The Future of SQLSaturday

The SQL Server community is vibrant, caring, and close-knit. Now, with recent news about the future of SQLSaturday, we can add resilient to that list.

The gift of SQLSaturday

If you’ve been around SQL Server very long, you know just how wonderful the SQL Server community is. People around the world regularly and selflessly share what they’ve learned to help someone else. They share online in blog posts and YouTube videos. They answer questions on Microsoft forums, on Twitter, and on SQLServerCentral.com. And they speak at user groups and other meetups.

And for years, SQLSaturdays have played an integral role in the community, providing local venues where SQL professionals could gather together to learn, to share, and to connect.

The SQLSaturday founders, Steve Jones, Brian Knight, and Andy Warren, gifted the brand to PASS years ago. (This is an example of the goodness that is the SQL Community.) When the gift was made, I served on the PASS Board of Directors, and no one could have predicted then what was to happen.

In January 2021, PASS ceased operations after more than 20 years. (See Has PASS Outlived Its Purpose? for some background.) So, SQLSaturdays came to a screeching halt. And the future of SQLSaturdays became uncertain.

Uncertain, that is, until Redgate stepped in.

What’s next for SQLSaturdays

Redgate is widely recognized as a corporate member of the SQLFamily. The company sponsors events, provides speakers, and even hosts community platforms.

Earlier this year, Redgate acquired PASS’ assets, including SQLSaturday. They are donating the SQLSaturday brand to a non-profit foundation.

So it seems fitting that Steve Jones, now member of the Redgate team, has been tasked with launching the non-profit. Creating a board of directors to oversee the non-profit’s operations and management is one of his first priorities. In Rebuilding SQL Saturday–Picking a Board of Directors, Steve shares his thoughts and vision for the future of SQLSaturday.

If you’re interested in helping Steve rebuild SQLSaturday, please consider volunteering. His blog post has the information you’ll need.

Ours is a giving community. And I feel fortunate to be a part of it.

Want to work with The Sero Group?

Want to learn more about how SERO Group helps organizations take the guesswork out of managing their SQL Servers? It’s easy and there is no obligation. 

Schedule a call with us to get started.