I'll be doing three talks this week, starting tomorrow (Tuesday).
If you're able to make it out for any of the three talks, I'd love to meet you. Whether your new to the crowd or an old hand in the community, relationships are what make it work.
For Charleston, I'll likely have my family with me. I'm a Citadel graduate and my wife is a College of Charleston and The Citadel Graduate College graduate (she has an M. Ed., which makes her the smartest one in our household), so we get back as a family whenever we can. At some point I'm going to get my oldest son involved in helping with the presentations because he loves doing things with me and he's about the right age to be able to help out. But that will probably be starting next year. I need to start his SQL Server education properly, but that means starting with the idea of set theory and functions and building from there.
And if you can get out to the Carolina Code Camp in Charlotte, you won't be disappointed. Each block is chalk full of great sessions and the only problem you'll have is deciding which session you want to go to the most. There isn't a single block where there isn't at least two sessions I would like to be at, so it looks like I'll have to do some random determination if I can't decide. So come on out, meet others who are in the same field, and start building connections and bonds with others who are passionate about technology.
In this presentation we'll look at the use of triggers for added database security. We'll start with the typical DML triggers used to audit changes to data and best and worst practices with their implementation. Then we'll move into SQL Server 2005 and 2008 with the use of DDL and Logon Triggers which allow us to prevent changes to the database schema, to report on certain types of login behavior and to even block logins if we see them from unauthorized applications. In addition, we'll briefly consider the Audit object, a feature of SQL Server 2008 Enterprise Edition, which allows us to finally perform audits on SELECTs against critical tables without having to resort to SQL Server traces.
This is just a reminder that the call for nominations for the PASS Boards of Directors is open. The final date to submit a nomination is September 3rd, which is just over a week away, so there's not a whole lot of time left. However, if you're looking to give back to the community, then participating in the leadership of the Professional Association for SQL Server is certainly one way to do so. There are four slots on the board for the coming election and being part of the Board of Directors is certainly one way to give back to the community and help it grow.
And you will have an impact on the Board of Directors. I'm a chapter president (Midlands PASS Chapter) and members of the PASS board were instrumental in helping us get up and running and didn't hesitate to volunteer their time and advice to develop a small but neat user group. They also developed the regional mentor program, which has provided someone who is passionate about seeing local users groups in our region grow and develop. Also, looking at it from the volunteer side, I've been able to contribute to the community through opportunities developed by the board. So being part of the board means being able to help others in the community find a niche to contribute, be encouraged by your efforts and passion, and develop in their careers and their profession. If this is the kind of opportunity you're looking for, please consider submitting an application before the deadline.
I meant to write this earlier, like in July, but I suppose it's better late than never. I'm halfway through this year as a Microsoft MVP for SQL Server and I certainly hope it won't be my last. I wanted to reflect a bit on what I've seen thus far being a newly minted MVP. I'll talk about some of the things that being an MVP helps one realize. And then I'll discuss a couple of points about what being an MVP is not.
Being an MVP Makes You Realize That There Are Some Seriously Smart People in the Field:
Everyone knows the big names if you spend any time in the community. These are the people who you follow. When they write something, you read it, because you know you're going to learn something. You may not understand it all, but making the effort means progress. When they speak, you try to get into their sessions. And prior to being an MVP I realized how smart these folks were, right? Wrong. There has been talk about the private MVP newsgroups and when you get to be a part of them, you see them discussing and debating in areas that aren't necessarily what we know as their fields of expertise. Take, for instance, Erland Sommarskog. Is there anything this guy doesn't know? And you see that they are just as strong and knowledgable in those areas as in areas they are well known for. It's a humbling experience. And we won't even get into Steve Jones and Paul Randal and their immense reading habits, much of it outside of technology.
