Below is all the content we published in today’s US partner newsletter that was delivered by email to US-based members of the Microsoft Partner Network. The content in your email is specific to your company’s business and your role.

In this post, there are four sections of content:

• Local Recommendations – Our U.S. East, Central, and West Regions can help you close business, and share their favorite resources.
• Partner News Headlines – Information about Partner Network membership and partner-related campaigns, promotions, and opportunities.
• Training Recommendations Headlines – Links to the latest training opportunities (many of them low-cost and no-cost).
• Role-Based Training – Our recommendations about a specific product or topic; this week: Microsoft Virtualization and Windows Server 2008

For more partner news, resources, and recommendations, visit us on the U.S. partner portal and Virtual Partner Concierge, and join the U.S. Partner Community on Facebook, Twitter, and LinkedIn.

Local Recommendations

April is a great month for growth and opportunity. Check out our suggestions below for opportunities Microsoft offers to help you build your business and grow your revenue.

• Join your US Region for their monthly partner call: East Region on April 13; Central Region on April 20; West Region on April 20.
• Register to attend the 2012 Microsoft Worldwide Partner Conference, in Toronto, Canada from July 8-12 to connect, learn, and build business relationships. Get tips for your attendance in our April 23 webcast.
• Capitalize on the cloud. Close at least two qualifying Microsoft Office 365 deals for a chance to enter the Fast-Track $50,000 Sweepstakes. Official Rules.
• Get the latest information and news about competency changes in the March 2012 update to the Competency Roadmap.
• Read the Hot Sheet for April on the U.S. Partner Learning Blog to plan your training for the month and attend in-person and on-demand courses.
• Connect with other Central Region Microsoft partners at a Channel Development Partner Networking Reception: Indianapolis, IN (April 10); Nashville, TN (April 12); Omaha, NE (April 17); Des Moines, IA (April 19).
• Register to attend one of the last two West Region VAR Summits: April 17 in Phoenix (Invitation Key: 2A7F19) and April 19 in Denver (Invitation Key: AC4CB5).
• Join Microsoft and our distribution partners for a discussion about Microsoft licensing programs for small and medium businesses in your Area:
  • Heartland Area: Cincinnati, OH on April 18; Columbus, OH on April 19; Cleveland, OH on April 24; Detroit, MI on May 22
  • Mid-Atlantic Area: May 2 in Washington, D.C.; May 15 in Malvern, PA
  • Midwest Area: Indianapolis, IN on April 17; Chicago, IL on April 24; Milwaukee, WI on May 1
  • New York Metro Area: April 17 in New York City; April 24 in Rochester, NY; May 5 in New York City
  • North Central Area: St. Louis, MO on April 24; Overland Park, KS on April 25
  • Northeast Area: Waltham, MA on May 1
  • Northwest Area: Portland, OR on April 11; Sacramento, CA on April 16; Mountain View, CA on April 18; Mountain View, CA on May 16; San Francisco, CA on May 17
  • South Central Area: New Orleans on April 18; Dallas, TX on May 1; Austin, TX on May 2
  • Southeast Area: April 10 in Atlanta, GA and April 11 in Charlotte, NC
  • Southwest Area: Irvine, CA on April 26; Salt Lake City, UT on May 8

Partner News Headlines

• Deepak Chopra to Speak at the 2012 Microsoft Worldwide Partner Conference
• Finalize and Submit Your WPC 2012 Award Nomination before April 15
• April 23 Webcast: Fifty Quick Tips for Creating More Opportunities at WPC
• Differentiate Your Company by Marketing Your Competencies
• March 2012 Update to the Competency Roadmap
• Competency Exam Pack Offer Ends in May
• New Management and Virtualization Competency Launches in May
• Desktop Competency Exam Requirements Change
• Prepare for the Microsoft Security Bulletin for April 2012
• Use the Big Easy Offer 8 to Help SMB Customers Expand their IT Budget
• Early Look at New Features Coming in Windows Intune
  Cloud Partners May Take Practice Accelerator for Microsoft Office 365 at No Cost
• Microsoft Office 365 Marketing Playbook for Partners Serving State and Local Government
• Promote Microsoft Office 365 and Windows Intune with DCCN Syndication Service 
• Renew Your Reseller and System Builder News for a Chance to Win an Xbox 360 (Link to Official Rules)
• Capture the Mid-Market Opportunity for Windows Server Upgrades
• Microsoft Dynamics Community Site Offers an Improved User Experience 
• Let Your Social Media Efforts Take Flight with Nurture Butterfly
• Microsoft Dynamics: Translating Customers' Aspirations into Reality 
• Increase Sales and Shorten the Sales Cycle at the Microsoft Fargo Executive Briefing Center 
• Join California Partners in Supporting Anti-Piracy Efforts 
• Bringing Life to Lesson Plans 
• Soup to Nuts Webcast Series Focuses on Cloud Security 
• Windows Azure Security Best Practices 
• Consider Using Microsoft Dynamics ERP in Your Business (Link to Terms and Conditions)

