About Us
Our Mission
Our goal is to provide the tools and knowledge that groups and event leaders
need to organize and host a free day of training for SQL Server professonals. At
the local event level, we have a broader mission statement:
- Build the membership list of the local user group
- Provide local SQL Server professionals as well as those new to SQL Server with
an event that combines training and networking
- Find, grow, and feature local speakers - the next generation of talent.
How It Started
We started the SQLSaturday concept in May 2007 by planning our first event for October 2007 that would focus on
SQL Server and hoping that we could leverage the time investment to help other cities and groups host their own events. Tampa
held one in February 2008 and we've grown steadily since then. We continue to collect lessons learned and share them back
with event leaders and to make changes to the SQLSaturday website that reduce the effort required to conduct an event.
Funding and Ownership of SQLSaturday
The SQLSaturday brand name and web site are owned by the Professional Association for SQL Server (PASS), but PASS licenses the use of both to groups or individuals that want to host an event at no charge. Event hosts take full ownership of their events: they plan, organize, and operate the entire venture from start to finish. PASS aims to provide the tools and coaching for them to make their free SQLSaturday event a resounding success.
PASS is determined to stay true to the grassroots nature of SQLSaturday. For that reason, all sponsorship funds collected by events go to the event; there is no fee or percentage paid back to PASS or SQLSaturday.com. Just like the founders of SQLSaturday,
Andy Warren,
Brian Knight, and
Steve Jones, PASS believes SQLSaturday has the ability to have a tremendous impact on the future of SQL Server and its user communities. We will do whatever we can to help ensure this vision!