Over the last few months, Microsoft has introduced Career Assist, Elevate America, and Thrive—great opportunities and resources, each designed to help you get a job, keep a job, or accelerate you toward your next job.
Our Learning Solutions Partners in the U.S. joined us in holding hundreds of events during Microsoft Skills Week to help raise awareness of our certifications, and of the people who hold them (that’d be you guys).
Here on Born to Learn, we amped up our publishing, bringing you more information and more opportunities; more insights and more answers, all as it happened (and sometimes before!)
In other words: we been busy.
You’d think we’d be ready to take a break, right?
Heck no: We’re fired up! Ready to go!
…go on the road, that is:
Today, we’re announcing Get on the Bus! – an eleven-day odyssey across America aboard the Career Express bus beginning May 1st in Tampa, Florida and ending May 11th at TechEd 2009 in Los Angeles, California!
If you’re along our route, stay tuned for information about MCP and MCT meet-ups, special offers, giveaways and opportunities. If you’re not on our route, follow our trip here as we visit and profile MCPs and MCTs, CPLS partners and IT Academies, authors and user groups, and more—live blogging all the way on the new Born to Learn (more on that next week).
Who would be crazy dedicated enough to live on a bus for eleven days? (and I’m not exaggerating that much: the Career Express is a rock band-style touring bus, complete with bunks, a kitchenette, and workspace… all of which I suspect will come in handy).
That’d be us: your Microsoft Learning Community team and Born to Learn bloggers, and we’re excited to have the opportunity to come to your town!
And because we’re so committed to helping you advance your career; because we’re not about to let a tough economy get in the way of a great opportunity; and because we just love spending time with you guys:
We want to take you with us!
We’re reserving six seats on the Career Express for MCPs and MCTs (U.S. residents only)—you can join us in one of six cities, and we’ll take you to TechEd! You’ll enjoy our scintillatingly geeky conversation on the bus; represent the MCP and MCT communities as we meet lots of Microsoft customers, partners, and community members; be a featured blogger on the new Born to Learn; see America at ground level; and, of course, enjoy our premier technical education (and IMHO professional networking) event of the year: TechEd 2009 – without having to buy a $2,000 show pass!
With such a cool opportunity on the line, though, we need to make sure that only outstanding community representatives join us. How are we going to do that?
We’re going to ask you to decide who comes with us!
How’s that going to work?
Stay tuned… all will be revealed here over the next week, with the full Official Rules and registration site available on Monday, March 23rd.
Want to watch the itinerary develop and see who else will be attending in your town? Join our Facebook event page!
And considering that we’re putting this all together in real time, and there are bound to be frequent updates and limited-time opportunities leading up to and during our tour… follow us on Twitter (@MSLearning) to stay up-to-date.
If you’re in the Tampa, Atlanta, Charlotte, Philadelphia, Columbus, Indianapolis, St. Louis, Kansas City, Denver, Albuquerque, Phoenix, or Las Vegas metro areas—we’re coming to a town near you. And when we do:
Get on the Bus!
Posted by Krosen
Comments
Tuesday, March 17, 2009 1:09 PM by Dana
WHEW! Glad we can finally talk about it! I m going to need some good diner recommendations between ATL and IND!
Tuesday, March 17, 2009 3:22 PM by Mitch Garvis
Sounds like a hoot! Too bad it s only open to US residents... We Canucks would love to get on the bus too, eh!? :)
Tuesday, March 17, 2009 4:00 PM by scott
Would love to see that bus stop by Detroit.. Ah well..
Tuesday, March 17, 2009 4:16 PM by Jim Goodwin
I work for a CPLS in Indy and look forward to the visit. If you need any help or recommendation...drop me a note
Tuesday, March 17, 2009 4:19 PM by Krosen
We certainly will, Jim!
Tuesday, March 17, 2009 4:21 PM by Kevin
Dana,
You can make it like a Diners, Drive-Ins and Dives tour! There s plenty of good eating to be had between Atlanta and Indy.
If you re stopping by Columbus, Ohio, I highly recommend the Starliner Diner on Cemetary road in Hilliard. Excellent food with a bit of a Tex/Mex/Cuban/eclectic theme.
