IBM Champions

IBM user groups are a great way to 'find your people' – other expert and non-expert technologists who have an appetite for the latest technology trends, who are eager to learn from peers, who have important product feedback for product development teams, who are interested in enhancing their professional network and socializing for future collaborative opportunities. 

As a user group leader, volunteer, board member, manager (or co-manager), or someone who is doing other administrative duties, tell us the best part about joining a user group. What does it mean to you (personally or professionally)? 

And then make sure you register now for the 28 May 2025 public Webinar, IBM User Groups: an opportunity for professional development, technical community building, and product influence.  You will meet our IBM User Group Team along with IBM Champions, @Richard Barber and @Steven Wolk, who will share their best practices for running a successful IBM User Group. 

Tell us! (please ;))

/kd

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Kathryn DuPont
IBM Rising Champions Program Lead
IBM TechXchange

IBM
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I became involved with the International Informix Users Group (IIUG) a bit over 17 years ago. Not too long afterward I joined the IIUG Board of Directors and continue in that position. I have also been involved as a member and/or presenter at several other local/regional Informix User Groups.

Initially I became involved for several reasons:

• Help my employer at the time by connecting with other users of Informix who may have resolved issues.
• Connect with Informix developers and support folk and IBM executives involved with the product.
• Expand my own reputation within the Informix user community to expand my future employment opportunities
• Network with other Informix users

I found friends. Through conferences and IIUG Board meetings and IIUG and LUG events put faces on names I had known from IIUG and Usenet forums around Informix. I gained enough recognition among the Informix developers and support people to have an influence on the product's development over the years making Informix a better product for my employer initially and my clients later on. Despite the selfish personal and professional goals and gains, it is the friendships that I have made that I value most.

Art

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Art S. Kagel, President and Principal Consultant
ASK Database Management Corp.
www.askdbmgt.com
------------------------------

@Art Kagel It sounds like it has been an enriching experience for you - personally and professionally. This is truly how we connect with others - common interests, enthusiasm for the tech and tools in our lives that propel us forward! 
Thanks for your great reflections! 

/kd

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Kathryn DuPont
IBM Rising Champions Program Lead
IBM TechXchange

IBM
------------------------------

Original Message:
Sent: Fri May 09, 2025 06:32 AM
From: Art Kagel
Subject: Tell Us: What is the best part about joining user groups?

I became involved with the International Informix Users Group (IIUG) a bit over 17 years ago. Not too long afterward I joined the IIUG Board of Directors and continue in that position. I have also been involved as a member and/or presenter at several other local/regional Informix User Groups.

Initially I became involved for several reasons:

• Help my employer at the time by connecting with other users of Informix who may have resolved issues.
• Connect with Informix developers and support folk and IBM executives involved with the product.
• Expand my own reputation within the Informix user community to expand my future employment opportunities
• Network with other Informix users

I found friends. Through conferences and IIUG Board meetings and IIUG and LUG events put faces on names I had known from IIUG and Usenet forums around Informix. I gained enough recognition among the Informix developers and support people to have an influence on the product's development over the years making Informix a better product for my employer initially and my clients later on. Despite the selfish personal and professional goals and gains, it is the friendships that I have made that I value most.

Art

------------------------------
Art S. Kagel, President and Principal Consultant
ASK Database Management Corp.
www.askdbmgt.com
------------------------------

Hi Kathryn, hi folks,

i have been nearly 20 years User Group Leader in Germany. The topic has been SAP on IBMi and HANA on IBM Power. We have a great community and there is a lot of benifit to the members. 

It was a real great pleasure to see the community growing. I like to do this. It was a lot of networking with so many specialist. 

best

Carstebn

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Carsten Schulz
Senior Consultant
PROFI ENGINEERING SYSTEMS AG
Darmstadt
+4915125842251
------------------------------

@Carsten Schulz You and @Art Kagel (and so many others) are such dedicated user group leaders! I'm sure many people have benefited greatly from your wisdom and guidance, as well as how you've helped others foster their professional and personal growth through user group participation. Bravo to you! 

/kd 

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Kathryn DuPont
IBM Rising Champions Program Lead
IBM TechXchange

IBM
------------------------------

Original Message:
Sent: Tue May 13, 2025 06:43 AM
From: Carsten Schulz
Subject: Tell Us: What is the best part about joining user groups?

Hi Kathryn, hi folks,

i have been nearly 20 years User Group Leader in Germany. The topic has been SAP on IBMi and HANA on IBM Power. We have a great community and there is a lot of benifit to the members. 

It was a real great pleasure to see the community growing. I like to do this. It was a lot of networking with so many specialist. 

best

Carstebn

------------------------------
Carsten Schulz
Senior Consultant
PROFI ENGINEERING SYSTEMS AG
Darmstadt
+4915125842251
------------------------------

I've been inspired personally and professionally by the level of passion in our User Group communities. Our User Group leadership sources the most interesting and timely content for in-person User Group events that keeps members coming back for every event. Not only do they do this as volunteers, but they do this out of a genuine desire to give others in their product community the tools they need to succeed. User Groups are the most supportive and collaborative environment in tech and the perfect place to meet a smart group of peers with similar interests.

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Ben Castle
Senior Program Manager, IBM User Groups
IBM
------------------------------

So true Ben! There is such dedication and drive towards helping to educate and share information!

