User Groups and Community

While this change is one that will entail considerable adjustments on the part of the community and Culminis, I am excited at the prospect of more and deeper engagement with the IT Pros around the world.

We have as you said above, been a champion for ALL of the IT Pro Community regardless of their preferred technology. From the beginning, we have committed our efforts to supporting the community in every way possible. From our Core Services to the entire community to mentoring and working directly with user groups (both new and established)around the world, our focus has always been the greatest service to the greatest number with equity and fairness.

The user group comunity is a strong and powerful force in the propogation and integration of new and emerging technologies. Its leaders are among the finest and most dedicated professionals in the world. The Culminis staff have been honored to serve the community and be a part of them.

This change is being done to evolve to the next level where we will now be able to tap in to the resources of Microsoft to provide services and support to the ever widening audience in exciting and innovative ways.

I look forward to the transition and pledge to do all I can to insure that no services to any of you are interrupted and continue to support and help grow this great community.

On behalf of the Culminis staff, thank you to all those who have worked with us and contributed to the massive effort that has resulted in the Culminis Alliance. We are not going away, we are merely evolving to the next level.

I look forward to continuing that journey with all of you.

I do not know if any of work directly with Culminis directly, but you may want to check out the recent

Hi Graham,

Thanks for sharing this with us. I think moving to a volunteer organisation will create much more acceptance in the IT Pro community. This is a remarkable step taken by Microsoft especially as now all communities around the world will be able to get an equal service offering, independent of the technology they focus on. And it seems in the future the community can choose themselves from whom they take these core-services.

I know from experience (being the Regional Director of Culminis EMEA for almost 3 years and a user group leader since 14 years) there are advantages when you receive a salary to support communities as this will free up your time to 100% focus on the community compared to a volunteer job where there are all different distracters of your focus  like family, friends, and your day-job. In the end passion will always be the key driver to work in the community eco-system.

I fully understand this is not something you can change overnight, but I am only puzzled on the concept of how you see the volunteer based organisation with a 100% Microsoft funded Culminis company? For a transition period I can understand their role, but how do you see the role of Culminis Inc. in comparison to e.g. Ineta after the transition period?

Will Microsoft offer equal core services via both organizations with the differentiation via extra services and technology knowledge offered (dev, it pro, sql etc.). Is the plan to make Ineta and Culminis similar, but only with a different technology focus?

Again thank you for sharing this information and the support from Microsoft to the communities. Working with many user group leaders around the world I can say that there is no other vendor who puts so much effort in communities than Microsoft, thank you.

Bart Martens

CommunityWorks

www.communityworks.eu

To help Brazilian User Group Leaders give their opinion, I translated the text. I can translate their comments, too.

Para ajudar os Líderes de Grupos de Usuários Brasileiros, eu traduzi o texto. Eu irei traduzir seus comentários também.

Anunciando algumas mudanças-chave na forma de Suporte a Grupos de Usuários Microsoft

Como você deve saber, sou um gerente sênior de marketing na Microsoft e meu foco é em comunidades técnicas e como a Microsoft pode lhes dar um melhor suporte. Gostaria de avisar a todos sobre algumas mudanças importantes que estamos realizando em conjunto com a Culminis, a qual foi criada para trazer melhorias na forma como a Microsoft poderia dar suporte a Grupos de Usuários e como os Grupos de Usuários e seus membros poderiam interagir com a Microsoft.

Primeiro, deixe-me esclarecer: a Microsoft considera as “raízes” dos Grupos de Usuários como sendo um núcleo da comunidade no desenvolvimento e entrega de nossos programas de negócios e ferramentas de desenvolvimento. Nenhuma comunidade é mais importante. Nos comprometemos com literalmente milhões de membros de Grupos de Usuários em todo o mundo de forma constante. Isso nos dá um discernimento sem valor sobre como um Profissional de Infra-Estrutura e um Desenvolvedor realmente querem e realmente pensam. Isso, em contrapartida, nos ajuda a dar a você formidáveis softwares e recursos, sem mencionar os maravilhosos momentos em eventos como o TechEd!

Estamos sempre pensando sobre como melhorar as formas que trabalhamos e damos suporte às comunidades em todo o mundo. Desta forma, estamos emocionados sobre algumas mudanças que estamos fazendo com a Culminis que acreditamos irão ajudar a comunidade tremendamente. Adoraria ouvir o que você pensa, portanto deixe seu comentário …

A Culminis tem sido uma campeã incansável da comunidade de TI por diversos anos. A INETA tem feito o mesmo pelos desenvolvedores, mas sendo uma organização puramente voluntária. Achamos que cada modelo tem seus benefícios e juntos com o time de gerenciamento da Culminis, decidimos fazer as seguintes mudanças: -

1. A Culminis se tornará uma organização voluntariada, muito similar à INETA, com equipes regionais.

• A nomeação da equipe inicial sera feita pela Microsoft e Culminis.

• A equipe inicial permanecerá por apenas um ano, e então serão substituídos por membros eleitos pela comunidade.

1. A Microsoft irá fornecer diretamente os seguintes “core services,” muitos deles já fornecidos atualmente pela Culminis.

• Event Support

• Community Development

• Content Delivery

• User Group recognition and reporting

• Newsletter support.

1. Os core services estarão disponíveis aos novos voluntários da comunidade Culminis e INETA, assim como para outras associações, como PASS. Achamos que isto é particularmente vantajoso para a comunidade como um todo, e isso garante à Microsoft que o apoio estará disponível à todos os Grupos de Usuários, não somente aos de Profissionais de TI.

Estas são algumas mudanças significativas e elas não irão ocorrer da noite para o dia – nossa expectativa é que leve dois meses ou mais antes que a nova estrutura esteja totalmente funcional. Por favor, acompanhe este blog para acompanhar o progresso!

E não esqueça – eu realmente gostaria de saber seu feedback sobre isso – por favor, sinta-se à vontade para comentar neste blog ou enviar-me um e-mail diretamente em graham.watson@microsoft.com

Hi, Graham!

My English vocabulary isn't enough to express what I'm feeling about this (Sad? Unhappy?).

I'm from Brazil, Rio de Janeiro. I work with these communities since the beginning. Before these communities started to work here, I created a big technical website and that was the start of a community.

When Ineta arrived in Brazil, my user group organized one of the 3 cities in the first INETA Roadshow in the country (Recife, Rio, Brasilia, my user group organized Rio event).

