1. PASS Summit 2013 My Experiences

2. Who is PASS? Professional Association for SQL Server Co-founded by CA & Microsoft in 1999 Independent not-for-profit organisation which is run by, and for, the SQL Server community Over 100,000 members worldwide Runs the following events:

3. PASS Summit 2013 Charlotte, North Carolina PASS Summit is the world's largest, most-focused, and most-intensive conference for Microsoft SQL Server and BI professionals. 202 sessions over 3 days 6 tracks – including DBA, BI, Database Development and Cloud 199 speakers – includes numerous MVPs, Microsoft CAT Team, Microsoft Product Team members 2 days of full-day deep-dive pre-con sessions

4. Why Should I Attend Networking The evening parties (including the off-site sponsor/exhibitor parties) provide ideal networking situations Bring your SQL issues to the CSS and SQLCAT team members Access to 50 sponsors and exhibitors Top quality session content – plus the chance to chat with the presenters

5. Keynotes Quentin Clark Corporate Vice President Data Platform Group Microsoft Corporation Microsofts Data Platform – The Road Ahead Power BI in Office 365 Power Query/Map add-in for Excel Azure SQL Server backups Azure Data files Managed backups David DeWitt Technical Fellow Microsoft Jim Gray Systems Lab Hekaton: Why, What, and How Detailed the challenges with in- memory OLTP Described the process implemented in SQL Server 2014 Hekaton

6. Some of My Highlights Chatting with Mark Souza (General Manager-Data Platform Group at Microsoft) Paul Whites session on Parallel Query Plans Discussing and providing feedback for the new Red Gate SQLMonitor Hosted Reconnecting with friends from all over the planet (USA, Canada, South Africa, UK, Barbados, NZ, Slovenia, Germany, Netherlands, Israel, Australia) David DeWitts keynote session The BI Power Hour session – a combination of demoing the use of Microsofts Power BI tools with comedy. Who knew that Power BI was developed because of the links to Power Metal bands in Scandinavia?

7. as at 13:55 on 10/11/2013

8. How do I get Involved? Sign up at http://www.sqlpass.orghttp://www.sqlpass.org Check out some of this years content on PASS TV (http://www.sqlpass.org/summit/2013/PASStv.aspx)http://www.sqlpass.org/summit/2013/PASStv.aspx Support your local Chapter – Melbourne SQL User Group (http://www.sqlserver.org.au)http://www.sqlserver.org.au Try your hand at presenting … start with a 5-10 minute session at SQL Server Social (contact Martin or Luke) then progress to the User Group (contact Darren Gosbell) Watch for SQL Saturday announcements from the PASS website – hopefully there will be one in Melbourne in 2014. Volunteer to help run the event or submit a session Nag your boss to allow you to go to PASS Summit 2014 in Seattle