).  This is an excellent opportunity to let active developers know that you’ve got a great company!

You only thought elections were over! That silly presidental thing was just a precursor to the election that really matters, that of the annual Birmingham Software Developers Association. In addition to the election we will also be having a short presentation on Excel for Developers by Robin Cooper of New Horizons.

As usual the meeting will be at New Horizons in Homewood Alabama at 6:30 pm.

Don’t forget annual dues of $25 are due.

Robin Cooper started her official instructor led career in 2000 teaching basic Office Applications, starting with the 97 suite of Office. In the past 8 years, Robin has spent time perfecting her craft. Robin holds certifications in the past Office Suites and is certified in the newest suite, Office 2007. Robin is New Horizons Birmingham’s resident Access and Crystal Reports guru. She has been working with Crystal reports knowledge since version 6. If Data Management is your role in the company, Robin is your gal. Robin’s teaching style is for everyone from the beginner to the IT professional.

Update: Due to scheduling issues, the code camp has been pushed back to January 31st. We apologize for any inconvenience and hope this will only better server the user community.

The next Alabama Code Camp will be Saturday January 17th January 31st 2009 in Montgomery Alabama. Call for speakers is open, so check back to the site soon for registration, session schedule, and more.

Also at this event we’ll be having the Alabama Speaker Idol contest. The object of this contest is to encourage new speakers to step up to the Code Camp level. During lunch we’ll be giving new speakers each five minutes to do a presentation. The detailed rules are below, but the big news is the grand prize: a 1 year MSDN Premium Subscription!

Update: Registration for the event is now open, you can register at http://www.clicktoattend.com/?id=134437

Alabama Speaker Idol Rules

1. Presentations are targeted to be five minutes in length, presentations can vary from 4:50 to 5:10 without penalty. Presentations under 4:50 or over 5:10 will be penalized.

2. As the object of the contest is to encourage new speakers, professional speakers, MVPs, and speakers at previous code camps are not eligible. However, someone may participate and also be a speaker at the Jan. 17th 31st, 2009 code camp as long as this is their first time speaking at a code camp.

3. In addition to length, speakers will also be judged on clarity, technical accuracy and content.

4. In addition to the judges, code camp attendees and other members of the pubic may be in the audience during presentations.

5. Judges will be composed of attending MVPs and other notable attendees. As with most of these things, scoring is largely subjective. The result of the judges is final. No whining, crying, or complaining.

6. To participate in the contest you must e-mail your name, title of your presentation, and contact cell number (just in case) to arcanecode@gmail.com with Alabama Speaker Idol in the subject header. All submissions must be received by noon, central standard time, Friday January 16th 30th (edit: changed to reflect code camp date change).

7. Due to time restrictions, the contest will be limited to 15 participants. In the event more than 15 submissions are received, 15 contestants will be randomly drawn from the pool of submissions. All others will be placed on the stand by list. In the event of a no show on the day of the contest, we will randomly draw a replacement speaker from the standby list.

8. The order of the speakers will be drawn at random just before the presentations begin. All presentations will take place during lunch at the code camp.

9. The winner will be announced at the end of the code camp day.

10. These rules may be amended as the Code Camp Committee deems fit in order to facilitate a more orderly, better code camp.