The catalyst for this post was a comment by Chad Grieves to my previous post on the Introduction to the Triangle SharePoint UserGroup. I don’t know Chad and he doesn’t identify himself beyond his name or his company but he implies that he’s part of the leadership of the original Raleigh SharePoint User Group. It would appear that he is upset that we started a new SharePoint usergroup in Raleigh (TRISPUG).  Based on searches he is or was associated with ThoughtBridge as an Account Executive (e.g. Sales) for the Carolinas and ThoughtBridge is\was the “sponsor” of that group.

Chad’s Comment:

“Josh, reading through your information I see several false statements. We started 2 1/2 years ago, the Raleigh SharePoint Users group, along with Microsoft as the "go-to" managed partner in the Carolinas. We are far from fledgling with over 50 companies in attendance. We do it every 2 months at the request of the participants. I believe you are associatted with tek Systems- are you a Managed Partner in the SOutheast for Microsoft? I know of a handful in the Carolinas and you were not one of them... it is my understanding you are a staffing firm wanting to get into the MOSS project business..please make sure you update your blog to include factual information-“

With the original groups’ last reported meeting being last year I believe, the group’s site (www.sharepointusersgroup.com/RSug) being down,  no communications I’ve heard of to the community in almost a year, all of my emails going unanswered, past members saying the group fizzled, truly how can anyone assume otherwise? Is the original group still providing any type of service to the community?

Secondly there are no false statements in my post. I’m not implying I started the previous SharePoint group in Raleigh, I’m saying that myself and others are stepping up to fill the absence that currently exists for a SharePoint community in Raleigh. I am NOT associated with Tek-Systems, Tek-Systems is just very nice enough to host the facilities for our meetings and they also support other groups in the area such as the Triangle .Net User Group. A few searches with my name and reading through some of my blog can easily confirm this. 

But this is really about a bigger issue beyond a single user group and probably my most important point. There is nothing that bothers me more then a company that uses a user group as an extension to their PR and Sales departments. Chad I think your comment speaks for itself. User Groups are not partners with Microsoft (managed or otherwise), they are partners with the COMMUNITY.  This parasitic type of behavior that I see from companies and user groups is never a good thing for the user group in the long run because its the business interests that drive the group not the community interest. Once those business interests change or the companies goes under so does the group. In my opinion this is very self evident in the relationship between ThoughtBridge and the previous Raleigh SharePoint user group (and from what I understand the old group in Atlanta as well).  In Chad’s comment he refers to a managed partner status and of course he’s referring to ThoughtBridge and his role as account executive of the Carolinas. So falsely accusing me that I’m part of a staffing firm trying to drum up business is a bit like calling the Pot calling the kettle black heh?

Now let me be very clear I have no issue with ThoughtBridge as a company nor Chad. I really don’t know much about ThoughtBridge other then what bing (you like that plug MS hehe) would tell me. The ThoughtBridge site is down so I’m not even sure if they’re around any more so it may be a mute point.  I just don’t like the trend that I see out there of companies creating or taking ownership of a user groups. Consulting, Staffing, Product firms will always play a very important role with User Groups because without their sponsorship (key word sponsorship) usergroups could not exist. It’s also great outlet for company employee’s to network with others in the group and we encourage that. The networking that takes place in usergroups is one of the great benefits beyond the technical presentation but its important that usergroup leadership remain independent and impartial to the community.

As for TRISPUG, as I mentioned in my first post introducing TRISPUG but I will reiterate, we will never be associated with any company outside that of a sponsor relationship. Our group will NEVER be owned by any company. Our leadership will and is made up of members from throughout the community. We owe that much to the community as every other usergroup does.

I would encourage any company who wants to get involved with Usergroups to do so, it can be a great value, just don’t go out and try to start your own please :).