When I first read about Culminis, I registered my IT user groups with Culminis and motivate other people to do the same. I was member of the first Brazilian Culminis Council.

When I discovered about SQL PASS, I created a PASS Chapter, until now there is only this PASS Chapter in Brazil.

I work with microsoft events, using Microsoft resources for events, since before INETA arrived here.

So, with all this, I'm saying that I know how Microsoft works, I know how Ineta works, I know how Culminis works and I know how SQL PASS works (just a little about this last one). Maybe I don’t know how they work in USA, but I know how they work here, in Brazil.

A few weeks ago I made a travel to Cape Verde, near Senegal, in Africa, to do an entire week of events and an interview for local televisions about academic programs, MSDN AA, and things like that.

While traveling, I passed by Fortaleza, another city in Brazil, and stop a little to do a speech there, the public loved.

All this travel was paid by Culminis money. This year I will also do another travel already paid by Culminis money.

COMTEC, a big event in Fortaleza, with 800 people registered for the event, received Culminis money for its organization and that was great.

ENECOMP in Paraiba, an event for 1.500 people, received money from Culminis for the event and that was the only Microsoft money they received until now.

At the start of this year Microsoft proposed a big event in March 15, Heroes Community Launch. Not so big, just a simultaneous event in some cities. I talked with a lot of people and organized 59 events in different cities in the country. I motivated other people to do the same and because that we had 104 events in the same day and up to 224 if we add the remote events in the same day.

The important secret about this: Microsoft became crazy with all these events being organized by community in the same day. Culminis leader in Brazil was the first person to stay at my side and help me in this organization, if I didn’t get this support I don’t know if I could support the problems and make this event happens.

So, with all my knowledge and experience about the communities since they started here, I can tell you: You are destroying the best work with communities that we have here. Great things started with Culminis, big things are being done with Culminis and you will destroy Culminis with this change, exactly like Ineta, that never worked here and since now, 6 years later their start, they still trying a new beginning with the community.

The solution, Microsoft supporting user groups, was already tried here by a lot of years, in a lot of different ways and never worked well.  So, transferring the core services to Microsoft, here in Brazil is equivalent to destroy them. Culminis make these services work and that’s the better feature we have for our community.

Volunteer organization doesn’t work in our country. Ineta is still trying to establish their work here, 6 years after they arrived. SQL PASS doesn’t support us. I already asked them about to give to Brazil the same services they offer to US groups in their mail list, and received no answer.

The intention to make core services work for INETA and SQL PASS is a great idea, but destroy Culminis for that is the worse idea in the history of all bad ideas already created.

Next month I’m going to Amazonas, for whom would I ask financial support for the events I will do there? May I ask to INETA? SQL PASS? Microsoft? They never gave financial support for events.

I'm very disappointed with the destruction of the better resource our community has, and just to make everyone has the same resource: zero.

(Sorry by my terrible English, I don’t speak English well)

Dennes Torres

ASP.NET MVP

devASPNet User Group Leader (Culminis and Ineta member)

devSQL User Group Leader (First Brazilian Culminis group and the only Brazilian PASS Chapter)

getWindows User Group Leader (Culminis member)

Good news I must say.

I'm very much interested to see what changes in terms of support I can see for my region. I'm from Dubai United Arab Emirates and have been doing very .... very hard to promote the IT using my user group. There is a good potential but at the same side lack of support from Microsoft. Microsoft help us here but not that much as compared to other regions I've noticed. I'm in my 4th year of running my user group but still doing it my own. Culminis didn't work for me since the Bart left.

I hope that now ug will have direct support and correpondance with Microsoft and ask for the support they are looking for. I know this change will not havppen overnight but I'd happy to see these things in action in the future.

Good luck

Dennes,

I am glad to hear you have received money for many events from Culminis and were able to extend your knowledge and message. One of the biggest challenges in the community eco-system is the difference in regions and approach. Brazil and Latin America are not the same nor is EMEA. In the past many concepts did work in the US, but not in other regions and this is and will be one of the biggest challenges for Microsoft.

Based on my experience I can say that INETA EMEA is doing a great job and is very supportive to their user group leaders and this also shows that you can't just put everything under the same umbrella.

The same counts for the money you have received. You have received multiple times cash, whereas in EMEA I know several user groups requested cash from Culminis, but never received it. Next to this are tax-implications for receiving cash money, although in the user group, is directly added to you annual income.

Having at least the core services equal worldwide independent of technoly area is, in my opinion, a big step towards the community and not to be taken lightly.

But I can understand your frustration as other community options, as you have expressed, didn't work in your region, but for sure not on a global basis.

From my village I can cross 2 country borders in just 20 minutes and have to speak three different languages; Dutch, German, French and deal with 3 different cultures, which makes a common approach very difficult, but not impossible.

Having passionate people in the voluntary board who can/will make decisions and show progress to the community will be key criteria to make the new approach a success.

Personally I am more than willing to offer my knowledge and experience to the benefit of the community as that is something I am already doing for over 14 years, passion for communities can't be explained ;-)

Bart Martens (MVP)

CommunityWorks

www.communityworks.eu

Hi, Bart !

I know there are a lot of differences around the world and that's exactly the point. This change isn't planned thinking about these differences. This is a global change, affecting places where the communities are working and where they aren't.

Sure that the core services needs to be independent of technology area. But did someone researched about local communities to discover where these changes would work and where these changes wouldn't work ?

Talking about Brazil, I can garantee to you :

- The core services in the hands of Microsoft will never work.

- Culminis as a volunteer organization will became the same as INETA, that after 6 years is still restarting their work.

- Volunteer organizations of this kind doesn't work here and INETA and all the problems in 6 years is a prove of this.

I'm talking about 6 years of community history that can't be told in a comment box. I'm talking about 6 years of community history that nobody researched to identify if this change would be good or not.

Result : Microsoft is taking out the support for Brazilian communities and giving nothing in exchange.

This change is needed for other countries ? Other places in the world ? So, do this change their, don't destroy the work we did so well these last years.

INETA and PASS need access to core services ? Sure ! But there is no need to take this out of Culminis and make a change that will result in the stop of the community support in a lot of places.

To change, move ahead, not backwards. I already talked with a lot of user group leaders in all my country : disappointed is the minimal English world in my vocabulary to explain how we see Microsoft right now.

No answer for that : Who will give financial support to my travel to Amazonas ?