Being an MVP Makes You Realize That There Are Some Seriously Hard Working People in the Field:
Like with the smart people, you find some incredibly hard working folks within the MVP ranks. It's not that they aren't brilliant. They are. But their work rate, especially towards the community, is immense and leaves you in awe. You see some of it on their blogs and forum posts, but in a private setting like the newsgroups, you really see how involved they get, especially as they try to bring problems and issues to the attention of the MVP audience and to Microsoft. Folks like Aaron Bertrand and Jonathan Kehayias immediately come to mind in this respect.
Being an MVP Allows You to Take Stock and Set Higher Goals:
After seven months in, I really feel like they lowered the bar to award me an MVP award. When you see what folks are doing, the kinds of challenges they are taking on, it's yet again rather humbling. Whether it be working with VLDBs, complex ETL, or having such a detailed knowledge of the inner workings of the product (and this includes some who have not having worked for Microsoft), you can see how far the gap is between you and them. Case in point, a conversation I was having with Andy Kelly when he visited Midlands PASS and he's casually talking about VLDBs and performance work on them. It's inspiring and challenging at the same time.
Being an MVP Allows You to See More Areas Where You Can Contribute:
There's a ton of places to contribute within the community: from community sites like SSC, to dedicated forums, to SQL Saturdays to serving as a volunteer for PASS. But there are other areas like Microsoft's Thrive campaign where we see folks like Grant Fritchey and Joe Webb contributing. And it seems like Microsoft is always asking for input, especially on new initiatives. I've been able to take a look and offer some comments in projects that aren't directly related to SQL Server. It's been an exhilarating experience.
Being an MVP Isn't About SWAG:
There are a lot of benefits to being an MVP, both from Microsoft and from 3rd parties. I know folks have tried to estimate the value of being an MVP. I've taken advantage of a few of the offers, but truth be told, as good as they are, they pale in comparison to what I've mentioned above. If your goal is to become an MVP to get the SWAG, you're really going to miss out on the true value of the MVP community.
Being an MVP Isn't About Self:
Becoming an MVP is supposed to be about community support. You contribute to the community because you have a passion to do so. And somewhere along the line Microsoft recognizes you for the work you're doing. It may be worthwhile to have as a measurable receiving the MVP award, but that should not be the goal in and of itself. The goal should be about helping a community grow. Because as the community grows, everyone benefits. I've had great career opportunities and made awesome friends because of the community. There are a lot of times when I really feel like I need to be doing more, especially when I see how active some folks are on the forums, like Gail Shaw and Jeff Moden here at SSC. If you're pursuing an MVP for yourself, you're going after it for the wrong reasons. Contribute to the community. Draw satisfaction from helping others.
The Midlands PASS Chapter will be meeting next Thursday night, May 7, at Training Concepts. We have the privilege of welcoming the head of our sister group, the Columbia Enterprise Developer's Guild, Chris Eargle. Chris is a C# MVP and INETA Community Champion.
Bio:
Chris Eargle began coding shareware in his teens for the Legend of the Red Dragon by Seth Able Robinson. From there, he developed a career unintentionally following the products of Anders Hejlsberg: from Turbo Pascal to Delphi to C#. He is currently an enterprise architect at South Carolina Farm Bureau Insurance in Columbia, SC.
Chris is a Microsoft Most Valuable Professional – Visual C# and an INETA Community Champion. He is the president of the Columbia Enterprise Developers Guild and enjoys speaking at code camps, conferences, and user group meetings.
TOPIC: RESTful Data
REST is an architectural style that allows for a layered, scalable, and cacheable enterprise information system. With ADO.NET Data Services, a database can be surfaced to a service as a REST-style resource collection that is addressable with natural URIs and can be interacted with using the usual HTTP verbs: GET, POST, PUT, and DELETE. This session will describe RESTful Data, the benefits it conveys, and its uses. Then we will set up a data service using an existing database that developers would then access rather than accessing the database directly.
Next Meeting - April 2, 2009
SPEAKER: Paul S. Waters
During Paul’s 16 years of working in IT, he has held a variety of positions including Director of IT, application developer, network administrator and help desk manager. He is a business intelligence architect for AMECO in Greenville, SC working with SharePoint and the Microsoft Business Intelligence technology stack. He enjoys problem-solving and especially welcomes the ever-changing variety of challenges that comes with working in the field of information technology.
