You may have heard I'm running for the Board of Directors for PASS. Why, you ask? I'm in it for the bacon, of course.
Wait, you say, I didn't know Board members got bacon as a perk! Well, they don't, sadly. It sure would be nice, though. Okay, so if there isn't bacon, then what is the motivation? Looking from the outside inwards, you might think people run for the Board because they have masochistic tendencies. Really, how much abuse can one person take? In the past few elections, it seems there has been one thing or another that the BOD has taken a beating over. (Fortunately, as it turns out, there really isn't so much to be concerned about.)
Okay, all kidding aside, for me it's really about giving back to the community. Having spent close to 10 years with PASS, I have seen so much growth - and with it some missteps - but even more spectacular wins in that time, such as 24 Hours of PASS. Having the opportunity to contribute to the current state and future of the organization is surely a challenge and it is one I am eager to take on. Over the years, I have contributed at many different levels from Chapter Leader (both physical and virtual) to special task committees (Election Review Committee, post 2010 elections) to running SQL Saturday events. These widely varied experiences make me a great candidate for your Board of Directors as I can bring both lessons learned and future vision to the organization.
As my running mate Allen Kinsel has so aptly stated: Campaigning is Hard. You may have not heard as much from me as some of the other candidates. I'm not known to go around shouting my own praises, or asking people for votes, or standing on a soapbox touting an agenda. However, I'm not a quiet person, either. What I am is a person who cares very much about PASS, about the people who are our members, and the future of our organization. I humbly ask you to lend me your vote so I can not only continue to contribute but have the opportunity to do so at the Board level.
But what about the bacon? Oh, yes, if I should be elected to the Board this year, that would be as sweet as having a whole plate of bacon! (and I might even share...)
Even if you don't know me, take a few words from some others who do and were kind enough to endorse me. Fellow Women In Tech superstar and MVP Jen Stirrup had this to say about her choices in the election. You can also find two additional interviews with me from Denny Cherry's People Talking Tech and DBAs At Midnight show with Sean and Jen McCown. Plus, I've had much encouragement and guidance from these three people who support me as a candidate:
Kevin Kline (Past PASS BoD President): "I had the pleasure of meeting Wendy on her first trip out to Seattle to attend a PASS Summit. Wendy was striking then, and now, for her contagious enthusiasm. Wendy doesn't settle for idly soaking up the benefits of other people's hard work. She is one of those rare persons who starts to consider how to give back right away. Wendy immediately saw the benefit of PASS community and went to work right away to bring that benefit back to the Chicago area. Wendy isn't afraid of hard work or of planting small seeds today, then painstakingly investing the months and perhaps years needed to bring those seeds to fruition. This tenacity and attention to the long-term is amply demonstrated in the outstanding SQL Saturdays that Wendy oversees in Chicago. Every speaker I know wants to be at Wendy's event, not because it is in Chicago, but because it is Wendy's event in Chicago. I give my full support to Wendy's nomination for the PASS board of directors, convinced in the strength of her character, and confirmed in the value of her talents. -Kevin Kline, PASS President Emeritus 2005-2008."
Allen White: "I've known Wendy for three or four years now, having worked together on the Election Review Committee and were partners on the PASS Quiz Bowl a few years ago. I was impressed by her contributions to the conversations we had on the ERC in putting together the rules for the PASS Board elections process, as the issues were critical to the public perception of the integrity of the elections process. We had discussions that could have easily become ugly, and she always helped keep them objective and positive. This skill is critical to serving on a board with such a (necessarily) diverse makeup. I also was a speaker at the Chicago SQL Saturday #67 in March, 2011, where Wendy led the team putting together a great event that had something like 400 attendees. An event of this size needs a solid leader to keep everything running smoothly, and Wendy managed it with a smile on her face the whole time. Personally, Wendy and I have become good friends, and she allowed me to leave my car at her home when in 2010 I took the train from Chicago to Seattle for the PASS Summit, and when my return train was delayed by 5 hours, she drove into downtown Chicago to pick me up at the station, almost an hour drive each way. Her PASSion award indicates the level of support and commitment to PASS she always exhibits, and the fact that she's been nominated for MVP indicates the support she has from the community. I truly believe she'd be a great board member based on her past accomplishes and her ability to get people with disparate views to find common ground and work out a solution that benefits the entire community."
Kevin P. Davis: "I have worked with Wendy for the past year, and I have been immensely impressed with her and her work. She has led multiple cross-team small projects in her role as Database Administrator, and I have worked with her closely on these. Wendy is capable of organizing large efforts even with shifting priorities and timelines. She is easy to work with, gregarious and contagiously enthusiastic.
That enthusiasm bleeds over into a rich life outside of work, but still in the development community. She demonstrates commitment to both her own growth and the growth of others through frequent conference appearances, not just as a speaker but an organizer. Such enthusiasm and commitment is rare and refreshing to see. The PASS Board of Directors would benefit from Wendy’s energy, and I wholeheartedly endorse her for the position."