Dennes Torres

ASP.NET MVP

devASPNet User Group Leader (Culminis and Ineta member)

devSQL User Group Leader (First Brazilian Culminis group and the only Brazilian PASS Chapter)

getWindows User Group Leader (Culminis member)

Hi, Bart !

Just one more point : When I enumerated financial support from Culminis, I wasn't talking only about my user groups. I'm talking about different user groups (6 or more in the small list I created) all around the country, separated by distances bigger than France or Germany country sizes.

Culminis was working in Brazil, user groups was being supported, until this bad news.

Dennes

Sorry to hear you might/will loose all of this, but let's wait till the more details are known. For EMEA I think this new model will work much better as the Europeans are not always keen on the "leadership" of the USA ;-)

I know Emilio and Vicki have done a tremendous job in Brazil and Latam America, these two Culminis people are for sure on your side.

Bart

I expect that with this feedback maybe we can keep a mixed mode : let EMEA and LATAM works each one in its way without do so many steps backward in community support.

All the user group leaders I talked with are very worried and sad about this change.

Dennes

I think the major point is not to turn Culminis into an INETA-like organization, as INETA is doing a good (is it?) job as a volunteer organization.

Heroes Commnunity Launch runned great in Brazil and Culminis role was essencial to put speakers in cities that generally don't have that.

I can tell you guys that when a couple of students (I work mostly with academic) is about to start a group and I say to them "That's it, you have Microsoft support" their eyes shine. I can't see the new aproach as an improvement to the support I've mentioned.

I Don´t understand this changes in the world. In the Brazil the Groups of the Culminis is very good !!

The Groups save

Vocês estão achando isso a jogada de marketing do ano? Porque assim, sentimos o Culminis bem mais próximo do que a Microsoft, não que não exista apoio da Microsoft... mas o Culminis tem se tornado bem mais disponível e cooperativo.

A comunidade está crescendo exponencialmente, seja no âmbito acadêmico ou profissional e isso vejo apenas tres pontos de forca: Software de Qualidade, Eventos Divulgadores e Apoio Academico.

Softwares de qualidade e inquestionavel a qualidade que a Microsoft tem exigido nas sua producao. Quanto aos eventos vejo casos de pessoas custearem do bolso para fazer eventos, e a Microsoft ganha muito com esses esforcos... e ate reconhece alguns. Quanto ao apoio academico, mesmo com um bom canal direto, as vezes faltam verbas. Como resolver o problema de iniciativas que dao certo?

Eu vejo o Culiminis como o "Grande Apoio", pois ele sempre esta por perto, sempre ajuda... e por isso sou Culminis Speaker, pois sei da seriedade das atividades desenvolvidas.

Acredito que depois de tudo feito apenas um tapinhas nas costas da comunidade, ou mesmo "cargos" com nomes bonitinhos nao resolvera os problemas que temos...

   Acho bastante louvavel essa atitude de trarsformar o culminis em uma instituição voluntária, no entanto esse modelo não funciona muito bem por aqui, e não me agrada a idéia de descentralizar o culminis, demitindo funcionários do mais alto gabarito que estão sendo pagos para dar suporte aos grupos e colocar pessoas "indicadas", que farão um trabalho "voluntário", até agora particulamente sempre que precisei de alguma informação fui prontamente atendido sem nenhuma burocracia, será vai continuar tão agil e pratica como está agora?!

  Sou a favor de continuar como está pois de outra forma favorecerá o que chamamos no Brasil de "Politicagem", onde nem sempre as pessoas que mereciam exercer tal cargo não estão neles e outras pessoas que não tem carater nem competencia estão simplemente por indicação.

   Em time que está ganhando não se meche!

   Sou Líder do Primeiro Grupo de Desenvovedores Culminis do Piauí, e recentemente fomos os ganhadores da pesquisa mensal culminis, o que nos proporcionara realizar um evento com um nivel mais elevado, a aquisição de verbas para a realização de eventos aqui no Piauí é extremamente complicado, e atraves do culminis essa dificuldade foi sanada, pois temos um canal direto com o Culminis, da forma que será feito, não só perderemos esse canal como não teremos mais garantia de que esses repasses serão feitos de forma tansparente como está sendo, independente da região do Brasil, TODOS os grupos tem direitos iguais.

James Jefferson de Sá Silva

Líder da Célula Acadêmica Floriano Cell.Net

Líder do Grupo de Desenvolvedores Culminis FlorianoCell (o primeiro do Piauí).

I Don´t understand this changes in the world.

In Brazil, Groups of the Culminis is very good !!

The Groups save my life in the job, conversations to solve problems and high quality events in portuguese language throughout the country(and not small!).

why the change in the Brazil ? Change in the rest of the world but not in the Brazil Please !!!

I´m an user of this comunity and I Work in a bigger company in Rio de Janeiro - Brazil, the Fortaleza technical support view the same lecture that me in Rio de Janeiro.

The distance of the cities is 2805 KM.

This initiative helped us directly in my company.

Please review the changes on Brazil, each area has its particularity.

Thanks.

Obs.: Sorry for my English

Petrus Gomes

MCP,MCSA e MCSE 2003.

MCTS Windows Server 2008.

Minha especialização é Telecom, mas participo/trabalho com o grupo para melhor desenvolvimento e associação de tecnologias TI e Telecom. Atualmente ando com dificuldade, sem tempo para contribuir com o meu grupo, mas acompanho o trabalho dos grupos desde antes do CULMINIS, noto atualmente que através do apoio direto do CULMINIS, os eventos estão sendo produzidos com um melhor nível/conteúdo, e está sendo permitido aos líderes uma melhor integração entre si, o que proporciona um excelente retorno para a MICROSOFT e ao CULMINIS. Além do que, o BRASIL deve ser melhor observado pela MICROSOFT, porque após este crescimento em investimento tecnológico e de acesso a Internet, a área governamental e alguns setores industriais e empresariais, estão fornecendo apoio ao software livre, para retorno imediato de baixo custo de risco financeiro, com sistemas operacionais. Sendo assim é muito bom fazer uma análise mais detalhada, antes de qualquer decisão.

Translating Thiago Freitas's comment:

Are you thinking this is the top Marketing move of the year? We feel that Culminis is closest than Microsoft. I'm not saying that we don't have Microsoft support... but Culminis have showed to be more available and cooperative.

The community is getting higher in a exponential way, in the academic environment and in the professional environment and that shows me 3 power points: quality software, marketing events and academic support.