His leadership in the Upstate South Carolina IT community includes Founder and President of the SQL Server Innovators Guild (www.ssig.org), Founding Board Member of the GSA Technology Council (www.gsatc.org), member of Greenville Technical College’s Program Advisory Council, member of ECPI College of Technology’s Advisory Board, former Co-Chairman of the South Carolina Code Camp 2.0 (www.sccodecamp.com) and organizer of SQL Saturday #9. Additionally, he is a frequent presenter at user groups and business lunch-and-learns.
A Dimensional Data Model is at the core of most Business Intelligence and Data Analysis systems. Unlike normalized, transactional database designs built for efficient writes and ease of application development, dimensional data models are build for efficient reads and ease of reporting and analytics. Designing dimensions around subject areas such as customers, products, locations, and employees as they change over time can be the most challenging part of a well-designed Dimensional Model.
After an overview of Dimensional Modeling, the presentation will cover the fundamentals of type 1, 2 and 3 Slowly Changing Dimensions (SCD), how and when to use them, and how to combine them.
I should have put this out earlier, before going to the SQL Server Innovators Guild, but I got too busy. Here are my current speaking / teaching engagements for the first half of the year:
February: 3 - SQL Server Innovators Guild – Greenville, SC - Fortress SQL Server 17 - Charlotte SQL Server User Group – Charlotte, NC - Fortress SQL Server
March: 10 – Pee Dee Area .NET User Group – Florence, SC - Getting the Most Out of SQL Server Queries 26 – Augusta Developers Guild – Augusta, GA - TBD
April: 9 – Greater Charleston .NET User Group – Charleston, SC - TBD
May: 21 - South Carolina ISACA - SC Midlands Chapter - Columbia, SC - SQL Server Security and Auditing (4 CPEs)
SQL Saturday:
I'm also looking at the following SQL Saturdays to potentially submit for and attend:
In addition, in a quick vote last night, 4 out of 4 officers present (total of 5) of the Midlands PASS Chapter voted to look at putting together a SQL Saturday for Columbia, SC. We're going to split efforts from the Columbia Enterprise Developers Guild, who may be looking at doing a Day of .NET or something similar.
I've been off-line except for hints here and there for the last couple of weeks due to fighting off an illness. One thing I've learned about working with youth, especially during this part of the year, is that I've got to start looking to boost my immune system. Part of that is getting back into a regular exercise program again (I need that for general health) and watching what I eat, but it's also time to do some more research. I've seen anecdotal evidence on the effervescent tablets that have a good dose of Vitamin C and Zinc, but I need to see if there's anything out there that shows they actually work.
Now that I'm feeling better, I've posted a prior announcement about the Midlands PASS chapter meeting tonight. Paul Shearer will be presenting deploying SQL Server on Hyper-V. I'm really looking forward to that because he's bringing real world experience to discuss what his organization did and the success that they saw. Can't beat that. Paul is a smart guy who does a performance tuning presentation each year at the user group, always to high raves because he's not only good at what he does, but also because he can communicate it well. If you're reading this and you can make it, we'd love to have you.
Also, I'll be at the Pee Dee Area .NET User Group this coming Tuesday, December 9th. I'll be presenting Fortress SQL Server, basically security features of interest to DBAs and developers who work with SQL Server. I learned from the last SQL Saturday that the Treasure Seekers presentation, which also tries to have something for sysadmins, is just too long now. I end up rushing through it and while I get a lot of information out quickly, it's not the right way to do it. I'm looking forward to heading out that way. I graduated from the South Carolina Governor's School for Science and Mathematics, so me and the family are going to stop in Hartsville for dinner with one of my former professors who I keep in touch with and still look to as a mentor for life, faith, and how to be a great teacher. I'll use the opportunity to pick his brain on how I can be better in all three areas.
