VM /ETC

Posts Tagged ‘awards’

Along with others yesterday, I received email notice from VMware’s @jtroyer that I was designated a vExpert for 2010. I was thrilled to win the award in 2009, VMware’s inaugural year of the program, and I’m just as thrilled to be named again this year. But being named a vExpert is now more to me than just winning an award. It’s a virtualization community honor with a responsibility.

First, let’s be honest.

vExpert is not a certification. VCDX is the badge for the VMware technically elite. Those that have endured the study, passed the tests, and triumphed in the design defense have earned the rare status of true VMware guru. There are many VCDXs that are also vExperts, but do not confuse the two. A vExpert should always stand at attention, salute, and then listen closely when a VCDX enters the room and speaks. They are the battle proven Generals. They’ve walked the walk.

Second, let’s be real.

Not all VCDXs are vExperts today, and I would suspect that as more are certified the ratio of VCDXs that will not get recognized for community contributions will rise. That’s not a negative. Let’s call this the “Epping Curse”. For example, when you are that good you end up working for VMware and you can’t win the vExpert award. It’s a problem to have in my opinion. Then there will always be some VCDXs who do not contribute to the community at all. Nothing wrong with that either.

Third, let’s recognize the effort and the honor.

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The 2009 Q3 winners (tallied by email address) with the number of comments made July through September :

1. Jason Boche – 16 – UGG
2. Dracolith – 16 – UGG
3. Tom12010 – 10 – UGH
4. Vladan – 10 – UGH
5. Cody Bunch – 5 – UGH

As always, the winners will receive an email from me shortly requesting a shipping address and a t-shirt size. I’ll get the shirts delivered from Cafepress.com as quick as possible.

The reader with the most comments each quarter earns Ugly Green Guru status and will receive a unique t-shirt with UGG on the pocket instead of UGH (as pictured).

I’ve created a UGH Hall Of Fame (HOF) Page here on VM /ETC. Check out all the previous winners there.

In the first ever tie, VM /ETC regulars Dracolith and Jason Boche slugged it out all quarter but apparently decided to cross the finish line arm in arm. Since this is Jason’s first UGG I’m giving him the top position. Dracolith won UGG status in Q209, and has not been officially de-throwned.

It’s good to see Tom12010 returned to UGH status again after a brief leave of absence in Q2.

I’d like to welcome Vladan and Cody Bunch to the UGH club. Both first time winners this quarter, but both have been VM /ETC regulars since the beginning.

If you just have to have a VM /ETC t-shirt and can’t wait until you win in Q4, check out my CafeExpress.com store and order one of several different styles for yourself.

Q4 2009 winners will be announced in January 2010, so start commenting on the posts now. You don’t have to leave anything profound to win. Just help answer questions, add your experience, or just express how a topic is relevant to you.

As always, thanks to all the readers who comment on VMETC.com posts!

Continuing the “storied tradition” established in Q1 2009, VM /ETC Ugly Green Guru (UGG) and Ugly Green Hero (UGH) award winners have been decided. Regular readers will recall I announced these new quarterly awards for Top Commenters on vmetc.com when VMware announced the vExpert program this past January.

The 2009 Q2 winners (tallied by email address) with the number of comments made April through June :

1. Dracolith – 18 – UGG
2. Jason Boche – 8 – UGH
3. Doug Hazelman – 4 – UGH
4. Sean Clark – 4 – UGH

As before, the winners will receive an email from me this week requesting a shipping address and a t-shirt size. I’ll get the shirts delivered from Cafepress.com as quick as possible.

The reader with the most comments each quarter earns Ugly Green Guru status and will receive a unique t-shirt with UGG on the pocket instead of UGH (as pictured).

Dracolith and Sean Clark have simultaneously  become the first commenters to “hit for the cycle”.  In Q1 Sean won the first ever UGG title and Dracolith achieved UGH status. Jason Boche is “batting 1.000″ by winning his second UGH award. I wonder what these guys will wear to work the other 3 days of the week from now on?

Doug Hazelman has always been an honorary Ugly Green Hero at VM /ETC for his efforts to try to get me to understand how the ISV game works. I’m glad to see he won a shirt legit!

If you just have to have a VM /ETC t-shirt and can’t wait until you win in Q3, check out my CafeExpress.com store and order one of several different styles for yourself. I’ve recently added a $13 value shirt to the inventory. You can even order a UGH shirt like the winners, but I’m keeping the UGG version exclusive for the top commenters

Q3 2009 winners will be announced in October, so start commenting on the posts now. You don’t have to leave anything profound to win. Just help answer questions, add your experience, or just express how a topic is relevant to you.

As always, thanks to all the readers who comment on VMETC.com posts!