• Location:  3601 West 76th Street, Suite 600 Edina, MN  55437
• Date:  January 17th, 2011
• Time:  3:00 PM - 5:00 PM

Please click here for meeting details and to RSVP

Writing Better Queries

Joe Webb, WebbTech Solutions

Transact-SQL is not a very difficult language to learn. As long as the syntax is correct, it can be quite forgiving. However to truly get the best performance from your SQL Server, careful consideration should be given to the structure and logic of the queries. In this session, we'll discuss some Transact-SQL tips and tricks that can be employed to help you write better queries, allowing your server to perform better.

CALLING ALL SQL Server PROFESSIONALS:

SQL Server 2012 is the most important release ever of SQL Server with its’ mission critical, breakthrough insight and cloud on your terms features. Do your part to bring the SQL Server 2012 roadshows  to your city and get on stage with Microsoft! This March, Microsoft is teaming with PASS to bring you the SQL Server 2012 Special Ops Tour – a cross-country roadshow that will take us to 12 cities across America. This is your tour, and we want to highlight you –the SQL Server operative, your company, and the great work you are doing through opportunities to be featured on our media channels, stage time at roadshow events, and exclusive networking session.

Take our survey at www.specialopstour.com today, and help shape our course of action. Familiarize yourself with CTP3 to prep for the Solutions Contest and check back in December for details and how to submit!

ACTION REQUIRED:

-          Visit the preview site (www.specialopstour.com) and cast your votes for your city

-          Download and get to know CTP3 in preparation for upcoming solutions contest

-          Check back for details on how to be featured!

Coming in December:  Special Ops Contest

In the coming weeks, you'll have the opportunity to enter a high-profile contest where we'll identify 12 SQL Professionals with the best IT solutions on SQL Server 2012. So get ready to share your killer SQL Server 2012 skills.

• Location:   3601 West 76th Street, Suite 600 Edina, MN  55437
• Date:   December 20th, 2011
• Time:     3:00 - 5:00 PM

Note: We will be meeting in a new location starting this month 

Please click here for meeting details and to RSVP

SQL Server 2012 Feature Panel Discussion

Featuring:

Steve Hughes, Magenic Technologies

Steve Hughes is Principal Consultant at Magenic Technologies. His area of expertise is in data and business intelligence architecture on the Microsoft SQL Server platform. He was also the data architect for a SaaS company which delivered a transportation management solution for fleets across the United States. Steve has co-authored two books and regularly presents on SQL Server and data architecture.

Ajay Nangia, Microsoft

Ajay Nangia is a Data Platform Technology Specialist at Microsoft. In this role, Ajay enables customers and partners to develop, deploy, and support solutions based on Microsoft’s Database Technologies.  Ajay has a long history of working with SQL Server - from its internals to application and BI development on the platform. 

 Dan English's presentation materials from the October 2011 meeting are available on the resources page.  Note they are also availible via his blog - which has the most comprehesive coverage here.  He has also uploaded the video to vimeo here.  Thank you Dan!

Meeting Sponsored by Superior Consulting Services

• Location: 8300 Norman Center Drive, 9th Floor, Bloomington, MN  55437
• Date: October 18th, 2011
• Time: 3:00 - 5:00

Please click here for meeting details and to RSVP 

Introduction to BI Semantic Model & Delivering Self-Service Reporting with “Crescent”

Dan English, Superior Consulting Services

There are a lot of changes coming in the next release of SQL Server “Denali” with Analysis Services and PowerPivot along with new powerful BI functionality being added. This presentation will introduce the new BI Semantic Model concept, talk about the different options you have with Analysis Services in SQL Server “Denali” (SQL11), go over the new features in Analysis Services – including PowerPivot, go over developing models, and dive into the new self-service reporting authoring tool “Crescent”. Along the way there will be demonstrations of the new features and functionality so you can get a feel for what is coming.  By the end of the session you will have a full understanding of what lies ahead and you can start preparing your roadmap for delivering BI content within your organization.

Sponsored by Visi

• Location: 8300 Norman Center Drive, 9th Floor, Bloomington, MN  55437
• Date: September 20th, 2011
• Time: 3:00 - 5:00 

Please click here for meeting details and to RSVP 

Introduction to Denali AlwaysOn and Column Store Technologies

Ajay Nangia, Microsoft

The session will talk about the new High Availability and Disaster Recovery solution being introduced in SQL Server “Denali”. It will provide an overview about the new features and capabilities such as utilization of secondary databases for a better return on hardware investment and how to simplify HADR deployments.  It will also introduce the new column-based accelerator for vast improvements in query performance.