And on a job note, I'm keeping my fingers crossed for a transfer within my organization back into a SQL Server centric role. I've spent the last seven years on the server and domain side, and as much fun as that area is, it meant I wasn't touching SQL Server every day. I love SQL Server and the continuing growth in the SQL Server family, so I'm looking forward to getting back to the technology I am most passionate about. If the transfer doesn't work out, I still love what I do now. But with a chance to get back to day-to-day SQL Server work, I had to take a shot at it.
Speaker: Paul Shearer
Midlands PASS Chapter - December 4, 2008 Meeting
The Midlands PASS chapter will hold our normally scheduled meeting on Thursday, December 4, 2008. Paul Shearer will be giving a presentation entitled "Virtualization Everything" in which he'll cover virtualizing SQL Server for large scale apps using Hyper-V technology. This is definitely one you'll want to attend and invite your system administrators to as well!
The meeting will once again be held at Training Concepts off of Berryhill Road. We will begin our meet and greet time at 6:15 PM as usual and start the at 6:45 PM. Please feel free to forward this to anyone who you think would be interested in attending. If you haven’t already done so and plan on attending, please RSVP (kbriankelley {at} acm {dot} org) as soon as possible so. If you have time to help with setup, please email me and we’ll plug you in!
The meeting will once again be held at Training Concepts off of Berryhill Road. We will begin our meet and greet time at 6:15 PM as usual and start the at 6:45 PM. Please feel free to forward this to anyone who you think would be interested in attending. If you haven’t already done so and plan on attending, please RSVP (kbriankelley {at} acm {dot} org) as soon as possible so we can ensure we have enough space and food. If you have time to help with setup, please email me and we’ll plug you in!
I'll send out an agenda, contact phone numbers, and the building code the week of the meeting.
Speaker: Brian Kelley
Midlands PASS Chapter - November 6, 2008 Meeting
Sponsored by Red Gate Software
The Midlands PASS chapter will hold our normally scheduled meeting on Thursday, November 6, 2008. Brian Kelley will be presenting Red Gate's new product, SQL Response, and then continuing on with a introductory presentation on query tuning.
Midlands PASS was privileged to host SQL Server MVP Andy Leonard (Blog #1, Blog #2, his VSTS site, Twitter) tonight as he gave a presentation on change data capture in SQL Server 2008. I hope the group got a lot out of his presentation as he didn't just talk about how to do incremental loads in SQL Server 2008, but also briefly covered how you do it in SQL Server 2005, how you tweak SSIS in 2005 for faster performance and to get back correctly all the rows you need, and how you build structures within the relational engine databases to ensure you're only pulling what's changed and not everything and filtering after the fact. In other words, it wasn't just a new SQL 2008 technology presentation, but it also covered a core data warehousing concept not only in theory, but in practice, too.
After the meeting Andy stayed around to talk even though he's teaching a class tomorrow and then faces a long drive back up to Virginia and then a very early drive Saturday morning to make Richmond Code Camp. We spent a lot of time talking about how to build up the community, how to find a proper balance between work / life / community, and just life in general. It was really good to meet and talk with someone else from our technical community, especially one I respect so very much. I don't know how much Andy got out of the discussion, but he gave me some solid advice, was a sounding board on a couple of things that had been weighing on me, and was able to convey his life experiences in a few similar situations.
One of the things my father, a retired Marine "gunny" (short for Gunnery Sergeant, or E-7 in the rank structure) taught me before I pinned on shiny new second lieutenant bars was to learn from those around me who have experience. Specifically he told me to look out for and gain the respect of the senior enlisted and the staff non-commissioned officers (NCOs). He advised me that if I was smart I would value their opinion and knowledge because chances were that anything I was considering they had already thought about and had seen some "butter bar" go off and do and get in a world of trouble as a result. I tried to apply that lesson in my Air Force career and I credit the success I had as a company grade officer to the enlisted corps who looked out for me, gave me sound advice, and were in my corner when I needed it. Speaking with Andy reminded me a lot of that experience (as does any conversation I have with Andy Warren, and you know, both are former Army... hmmmm).
