What's in this issue The APAC .Net Channel .Net User Groups in APAC
Australia Bangladesh China India
Malaysia
New Zealand Singapore Sri Lanka If you would like to include your user group in this list, please drop the editor an email. Newsletter Team
Darren Sim
About INETA
INETA is the next evolution in user group communities—a non-profit, independent organization, chartered with supporting all user groups interested in the Microsoft .Net platform.
INETA is run by a Board of user group leaders, elected by their peers, and supported by Microsoft Corporation and other sponsors. | 
Happenings around Asia Pacific
New Fiscal, New initiatives
INETA Globally has undergone major changes, the biggest being acceptance of online only user groups into it’s fold. All regions NORAM(North America), LATAM(Latin America), MEA(Middle East and Africa), Europe and APAC have now started accepting online only groups. This is a big change with the acceptance that communities are of a variety of types and we are here to support them.
Funding for user group events
In addition as most of you are aware the Speaker Bureau in APAC hasn’t worked well, considering our geographic spread. INETA APAC has taken a step some time ago to make sure that we continue supporting groups and we have evolved to a model where we directly fund user group events at least once a quarter. Since we have a limited amount of funds these are available to group events which are not their usual monthly group meetings. So if you require direct funding assistance please make sure to make your request on the user group support forum online. Read more about this at http://apac.ineta.org/Resources/Sponsorships/tabid/316/Default.aspx.
New Newsletter Editor
Our Newsletter team has undergone a change, we now have Darren Sim from Singapore who is leading the newsletter initiative.  | Darren is Principal Consultant and Founder of WAD which focuses on smart client & website development with aesthetic user interfaces.
Widely proven as a respectable advocate of .NET Web Development Technologies, Darren has been conferred the prestigious Microsoft Most Valuable Professional (MVP) for three years years.
Darren had spent many years working with customer & organization in | a myriad of domains, including Physical Security, Medical, Academic, F&B, Retail, and Banking & Entertainment. Some notable organizations that Darren worked with include Microsoft Corporation, UP! Your Service College, Media Corp Singapore, Philips Medical Systems & more...
On his free time, Darren contributes to various non-profit organizations focusing on technology.
Darren blogs about his life & technology at http://www.darrensim.com |
Country Leads
INETA is currently accepting volunteer applications, for Country Lead's. A Country lead is a key INETA volunteer who represents the developer community in their countries. They provide inputs to INETA APAC tofo support developer user groups. They would represent INETA APAC in their countries and work towards building the community. For more information download this document. In order to apply for the position of a INETA Country Lead, submit a profile of your community activities and affiliations to apac.admin@ineta.org
PASS Community Summit 2008 
Microsoft has partnered closely with the Professional Association for SQL Server (PASS) to make their PASS Community Summit 2008 the don’t-miss event for Microsoft SQL Server Professionals. The Summit is taking place this year in Seattle on Nov 18-21. Over 3000 attendees are expected for 3 full days of in-depth technical education and training on everything related to SQL Server.
I am pleased to announce a special offer from PASS that has been extended to our community, offering a $100 discount over today’s going rate. You will need to use the discount code INET3D at the time of registration to take advantage of this offer.
It would also be great if you helped get the word out for the PASS Community Summit. Please visit http://summit2008.sqlpass.org/promote_pass.html for a numbers of resources including an email signature banner, banner ads, and wallpaper you can use on your own websites / computers / email correspondence to help promote this year’s Summit.
Here are some of the highlights you can expect at PASS Community Summit 2008: - Top-rated industry advice and expertiseUnparalleled access to the Microsoft SQL Server development teamOutstanding keynote speakers: Ted Kummert, Tom Casey and David DeWittOver 130 technical and skills development track sessions
- 14 pre-conference seminars
I’m looking forward to seeing you at the PASS Community Summit. Thank you for your help in promoting this great event. More information on the Summit is available at http://summit2008.sqlpass.org
If you have any questions, please contact Roni.Karassik@microsoft.com
Carry all your tech books with you anytime with one-click reference on Microsoft technologies
Microsoft Press has developed a virtual library for IT Professionals, developers and information workers who want to learn about Microsoft products and related technologies. And we want to share it with the Microsoft user group members. To learn more about the E-Reference Library, please click here.