Wait, you say, I didn't know Board members got bacon as a perk! Well, they don't, sadly. It sure would be nice, though. Okay, so if there isn't bacon, then what is the motivation? Looking from the outside inwards, you might think people run for the Board because they have masochistic tendencies. Really, how much abuse can one person take? In the past few elections, it seems there has been one thing or another that the BOD has taken a beating over. (Fortunately, as it turns out, there really isn't so much to be concerned about.)
Okay, all kidding aside, for me it's really about giving back to the community. Having spent close to 10 years with PASS, I have seen so much growth - and with it some missteps - but even more spectacular wins in that time, such as 24 Hours of PASS. Having the opportunity to contribute to the current state and future of the organization is surely a challenge and it is one I am eager to take on. Over the years, I have contributed at many different levels from Chapter Leader (both physical and virtual) to special task committees (Election Review Committee, post 2010 elections) to running SQL Saturday events. These widely varied experiences make me a great candidate for your Board of Directors as I can bring both lessons learned and future vision to the organization.
As my running mate Allen Kinsel has so aptly stated: Campaigning is Hard. You may have not heard as much from me as some of the other candidates. I'm not known to go around shouting my own praises, or asking people for votes, or standing on a soapbox touting an agenda. However, I'm not a quiet person, either. What I am is a person who cares very much about PASS, about the people who are our members, and the future of our organization. I humbly ask you to lend me your vote so I can not only continue to contribute but have the opportunity to do so at the Board level.
But what about the bacon? Oh, yes, if I should be elected to the Board this year, that would be as sweet as having a whole plate of bacon! (and I might even share...)
Even if you don't know me, take a few words from some others who do and were kind enough to endorse me. Fellow Women In Tech superstar and MVP Jen Stirrup had this to say about her choices in the election. You can also find two additional interviews with me from Denny Cherry's People Talking Tech and DBAs At Midnight show with Sean and Jen McCown. Plus, I've had much encouragement and guidance from these three people who support me as a candidate:
Kevin Kline (Past PASS BoD President): "I had the pleasure of meeting Wendy on her first trip out to Seattle to attend a PASS Summit. Wendy was striking then, and now, for her contagious enthusiasm. Wendy doesn't settle for idly soaking up the benefits of other people's hard work. She is one of those rare persons who starts to consider how to give back right away. Wendy immediately saw the benefit of PASS community and went to work right away to bring that benefit back to the Chicago area. Wendy isn't afraid of hard work or of planting small seeds today, then painstakingly investing the months and perhaps years needed to bring those seeds to fruition. This tenacity and attention to the long-term is amply demonstrated in the outstanding SQL Saturdays that Wendy oversees in Chicago. Every speaker I know wants to be at Wendy's event, not because it is in Chicago, but because it is Wendy's event in Chicago. I give my full support to Wendy's nomination for the PASS board of directors, convinced in the strength of her character, and confirmed in the value of her talents. -Kevin Kline, PASS President Emeritus 2005-2008."
Allen White: "I've known Wendy for three or four years now, having worked together on the Election Review Committee and were partners on the PASS Quiz Bowl a few years ago. I was impressed by her contributions to the conversations we had on the ERC in putting together the rules for the PASS Board elections process, as the issues were critical to the public perception of the integrity of the elections process. We had discussions that could have easily become ugly, and she always helped keep them objective and positive. This skill is critical to serving on a board with such a (necessarily) diverse makeup. I also was a speaker at the Chicago SQL Saturday #67 in March, 2011, where Wendy led the team putting together a great event that had something like 400 attendees. An event of this size needs a solid leader to keep everything running smoothly, and Wendy managed it with a smile on her face the whole time. Personally, Wendy and I have become good friends, and she allowed me to leave my car at her home when in 2010 I took the train from Chicago to Seattle for the PASS Summit, and when my return train was delayed by 5 hours, she drove into downtown Chicago to pick me up at the station, almost an hour drive each way. Her PASSion award indicates the level of support and commitment to PASS she always exhibits, and the fact that she's been nominated for MVP indicates the support she has from the community. I truly believe she'd be a great board member based on her past accomplishes and her ability to get people with disparate views to find common ground and work out a solution that benefits the entire community."
Kevin P. Davis: "I have worked with Wendy for the past year, and I have been immensely impressed with her and her work. She has led multiple cross-team small projects in her role as Database Administrator, and I have worked with her closely on these. Wendy is capable of organizing large efforts even with shifting priorities and timelines. She is easy to work with, gregarious and contagiously enthusiastic.
That enthusiasm bleeds over into a rich life outside of work, but still in the development community. She demonstrates commitment to both her own growth and the growth of others through frequent conference appearances, not just as a speaker but an organizer. Such enthusiasm and commitment is rare and refreshing to see. The PASS Board of Directors would benefit from Wendy’s energy, and I wholeheartedly endorse her for the position."
I just voted for you; what stood out for me was your commitment to providing students entering the workforce with SQL Server skills.
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