... from my vacation,and ready for some exciting new developments in the SAS world!
As those of you who regularly attend regional user group meetings can attest, SAS Canada has been quickly joining the social media frenzy. You will have heard myself - or one of my colleagues - talk at length about what we hope to achieve through online communities: strengthening SAS knowledge and connectivity not only locally, but globally as well.
I had the opportunity to take some 'baby steps' into this arena with last month's trip to Ottawa as well as with the Toronto Area SAS Society in my home town. I'll be very happy to share my experiences - and soon enough, the edited videos - with all of you. Some early learnings:
1) Videography can be tricky. I was lucky enough to have a couple of assistants in Toronto who were able to manage and adjust the camera as required: not so lucky a couple of days earlier in Ottawa! Let's see what the difference might be in quality and content over the next few weeks as we post the content online.
2) SAS has it's own YouTube channel! Will this be the home of our user group videos? Quite possibly... in the meantime, excellent content is being posted daily: I highly recommend having a look-see.
3) There is a LOT of content to get through, and I mean a lot! So much, in fact, that I've had to purchase an external hard drive to hold it all in its un-edited state. As we get more and more practiced with the 'fun stuff' - determining appropriate sound bites, the right enticing and valuable bits of info that you just can't do without - I expect this will change... but you'll still be receiving high value. Maybe it's an unbelievable demo. Maybe it's a presentation which had the room on it's feet. Whatever comes down the pipe, rest assured that it will be dissected with the utmost care and re-purposed to give you the best of the bits!!!
Well, that's all for the moment. Stayed tuned for my next installment: I'll be talking about the Fall user group schedule and the highlights as they currently stand, as well as pointing you towards some new, high quality SAS video.
And now, a PowerPoint slide-deck of my vacation to San Diego. Only 1,432 pictures to get through! What do you mean it's lunch? A hair appointment? Your dog's at the vet? You're late for your WEDDING? I get the point....
Monday, July 5, 2010
Monday, June 7, 2010
The Siren-Like Call of OASUS and OPUS
Well friends, I'm off tomorrow for a really pleasurable experience: the semi-annual OASUS and OPUS user group meetings in Ottawa. Run by an extremely tight executive committee and supported strongly through the SAS Canada offices in Ottawa, these groups really do set the bar very high for planning, vision and size.
As I mentioned previously, we're trying out something new to better support the SAS user community: we're adding the element of video. Coming up: interviews with the President's of both groups as well as footage from the meeting (Q & A sessions, networking breaks, book reviews). This should provide a candid, honest platform for cheering - or jeering! - the structure of the meetings.
I'll have videos and pictures to post from the meeting: I hope you'll find it useful, and do let me know if I could improve my technique at all (Oliver Stone, I'm not!)
On a personal note, I'll be headed to sunny San Diego to visit my (much) better half for a few weeks beginning on June 12th, so this space may be quiet until month's end. Have no fear: I'm not going anywhere, and will be sure to regale you with wonderful tales from Ottawa shortly!
Look forward to reporting back shortly....
As I mentioned previously, we're trying out something new to better support the SAS user community: we're adding the element of video. Coming up: interviews with the President's of both groups as well as footage from the meeting (Q & A sessions, networking breaks, book reviews). This should provide a candid, honest platform for cheering - or jeering! - the structure of the meetings.
I'll have videos and pictures to post from the meeting: I hope you'll find it useful, and do let me know if I could improve my technique at all (Oliver Stone, I'm not!)
On a personal note, I'll be headed to sunny San Diego to visit my (much) better half for a few weeks beginning on June 12th, so this space may be quiet until month's end. Have no fear: I'm not going anywhere, and will be sure to regale you with wonderful tales from Ottawa shortly!
Look forward to reporting back shortly....
Thursday, May 20, 2010
... and Off We Go!!!
Hello, Blogosphere.
I must admit, typing these first few words is both exciting and daunting at the same time. Exciting to think of the possibilities ahead: the connections to be made, the stories to tell, the points to be debated. Daunting because the excitement of the 'tabula rasa' of this blog also represents a commitment from me; a commitment to regularly contribute, to read, to answer, and to immerse myself deeper than ever in the SAS user community. Am I ready? I think so!
As I prepare to head to Ottawa for their user group meetings, I'll be sure to update you on some exciting new initiatives which we'll be hoping to test in their robust SAS environment. Stay tuned for more soon...
I must admit, typing these first few words is both exciting and daunting at the same time. Exciting to think of the possibilities ahead: the connections to be made, the stories to tell, the points to be debated. Daunting because the excitement of the 'tabula rasa' of this blog also represents a commitment from me; a commitment to regularly contribute, to read, to answer, and to immerse myself deeper than ever in the SAS user community. Am I ready? I think so!
As I prepare to head to Ottawa for their user group meetings, I'll be sure to update you on some exciting new initiatives which we'll be hoping to test in their robust SAS environment. Stay tuned for more soon...
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