The National Association of Government Webmasters is holding their annual conference in Kansas City this year and they are looking for technical speakers.
The conference will be held from Wednesday, September 12th through Friday, September 14th, 2012.  If you are interested, check out the Call for Speakers page:
http://www.nagw.org/national-conference/call-for-speakers

NAGW 2012 National Conference (http://www.nagw.org)


Read more...

We now have an easy to read calendar of all Kansas City Metro User Group meetings, as well as other local educational events, and a few national events, at: http://www.google.com/calendar/embed?src=admin%40kansascityusergroups.com&ctz=America/Chicago

Integrate it with your own Google Calenders, save it as a PDF, or just reference online at www.KansasCityUserGroups.com


Read more...

Kansas City, MO Atlassian User Group
Wed, February 8, 6:30pm – 8:00pm
810 Zone (Country Club Plaza) - 4686 Broadway St, Kansas City, MO 64112 --- Wednesday, February 8, 2012 from 6:30-8pm
Atlassian User Groups
bwalker @ atlassian.com
RSVP here.

Atlassian Asked: Kansas City Answers!

With 185 client organizations in the KC metro area, Atlassian is excited to kick off a KC Atlassian User Group (AUG). What's an AUG? An AUG is:

Free to attend (with appetizers!)
Organized and led by volunteers from metro-area users and developers  (DST Systems has planned and organized the KC AUG  kick off meeting)
An ongoing group that meets regularly
A friendly environment to ask questions and hear the latest Atlassian news
A place to unwind after a hard day of work
An AUG is NOT a place to hear smarmy sales pitches, run by Atlassian or any official partners of Atlassian, or a one-off  event.

INTERESTED?

A KC AUG organizational meeting will be held on Wednesday, February 8, 2012, at the 810 Zone on the Country Club Plaza.  We have a reserved room with capacity for 50.  Arrive about 6:30 pm; we will wrap things up by 8:00 pm.

The purpose of the meeting will be to network AND organize for subsequent KC AUG meetings.  We'll get information on frequency of meetings, schedules, topics, and so on.

RSVP here.


Read more...

A new user group focused around Node.js and related web technologies is starting soon. We haven't nailed down a meeting date but will soon. Here's some information about the group.
 


Twitter: @nodekc


Read more...

The Kansas City SQL Server user group will not be meeting January 26, but will be rescheduled for a later date. We are tentatively aiming for February 23rd. Please check the site for updates.

If you are interested in presenting a five to ten minute presentation on a scalability technology or solution you have had experience with, I would like to hear from you. We would still like to try a set of lightning talks on this subject, but we'll need several speakers to help out. A few examples might be (although certainly not limited to) replication, 2012 Always On Availability Groups, or Service Broker. If you've thought about presenting at the user group, but aren't sure about doing a full hour and a half presentation, this would the perfect opportunity to get your feet wet and to get more involved with your KC SQL Server community! Please email me at crosan @ gmail.com if you are interested in presenting in February or for future meetings.
We will send another email as soon as the next meeting date/topic is finalized, thank-you!
    KC SQL Server User Group web site: http://kansascity.sqlpass.org/


    Read more...

    Central States OAUG
    Spring 2012 Kansas City Conference
    Friday, March 16, 2012 at the DoubleTree by Hilton Kansas City - Overland Park

    Keynote: Joe Thomas
    Sr. Director, Business Intelligence at Oracle Corporation

    8:00 - 8:30 Registration & Welcome
    8:30 - 9:15 First Session
    9:15 - 9:30 Break / Vendor Visits
    9:30 - 10:15 Second Session
    10:15 - 10:45 Break / Snacks / Vendor Visits
    10:45 - 11:45 Vendor Introductions, Drawings and Keynote

    http://csoaug.oaug.org/


    Read more...

    1st Quarter Presentation
    Thursday, March 8th, 2012
    9:00 AM - 4:00 PM



    http://www.kcasug.org/


    Read more...

    February 2012 Business Meeting and PresentationAutomated Testing of Localized Applications
    by Dana Cline
    Cinzetti'sThursday, February 9, 2012
    11:15 AM - 1:00 PM
     


    Read more...

    Kansas City VMUG Meeting

    Thursday, February 9, 2012

    1:30 p.m. - 4:00 p.m.

    Boulevard Brewing Co.
    Muehlebach Suite
    2501 Southwest Boulevard
    Kansas City, MO 64108
    Click here for driving directions

    Join us for the upcoming Kansas City VMUG meeting! This is a great opportunity to come together with your fellow VMware users to discuss virtualization trends, best practices, and the latest technology!

