Day 1 of MVP Summit 2009 started with a big gala and the Summit Welcome and Keynotes. I announced my tour in SQLAuthority News – Author Visit – MVP Global Summit 2009 – Seattle and Redmond.
In the morning, a few Indian MVPs visited the Seattle Space Needle and had a lot of fun there.
The Space Needle is a tower in Seattle, Washington, and a major landmark of the Pacific Northwest. It’s a symbol of Seattle. It stands at the Seattle Center and was built for the 1962 World’s Fair.
Nearly 20,000 people a day used its elevators during the fair, with over 2.3 million visitors in all. The tower is 605 feet (184 m) high and 138 feet (42 m) wide at its widest point. It weighs 9,550 tons.
Our main gala event started with the Summit Welcome. Toby Richards, General Manager of Microsoft’s Community Support Services group, welcomed the MVPs to the event.
The welcome was followed by an excellent Keynote Session. Rich Kaplan, Corporate Vice President of Microsoft’s Customer & Partner Advocacy group, gave the keynote.
The MVPs cheered both sessions. Then came an excellent networking session, the Welcome Reception. It was a dream for me, because I met people I’ve read, respected and learned from. Many of them have been my teachers on my SQL Server learning journey.
I felt like a little kid with candy, meeting so many SQL Gods in one place. I’ll write later about what we discussed. Today I’m sharing photographs only.
If you took my photo and want me to share it on this blog, please send it to me. I’ll post it appropriately.
Here’s my travel itinerary so far:
- Feb 27, 2009: Departing Ahmedabad to Mumbai
- Feb 28, 2009: Departing Mumbai to Seattle Sheraton Hotel
- March 1, 2009: Day 1 at MVP Summit
- March 2, 2009: Day 2 at MVP Summit
- March 3, 2009: Day 3 at MVP Summit
- March 4, 2009: Day 4 at MVP Summit
- March 5, 2009: Departing Seattle to Toronto
- March 6, 2009: Tech User Group Meeting, Markham, Canada
- March 7, 2009: Departing Toronto to Mumbai
- March 8, 2009: Missing day due to crossing the International Date Line
- March 9, 2009: Arriving in Ahmedabad
More from MVP Summit 2009
- Announcement: MVP Global Summit 2009 in Seattle and Redmond
- The journey begins
- Database industry discussion from London Airport to Sheraton Seattle
- Day 0: About Pinal Dave
- Day 1: Summit welcome and keynotes (this post)
- Day 2: Most contributing MVP of the year
- Day 3: Party day and SQL celebrity photos
- Day 4: Keynote of Steve Ballmer
- South Asian MVPs at Global MVP Summit 2009
- Complete wrapup of the Microsoft MVP Summit 2009 trip
- Video interview published online
Published by Pinal Dave on SQLAuthority. More of my work at pinaldave.com.
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2 Comments. Leave new
Thanks for the picture, Pinal. It was great to finally meet you last night.
Cheers!
Joe
Ha, didn’t know you’re coming to Toronto Pinal
I wish there is time to meet you in person (easier if you’re in Mississauga instead of Markham, as airport is in Mississauga as well as Microsoft Canada)
Let me warn you first, it’s COLD this week
Today is -27C with windchill