Best year for Lotus User Groups ever?
November 25 2009
This has really been an incredible year for Lotus events worldwide, but especially in Europe. We have had some incredible user group events that have invigorated or re-energized the community in the UK, Netherlands, Belgium, Spain, Poland, and other countries. We saw Lotusphere Comes to You sell out in Paris, with over 600 attendees -- after the IBMers were told not to show up. Ongoing organizations like DNUG in Germany have continued their success with conferences, training, and networking. In short -- you couldn't help but see the momentum for Lotus in Europe.
On this US Thanksgiving eve, I am thankful for all of this activity. But there is one more European user group event to add to the list. I'm chatting right now on Skype with Giuseppe Grasso, who is showing me how great the Italian DominoPoint.IT event was two weeks ago. Over 400 attendees -- a sellout crowd. I've seen bits and pieces about the event on blogs from my colleagues and business partners, but there is something stunningly different about the visualization when you see this "social stripe" and the video of how it was made:
Lotus Knows 2009 has been great for user groups around the world. Like in Europe, we had great success in the US, with new events like IamLUG, MWLUG, and TriStateLUG. LotusUserGroup.org brought an audience of over 600 to a webcast on Notes/Domino 8.5.1 -- a maintenance release! A Canada-wide user group, with live and virtual meetings spread out coast-to-coast, was successful recently. And outside of North America and Europe, we had incredible user group events in Japan, Australia, and many other markets. In short, this feels to me like the best year ever for Lotus user groups.
I can't wait to get started with similar activities in 2010. It looks like it is time to start booking some travel again, for me and for my team. If you are looking for us to speak at an event, it's never too early to start planning -- but we love to do it, so please let me know. On my own calendar, I have one more this year -- St Louis on December 9. Then it's the march to Lotusphere, and onward from there. Looking forward to seeing so many friends and familiar faces, soon.
Post a Comment
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Albert Buendia https://www.slug.es | 11/26/2009 2:03:21 AM
I like "Red Bull" articles/posts like this one. Positive and Energizing!! Regards, Albert Buendia.
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Marnix Kemme http://www.lug2009.nl | 11/26/2009 2:20:35 AM
Great to hear so much good news from the Lotus community. And so many LUG events.
In Amsterdam (the Netherlands) at NL-LUG we had a sell out as well: over 300 attendees and (like in France) the IBMers had been told NOT to show up;).
Big compliments also for other initiatives like the 'Lotus loves People' campaign, started by 25 business partners in the Netherlands - www.lotuslovespeople.nl .
See you all in Orlando in January?!
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Giuseppe Grasso http://www.dominopoint.it | 11/26/2009 5:12:59 AM
@Paul: kudos to you, I think you're the one who started it all!
@Marnix: I can understand why in Amsterdam has been told to IBMers to not show up, in Italy we're are blessed by a very good synergy with IBM but that's because we're really lucky to have an old loti as a mkt manager here. Also, lotuslovespeople is a great great initiative!
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Lars Olufsen http://www.olufsphere.com | 11/26/2009 6:51:45 AM
I think you're spot on, Ed, when you talk about "Momentum".
It's not just about events.
It is about the community members being psyched about 8.5, visions being formed and realised, new products evolving that raises the bar and inspires us all. There is some kick-a** stuff going on out there.
It is also about timing. Timing that tells us that while the world in general use terms like "social" and "2.0", they are really just talking about collaborative relations that "we" (the Loti of the world) have seen work for years and years. A timing that finally makes what we have been doing "cool". A timing that means senior management finally gets, that Notes is NOT about mail!
It's the bottom of the ninth (crunch time), bases loaded (all the right products), lead batter stepping up to the plate (Lotusphere, anybody?) ... Who wouldn't want to be at the ball park.
Now swing at that fastball and let's get that 4-run homer!
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John Head http://www.johndavidhead.com | 11/26/2009 10:39:23 AM
Having attended and spoke at a few of the LUGs this year (UKLUG, IAMLUG, MWLUG, TriStateLUG), I want to thank everyone who works to make these events happen. Seeing the behind the scenes work that happens is breathtaking. It was great to see some US events happen this year on a large scale.
In 2010, I hope we see this trend continue.
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Rock http://www.lotusgeek.com | 11/26/2009 10:59:33 AM
It is a GREAT time to be a Lotus professional. Notes/Domino 8.5.1 (most consider this the REAL 8.5 release) is OUTSTANDING. And from a developer's perspective, I absolutely LOVE LOVE LOVE! the Domino Designer on Eclipse. It FINALLY brings the Domino Designer into the 21st century as a modern IDE, with all the wonderful features you want in an IDE. This is what we've wanted for a long time, and finally gives us an IDE to be proud of, and an IDE that we can show to young developers - college campuses, etc. - and not have to make excuses or hide our faces in shame as we're laughed at. Now it looks great, is a part of the Eclipse framework - which is what is used on most college campuses to teach Java - so it is a familiar environment for new users. Now we can tout the unique features and advantages of Domino, and now they'll listen - because the IDE is something they can use.
Yes, this is a GREAT time to be a Lotus professional, and I think the communities - and the activities therein - are a reflection of this excitement.
The future looks bright, and I'm getting my shades; I can't wait for 2010, and Lotusphere to kick it off.
--Rock
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Bruce Elgort http://elguji.com/products | 11/26/2009 3:19:23 PM
Rocks comments +1
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Rob Novak http://www.lotusrockstar.com | 11/27/2009 12:33:28 AM
Having presented at 5 LUGs this year we are thrilled to see the re-invigoration of the community around the Lotus brand. As my second slide says, it's good for IBM, business partners and customers to do what we all do. And we have a blast doing it!
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Lisa Duke http://www.simplified-tech.com | 11/28/2009 1:36:35 PM
Ed, don't forget all we have going on in the Southeastern US this year! ATLUG in Atlanta, GA had lots of great speakers, and 2009 saw the founding of 3 new LUGs - Chattanooga, TN, Nashville, TN, and Greenville, SC. These events, plus LCTYs, plus Domino and Quickr Proof of Technology sessions, plus the "Lotus Knows" bus tour - it has been a great year for getting the word out.
Oh, by the way, this year wasn't all talk. We sold some software, too. Our NET NEW software sales are up more than six thousand percent over last year. That's not moving Company A's renewal from a competitor to us, that's true net new to IBM. Folks that didn't have Lotus last year and do now. Woo hoo!
I think the best is yet to come. 2010 will be a very yellow year! Readers, sell your MS stock now. You've been warned. ;)
From a point a few years ago, where people complained that there were "no Lotus events outside of the US" to this. Excellent work by all the UGs this year in Europe and beyond. I was lucky enough to attend quite a few of them and look forward to 2010's lineup.