Why they stopped - no clue. It's possible those doing it were no longer attending. Maybe Scott or Dusty can provide some insights.
Lionel B. Dyck <><
Original Message:
Sent: Wed April 03, 2024 02:20 PM
From: Kathryn DuPont
Subject: Tell us: What makes a User Group experience great?
Now that's a brilliant idea! I wonder why they stopped? Any theories?
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Kathryn DuPont User Advocacy, IBM TechXchange
Advocacy Engagement Leader
IBM
Original Message:
Sent: Wed April 03, 2024 12:30 PM
From: Lionel Dyck
Subject: Tell us: What makes a User Group experience great?
Back in the day SHARE would have a session on how to write a trip report and how to justify returning to SHARE and becoming a volunteer.
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Lionel B. Dyck <><
IBM z Systems Champion
Original Message:
Sent: Wed April 03, 2024 11:20 AM
From: Stephen Hume
Subject: Tell us: What makes a User Group experience great?
Lionel, I had forgotten about the "trip reports".. that same supervisor insisted we do trip reports and present what we learned at the conference to the team. It was all worth the effort though.
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Stephen Hume
Original Message:
Sent: Wed April 03, 2024 11:16 AM
From: Lionel Dyck
Subject: Tell us: What makes a User Group experience great?
Being required to give a presentation to be able to attend - what a great idea. In several of the companies that I've worked for a requirement for attending was to write up a trip report detailing what was learned - it couldn't be just a list of sessions or sessions and abstracts - it had to be something meaningful even if from only one session. That had to be shared with management and with the team. One supervisor I had required us to present what we learned at a team meeting.
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Lionel B. Dyck <><
IBM z Systems Champion
Original Message:
Sent: Wed April 03, 2024 11:10 AM
From: Stephen Hume
Subject: Tell us: What makes a User Group experience great?
Hello Kathryn, I have been a strong proponent of user groups, both for the business users and technical folks. I wrote a Linkedin Article about this topic back in 2017... https://www.linkedin.com/pulse/importance-mugs-stephen-hume/?trackingId=TKpyIrcgiBql6uMfs%2FAEkA%3D%3D
As well in 2017 I started a user group for IT professionals that support Maximo called "MaxTECH" it is still going strong and have over 1000 active members. We hold at least two in person meetings each year, the next one will be running in conjunction with the Maximo Utility Working Group later this month in Chattanooga.
Earlier on in my Maximo career, I had a supervisor who encouraged us to attend as many Maximo conferences/user groups as possible... with the one caveat that we had to do a presentation at the conference. Great way to improve your public speaking skills and get out there to build a network.
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Stephen Hume
Original Message:
Sent: Mon April 01, 2024 03:49 PM
From: Kathryn DuPont
Subject: Tell us: What makes a User Group experience great?
Tell us: What makes a User Group experience great?
We've been reading where you're speaking and attending! Thank you very much for your input!!
@Libby Ingrassia and I were discussing some topics about a new article we want to compile about User Groups and we are curious about your opinions. Some of our colleagues recently attended the brand new IBM TechXchange NY/NJ Data and AI User Group, on March 21, 2024 hosted at the IBM Watson Building, Astor Place, New York. The event was well attended by individuals from many larger, well known banks, and comments ranged from those who loved the technical demos, to appreciating the opportunity to learn and network with peers. Of course, a big hit was the YETI tumblers given to those who joined the community.
I attended my first User Group last year at IDUG 2023 Philadelphia. What I loved most was meeting many of the IBM Champions for the first time. I also met some other great people like @Libby Ingrassia for the first time, even though I had worked with her for a few years. Oh! and I picked up some wonderful, and still very useful swag!!
Did you recently attend SHARE in Orlando? Are you tee'd up to go to IDUG or Common? How about a recent smaller regional User Group event? Are you thinking of starting your own User Group? Or are you hosting an upcoming User Group event soon?
Tell us what you think makes a User Group great:
- Is it about a specific speaker? Or a technical demo?
- Is it all about the food? Or a great happy hour?
- Does it matter where and time of year?
- If you're starting your own, what are things you're planning to do to make it unique?
- Do you go for the entertainment like seeing @Darren Surch and @Dusty Rivers hugging a mainframe at the same time? :)
Tell us what you think! :)
/kd
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Kathryn DuPont User Advocacy, IBM TechXchange
Advocacy Engagement Leader
IBM
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