Tuesday, August 31, 2010

MWLUG 2010 Winner of Flash Builder 4 Premium and Flash Builder for Unemployed Developers

Adobe Systems was gracious enough to donate a copy of Flash Builder 4 Premium for our MWLUG 2010 Giveaway during Justin Hill's Flex and Domino session. Mark Davenport from Share Logic is the lucky winner. There were many who were hoping to be the winner of this product. If you are recently unemployed and looking into learning a new technology that is in demand, Adobe System has a program for currently unemployed developers to get themselves a copy of Flash Builder 4 Standard. More information can be found at http://www.adobe.com/devnet/flex/free/index.html. There will be more news to come about MWLUG.

Tuesday, August 24, 2010

Summary of MWLUG 2010

MWLUG 2010 was a lot of hard work, but it all came together thanks to all the hard work of the volunteers, sponsors, speakers, vendors, and attendees. It was much better than last year. We had about a 20% increase in attendance this year. The session layout that the XPages speakers came up with worked great. Everyone like the approach of starting from the basics of Web development all the way up to the advanced XPages topics.

The flow about collaboration for the opening session done by Scot Rourke, David Via, and Kris Synder worked out very well.

Thanks to Avon Printing and Rebecca Leedy for their quick turnaround on the printing, conference bags, and T-shirts. Unlike last year's bags which were so small, the MWLUG 2010 bags can actually use for carrying groceries now that the conference is over. All the printing, bags, and T-shirts were done locally in the Midwest.

The lunch buffet on Friday was better than I imagined when I placed the order. Wish we had the money to have done a buffet lunch on both days. The hotel staff was very helpful. Only hiccups were the internet connections, parking, and room keys.

Highlights to Mention:

- We raised approximately $500.00 for the Cleveland Foodbank through the MWLUG 2010 Outreach Program
- Brian Smith was the lucky winner of the Hilton Garden Inn Raffle
- The evening at Pickwick and Frolic was great. We had 72 attendees attend the event. We all sat in the front. As a result, the comedians pick on Steve and Bill throughout the show. Steve and Bill were very good sports.
- The layout of the sponsor showcase and opening sessions worked out very well. It gave everyone a chance to sit down and talk including the folks from IBM which we never get a chance to do. Sponsors were happy to be in front of the attendees during the entire event.

Things to Improve on:
- One negative that we learned this year is make sure the hotel has significant amount of internet bandwidth. It was a bit hard to do the labs with only a 3Mbits wireless connection that died all the time.
- We need to change the Ask a Business Partner Expert to a slightly different venue.
- We need to include speaker evaluations
- BOF are too early for attendees especially after the evening event
- 45 sessions was a bit too much.

If you attended MWLUG 2010, please email me your comments and suggestions. We are trying to set something up with Survey Monkey, but that takes time.

Thanks everyone for supporting and making this a successful event. We look forward in seeing everyone in Milwaukee August 25-26, 2011 for MWLUG 2011. There is more to come from MWLUG during the year so stay tune.

Sunday, August 22, 2010

Back From MWLUG and Ford Windstar Is Crap

I am back home from MWLUG at Cleveland and just as I was almost home, the transmission for my Ford Windstar craps out. Luckily, I have AAA to tow the car to my mechanic and that I was close to home. If I was on I-90 this would have been bad. I looked on the Web and all the signs points to the transmission. It seems that Ford Windstar all have problems with transmissions going out because of the torque converter or the pump. Of course, Ford has refused to recall it. But the end results, is you need a new transmission. I was a fan of Fords until now. This is the last time I am buying a Ford.

Tuesday, August 17, 2010

Already, Set, Go: MWLUG 2010

It has been a year in the making and MWLUG 2010 is already to go. It is going to be bigger than last year. We have an incredible conference with 45 technical sessions, a networking event on Wednesday night, a networking event on Thursday night with a comedy show to top it off. The MWLUG 2010 sponsors have been wonderful and the sponsors are giving away lot of high tech gadgets including cameras, iPads, hard drives, and Kindle. Hope to see everyone starting tomorrow. Stop by the Taishan Works/Phora Group table and say hi.

Now I just need to drive the 6.5 hours to Cleveland tomorrow with seven of us packed in a mini van, create a opening session presentation, and oh forgot my own presentation for my session. I guess sleep is not an option.

First Experience with Lotus Traveler and iPhone

Today was the first time we set up Lotus Traveler with the Apple iPhone. It took us a bit to find the documentation that we needed. However, I was surprised to how smooth it went. The Lotus Traveler team did a good job.

Friday, August 13, 2010

MWLUG 2010 Mobile Guide for Blackberry Now Available to Download

If you are interested in tracking each of the 45 sessions and speakers at MWLUG, the MWLUG 2010 Mobile Guide for Blackberry is now available to download from the MWLUG 2010 web site. With the MWLUG 2010 Mobile Guide you will be able to track and search sessions, speakers, review the agenda, and provide feedback on how you like MWLUG 2010 on your Blackberry Mobile device. We would like to thank our Gold Sponsor, Kryos Systems, for donating the time and resources to create this mobile application which is created using their Kryos Velocity technology.

To download the MWLUG 2010 Mobile Guide goto:

http://www.mwlug.com/mwlug/mwlug2010.nsf/uxpages/mobileguide.uxp

Thursday, August 12, 2010

MWLUG 2010: Soft Phones, Upgrading to Sametime 8.51, and Plantronics

More and more companies are now using soft phones especially as employees are becoming more and more mobile. Since voice and data has been merging into one and the same, it is important to have reliable solutions since most of us do not have a second solution except for our cell phones which many times you have to ask "Can you hear me now?" My sister who currently is managing a global team on 4 continents from home relies heavily on her soft phones through Sametime to communicate with her team. She has been using a Plantronics headset and I tried it and it is very nice. Since our old PBX is slowly dying, this finally gives us a reason to upgrade our Sametime installation. We are giving everyone attending MWLUG 2010 a chance to win a Plantronics headset.

