>Here in Los Angeles there are two MSFT sponsored .NET user groups. The main one is based out of Long Beach State College and the second one is at UCLA.
Ok, so we're not alone.
>I have heard that UCLA has donated money to the Computer Science Department at UCLA if they would sponsor a .NET user group, add .NET courses to the curriculum
and drop any COM based development curriculum . I just got the catalog today and it's stuffed with .NET courses. And note, this is not the main LA .NET group.
It's interesting to see that they mention we'll do this if you drop that. They didn't provide much choice.
>As noted, the two main .NET UGs are based on college campuses. Coincidence? Probably not. MSFT appears to be buying influence on college campuses, just like a lobbyist. Apple did this years ago, so it's not anything new.
I agree, it's not a coincidence. Note also that this is what people also agree on such as expressed in our community survey earlier this year. People do understand that putting MS topics in college and similar educational facilities is a great way to bring developers up to the proper speed right away.
>I have also heard the the umbrella .NET group INETA
http://www.ineta.org was giving away free Los Angeles Lakers tickets on a first come, first served basis to INETA members. The 12+ year LA Fox group was not eligible as we are not an INETA group.
I believe this association is restricted to .NET only. This is what I understood tonight on a call I had. Is this the case? If yes, I agree why they don't want to give such prize or any prize at all to a non .NET user group.
>Having said that, LA Fox is very fortunate to have Ken Levy come down to speak. That's a bonus that few groups have. INETA gives away Lakers tickets but at least we'll also receive freebies on occastion.
Yes, I agree. See my reply to Al about the same advantage the Vancouver FoxPro User Group is having.
>Still, I can validate your point to a degree -- MSFT is throwing money around to fund .NET user groups through INETA. Clearly this is top-down management, the opposite of what one thinks a community should be. This is unlike the VFP user groups, which have formed from the bottom up and are true "communities".
I think someone at MS should have a training lesson at what a community really is. :) Seriously, you're right about that. This is why I brought this point. I don't think they should promote communities if they are not doing in favor of it. At least, in that particular thread topic, it is not.