Tuesday, March 17, 2009 5:02 PM by Stefnie Davies
Real pity I can t come on the bus. I am in New Zealand and the only MCT for Dynamics NAV. Man, I love it! I know its a long shot but... is there just no way you can let me on the bus?
Tuesday, March 17, 2009 5:25 PM by Tom Swanson
Just one question - Is this a one way trip? :-)
Tuesday, March 17, 2009 5:26 PM by steve Mabelane
I m in ZA, cannnot to be on the tour for Teched 2009 USA
Tuesday, March 17, 2009 5:27 PM by Michael D. Alligood
So you can t stop in Jacksonville on your way from Tampa to Atlanta (assuming you take I-4 to I-95 then I-10 to I-75... ok, yeah it s the long way.)
Hopefully I will see you in Tampa!
Tuesday, March 17, 2009 5:36 PM by Hardy Utley
It s nice to see something planned to help some of us out with learning and networking in 2009.
I m sure a lot of people are like my team and have had to drop their normal convention and training schedule because of the recession.
Tuesday, March 17, 2009 5:37 PM by Krosen
Tom: We ll fly you home! :-)
Tuesday, March 17, 2009 5:42 PM by Mark H
::sigh::
I live in Tampa, but I will be at MMS in Vegas on 5/1.
Oh well.
Tuesday, March 17, 2009 6:08 PM by Ben
What an awesome opportunity. I ll see you in Charlotte!
Tuesday, March 17, 2009 6:43 PM by Mattias Lind
Well... how do I become an US resident? I like the idea, to bad I m in Sweden.
Tuesday, March 17, 2009 6:44 PM by Krosen
Looking forward to it, Ben!
Tuesday, March 17, 2009 6:50 PM by Krosen
Mattias, I guess we ll just have to hope for a Season Two in November. :-)
Tuesday, March 17, 2009 7:01 PM by Patrick
Magical Tech Bus Tour - sounds cool to me.
Whats the movie on this flight
Tuesday, March 17, 2009 7:36 PM by Dusan J. Jovanovic
So, that s must be something, eating and drinking for free...2 bad i m in Serbia...Lepo je sto mislite na nas...Samo, davno smo zaboravili Boga...a tako daleko ici, nije dobro...
Tuesday, March 17, 2009 7:39 PM by Dusan J. Jovanovic
Evagelism? That s sounds bad...
Tuesday, March 17, 2009 9:06 PM by Krosen
Dunno, Patrick. Suggestions?
(Someon s already suggested a Battlestar Galactica marathon)
Tuesday, March 17, 2009 10:05 PM by Bill Chapman
I think if Tjeerd is on the Bus there will be a Star Wars marathon, personally I think a Quentin Tarantino marathon would be a great way to spend a few hundred miles.
Wednesday, March 18, 2009 12:31 AM by Naqeebullah, MCP since 2005
hi, I was surprised when I saw my flash, but in the corner it was mentioned (US residents only) while I am from Afghansitan.
any how I wish all American MCPs good bus trip.
Wednesday, March 18, 2009 12:47 AM by Rambler
Would have loved to join :) but it s for US residents only :(
Wednesday, March 18, 2009 2:28 AM by Satish
how can i get this bus in india???
;)
Wednesday, March 18, 2009 3:18 AM by Andreas H.
Hmm... Only for US Residents? What is when I pay for the flight by my own? Why do we have such a tour only in the US, what’s about Europe?
andreas.haist@avanade.com
Wednesday, March 18, 2009 5:06 AM by Andrew Bettany
Hey guys, great idea, and I am looking forward to seeing you roll up outside in your bus!
Any chance that you can tow behind the bus one of those retro Silverbullet-Caravans? That plus the Star Wars/ Tarantino /Battlestar Galactica movie reels sound just awesome.
Enjoy, and see you on the other side.
:-)
Wednesday, March 18, 2009 7:07 AM by Gladstone Lewis
I love microsoft and want to be a part of that ride on the bus
Wednesday, March 18, 2009 8:31 AM by Mike Wells
I run the SQL User Group in Sarasota, FL. Looking forward to seeing you guys in Tampa!
