INETA

INETA's New Web Site

Frank — Tue, 15 Apr 2008 11:44:00 GMT

INETA has a new web site and it looks pretty spiffy.

Technorati Tags: INETA

Other Area Heroes Happen Here Launch Events

Frank — Tue, 25 Mar 2008 17:01:00 GMT

In case you missed the Heroes Happen Here Launch event in DC, you can catch the same show at other locations in the area.

May 13
Reston, VA
Register now
May 20
Richmond, VA
Register now
May 23
Baltimore, MD
Register now

If you're interested in volunteering at the INETA booth for any of these events, please let me know.

For a full list of cities and dates, check out the Heroes Happen Here registration page.

Technorati Tags: Heroes Happen Here,Reston,Richmond,Baltimore,Microsoft,Launch Event,INETA

Heroes Happen Here DC Launch Event Photos

Frank — Tue, 25 Mar 2008 16:53:00 GMT

I was working the the Heroes Happen Here DC Event today for the launch of Visual Studio 2008, SQL Server 2008 and Server 2008.

Local Developer Evangelist Andrew Duthie even spoke at the keynote and had his own breakout session.

Congrats, Andrew!

I spent the whole day at the INETA and MVP booths, so I missed his session.

But I did end up with some swag. :)

Photos below:

I never been to the DC Convention Center before.

Crowds gathered at the Expo Hall during breaks.

If you look closely, you'll see Brian Noyes in this photo.
Maybe, I'll convert this phots to a Deep Zoom image. ;)

Another shot of the Expo Hall Crowd.

Technorati Tags: Heroes Happen Here,DC,Launch Event,Andrew Duthie,INETA,Brian Noyes

So, You Want to Start a User Group?

Frank — Tue, 11 Dec 2007 06:31:00 GMT

So, you want to start a User Group. That's great.

Chris Williams has some thoughts on the subject. (21 to be exact)

Some items I'd like to add to his post:

1. INETA (www.ineta.org) won't even talk to you until you've had at least one meeting on your own. Then you go to their site and fill out an application. (You'll need to register on their site first.)
2. CodeZone (www.codezone.com) works basically the same way. Both of these will net your group some free swag, and INETA will get you a couple speakers per year.
3. Find out who your DE (Developer Evangelist) is and contact him/her as soon as possible. If you're tapped into the community and serious about starting a user group, you should probably already know who this is. If not, try hitting some MSDN Roadshows or other groups in your state.

If you're in the DC Metro Area and thinking of starting a user group, here is some information you might like to know:

Your Developer Evangelist is Andrew Duthie.
In Maryland, DC, and Delaware, your INETA Membership Mentor is me.
In Virginia, it's Jeff Schoolcraft

Technorati tags: User Groups, INETA, Developer Community

My New Role with INETA

Frank — Wed, 28 Nov 2007 11:43:00 GMT

From Chris Wallace, INETA Vice President in charge of Membership:

NEW INETA Membership Mentor:
Frank La Vigne (frank@franksworld.com), Location: Washington, DC, USA
From INETA User Group: Capital Area .Net Users Group, http://www.caparea.net/
Please send your congratulations and welcome to Frank -- our newest Membership Mentor, who comes highly recommended by those who know and recognize the tremendous work done within our developer community. Please include a quick introduction to you and your volunteer developer community work, to build a closer bond. Please extend every courtesy in working to build a stronger developer community. Please forward this message to other interested persons.
Frank is now taking over the important INETA volunteer position of Membership Mentor and the duties that have been the responsibility of Scott Lock, who we thank for his volunteer service to INETA as one of our Membership Mentors. Scott will continue to be involved in his user group and community activities.
Membership Mentors act as advisor, counselor, guide, tutor, teacher, and guru of Membership to our member user group leadership and user groups. Membership Mentors recommend membership of new user groups and membership renewal of current user groups. Membership Mentors make themselves available for personal contact and are outgoing in building and maintaining superior relationships with the user group leadership for all user groups within their INETA Membership territory to strengthen our INETA user group community. Membership Mentors are vital to the strength of our community.
INETA – “The Face of .NET” – embodied in you, our user group community leaders, members, sponsors, and supporters!

My region is Maryland, Washington DC, and Delaware and if you run a user group in the area or would like to start one, please contact me and I'll make sure you get the help you need.

Technorati tags: INETA, Developer Community