    Registration is open and included as part of your VMUG member benefits. Please note, in order to register for this meeting we ask that you sign up for a complimentary VMUG membership, if you haven't already done so. Click login below to sign up today.

    Meeting Highlights

    • Beers with Ben and New User Q&A
    • Tintri Presentation: Advances in VM Performance Troubleshooting with VM-aware Storage
    • VMware Updates

    View the complete agenda for the most current information as this event approaches.

    Thank you to our meeting sponsor: Trinti

    http://www.myvmug.org/e/in/eid=305


    Read more...

    The upgrade path from Drupal 6 to Drupal 7 is very challenging. This meeting doesn't have a speaker, but instead will be an informal discussion of the various methods and pitfalls of upgrading. Whether you have done it several times, are in the middle of the process, or are thinking about it, we'd like to hear what you have to say. Plus, good food and beer.
    http://www.meetup.com/Greater-Kansas-City-Drupal-User-Group/events/48529722/


    Read more...

    Time: February 3, 2012 from 7:30am to 9am
    Location: Kansas City Cafe
    Street: 1532 Grand Blvd.
    City/Town: Kansas City, MO
    Website or Map: http://www.kansascitycafe.net
    Phone: 816.471.7111
    Event Type: breakfast
    Organized By: Aaron Deacon

    We're thrilled to welcome American Airlines at our Feb. breakfast! Jon Bird is American's Creative Manager for Social Media. Unlike many social media pros who have a basis in marketing or PR, he is a creative at heart with a background in fine art, animation and video production. He will reflect on highlights of 2011 at American—marketing initiatives, social CRM and crisis management—and look ahead to 2012.
    Please note a $5 fee will be collected at the door on Fri. morning, payable w/ cash or credit. Attendance is limited to 100, so please sign up on EventBrite. When you register, specify if you'll be eating breakfast ($8.50 + drinks) so that enough food is prepared. Thanks for your support!


    Read more...

    January 2012 KCSEM Event

    Event Date: Tue, 1/31/2012
    Speaker: Mike Kearns, Director of eCommerce, Pro Athlete, Inc.
    Topic: Google Trusted Stores Program
    Join us this month on the 31st as we welcome Mike Kearns, Director of eCommerce for Pro Athlete, Inc. who operate the popular baseball and softball eCommerce sites JustBats.com and JustBallGloves.com, for a presentation on Google’s Trusted Stores Program. Does your company sell products on the web? This informational session will detail the new Trusted Stores program and how Google is delivering a new quality scale to selling products on the web contingent upon offline factors. Whether you are a marketing decision maker or a developmental resource to an eCommerce site, you don’t want to miss out on this opportunity to learn how you can increase your site conversion with the Google Trusted Stores Program. Kansas City Search Engine Marketing Association events are a great way to learn more about online marketing and also a great way to meet like-minded marketing professionals in the KC Area. See you all on the 31st at Barley’s Brewhaus/Wheat Room in Shawnee at 6:30PM.
    Barley’s Brewhaus and Restaurant
    6:30PM
    16649 Midland Drive
    Shawnee, KS 66217
    (913) 268-5160

    http://kcsem.org/


    Read more...

    Selected By: Josepha Haden

    612 W 47th Street, Kansas City, MO (map)
    39.042537 -94.594367

    I'll have a group listed under Haden.
    Selected By: Josepha Haden

    We've made it through the holidays and into a new year.
    Come join us for a Happy Hour to catch up and meet all our new members!

    http://www.meetup.com/wordpresskc/events/49401352/


    Read more...

    KC PMI Chapter Book Club Debut
    Benefits:
    Enhance your professionalism
    Build camaraderie and member relations
    Earn PDUs
    First Meeting: January 30, Monday, at 6:00pm
    Location: Central Resource Library, 9875 W. 87th, Overland Park, KS 66212
    Please RSVP to [email protected] if you are interested in participating!
    Tentative Agenda for this meeting:
    Introduce the proposed book – Real Leaders Don't Do PowerPoint: How to Sell Yourself and Your Ideas (or suggest a different book)
    Determine discussion format
    Determine group size, if multiple groups are needed
    Nominate book facilitators
    Determine future meeting date/time and location


    Read more...

    When: January 26th, 2012 5:30-7:00 p.m.Where: HNTB - room 434
    715 Kirk Drive
    Kansas City, MO 64105
    (816) 472-1201
    Topic: IMAGINiT Technologies will present “An Open Discussion of Collaborative Modeling Process.”
    Food & Drinks provided by: IMAGINiT Technologies
    Join us for our monthly Kansas City Revit/BIM user group meeting. Spread the word to anyone who may find this of interest.
    Please RSVP at kcmokanrug @ gmail.com if you plan to attend.
    http://kcrug.wordpress.com/


    Read more...