Quality Softwares is unquestionable the quality that Microsoft have claimed by it's production. In relation to events, I see more cases where people have to pay from their own money to organize the events and Microsoft earns a lot with these efforts... and recognize some. In relation to academic support, although with a direct channel, sometimes there are no funds. How to solve the successful initiative's problems?

I see Culminis as a "Great Support", because they are close, always help... and for these reasons I'm a Culminis Speaker, because I know the seriousness of their activities.

I believe that after all the job done just a little slap in the community's back (similiar to "just to say thank you"), or even with more beautiful job titles will not solve problems we have...

Translating James Jefferson's comment:

I think it's very praiseworthy this attitude to turns Culminis in a volunteer institution, but this model doesn't work very well here and I don't like the idea to decentralize Culminis, firing highly skilful employees that have been payed to support our groups and put some "indicated" people that will do a "volunteer" job. Up to now, in particular, always I needed any information I was immediately answered with no burocracy. Will it continue so fast and practical like we have now?!

I'm in favor of it continue like it is, because if it will go in another way, it will in favor of what in Brazil we call "petty politics", where not always people who should deserve that job title are there and others, that have no character and even competency areb there just because they were indicated.

We don't change a winner's team.

I'm Leader of the first Culminis Developer's Group of Piaui and recently we were winners of a monthly Culminis survey, what will help us to organize an event with a higher level, getting funds to organize events in Piaui is very hard and with Culminis this pain was healed, because we have a direct channel with Culminis, the way it is, we will loose this channel and we will not have the guarantee that these deliveries will be so clearly like it's done today, independent of the Brazil's region, with ALL groups with same rights.

James Jefferson de Sá Silva

Leader of Floriano Cell.Net Academic Cell

Leader of FlorianoCell Developers UG

Translating Celso Ramos's comment:

My specialization is in Telecommunications, but I participate/work with a user group for my best develpment and technology association in IT/Telecom. Actually I have difficulties, no time for contributions for my user group, but I always observe the user group work, since before CULMINIS, my perception today is that with this direct support from CULMINIS, the events are organized with a better level/contect, and Leaders are having a better integration between them, what brings to an excellet feedback to MICROSOFT and CULMINIS. Besides, I think Brazil have to be better observed by MICROSOFT, because after this investment in technology and Internet access, the govern and some industrial and business sectors are providing support to Open Source, to a fast return of a low cost financial risk, with Operating Systems. So, I thnk you have to analyze it in details before any decison.

I'll write my personal comment in Portuguese, and after, in English.

Vou escrever meu comentário pessoal em Português, e depois, em Inglês.

Assim como Dave Sanders, sou Microsoft MVP na melhor categoria que existe, a de pessoas: Customer Experience.

Isso nos dá a possibilidade de estar em contato com Líderes de Grupos de Usuários de todo o mundo e portanto, me ajuda a entender algumas coisas.

Fatos:

* Pessoas da América Latina (não só no Brasil) trabalham muito mais com a emoção;

* No Brasil, a maior parte dos membros dos Grupos de Usuários são estudantes ou iniciantes;

* No Brasil, à medida que o profissional vai evoluindo, ele vai abandonando o Grupo. Isso deixa os Grupos de Usuários brasileiros com cara de coisa de estudante, dificultando o patrocinio;

* No Brasil, as pessoas que abandonam o grupo o respeitam, mas não tem mais tempo para eles.

Microsoft no Brasil:

* Ajuda muito a comunidade, mas claro, dá mais atenção a um menor grupo, devido aos resultados.

* Trabalha em parceria com a Culminis para tentar ajudar a todos, onde o trabalho da Culminis é feito de forma a equalizar o trabalho a todos.

* Se não estou engandado (as pesquisas de MVPs e com parceiros podem confirmar) a relação da comunidade com a subsidiária brasileira é a melhor do mundo em integração/interatividade.

Culminis no Brasil:

Finalmente chega uma organização internacional que vai apoiar os grupos maiores e menores de uma mesma forma, dando-lhes atenção, apoio financeiro, orientação. E creio que no resto da América Latina esse também seja o sentimento.

Tentei mostrar estes fatos acima para justificar a reação brasileira neste blog.

Infelizmente existem lugares onde o sentimento e os fatos são diferentes.

Quando eu fui convidado para ser o representante no Brasil, pergunta que fiz à Vicki foi: "Os diretores são multi-culturais? Eles conhecem os outros países? O que funciona em um pais talvez não funcione em outro" (lembra disso, Vicki?).

Isto que está acontecendo com a Culminis já era previsto e eu já havia comentando com algumas pessoas.

Infelizmente aconteceu um ano antes da minha previsão.

Amigos (líderes), calma.

Eu não sei o que vai acontecer, e acho que ninguém sabe 100% o que vai acontecer, mas tenho certeza que a intenção é boa.

Como sempre, contem comigo.

=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-

Like Dave Sanders, I'm MVP in the best category that exists, people: Customer Experience.

It gave us the chance to be in contact with User Group Leaders in all world, and it helps me to understand some things.

Facts:

Latin America people (not only in Brazil) work a lot more with feelings;

In Brazil, most part of User Group members are students or beginners;

In Brazil, in proportion to the progressing of the ITPro, he leaves the User Group. It causes the impression that a User Group ia a "student thing", making hard the mission of getting sponsors.

In Brazil, people who leaves the User Group still respects it, but have no time for it.

Microsoft in Brazil:

* Helps the community a lot, but of course, gives more attention to a small group, due to results.

* Works in partnership with Culminis to try to help all groups, where Culminis responsability is to equalize the effort to all groups.

* If I'm not wrong (MVPs and partners surveys can confirm) the relationship with community with the Brazilian subsidiary is the best of the world in integration/interaction.

Culminis in Brazil:

Finally an international organization comes to support big and small User Groups in a same way, giving them attention, financial support and guidance. And I believe that is the feeling for all LATAM.

I tried to show these facts to justify the Brazilian reaction in this blog.

Unfortunately there are places where the feeling and facts are different.

When I was invited to be the representative in Brazil, the question I did to Vicki was: "Does the directors have multi-culture mind? Do they know other countries? What works in a country, sometimes can't work in another" (remember that, Vicki?).

What is happening with Culminis was predicted and I already talked about it with some people.

Unfortunately it's happening one year before my prediction.

Friends (leaders), take it easy.

I don't know what will happen, and I think nobody knows 100% what will happen, but I'm sure that the intention was good.

As always, count me in!