The Developer Library - The Developer library lets you search across over 100 technology books (New books are added every month!) published by Microsoft Press with one click to locate just the information you are looking for – by topic, code fragments, problems, etc. You can also create your personal bookshelf, bookmark, make notes, and download up to five chapters per month.
INETA members are entitled to 25% discount on the subscription of the Developer Library. Follow this link to give it a try. If you are ready to purchase, please use this link to get the discount.
OFFICIAL CALL-TO-ACTION: SQL SERVER 2008 COMMUNITY LAUNCH
The SQL Server 2008 Community Launch is an exclusive opportunity to work directly with Microsoft to host your own launch event around SQL Server 2008. The program provides the technical training and launch support resources to showcase some of the technical features of this product within your local community. - Select up to three individuals from your user group or technical club to be a Community Launch Leader (you may include yourself as one of the three). Those you select will go through this exclusive program and will be responsible for planning and managing SQL Server 2008 Energy Events for your group or club. Once you have selected members in your group or club to be Community Launch Leaders, communicate the opportunity, program, and experience to them. You can nominate up to 3 Launch Leaders, exceptions will be made for large user groups. Contact Community Launch Support for assistance or more details.
- The Community Launch Portal opens for enrollment on AUGUST 18, 2008. Please ask your selected leaders to register using this link beginning August 18: . Registration is open for a limited time only.
- Automatic enrollment and instant access to content: Once you and your fellow Community Launch Leaders submit enrollment request, you will be granted access to the UGSS Community Launch portal, where you can begin preparing for your launch event. Following registration, Microsoft will coordinate with their regional subsidiaries to confirm your eligibility to receive a launch kit consistent with the program guidelines.
The Value of being a Community Launch Leader: - Work directly with Microsoft product groups and subject matter experts to lead a launch event in your local community.
- Be the first to receive new and deeply technical training content for Microsoft SQL Server 2008 .
- Gain access to speaker and presentation training from Microsoft resources and accredited community experts.
- You will receive a product oriented technical resource launch kit to support your event.
- Access to logistics and sponsorship offerings through PASS Community Connection.
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Sanjay Shetty,
President, INETA APAC sanjay.shetty@ineta.org
| Editor's Note |
It's a brand new fiscal year (FY) and with the recent launches of development and server tools such as Visual Studio 2008, Windows Server 2008 and SQL Server 2008, many red-hot launch events & parties had been organized throughout APAC.In this Issue, we would cover insights about these launches around the APAC region and how the local user groups are chipping in to extend these parties and fun to their members! Stay tuned!
Darren Sim
Editor, INETA APAC
Newsletter Team
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Usergroup Activities around APAC | India - South Tamilnadu MSP awareness program
The South Tamilnadu MSP awareness program targeted 10 institutions in the Southern Tamil Nanu region, which started off from Virudhunagar at 5 in the evening of 30th June, and reached Nagercoil at 11 in the night. Although the event organizers were not able to meet the students directly, they were able to meet the faculty to gather contact details for prospects which could then be used for later correspondence.
