On October 1st the emails went out notifying existing MVP’s in the Oct cycle if they were fortunate enough to be renewed and notifying the newly awarded MVP’s. Within the SQL Server community the first day of each quarter means many are anxiously monitoring their inbox and spam folders in the hopes they are being renewed or awarded MVP.

This Oct 1st I was in the list of those anxiously awaiting the email that never came. A couple of months ago I was contacted by the MVP program to provide a list of all my community involvement including blog stats. I thought I had a pretty impressive list with speaking a dozen times the previous year, being a chapter leader, regional mentor, author on two books, decent blog stats, high karma rank on ask.ssc, etc.

The reality is that the pool of folks within the SQL Server community that is deserving of being awarded MVP is vast. I have people tell me all the time that I should be an MVP or that they already consider me an MVP. That really means a lot to me and all the other deserving future MVP’s out there. To have been nominated and considered is a huge honor alone.

Being thought of as an MVP already is a two edge sword for some. I was in Austin TX a couple of years ago at a SQL Saturday when Wes Brown (blog) was awarded MVP. I was completely floored. Wes Brown wasn’t already an MVP? How the heck was that possible. He summed it up in typical Wes Brown fashion. He stated, “to be awarded, you have to be nominated. If everyone already thinks you are, then no one is filling out the form”. That statement couldn’t be more true.

So people reading this, if there are those you know or that you feel should be and MVP, take the time to nominate them by <clicking here>. You only need to provide their name and email address and give a brief description of why you feel they are an MVP. It will then send them an email to complete additional information. If you need additional information to list why  you feel they are qualified see if they have a section on their blog about their speaking and volunteer work. Much like I have here timradney.com/community.

What are you waiting for, nominate that well deserving person today.