Wednesday, March 18, 2009 10:19 AM by PutMeOnTheBusToTechEd
Put Me On The Bus To Tech Ed
Top Ten Reasons I was born to be on the bus:
1.Experienced in changing flat tires on a bus...no need for Triple AAA.
2.Qualified bus driver since the age of 12(don t tell my mom) in case the driver needs a break. Requires everyone refer to me as Reuben Kincaid.
3.I have often been quoted as the "Master" champion of playing "Slug Bug"
4.Willing to lead the group in sing-a-longs when the radio can’t find a tower between Saint Louis and Kansas City.
5.Qualified "Squeegee Technician" to keep the windshield clean and our journey safe.
6.Proud owner of a Texaco fuel card with a $1000 limit.
7.I can provide the Richard Simmons "Sweatin to the Oldies" exercise DVD and lead the group in hourly stretching exercises.
8.Willing to provide one free can of Oust air deodorizer to each of my fellow riders
9.Have enthusiastically memorized the movies "Speed" and "National Lampoon s Vacation" for reference
10.I am a PC
Wednesday, March 18, 2009 10:20 AM by Mafruha Chowdhury
I would love to join and have the opportunity to meet all the great Sprit of Tech!
Thanks,
MCPD,Enterprise Application Developer.
Barna1000@hotmail.com
Wednesday, March 18, 2009 12:14 PM by Joanne Lin (MS)
To PutMeOnTheBusToTechEd: wow.. I am amazed with the hourly stretching exercises. :-) that would come in handy!
Wednesday, March 18, 2009 1:36 PM by PutMeOnTheBusToTechEd
Joanne,
Well, let s hope that s the golden ticket that get s me through the bus door without having to sneak in through the emergency exit!!
Thanks
Wednesday, March 18, 2009 2:46 PM by Dana
PutMeOnTheBusToTechEd - I so want to see a video of you making your case! (Maybe you can demonstrate your sing-a-long leadership ability?)
Wednesday, March 18, 2009 3:04 PM by Juhi K
Sounds exciting..I would have really liked to hop in...too bad its open for US residents only...I m an Indian living in US.
Wednesday, March 18, 2009 4:02 PM by Chuck
Take me! Take me! Take me! I have a successful repair/PC build business. Let me represent the techie gamers! (yes, some gamers actualy go to school and get certs, and then use them). We re not all unclean bums in 4 day old clothes!!!!!!! P.S I ve done the band road tour thing when I was younger too (it was a van though, a much higher difficulty level...lol), I ll teach ya a thing or two about traveling cramped in style.....
Wednesday, March 18, 2009 4:17 PM by PutMeOnTheBusToTechEd
Dana....a video huh...I think I need a little enticement before I start recording 99 bottles!
Wednesday, March 18, 2009 7:58 PM by George Palmers
Sound really interesting.......very sad its open for US residents only.....I m an Papua New Guinean maybe next time. Good luck all on the bus.
Thursday, March 19, 2009 11:56 AM by Ronda Pederson
PICK ME! I am FUN - LIVE to program - am a HUGE Microsoft Evangilist - Really need some time away from work.
Friday, March 20, 2009 5:29 PM by Krosen
We d love to have you join us, Ronda--but you gotta convince the community to vote for you! Where are you based?
Friday, March 20, 2009 8:54 PM by Deepak
Yo! Man, that a really cool. I will certainly be on the bus.
Monday, March 23, 2009 5:46 AM by Arnaud
Hey, very good proposition but only for Us guys !!!
I can t believe it, I m from Paris and hope you will change your mind and invite me for this tour (free of charge for a little french man of course).
I think you cannot refuse to take a french man with you...see you.
Monday, March 23, 2009 12:55 PM by Jennifer Snoddy
I m an Indiana MCT. Would love to compete, but I don t think you ll be picking anyone up from Indiana will you?
Monday, March 23, 2009 2:39 PM by JD Thrams
How bout picking me up in Los Angeles? Or, I could drive to Vegas to get on.
Wednesday, March 25, 2009 12:32 PM by Krosen
JD, you should register for the Vegas contest--we d love to have you!
http://www.microsoft.com/learning/getonthebus
Launching an event like IT Grand Prix can be a little nerve-wracking. Even more than the intricate planning