Our MWLUG 2010 Event Sponsor and continuous supporter of MWLUG, Plantronics, will be giving away two of their headsets during the Thursday breakfast before the MWLUG 2010 Opening Session. In addition, Plantronics is co-sponsoring Thursday breakfast. So make sure you come to the Thursday breakfast for a chance to win one of the two headsets. You must be present to win. In addition, there will be another chances to win Plantronics headsets on Friday at the two Sametime sessions presented by Phil Salm and Kevin McConnell from CDW. More information about that giveaway can be found at the CDW booth.

If you are a Sametime administrator, and you are new to Websphere administration you must to come to Kevin McConnell's session on "Introduction to Sametime 8.5 WebSphere Administration for the Domino Administrator." The session is designed for Domino Administrators who now need to learn how to manage a Websphere Application Server since Sametime 8.5x is based on Websphere instead of Domino.

Friday, August 6, 2010

Coming to MWLUG 2010 You Must Visit Put-in-Bay

If you are coming to MWLUG 2010 or not, one of the nice gems of Ohio is Put-in-Bay, OH on South Bass Island. Put-in-Bay is the site of Perry's Victory and International Peace Memorial commemorating Commodore Oliver Hazard Perry's September 10, 1813 naval victory over British ships in the War of 1812. The island has a lot of camping and beautiful caves.

To get to the island you need to take a ferry. Car traffic is terrible since the ferry only runs at certain times and cars are lined up like crazy and there are only so many car slots. When the ferry ends for the day and you are not across, then you are stuck on the island until the next day. I suggest you leave your car at the parking lot. It is beautiful this time of the year. I am hoping we have enough time to visit the island after MWLUG 2010.

Thursday, August 5, 2010

MWLUG Donation Sponsorship Opened

MWLUG 2010 is coming in two weeks and it is packed with sessions. What little money Lotus user groups get comes from the generously of IBM Business Partners or their members. Like last year the money we raised from the attendee donation goes to the participating user groups. Also, like last year we are having the MWLUG 2010 Donation Sponsorship Program. The money we raise from this sponsorship is divided among the participating Lotus User Groups to help run their group meetings. So if your company is interested in being a MWLUG Donation Sponsor, please contact me at richard.moy@taishanworks.com. Your logo and information will be part of the MWLUG 2010 web site and in the conference brochure. Also your company will be mentioned at the user group meetings.

In addition, if you are interested in donating to the MWLUG 2010 Community Outreach Program to get a chance to win a free weekend at the Hilton Garden Inn - Cleveland Downtown plus breakfast go to:

http://www.mwlug.com/mwlug/mwlug2010.nsf/uxpages/mwlugcommunityoutreach.uxp

The MWLUG 2010 Community Outreach Program benefits the Cleveland Foodbank.

Wednesday, August 4, 2010

Job Opening: Websphere Administrator

There is a new job opening for anyone who has done Websphere and Websphere Portal Administration. The job is posted on our GRANITE Lotus User Group web site. GRANITE Lotus User Group

MWLUG 2010: Announcing MWLUG Thursday Networking Event

(Cleveland, OH) August 4, 2010. We are proud to announce our MWLUG 2010 Networking Event will be held at the Pickwick and Frolic Restaurant and Club. The Pickwick and Frolic Networking Event gives everyone at MWLUG 2010 the opportunity to network with your peers and other Lotus professionals. We will be providing food and drinks. After the networking event at Pickwick and Frolic, comes join us at Hilarities 4th Street Theatre Comedy Show for an hour of comedy and fun. This event is free for attendees and all made possible by the generous sponsors of MWLUG Conference 2010. Please take the time to visit our generous sponsors at the MWLUG 2010 Sponsor Showcase during your time at MWLUG 2010.

MWLUG 2010: Conference Agenda is Now Available

(Cleveland, OH) August 4, 2010. We are please to announce the MWLUG 2010 Agenda is now online at http://www.mwlug.com. MWLUG 2010 is bigger than ever with 45 presentations, Show-N-Tell, and Labs covering topics including XPages, Cloud Computing, Sametime UC and Telephony, Quickr, Websphere Portal, Server Management, Security, and UI Design. The MWLUG Committee has worked very hard this year to bring attendees one of the best educational and social events for Lotus professionals. This event is made possible by the generous sponsors of MWLUG Conference 2010. Please take the time to visit our generous sponsors at the MWLUG 2010 Sponsor Showcase during your time at MWLUG 2010.

Tuesday, August 3, 2010

MWLUG 2010: IBM Innovation Center Comes to You

(Cleveland, OH) August 3, 2010. We are extremely please to announce IBM Innovation Center Come to You will be part of the Midwest Lotus User Group Conference 2010. IBM Innovation Center Come to You provides an unique opportunity for both IBM customers and IBM Business Partners attending MWLUG 2010 to experience and learn some of the latest technologies from IBM. The IIC team will have Show-n-Tell sessions, live hands-on labs, and session on Cloud Computing security and architecture not found anywhere except. We would like to thank the IBM Innovation Center teams from Chicago, Dallas, and Atlanta for their support and participation to make this possible at MWLUG 2010.

CollabSphere 2022 Presentation: COL103 Advanced Automation and Cloud Service Integration for your Notes/Nomad Applications

Our presentation for CollabSphere 2022. Learn how to quickly add workflow automation into Notes/Nomad applications using No-code tools that ...