I think that's important to notice one point : Here in comments there are user group leaders and user group members from Rio de Janeiro (RJ), Brasilia (DF), Fortaleza (CE) and Floriano (PI).

Four Brazilian states separated by big, very big distances. That's just the beggining.

Like Emilio said, the intention seems to be good, but the change is being done without a multi-culture mind.

I can garantee to you, with my experience seen how microsoft supports user groups here : this will not work in our country and will destroy the best support we have.

Dennes

É incrível... mas sempre que as coisas estão dando certo aparece alguém e diz o contrário. E pior ainda, consegue mudar tudo... E lá vamos nós ficar mendigando apoio mais uma vez. Isso pq temos uma série de eventos para organizar durante o próximo semestre, conforme a própria Microsoft diz.

Botando lenha na fogueira..!!! Será que existe o incômodo com a competência em organizar eventos que nós temos, inclusive aliados ao Culminis?

Luiz Pena

Hello, I am Marcel Luis Freitas, leader of the group of users request. First group of users of rondônia, north of Brazil.

I would stress that our region to be "less evolved technologically suffers discrimination and a great difficulty in getting support for events of technology companies and organizations.

The Culminis came to remedy this problem by creating a direct channel of communication and access to businesses, professionals and organization. Making a very import for connection to show the seriousness of work performed by the groups.

We know that empty bag not for standing that is, several other organizations that had only volunteers in their directions without any kind of income just weakening.

In my concern is also the same for several other colleagues for an unconscious way the resources end up being targeted to groups with greater influence, thus creating a fight and an even greater difficulty for groups that are starting and that has no influence dental organisations.

The culminis in its current model is on meeting the needs of groups without discrimination and favorecimentos.

I am sure that would be an irreparable loss if this happens and these changes are brought forward with the same opniao not favourable for leaders who promote the dissemination of technologies microsoft only by the pleasure of help ..

Marcel Luis Freitas

The head of the Group Request

MCP-MCDST - MSP

Olá a todos!

Há cerca de 2 anos fui convidado a participar do Road Show Culminis & MVP's, que estava acontecendo em diversas cidades do Brasil e aqui no Rio de Janeiro. Foi quando tive meu primeiro contato com pessoas da Comunidade, pois até o momento só participava de listas de discussão. Após assistir todas as palestras, inclusive do Emílio Mansur, que fez a abertura, fui até o próprio Emílio e conversando com ele, senti que era exatamente aquilo que ele estava fazendo que eu gostaria de fazer também.

Hoje, após dois anos de atividade na Comunidade sendo lider de um dos maiores grupos do país, com ligação com outros grupos no estado e fora do Rio de Janeiro, fui nomeado em 1º. de abril de 2008, como MVP na categoria Windows Desktop Experience, e credito esse título ao trabalho que tenho realizado com o apoio da Culminis.

Através da Culminis e mais precisamente do Mansur, posso afirmar que sem o apoio da Culminis e da iniciativa da mesma, a Comunidade de Profissionais e Usuários do Brasil não seria tão grande e tão proativa.

Para completar temos seguido o conselho dado pelo próprio Emílio Mansur quando preparamos algum evento: Parcerias com empresas, CPLS e outras instituições, e óbvio como apoio da Culminis.

Acredito que todo processo de mudança, seja complicado de compreender, mas acredito também que o trabalho desses grupos serão respeitados e mantidos.

Abraços a todos,

Alexandro Prado

MVP Windows Desktop Experience

Grupo MS-InfraRio & MSRio.NET

Grupo Code4all

Grupo WITS Brasil

Adding 2 more Brazilian states here, São Paulo and Rondonia, so now there are 6 Brazilian states complaining, 4 of the 5 Brazilian geographic regions.

If you stop in a corner and start to watch a trafic sign changing from stop to go and back to stop after some months or years doing this you will be able to identify different light intensity, moments when the signal will fail, the difference in time of each state on diferent hours in a day and so on. You will also be able to predict when that signal needs to change lights and if one change in the duration of each state would work or not.

In this case you may not understand all the trafic jam in the rest of the city, but in that corner you are the best person to be asked for about any change.

The history repeats itself. It happens because young people without experience in one area repeats the same mistakes already done by others. Do you need to put your hand in the fire to discover that it burns ?

When some kind of answer to our complains appear, I'm sure it would say "You didn't understant, the support will not stop, will be done directly by microsoft now".

The point is that all of us know that giving this task to Microsoft Brazil or Microsoft Corp. is one thing that will never work. We watched the traffic sign long enough to garantee that this change will not work in our corner.

This change is being done without any research about our corner. Another thing that you will say is "every group technology needs the same support, not only IT ones!" but you even noticed that in our corner every technology group : IT, Dev and SQL, are supported by Culminis.

Do you really need to put your hand in fire and loose an entire country to discover things that all of us already know ?

Maybe Brazil isn't a so important country for Microsoft...

Dennes Torres

ASP.NET MVP

Hi all ,

from the above comments it seems to me that Culminis only existed and supported to the Brazil or in other words Culminis was culminating the user groups in Brazil. This is not fair.

Let me give you my example. I'm struggling to run the user group here. Culminis only supported by word to me that's it. And the latest example is that couple of months I asked Culminis RD for the support and he showed me the hope by saying this and that......supprt with cash money... which never ever happend and finally I had to speak to the Microsoft and they supported me.

Where is Culminis ...? I just hear this word.. that's it. When I send them one email I get the reply in a week or so. No communication from the Culminis since they moved their operation from EMEA.

I heard Culminis happend only in the USA. I heard Culminis RD moving around the world round the clock but never found any support from Culminis. ,,,, why?

When we talk globally we should think globally. Maybe this change could impact the Brazil UG but it will help the other regions. So if the UG were happy with culminis then I'm sure they will be treated same with the Microsoft and Microsoft can help better UG around the world.

What I feel is that the poeople in the Culminis who were looking after the LATAM or Brazil were dedicated and sincere to their job unlike our region and thus we have many complains.

Core Services, em fim foi um ótimo desenvolvimento para quem trabalha com a microsoft, pricipalmente palestrando em outros estados, espero que melhore cada vez mais para assim a Microsoft ver que o Brasil tbm está muito contribuindo com o lado deles... e disponibilizar todo valor possivel para algo que a invista!

Hi, Adnan !

Sure your region needs better support !

But the better support can't be achieved taking out the support for other regions and that's what is happening.

Isn't Microsoft aware of difference in cultures of each region ? A glogal solution will not work.

