Summary of 2020

As everyone knows 2020 was a tough year.  However, there were still many good things that happened, although sometimes it was a bit more challenging to remember them. I thought I would do a simple review of my year.

Here are the numbers:

C# Corner Blog Posts – 7

C# Corner Page Views – 19,000

Blog Posts – 23

Blog Page Views – 89,493

Total Page views – 108,483

SSRS Reports created to simplify gathering information about a server – 139

Speaking Engagements – 17

6 SQL Saturdays

10 User Groups, including 1 PASS virtual group

1 Idera Geek Sync

1st time presenting at 3 SQL Saturdays, Nashville, Chattanooga and Albany.

2 new sessions added to my library of presentations.

1 Case of COVID defeated!!!!!!

During 2020 I did not speak as often as I have in past years.  COVID-19 had much to do with that.  Not only were many speaking opportunities cancelled, I had a bout with COVID myself that prevented me from speaking for a few months.  While COVID prevented me from speaking as much as I would have liked, I also did not blog as much as I did the previous year.  I completed 23 blog posts this year which is down from over 60 the year before, however I feel that is still a pretty good amount.  I would like to blame COVID for the reduced number of blog posts as well but I can’t.  In isolation, I chose to spend more time with my family and away from the computer.  I even found a campground in southern Wisconsin where my personal and work phones do not work!!!  I was very excited and will be making more trips there this year I hope.

While many of items in the list are in my mind, good things, there is one very large bad thing that isn’t listed above.  That is the demise of PASS.  PASS has been a great organization for me personally as well as to many other folks.  The amount of opportunity it presented for people to learn and grow professionally was simply amazing.  In addition to all the learning, I had the opportunity to meet many great people along the way, which to me is the best part.  As PASS winds down, I am very encouraged by the SQL Server community in how it is working together to find a way for many of the learning opportunities to continue.  Once the dust has settled, I think the SQL community will be stronger and I look forward to seeing how things will evolve over the year.

During the year I also saw a number of well deserving SQLFamily members becoming first time MVPs.  It was great to see their hard work and dedication to the community be rewarded.  The community would not be as strong as it is with out them.

Speaking of the SQLFamily, I was also very encouraged by the dedication of many folks to improving diversity and inclusion in the SQL community.  While we are not perfect, I think the best part was seeing folks recognizing where we fell short and taking steps to improve.  A community that takes steps to help people feel included is a community I want to continue to be part of.

As I battled COVID for the last 2 and half months of 2020, I was constantly reminded of how great the SQL Community it.  While I was in the hospital recovering I received many tweets and emails of encouragement from members of the SQL community.  COVID is a very lonely illness and these small gestors meant so much to me.   I am very thankful to all that sent messages, especially David Klee, Rafael Colon and Pat Phalen.  In my first presentation back, my voice was still not as it should be and the organizers of the event could not have been more understanding.  They said that if I got too tired and couldn’t speak anymore they would wrap it up early.  I was determined to make it to the end, but knowing that the organizers were willing to end the event early just shows how strong this community is.  I did make it to the end, but needed a long nap after!!!

In the end, I think the SQL community will be stronger and the opportunities for ALL will continue.  I feel very fortunate to be a part of this community.  While my contributions were small compared to some, I do hope that somewhere along the way, I helped out a few folks.