Malaysia - Jul 26th: MIND ‘Bridging Age Gap and IT'
MIND Digital Age for Senior Citizens: It’s never too old to learn! Convened and facilitated by MIND President and Visual C# Wen Ching Chua, MIND conducted its first non-English speaking event as well as to ~30 senior citizens. The main objective was to educate the senior citizens (40-70 years old) on the capabilities of Microsoft Technologies in Mandarin by focusing on the basic usage of the computer and how to surf the internet. Thumbs up for the saying, ‘Education is the best provision for old age!’ (Aristotle). Read more
Jul 20th: MIND Going Green
MIND collaborated with Kelab Mahasiswa Selangor (KMS) at Forest Research Institute Malaysia (FRIM) to organize an educational session on green computing awareness and outdoor activities to working adults and 1 orphanage home (kids from 3-18 years old). Communications Server MVP Fun Jin Lim delivered a session on ‘Approaches to Green Computing’ in this event, reaching out to ~90 participants. Read more
Heroes Come Together in {KL} on { 28 June 2008} at { MS Auditorium}
Following the successful launch in Penang, the Heroes {Community} Launch kicked off to a roaring start in Kuala Lumpur at the Microsoft Malaysia Auditorium on Jun 28th. This enriching trip was a winning formula and literally brought the house down with it's entertaining and engaging IT Pros Vs Developers keynote speech delivered by the User Group Leaders from ELITE (Nadzif Jay Zainal), MIND (Chua Wen Ching) & SPAN (Chiu Kiang Phua)â€, and the ~70 attendees “ comprising Microsoft staff, MVPs, User Group Leaders/community members and working professionals “ thoroughly enjoyed themselves!
Six MVPs (Poo Ching Loong, Chua Wen Ching, Jabez Gan, Chiu Kiang Phua, Wei Min Chan & Fun Jin Lim) were involved in this launch as speakers, ask-the-experts and supporters, which provided the attendees an excellent opportunity to network and build bonds.
- Heroes Come Together in {Penang} on { 14 June 2008} at { Intel Auditorium}
The Heroes {Community} launch in Penang took place at the Intel Technology Sdn Bhd auditorium on Jun 14thwhere we have reached out to over 100 attendees from the northern region.
Singapore - The Heroes are back with a Vengeance!
"Oops, I did it again!" this is not lyric taken from Britney Spears, but Yes, like all previous community launches, this is another re-sounding success for the local community!
The spirit of the volunteerism had a recent boost when the Heroes {Community} Launch 2008 - a joint product launch of the new family of Microsoft products - Windows Server 2008, Visual Studio 2008 and SQL Server 2008 was organized and held by the local community on May 17, 2008.
Driven by a swell of passion and commitment for the community, the Singapore MVPs and User Group helpers rendered tireless support to make the Heroes Community Launch a huge success. Their passion, motivation and spirit to stay closely connected to the communities and to bring to the attendees interesting topics of the products were not undermined as this noteworthy endeavour garnered the participation of more than 190 attendees who eagerly thronged into the Microsoft Singapore office on a Saturday morning.
Singapore Windows User group leader and Set up Deployment MVP Dennis Chung kick-started the event with a hearty welcome address as he cited the colourful and interesting history of the User Groups in Singapore and emphasized the good and strong relations that exist among the local communities. The attendees were then treated to a fruitful agenda for the whole of the afternoon - 3 tracks covering IT pros, Developers and a special interest track which cuts across both racks. The event wrapped up with a rousing and light-hearted closing speech by Matthew Hardman (our great supporter or all community launches) and prizes ranging from books to DVDs and vouchers were given out to the lucky winners.
Going by the commitment and enthusiasm of the communities and with its legacy of glory from past community launches, the Heroes Community launch has once again proven to be meaningful and unifying. This launch straddles multifarious roles and diverse interests, integrating and bonding the hearts, minds and souls of the community!
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| User Group Best Practices |
The next edition of User Group TV is out!
You may have heard about UGTV, the "TV news" program especially for user groups. The next edition is now out and you can see it at http://channel9.msdn.com/Search/Default.aspx?Term=UGTV for developers, and http://edge.technet.com/Search/Default.aspx?Term=UGTV for IT Pros. If you have ideas for articles, and/or want to appear on UGTV, send an email to ugtvidea@microsoft.com
Inland Empire .Net User Group Launches the Most Valuable Member Program
James Johnson's Inland Empire .Net User Group has kicked off the Most Valuable Member program just this past July. It has generated quite a buzz and offers a great way to incentive members of his user group to get involved. If you would like to find out what all of the buzz is about, please read the various blog posts listed below. This is a program definitely worth mentioning because it is an innovative way to help reward people that help to run his user group, a goal that many of User Groups strive for a do not reach often enough. Kudos to you, James, for this great innovation!
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