Thanks, Andy, for coming out to speak to our user group, for talking with the members afterwards, and for the talk we had even after that.
Speaker: SQL Server MVP Andy LeonardMidlands PASS Chapter - October 2, 2008 Meeting
The Midlands PASS chapter will hold our normally scheduled meeting on Thursday, October 2, 2008, to host SQL Server MVP Andy Leonard. Andy is a mentor with Solid Quality Mentors and an expert in application architecture, SQL Server development, and SQL Server Integration Services (SSIS) in particular. He will present on Incremental Loads, Change Data Capture, and SSIS 2008. The meeting will once again be held at Training Concepts off of Berryhill Road. We will begin our meet and greet time at 6:15 PM as usual and start the at 6:45 PM. Please feel free to forward this to anyone who you think would be interested in attending. If you haven't already done so and plan on attending, please RSVP (kbriankelley {at} acm {dot} org) as soon as possible so we can ensure we have enough space and food. If you have time to help with setup, please email me and we'll plug you in!Abstract:Change Data Capture is a new SQL Server 2008 feature. One benefit of CDC is data filtering for Incremental ETL in SSIS: only touching rows that are new, updated, or have been deleted! In this presentation I walk through enabling Change Data Capture in SQL Server 2008, then present an overview of an SSIS package that utilizes Change Data Capture to perform Incremental ETL. Bio:Andy Leonard is a Solid Quality Mentor, SQL Server database and Integration Services developer, SQL Server MVP, and engineer. He is a co-author of
The Midlands PASS chapter will hold our normally scheduled meeting on Thursday, October 2, 2008, to host SQL Server MVP Andy Leonard. Andy is a mentor with Solid Quality Mentors and an expert in application architecture, SQL Server development, and SQL Server Integration Services (SSIS) in particular. He will present on Incremental Loads, Change Data Capture, and SSIS 2008. The meeting will once again be held at Training Concepts off of Berryhill Road. We will begin our meet and greet time at 6:15 PM as usual and start the at 6:45 PM. Please feel free to forward this to anyone who you think would be interested in attending. If you haven’t already done so and plan on attending, please RSVP (kbriankelley {at} acm {dot} org) as soon as possible so we can ensure we have enough space and food. If you have time to help with setup, please email me and we’ll plug you in!I'll send out an agenda, contact phone numbers, and the building code next week. Abstract:Change Data Capture is a new SQL Server 2008 feature. One benefit of CDC is data filtering for Incremental ETL in SSIS: only touching rows that are new, updated, or have been deleted! In this presentation I walk through enabling Change Data Capture in SQL Server 2008, then present an overview of an SSIS package that utilizes Change Data Capture to perform Incremental ETL. Bio:Andy Leonard is a Solid Quality Mentor, SQL Server database and Integration Services developer, SQL Server MVP, and engineer. He is a co-author of
The Midlands PASS chapter is approaching two years old. We've had some great speakers from the outside like MVPs Brian Knight, John Welch, and Wayne Snyder. We've got another great one coming with Darren Herbold next week. One area we've really struggled is getting users to speak. I've spoken a few times, I was able to invite my friend Jeremy Brown down from Charlotte, and we've had Paul Shearer and the ACS crew speak twice. Other than that, though, we've not been able to get interest from the group in presenting.
Chris Randall's twitter post about stirring up interest is what stirred up this blog post. A user group is probably one of the safest place to break into presenting. The folks there know you and hopefully (if it's a healthy group) want to see you succeed. So it's a little less nerve racking that a venue where you know few, if any, in the audience. Andy Warren and I talked about this issue at the SQL Saturday in Jacksonville. He's worked to try and train up some speakers within his community. We've offered to do the same, but so far, no takers. If anyone has any ideas for encouraging home-grown speakers, I'm all ears.