Look at this paragraphs in my last comment :

"When some kind of answer to our complains appear, I'm sure it would say "You didn't understant, the support will not stop, will be done directly by microsoft now".

The point is that all of us know that giving this task to Microsoft Brazil or Microsoft Corp. is one thing that will never work. We watched the traffic sign long enough to garantee that this change will not work in our corner. "

You just did exactly this "You didn't understand, who will support you now will be Microsoft!". We understand, we understand very well to know that this means that we will have zero support, comparing with culminis support today.

So, if your region needs better support - and as you say, it needs - change the way things works in your region, not globaly.

Don't believe in the mistake that Microsoft will work the same and give the same support for all user groups in the world. Here we know that's not true.

Dennes

Nesses últimos dias percebi que a Microsoft esteve fazendo uma grande besteira, cortar o Patrocinio da Microsoft com a culminis, até porque antes de fazer algo devemos analisar bem antes que façamos algo errado, vejamos que a Microsoft não esteja olhando o lado do Brasil e deu demissão ao Emilio Mansur, um ótimo Rapaz!!!

Hi Dennes,

I think this feedback/discussion will give the message to the Microsoft that what really we want and what will work for us.

Yes I agree Microsoft understand the region very well ans they are already in business and very experienced about the market, same does happen to the UG.

I wish this global change will not affect the UG around the world like yours. Then intention here is to gelp the user group but how ... ? I think graham would better answer this.  

Hi, Adnan !

"Yes I agree Microsoft understand the region very well ans they are already in business and very experienced about the market,"

if with "market" you mean user groups and community, I don't agree with that.

Microsoft that you know is different than Microsoft that I know, because Microsoft is formed by people, different people in each region and even at Corp., different people for each region.

So, while you think "your" Microsoft will help a lot, I know, by experience, that "my" Microsoft will make a mess with the core services that until now was working for us.

This change can't be global. It will be a global disaster.

Dennes

Dennes,

thing seems totally oppsite at our our sites. In fact Microsoft was not so much helpful but it was better than Culminis, no doubt.

I think we should hear from more people in this discussion and get to know what do they think. So far we have 3 voices , myself you and Bart. I'd suggess to reach this discussion to as many people (leaders) as we can.

Afterall we all want us to grow.

Atualmente acho uma decisão errada. O Culminis faz um excelente trabalho, e foi com ajuda deles que várias palestras e cursos foram oferecidos, até em lugares que a Microsoft nunca chegou. Com isso, particulamente, acho que só quem tem a perder são os usuários, pois o trabalho prestado pelo Culminis deveria ser aplaudido em pé, e incentivar cada vez mais, e não simplesmente acabar.

Se isso realmente se concretizar, será um golpe duro na comunidade. Pensem bem antes de fazer.

Pablo Weyne

IISHelp User Group Leader

www.iishelp.com.br

It is complicated and sensitive situation such as for the HCL the kits that were on the responsibility Corp. still not arrived, those who already had the support of culminis reached well before the event ..

Is it not begun to occur constantly ..

I started to ask me

Marcel Freitas

Group Request

MCP-MCDST-MSP

Hi, Adna !

3 voices ? Not counting you, me and Bart we have 7 different user group leaders that gave there opinion here, and three user group members.

Dennes

Just to complete Marcel comment : That's something like 104 kit for the events that happend at March 15 (yes, 104 events in a day) and we have no information from Corp. about them.

Dennes

but mainly covering the 3 regions or countries this is what I mean.

Hi to all fellow user group leaders,

One main observation about this discussion is the passion we all have for the community which is the common denominator and according to me the key differentiator between a good user group leader and a bad one.

Having that said I am getting very curious to find out what was/is Culminis doing different in Brazil than in all other regions.

I have read they are giving money, but that is only the last year as before that this service was never an available(e.g. in EMEA tax-implications are causing more problems than advantages).

Secondly I hear they are supporting Developers, SQL and IT Pro, which means in principle playing in the area of INETA and PASS and that was not the plan according to Microsoft. I understand why it happens as the INETA and PASS didn't help you, but don't understand how it can be that different.

I don't want to judge your passion and feeling as I think it is very good you are happy with the support, indirectly from Microsoft, but I try to understand what makes your country that unique in the world.

Microsoft has employees whose job is to support community, what is the difference between a Culminis paid person and a Microsoft paid person? Is this the independency? If so, what makes this independency if the sole sponsor of Culminis is Microsoft? Is it the time this person can allocate to your country/region? We all know Microsoft employees are stretched very much with many different tasks, but think that counts for many jobs.

Are the Brazilian leaders able to tell us in bullet-points the 3-5 key deliverables you have received over the last years you have never received from Microsoft (INETA, PASS) directly? And are these deliverables coming from the whole Culminis organisation or are you receiving them mainly from Emilio and Vicki as people can make the difference here.

Hope to learn a lot from this discussion.

Bart Martens

In this case, only Microsoft can make this message arrives for the entire globe.

Bart talks about Europe, if I undertand. You about Asia, right ?

So, two regions.

Me and other 7 leaders talk about Brazil. Brazil for Culminis is an isolated region, not equal latam.

So we haven't opinion from Latam, NORAM, and Africa. But, I was in Africa a few weeks ago, in cape verde. They have no support from neither, Culminis or Microsoft. But Culmins paid my travel to cape verde and (I think) Culminis Brazil was ready to support them if authorized to do that, but with all this change on going, this doesn't happend.

Culminis Surveys give each month for each region a value of us$ 250,00 . In January, April and May there was APAC winners. In the other months this means that APAC user groups didn't filled the survey, none APAC user groups have at least 10 members filling the survey.

All the months of this year had Brazil, NORAM, LATAM and EMEA winners of the survey. (maybe march there isn't anyone from NORAM, I'm not sure).

I already earned this money sometimes and I can tell you : this money helped a lot with user group events.

Does the EMEA and APAC user groups that earned the same support have the same opinion as you ?

The fact is that we never received money from Microsoft, neither before Culminis or during Culminis and I'm saying that I'm in this corner for enough time to garantee that this support will stop.

Dennes

Hi, Bart !

First of all, at March 15 we did 224 events in the same day.

224 events around the country !

The initial idea was 20 or 30, but I get the idea bigger, a lot bigger, and Culminis helped a lot with this. Sure Ineta and Microsoft worked and helped also, but I in doubt if we could do this without Culminis.

