MVP Summit 2008

I’ve been in Seattle all week at the 2008 MVP Summit.  If you’ve ever wondered what goes on at these events, check out Lawrence Liu’s post (I’m in the pictures but naturally, being one of the tallest, I’m always in the back somewhere – and I forgot to bring my hat so I was mostly incognito). 

 

It’s great to hang out with all my fellow SharePoint MVP’s and get down and dirty with the product group on upcoming features but the real comraderie happens on the paintball fields and at the pub.  And in case you think it’s all gain and no pain, most of us (especially me) have been so sore from playing Rambo that we’ve barely been able to walk all week.  I suppose that’s the price we pay for running, jumping, rolling, diving and generally making fools of ourselves while covered in mud and bright green paint.

 

One thing that has really stood out for me at this event has been the real cohesiveness of the SharePoint MVP group as opposed to other disciplines.  In many cases, especially outside the US, the groups tend to exhibit regional alliances across various technology specialties – all the French wore berets and the Canadians wore hockey jerseys, etc.  But the SharePointers all stick together regardless of where we’re from.  And we’re much more interactive with the product teams.  Perhaps it’s the collaborative nature of the product that leads to us being more of a tight-knit group or maybe it’s the group leadership – whatever the case, the SharePoint MVP’s definitely stand out and I’m proud to stand with them.