SQLAuthority News – SQLPASS Summit, Seattle 2009 – Day 1

Day 1 at SQLPASS was awesome. I usually write everything in detail when I have to cover any project. This time, I have decided to cover this event little bit different and with lots of images. For day 1, I have more than 90 photos taken with many SQL celebrities and different sessions. I will be not able to cover all the photos taken today in this post. I will gradually post all the photos as I will do follow up posts. In this post, I will cover my activities on day 1 as well few of the photos that give you a visual tour of the spot that I have covered in one day.

Yesterday I went to city tour where I had walked on the streets of Seattle and had lots of fun. I went on an underground tour in Seattle and then got back to the registration desk for registration. Day 1 started great; while I was going to check out the venue, I had met Blythe Morrow on my way to the Seattle Convention Center. I consider this as a great start of the SQLPASS event as she has put considerable work to make this event a success.

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Bill, Blythe, Pinal

Being a vegetarian, thus far I have never faced any difficulties finding good food in USA.

SQLAuthority News - SQLPASS  Summit, Seattle 2009 - Day 1 SQLPASS1 (2)
Veg Maxican Meal

Not everyone knows that the name “Seattle”is a native American name, and it was taken from the name of the Native American tribe chief, Seattle. Please visit this wiki article to read further on Seattle City.

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Chief Seattle

I was also mesmerized with the set up at SQLPASS Summit. SQLPASS Head Quarter has put in considerable efforts in making this event successful.

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SQLPASS Summit 2009

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PASS Registration

I met many of the SQL celebrities during my very first day. As I mentioned earlier, I managed to click around 80 photos of the legends. I will share all of them soon.

PASS event is a community event, and the community is heavily encouraged. I was very fortunate to meet two of the very active community leaders in my meeting. They amaze me with their dedication to help the SQL Server Community: Joe Webb and Arnie Rowland.

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Community Leads – Joe Webb, Pinal Dave and Arnie Rowland

I have previously mentioned that if I want to be like someone in SQL Community, it would be Steve Jones. He is the founder and current manager of the extremely popular site SQLServerCentral.com. The reason I aspire to be like him is that he is a very nice down-to-earth person who is always smiling. I also attended his SSC Party on day 1.

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Pinal Dave and Good Old Friend Steve Jones

I have mentioned about Brent Ozar several times on our blog. He is the only person with spectacles besides me in following image. I have been very eager to meet him for many years and early morning, I got the opportunity to have breakfast with him and many other SQL Celebrities. I will write in detail about other members in the image in a separate blog post.

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Brent Ozar (very left) and Excellet Fellow SQL Enthusiast

I have previously blogged about SQLFool for her excellent Automated Index Defrag Script, and I was very lucky to meet her on the very first day.

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Pinal Dave and Michelle Ufford (SQLFool)

During the evening I had a delicious dinner along with PASS Regional Mentors. New President Elect Rushabh Mehta was also present the event to encourage our efforts.

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SQL Server Regional Mentor Team and Rushabh Mehta

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Allen White (with his wife), Jacob Sebastian and Pinal Dave

Overall, the first day went pretty well, I met many more experts and learned a lot of new tricks. I am looking forward to the second day of the event.

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SQLPASS Summit 2009 and Pinal Dave

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PASS Quizbowl

Reference: Pinal Dave (https://blog.sqlauthority.com)

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11 Comments. Leave new

  • Steve Larochelle
    November 3, 2009 8:58 pm

    From someone who can’t be there, thanks for taking us along with you.

    Reply
  • Looks like a great event. Will you be returning to the area for the MVP Summit? I hope to meet you then.

    Reply
  • Hi Pinal,
    Enjoy the summit, I am sure you will provide great coverage.
    Coming to Mexican food it is one of my favorites too, the burrito with sauce,sour cream and gaucamole looks yummy. There are others like veggie delights like Veggie quesidilla,Veggie fajita,Taco salad and enchiladas, try them when you get a chance.

    Take Care

    Reply
  • Imran Mohammed
    November 4, 2009 8:21 am

    Wow… I am missing all this.

    I see people coming to attend this event all over, I am being in USA, cannot attend this. Very Bad.

    Thanks Pinal for uploading all these pictures. Truly wonderful.

    Thanks.
    Imran.

    Reply
  • That’s really good !!!!!!!
    We wait for some more awesome details about this event.
    Thanks for Sharing..
    Have a Great Time..

    Reply
  • Malathi Mahadevan
    November 4, 2009 7:42 pm

    Thanks Pinal for sharing all the pics. Glad food was not a problem, they have gone out of their way toand have more vegetarian entrees this time and food is above average so far.
    For those who are in US and cannot attend, I wish to state my own story – i attended first conference (2003) entirely on my own, by taking loan from bank. I was so fed up with my job and wanted to meet other DBAs/friends. That meeting helped me open my chapter so next year i got the conference for free. The year next onwards the employer(s) have been with paid for everything lodging, transportation and even pre cons. Just saying to encourage others, this is a great community and it helps to take initiative to be part of it.

    Malathi

    Reply
  • Imran Mohammed
    November 5, 2009 8:49 am

    @Malathi.

    We have a production release on Nov 21. We are working like dogs untill 1:30 in the night, This answers any misconceptions, people might have about people in USA and not attending this seminar.

    Appreciate your help Dude. Seriously Next Year I would be a part of it. I promise.

    ~ IM.

    Reply
  • It was great meeting you, sir! I laughed when I read that I was the only other person in the picture wearing spectacles – I never noticed that! Great job with the pictures. I really love seeing everybody and I always forget to take pictures, and I appreciate being able to pull these up and remember how much fun the Summit is.

    Reply
  • Vijaya Kadiyala
    November 7, 2009 12:52 am

    its a great event..and i missed it..
    thanks for sharing…

    Reply
  • Its really cool ,

    a quick , effective , and i must say a elegant overview of what sqlpass summit is .

    Thanks for sharing the event details , would work out as a goal to be achived some day …….

    Thanks
    Govind S Yadav

    Reply
  • Hi ,

    One thing more i feel about , there were so much of great minds over there as i can see up from the pictures and views you had shared up with us , but the most important thing was everybody is giving equal honour to every other person .

    Thanks
    Govind S Yadav

    Reply

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