"I have read they are giving money, but that is only the last year as before that this service was never an available(e.g. in EMEA tax-implications are causing more problems than advantages). "

Here we haven't this problem, not yet. Each user group leader solve this problem in his way. One year is much time. I travelled to cape verde with Culminis money, I speaked in Fortaleza (more than 2 thousand KM from my house) with Culminis money, a lot of the events of March 15 was supported by Culminis money and I will travel this year again with Culminis money. Some of the user group leaders that commented here also had this benefit.

We never had this before. That's not an easy thing here. That's important and will be changed by this decision.

"Secondly I hear they are supporting Developers, SQL and IT Pro, which means in principle playing in the area of INETA and PASS and that was not the plan according to Microsoft. I understand why it happens as the INETA and PASS didn't help you, but don't understand how it can be that different."

Our country is big, too big. So user group leaders motivate other user group leaders to create regional groups. With Culminis, the support is quickly for any group and that's a very good thing.

Microsoft has employees whose job is to support community, what is the difference between a Culminis paid person and a Microsoft paid person?

With this question you try to open a box that can't be opened. I can garantee to you that I'm in the corner for enough time to know that the difference is too big.

Let's say a simple example : In all these years with the community, more than one time I answered my phone and someone told me something like this : "Hi, I'm new here, at Microsoft and now I'm the responsable by communities relation. Can you tell me who you are and how we can work together ?" . Understand my point ? Sundely all the memory about your contribution to communities just desapears and all the politics about how the support is done just change.

I can't understand microsoft international employees politics, I just can ensure to you that a long time support planning (is this right in English language?) doesn't work with today international employees politics that microsoft uses.

I can't tell anything more in a comment box, and I'm sure I already told too much.

About MS Corp. Support, just need to say that MS Corp. never understood the structure of Heroes Community Launch we did (224 events in the same day!) and that's one point more to Culminis.

"Is this the independency?"

Culminis employees fight against MS employees to turn our ideas into reallity and that's great.

MS employees always have too much things in mind.

"Are the Brazilian leaders able to tell us in bullet-points the 3-5 key deliverables you have received over the last years you have never received from Microsoft (INETA, PASS) directly? And are these deliverables coming from the whole Culminis organisation or are you receiving them mainly from Emilio and Vicki as people can make the difference here."

1) Constant comunication with user group members and money prizes

2) money sponsorship

3) Sharepoint portal

4) User group interaction analysis (TheVoice, Surveys, 5 levels of user groups)

5) Interesting motivation to create new things (IT Hero program)

These five are global resources.

Dennes

Translating Luiz Pena's comment:

That's incredible... but always when things seens to be going well, someone comes and says the opposite. Even worse, can change everything... And here we go be begging support one more time. That's because we have a list of events to organize during next semester, according to Microsoft.

Adding fuel to the flames..!!! Is there any discomfort with the competency in organize events that we have, including from Culminis partners?

Luiz Pena

Hi, I´m Claudio Terra, I participate in the community for several years, now I contribute directly with events and mediations for getwindows user group.

For several years we tried to put the community together, to motivate the It professional to participate, to share all the experiences and knowledge.

Microsoft tried to connect with the community with several programs, sometimes effected like academic cells, but with the grow of the groups the support from Microsoft was very complicated and here we lost several opportunities to

When Culminis came to brazil I begging to have hope that we will be able to get the community together, and in few months, lots of groups was connected to culminis, we had great group of IT professionals like Emilio Mansur, Dennes Torres and others.

In my group we bagging to learn from culminis, now we have regular meetings every month open to the community and participate in all the lunch events and programs that Microsoft ask for our help.

The most important example to the work that we can achieve with the culminis support was the Heroes Community Launch in March 15, which we could launch the new servers in 59 cities, with more than 100 events in the same day. We could reach places that normally Microsoft technology couldn´t get.

So I’m frustrated as all the professionals, group leaders and friends that are trying to spread knowledge.

Claudio Terra

getWindows User Group Member (Culminis member)

MCP – MCDST

Microsoft has a deep commitment to growing and nurturing communities organized around supporting users

Translating Alexandro Prado's comment

Hello all!

About 2 years ago I was invited to in a Culminis & MVPs Roadshow that were happening in some cities, including Rio de Janeiro. It was when I had my first contact with community people, because up to that moment I was only participating of dicussions lists. After attending all presentations, including Emilio Mansur's presentation, that was the event's opening, I looked him and talking with Emilio I felt that was exactly what I wanted to do too.

Now, after two years with Community activity, being a Leader of one of the greatest Groups in our country, with connections with others groups in the state and outside Rio de Janeiro, I was nominated a Microsoft MVP in Windows Desktop Experience category and I credit this title to the work I have done with Culminis support.

Through Culminis, and being more precise, through Mansur, I can affirm that without Culminis support and of it's initiative, the Professional and Users Community in Brazil will not be so great and proactive.

To complete, we have followed the pieces of advice given by Emilio Mansur when we have to organize any event: partnership with companies, CPLSs and other institutions, and obvious, Culminis support.

I believe that all changing process is complicated to understand, but I also believe that the work of the User Groups will be respected and maintained.

Hugs for all,

Alexandro Prado

MVP Windows Desktop Experience

MS-InfraRio & MSRio.NET User Group

Code4all User Group

WITS Brasil User Group

Boa noite

Sou líder do Grupo de usuários GetWindows e Culminis Speaker. Tanto o grupo,quanto eu fomos um dos primeiros membros do Culminis aqui no Brasil(Terceiro no Brasil e segundo no Rio de Janeiro).Pelo tempo e experiencias já vistas, tenho quase certeza que essa nova fórmula que estão querendo implantar não será bem sucedida aqui no Brasil. Durante anos os grupos de TI não tiveram apoio algum, a comunidade era dispersada e com a vinda do Culminis o cenário mudou, trazendo uma unidade e organização. Não há nada o que se reclamar da atual estrutura, pelo contrário, só elogios.A agilidade e prestatividade é uma das marcas da atual gestão. Um dos exemplos são os benefícios que são oferecidos pelo Culminis que são muito bem geridos e distribuido aos grupos, algo que creio não será tão eficiente se mudar de mãos. Conforme já comentado, a realidade brasileira é diferente de outros países e isso tem de ser levado em conta antes de ser promovida qualquer mudança. Colocar pessoas indicadas,em algums casos, pode acabar gerando regalias e privilégios,coisa que atualmente não há. Sugiro, já que o foco é valorizar o que os profissionais e grupos de TI realmente pensam, que seja feita uma votação com os líderes de grupo no Brasil para que sejam ouvidos e decidam qual o melhor formato, se o atual ou o novo. Essa é a melhor forma de decidir algo tão importante.

