Ed Brill

In what has become a nearly-annual tradition since 2005, I'll be in Germany in ten days, for Lotusphere Comes to You events in Munich, Hamburg, Dusseldorf, and Frankfurt.

• Munich, 6/7 February - edcom nachlese. A great annual event and a special place in my heart. I'll present my Lotusphere session on Messaging and Collaboration, but also the Q&A afterwards with vowe's "Good German" is a highlight. Ron Sebastian kicks the event off as he has likewise for many years.
• Hamburg, 8 February - We4IT. I was approached early by We4IT, a partner that was one of the inspirations for IBM XWork Server. They have some other great speakers including Ron Sebastian continuing the tour, Niklas Heidloff, and Paul Mooney. I note that my friends at GIS are also running a Lotusphere Comes to You event in Hamburg tomorrow.
• Düsseldorf, 9 February - Rheinland nachlese. As with recent years I'll have the closing session; unlike last year I won't be running to catch a train.
• Frankfurt, 10 February - SP-Integration LCTY. My second time at this event. Because it is in the Frankfurt suburbs, I at least have my 24 hour excuse to rent a car and drive a bit in Germany...

After all of these, I'm not rushing home for once. A family member is on a figure skating team that happens to be competing in Neuchatel, Switzerland the subsequent weekend. So, I'm heading there to watch the competition and check out Berne as well.

Inevitably laying out this travel plan will raise the question of what other IBM collaboration/Get Social events are planned for Q1. I'll post links/updates as I hear more. Right now I personally am only also committed to events in March in Taiwan, which will be my first visit there. There are plenty more in planning, though, so stay tuned.