If you are a DB2 user in North America, make sure to check out the new contest over at the International DB2 User Group (IDUG). The contest is called Do you DB2? and includes prizes like a WiFi-enabled HD TV and exciting new Apple iPads. To enter simply tell IDUG exactly why you love working with DB2 in less than 1,000 words. The stories will be judged based upon originality of the content, efficacy of expression, and the use of proof points. It doesn’t matter what your scope or nature of experience with DB2 is, as long as your stories are memorable and unique you have a great chance to win.

Here are some sample topics that you could write about:

• Usability, Performance, Scalability or High Availability of DB2
• Features: Deep Compression, SQL compatibility, pureXML, security, autonomics
• Cost or risk of migrating from another database vendor to DB2
• Experience with the DB2 maintenance and support given by IBM
• Proof points on why DB2 is the best database software
• Stories about the reach and value of DB2’s worldwide community, forums, events or education

Make sure to get your entries in soon, as the deadline for entries is in June.

If you are a DB2 user, you probably already know that the International DB2 User Group (IDUG) offers the best DB2 conferences. These user-run conferences offer the largest number and widest range of sessions about DB2. In fact, there are more than 100 sessions about DB2 at the upcoming IDUG conference in Tampa, Florida on 10-14 May, 2010. This year, for the first time, IDUG has added the extremely popular Hands-On Labs that IBM has been offering at the Information on Demand Conferences for a number of years. Also, don’t forget about the FREE IBM certifications that are available to conference attendees. And, of course, there are lots of great opportunities to get to know other DB2 users like yourself. You can register for the conference at the IDUG Web site. There are even tips for justifying conference attendance to your manager.

If you are a DB2 user, make sure to join the recently created LinkedIn groups for the IDUG conferences. You will get all the latest news about locations, speakers, special offers, and more. Here are the links:

• IDUG North America Conference
• IDUG Europe Conference
• IDUG India Conference
• IDUG Australasia Conference

The third annual IDUG India Conference will take place at the Chancery Pavillion Hotel in Bangalore on 24-26 September. The International DB2 Users Group (IDUG) have not officially announced the line up of speakers and topics yet. However, I have been talking with the conference planning committee and understand that they are lining up some very exciting speakers and topics for this year’s event. If you are a DB2 user in India, this is one event you will not want to miss. Not only are the conference organizers offering sessions that prepare you for DB2 certification and FREE DB2 certification tests, but they are also lining up some of the world’s leading DB2 experts to talk about the most exciting new features in DB2. You can learn more about the conference at IDUG 2009 – India. You can also see a short preview video at IDUG India Movie.

The Independent DB2 User Group (IDUG) is hosting a number of regional events in November. These two-day events bring the latest DB2 sessions and the leading DB2 speakers to the following areas:

• Camp Hill, PA on 3-4 Nov
• Dallas, TX on 9-10 Nov
• Austin, TX on 12-13 Nov
• Minneapolis, MN on 16-17 Nov
• Kansas City, MO on 18-19 Nov

I expect details for the events to be posted soon on the IDUG events calendar.

The International DB2 Users Group (IDUG) is currently accepting proposals for sessions at the IDUG North America Conference, which will be held in Tampa, Florida on 10-14 May, 2010. You can submit proposals at www.idug.org/call-for-presentations-idug-2010-north-america.html.

IDUG is the Independent DB2 Users Group. They are an independent, not-for-profit user group—run by DB2 users for DB2 users. They are primarily known for the outstanding technical conferences that they have offered the DB2 community for the past 20 years. However, something interesting is happening at IDUG.

If you visit the new IDUG Web site, you will see a nice new look-and-feel. However, you will also notice that there is a lot of new technical content available. In particular, they have:

• Hundreds of DB2 Videos, including presentations for some of the leading DB2 technical sessions you will find anywhere. This resource alone is worth continued return visits to the Web site.
• The Conference Proceedings from prior year’s IDUG conferences.
• A new Events Calendar that includes regional, local, and Web-based events for DB2 users.

Rob Williams is one of the heroic IDUG volunteers who made this new Web site a reality. I think Rob sums it up best when he says the following on his blog (on the IDUG Web site):

What excites me the most though is not the new website, but the culture shift this website represents for IDUG. It’s the refocusing of IDUG to help educate as many people as possible and to ensure that cost is not a barrier. This will allow students, small organizations, or anyone who wants to learn DB2 access to some of the best DB2 content on the web.

I couldn’t agree more. This is indeed a major development both for the IDUG organization and for DB2 users everywhere.