Why the Vista Client Beta 1 Install Fest

For those of you who are coming along to the Vista Client
Beta 1Install Fest I wanted to take a moment to highlight a few of the reasons
why I designed the event and am spending so much of my time organising it (with
the help of the TechNet team and others) for you…

Since joining the IT Pro team a year ago, there have
been a few things I have wanted to do… I have had so much support from
you, the community that I thought it was time to give something back. To this
end I wanted to put on a really cool event that would be fun and interesting –
okay I am a Nerd or Geek (take your pick J)
at heart and so came up with the idea of the Install Fests. I plan (if you want
me to) to take this idea and repeat it for other occasions and maybe across the
country ney the world –
okay that might be a little ambitious, but I can dream….

A while ago I heard someone speaking and took away
from that occasion a simple phrase; “You never stand so
tall as when you bend down to help a child”. I have heard this several times
since and often wondered how I could stand tall… Then it came to me –
a start anyway. There are really 2 things I wanted to achieve when selecting
the charities for this event, firstly I wanted to give back to the local
community and beyond… I also realise that not everyone can or want to
give money, so I ask you all to donate at the event or otherwise to:

The Children’s
Miracle Network and help make a difference to the children around us. Here
are some facts from their web
site…

Children's Miracle Network
hospitals provide state-of-the-art compassionate care for all children. They
are committed to serving children above all else.

Children's Miracle Network
hospitals treat 17 million children each year for every disease and condition
imaginable.

Each year, Children's
Miracle Network hospitals provide care and services; these non-profit
children's hospitals depend on community support.

                Please feel free to make any monetary donation at the event and your
contribution will be passed on 100% to the Children’s Miracle Network

Foodpath and help the community. Here are some facts from their website…

            Foodpath collects and distributes over 200,000 kilograms,
(450,000 pounds), of food, through its food bank/distribution program each
month.

            The
distribution program supplies over forty food related programs in Peel, Halton, Oakville, Burlington, Hamilton, and the GTA.

            Foodpath collects and distributes food and household goods
to over 5,500 Mississauga residents each month, of which 50% are children.

                Please feel free to donate any non perishable food items at the event
and your contribution will be passed on to the Foodpath

I look forward to seeing you all at the event!