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Kathryn DuPont
IBM Rising Champions Program Lead
IBM TechXchange

IBM
------------------------------

Original Message:
Sent: Tue May 13, 2025 01:37 PM
From: Ben Castle
Subject: Tell Us: What is the best part about joining user groups?

I've been inspired personally and professionally by the level of passion in our User Group communities. Our User Group leadership sources the most interesting and timely content for in-person User Group events that keeps members coming back for every event. Not only do they do this as volunteers, but they do this out of a genuine desire to give others in their product community the tools they need to succeed. User Groups are the most supportive and collaborative environment in tech and the perfect place to meet a smart group of peers with similar interests.

------------------------------
Ben Castle
Senior Program Manager, IBM User Groups
IBM
------------------------------

Hi Kathryn,

Where to start. 

There are so many great things about being a member of a user group. Especially one that meets face to face like Common UK (i-UG) and Common Europe do. 

From a professional perspective, the networking amongst your peers, the opportunity to learn (and teach) new things, to cement your current knowledge, to benefit from the wisdom and experience of others, to share your own ideas, to pass on your best practice tips and tricks  ..... I could go on. 

From a personal perspective, the chance to meet old friends, and better yet, to make new friends, ranks pretty highly, if not right at the top. 

But, you ask the " ... tell us the best part about joining a user group" so I will stick to one topic, which is the ability to meet with your peers face to face and immerse yourself in an ecosystem where you can  reaffirm your current understanding and if necessary change your viewpoint to embrace new ideas.  That is so hard to do in Teams etc.  

In summary, join a user group and see your world in a different light.

Steve

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Steve Cast
Practice Director
Fresche Solutions
Redbourn
01582 794229
------------------------------

Hi @Steve Cast I love this! Yes, you can see your world in a different light, but also validate (or as you said, "reaffirm") your perspective too! Great post! 

/kd

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Kathryn DuPont
IBM Rising Champions Program Lead
IBM TechXchange

IBM
------------------------------

Original Message:
Sent: Wed May 14, 2025 10:48 AM
From: Steve Cast
Subject: Tell Us: What is the best part about joining user groups?

Hi Kathryn,

Where to start. 

There are so many great things about being a member of a user group. Especially one that meets face to face like Common UK (i-UG) and Common Europe do. 

From a professional perspective, the networking amongst your peers, the opportunity to learn (and teach) new things, to cement your current knowledge, to benefit from the wisdom and experience of others, to share your own ideas, to pass on your best practice tips and tricks  ..... I could go on. 

From a personal perspective, the chance to meet old friends, and better yet, to make new friends, ranks pretty highly, if not right at the top. 

But, you ask the " ... tell us the best part about joining a user group" so I will stick to one topic, which is the ability to meet with your peers face to face and immerse yourself in an ecosystem where you can  reaffirm your current understanding and if necessary change your viewpoint to embrace new ideas.  That is so hard to do in Teams etc.  

In summary, join a user group and see your world in a different light.

Steve

------------------------------
Steve Cast
Practice Director
Fresche Solutions
Redbourn
01582 794229
------------------------------

I grew up with uninspiring teachers, so soulless that even my favorite subjects, like music and literature, became dull. Somewhere along the way, I made a silent promise to myself: never be like them.

I discovered early on that I love sharing knowledge. When I first started delivering IBM Tivoli Storage Manager trainings in early 2000's, I realized that being a good teacher didn't mean trying too hard, it meant being natural, authentic. That mindset resonated with people, and over the years, I consistently received positive feedback from my students. User groups give me a platform to continue that journey.

In December 2024, we lost someone who deeply shaped my path, IBMer Andrew J. Greenfield, a mentor and a friend with whom I had the honor of co-authoring a couple of IBM Redbooks. His email signature read: "Eager to help." That eagerness is something we shared, and it's what I try to bring to every user group interaction.

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Nezih Boyacioglu
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@Nezih Boyacioglu Thank you for this beautifully inspiring post, and for honouring Andrew's legacy. You have embodied the idea of user groups and advocacy by his quote: "eager to help". Thank you for this thoughtful post. 
/kd 

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Kathryn DuPont
IBM Rising Champions Program Lead
IBM TechXchange

IBM
------------------------------

Original Message:
Sent: Wed May 14, 2025 03:18 PM
From: Nezih Boyacioglu
Subject: Tell Us: What is the best part about joining user groups?

I grew up with uninspiring teachers, so soulless that even my favorite subjects, like music and literature, became dull. Somewhere along the way, I made a silent promise to myself: never be like them.

I discovered early on that I love sharing knowledge. When I first started delivering IBM Tivoli Storage Manager trainings in early 2000's, I realized that being a good teacher didn't mean trying too hard, it meant being natural, authentic. That mindset resonated with people, and over the years, I consistently received positive feedback from my students. User groups give me a platform to continue that journey.

In December 2024, we lost someone who deeply shaped my path, IBMer Andrew J. Greenfield, a mentor and a friend with whom I had the honor of co-authoring a couple of IBM Redbooks. His email signature read: "Eager to help." That eagerness is something we shared, and it's what I try to bring to every user group interaction.

------------------------------
Nezih Boyacioglu
------------------------------