Training Recommendations Headlines

• Enter to Win with Microsoft Office 365, Microsoft SQL Server 2012, Private Cloud, and Microsoft Dynamics CRM 2011 Training (Link to Official Rules)
• Stand Out from the Sales Competition and Earn a Chance to Win a Whistler Trip (Link to Official Rules)
• Microsoft SQL Server 2012 Two-Day In-Person Technical Workshop for Developers
• Microsoft SQL Server 2012 Online Technical Workshops
• New Learning Snacks for Microsoft SQL Server 2012
• Take a Deep Technical Dive into Microsoft System Center 2012 and Private Cloud with Jump Start Videos
• Training for Exam 74-322: Microsoft Lync Server 2010
• Practice Accelerator for Microsoft Lync Server 2010 - Sessions Available for April-June
• Practice Accelerator for Virtual Desktop Infrastructure - Sessions Available in May and June
• Optimize Your Existing Resources: Microsoft Dynamics AX 2012 Level 300 Workshops
• Microsoft System Center 2012 Sales Training Courses and Assessment 
• Windows Server "8" Beta Training
• Windows 8 Metro Excellence Clinic Walks You Through Certification Process for Windows 8 Applications
  • June 6 – Waltham, MA
  • June 13 – New York City
  • June 21 – Chevy Chase, MD
  • June 27 – Alpharetta, GA
  • July 11 – Tampa, FL
• Windows 8 Three-Day Developer and UX Workshop for Partners Offers Hands-On Experience and Design Guidance
  • April 30–May 2 in Waltham, MA
  • May 1–May 3 in New York City
  • May 1–May 17 in Washington, D.C.
  • May 23–May 25 in Waltham, MA

Role-Based Training for Microsoft Virtualization and Windows Server 2008

Training for Business Decision Makers
Microsoft Virtualization

• Microsoft Partner Network Sales and Marketing Competency Assessment for Private Cloud/Management and Virtualization
• Virtualization Sales Specialist Course. Competing with VMware. Module 1. Technologies
• Virtualization Sales Specialist Course. Competing with VMware. Module 2. Microsoft Strategies
• Virtualization Sales Specialist Course. Competing with VMware. Module 3. Case Studies and Customer Objections
• Practice Accelerator for Virtual Desktop Infrastructure - Sessions Available in May and June
• Build Your Client Virtualization Learning Plan or Build Your Server Virtualization Learning Plan

Windows Server 2008

• Selling Windows Server 2008 R2 Using Hyper-V Improvements
• Selling Windows Server 2008 R2 Using File Classification Infrastructure
• Selling Windows Server 2008 R2 Using Remote Desktop Services & VDI
• Microsoft Private Cloud Pitch
• Windows Server 8 Beta Training
• Build Your Windows Server 2008 Learning Plan

Training for IT Professionals
Microsoft Virtualization

• Data Center and Private Cloud Management with System Center 2012: Monitor and Operate the Private Cloud Infrastructure
• Data Center and Private Cloud Management with System Center 2012: Monitor and Operate the Private Cloud Fabric
• Microsoft Server Virtualization and Management for the Experienced VMware IT Pro
• Data Center and Private Cloud Management with System Center 2012: Monitor and Operate Applications
• Practice Accelerator for Virtual Desktop Infrastructure - Sessions Available in May and June
• Build Your Client Virtualization Learning Plan or Build Your Server Virtualization Learning Plan

Windows Server 2008

• Cloud Opportunities with Windows Server
• Windows Small Business Server Product Focus + Storage Server
• Migrating Customers to Windows Server 2008 R2
• Deploying Windows Server with the Express Deployment Tool
• Windows Server 8 Beta Training
• Build Your Windows Server 2008 R2 Learning Plan

Training for Developers
Microsoft Virtualization

• Data Center and Private Cloud Management with System Center 2012: Configure and Deploy Service Delivery and Automation
• Data Center and Private Cloud Management with System Center 2012: Configure and Deploy Applications
• Data Center and Private Cloud Management with System Center 2012: Configure and Deploy the Private Cloud Infrastructure
• Data Center and Private Cloud Management with System Center 2012: Configure and Deploy the Private Cloud Fabric
• Build Your Client Virtualization Learning Plan or Build Your Server Virtualization Learning Plan

Windows Server 2008

• Cloud Opportunities with Windows Server
• Windows Small Business Server Product Focus + Storage Server
• Migrating Customers to Windows Server 2008 R2
• Deploying Windows Server with the Express Deployment Tool
• Build Your Windows Server 2008 R2 Learning Plan

Training for Sales and Marketing Roles
Microsoft Virtualization

• Microsoft Partner Network Sales and Marketing Competency Assessment for Private Cloud/Management and Virtualization
• Gear Up Tour of Microsoft Virtualization
• Customer Value Conversations for Data Center Management Scenarios (Partner Version)
• Virtualization Sales Specialist Course. Competing with VMware. Module 3. Case Studies and Customer Objections
• Download the Desktop Virtualization Sales Advisor or Server Virtualization Sales Advisor
• Build Your Client Virtualization Learning Plan or Build Your Server Virtualization Learning Plan

Windows Server 2008

• Selling Windows Server 2008 R2 Using Hyper-V Improvements
• Selling Windows Server 2008 R2 Using File Classification Infrastructure
• Selling Windows Server 2008 R2 Using Remote Desktop Services & VDI
• Microsoft Private Cloud Pitch
• Download the Windows Server 2008 R2 Sales Advisor
• Windows Server 8 Beta Training
• Build Your Windows Server 2008 R2 Learning Plan

Training for Training Roles
Microsoft Virtualization

• Microsoft Partner Network Sales and Marketing Competency Assessment for Private Cloud/Management and Virtualization
• How Partners Can Make Money Selling Microsoft Private Cloud Solutions
• Data Center and Private Cloud Management with System Center 2012: Monitor and Operate the Private Cloud Infrastructure
• Microsoft Server Virtualization and Management for the Experienced VMware IT Pro
• Practice Accelerator for Virtual Desktop Infrastructure - Sessions Available in May and June
• Build Your Client Virtualization Learning Plan or Build Your Server Virtualization Learning Plan

Windows Server 2008

• Cloud Opportunities with Windows Server
• Selling Windows Server 2008 R2 Using Remote Desktop Services & VDI
• Migrating Customers to Windows Server 2008 R2
• Deploying Windows Server with the Express Deployment Tool
• Windows Server 8 Beta Training
• Build Your Windows Server 2008 R2 Learning Plan