Marcio Peixoto

MCP,MCSA,MCSE,MCITP,MCTS

It is fascinating that there is great disparity in experiences, and even in the USA.  One group will say they have great support, the next group will say that they only get boxes of outdated software as giveaways.  

Most of what I've seen as byproducts of Culminis can be traced to direct funds/actions by Microsoft, so while some would give the kudos for Culminis for making the effort, it's really Microsoft with the strings and purse strings that is carrying the day in my interactions.

Is it perhaps that there is a team in Brazil making the difference?

One thing is for sure, there isn't consistency.

Translating Pablo Weyne's comment:

Nowadays I think it's a wrong decision. Culminis does a great job, and was with their help that many presentations and courses were offered, even in places where Microsoft never were before. So, particularly, I think the one's who will really loose will be the users, cause the work provided by Culminis should be applauded, and motivated even more, not simply come to an end.

If it really happens, it will be a hard stroke in the community. Think about it before do it.

Pablo Weyne

IISHelp User Group Leader

www.iishelp.com.br

Traduzindo o comentário de Graham Watson:

Uau! Muitíssimo obrigado a *TODOS* pelos comentários e pela óbvia paixão que vocês tem pela comunidade.

Se puder vou resumir o que entendi do que foi dito até aqui - assim vocês poderão me corrigir! - A Culminis tem trabalhado muito bem em alguns paises, o Brasil em particular. Em outros paises o impacto foi bem menor. O que queremos fazer com estas mudanças é tentar fornecer ao resto do mundo o mesmo nível de suporte que o Brasil tem recebido sem reduzir o suporte ao Brasil. Como outros disseram, seria ótimo receber um resumo do que funcionou no Brasil a partir do ponto de vista dos líderes - Eu criei um post em separado em http://blogs.technet.com/grahamtwatson/archive/2008/06/22/why-is-culminis-so-successful-in-brazil.aspx assim podemos ter uma discussão em separado sobre isso.

Translating Marcio Peixoto's comment:

Good evening

I'm Leader of GetWindows User Group and a Culminis Speaker. As the User Group as myself were among the first Culminis member here in Brazil (third in Brazil and second in Rio de Janeiro). By the time and experience we saw, I'm sure that this new formula that you want to implement will not work here in Brazil. For years the IT User Groups had no support, community was diffused and with Culminis arrival, the scenery changed, bringing a unity and organization. There is nothing to complain about the actual structure, on the contrary, only praises. The quickness and serviceable are the signs of the actual administration. One of the examples are the benefits that are offered by Culminis that are very well managed and distributed for the Groups, somewhat that I believe that will not be so efficient if it change of hands. Accordingly to an old comment, the reality in Brazil is different from another countries and it have to take into account before any change. To place indicated people, in some cases, can generate some privilege and prerogative, and that doesn't exist today. I suggest, since the focus is to add value to what IT Pros and User Groups really think, a survey with Brazilian UG Leaders to hear what they have to say about it and make the decision for the best format, if the current one or the new one. This is the best way to decide something so important.

Marcio Peixoto

MCP,MCSA,MCSE,MCITP,MCTS

Hi, Susan !

"Is it perhaps that there is a team in Brazil making the difference?"

Is almost the oposite.

Sure we have a great team in Microsoft Brazil, always helping comunity (not like Culminis), but because MS way to work, this team is instable, always changing and when change happens, rules changes.

Culminis support isn't tied with Microsoft support. Culminis survey is a global resource (each month this year a diferent NORAM group earned the survey too) and I can ask money to Culminis at any time. Each quarter I have a money limit to do events, just needing to give feedback about the events.

Dennes

I will explain my relationship with the culminis. I am leading a group acting in the north regîão to parents. Region is that is developing and that there is not big business of technology and the residents have no access to technology innovations.

Our group of users was born with the goal of filling that space, promoting events and speak to bring the population to technological innovations.

In 4 years existentei ja palestramos or organize events in excess of 15 thousand people we work in all cities.

I had that on several occasions by taking money from the pocket unable to companies or organisations to help the costs.

Once I join the culminis everything was easier, access organizations, professional and financial support has occurred quietly.

I think the model's work culminis in brazil should rather be copied and implemented in other regions of the world with the same speed, professionalism and seriousness.

During the HCL were 224 events, this is not just people. It is a great deal and that thanks to the support of culminis and emilio was possible ..

I have to say wonders and could write a book on the great respect and commitment between the culminis and users ..

hugs

Marcel Freitas

Leader of Group

MCP - MCDST - MSP

Hi, Graham !

"Graham here again - The funding Culminis provided was by managing and distributing funds Microsoft supplied to them (my budget, actually!). The aim was always for these funds to available without favor anywhere in the world, and this will NOT change as we go forward. The only difference as far as funding is concerned is that at some point in the next few months you will apply to Microsoft rather than to Culminis, which we hope will make it easier for those not in Brazil."

Did you already thinked about a solution for Brazil ?

The problem is that if MS Corp can't understand some quickly changes in a event organization, like happend at March 15, how will Microsoft be able to do a good evaluation about funding requests ? I have a lot of reasons to don't believe that's possible.

More important points :

How the 5 levels of user groups will work ?

Will the Culminis survey and the monthly us$ 250,00 for region continue to happen ?

The Culminis survey that is running right now is still valid ?

From where will we get sharepoint services to our websites ?

I'm travelling to Amazonas at 12 of next month, will I have the same support than before ?

Is my group at the same level it was before or isn't it valid any more ?

How will you keep Culminis - a voluntare organization with public elections - far from the politics that destroyed INETA during last 6 years in Brazil ?

=======================

The fact is that if you keep this change, know the Culminis support will be tied with Microsoft support. Until know Culminis could do the better decision about how to support the groups, know who will decide is Microsoft, same Microsoft that didn't understood March 15.

Dennes

I think very important to Culminis this new vision. In Brazil, I’d like congratulation Emilio Mansur for the fantastic work in Microsoft Groups. I have a suggestion for this new model.

So… In all this States must be a Culminis Director or Culminis Member. In Brazil are 27 States. So, these members was responsible for manager all the groups in our States. But, this 27 member are manager for a Lead (or Leaders).

These members received some benefices for ours works.

In Brazil, I vote on Emilio Mansur. He’s a true Lead.