    Tue, Jan 24, 2012, 6:00 PM - 8:00 PM

    Centriq Training, 8700 State Line Rd, Leawood, KS 66206
    Presenter: Russell Ball
    Topic: Bash Shell v PowerShell
    Sponsor: Power IT


    Read more...

    Hello All !
    Our next meeting will be held:
    6:30 PM, Wed, January 25, 2012
    Centriq Training Center
    8700 State Line Rd, Leawood, KS
    (West side of State Line Rd, directly across from Ward Parkway Mall)
    Sponsor: RiverPoint
    Food and door prizes will be provided by : RiverPoint


    In order to ensure that we have enough food for you, please let Ray Harris know if you will be attending. Thanks very much !

    This month's topic is:

    Drinking from the Fire Hose -- Six Late Breaking Technologies (speaker: Lee Brandt)

    Lee will take an hour and talk for 10 minutes each on 6 different late-breaking -- bleeding edge web technologies.

    Lee Brandt's BIO:
    Lee has been programming professionally for more than a decade and currently works as a Project Lead Consultant with AdventureTech He speaks regionally about software development practices and has mentored teams on improving their approach to lean software development through achieving technical proficiency. He is a Microsoft Most Valuable Professional, one of the leaders of the Kansas City .Net User Group, and serves as the Regional Mentor for .Net user groups in Kansas and Missouri.


    Our website URL is: http://www.kcwebpros.com

    See You There !!!


    Read more...

    "Achieve your 2012 goals: Social Accountability Happy Hour"
    Join us January 26th from 5:30 - 7:30pm @ the Well. This is designed to help IT professionals, tech entrepreneurs & leaders find peers to help keep them accountable in 2012 in terms of accomplishing their goals. More details and registration (required):
    http://www.kcitp.com/2012/01/03/achieve-your-2012-goals-social-accountability-happy-hour-presented-by-cosentry/


    The tickets are nearly all gone!


    Read more...

    On February 29th, KC Design Week and Cut & Paste are hosting the first Kansas City Design Battle. Think of it as a live onstage Iron Chef for designers. Eight contestants will battle in three heats in front of a live audience to showcase their skills and win a great prize and, of course, bragging rights. If you are a Graphic or Motion Designer who is interested in participating or know someone who is, contact Alex Ogata at aogata @ hntb.com for more information.
    Currently in its third year, the Kansas City Design Week is a series of events that celebrate the value of design and highlights its impact on our society.
    http://www.kcdesignweek.org/


    Read more...

    The next meeting of AgileKC will take place on Thursday January 26,
    2012 -- 6:30 PM at:

    Centriq Training Center
    8700 State Line Road
    Suite 200
    Leawood, KS 66206
    (see www.agilekc.org for a map to Centriq)

    Meeting Topic: Personas and Agile Anti-patterns

    Since most agile practices and approaches hinge upon effective interpersonal communication, it is important to help your team get better at communicating with each other. In theory this happens naturally when you get your team to meet regularly at planning meetings, standing meetings and retrospectives. In reality it often takes a lot of effort to get the attendees at these meetings to participate in the discussions. Why is that? What can be done about it? Plan on attending January’s Agile KC meeting and we’ll consider the topic and some possible tips and tricks you can use with your team.

    Martin Olson will lead an encore presentation of Agile Personas and Agile Anti-Patterns as they relate to team interaction and
    facilitation. We’ll discuss what is meant by facilitation and how it
    is different from participating in a conversation and how understanding and recognizing different traits can help you get the most out of your team’s gatherings. We’ll save some time at the end of the presentation for your questions and comments about the presentation as well as agile in general..

    Martin Olson is a principal at Silicon Prairie Solutions and has worked as an Agile Coach, Scrum Master and General Cat Herder since 2003.

    Hope to see you there!


    Read more...

    Joe Bartlett will be discussing his work on the US pro cycling challenge website http://www.usaprocyclingchallenge.com He'll talk about some of the challenges they faced in building the site, in theming, site building and custom development.

    Anyone else who wants to do the same for one of their sites is more than welcome. We hope to generate a good discussion around best practices from doing these deconstruction exercises.

    Please respond to this thread if you would like to show talk about a site you have built!

    We'll be meeting at VML offices (downtown airport) at 6pm
    http://groups.drupal.org/kansas-city


    Read more...

    We'll have lighting talks on PyCon 2012 and Kanas City Developer's Conference 2012.

    We're also having a "Show and Tell", so if you have a startup or project, website, book, app, tip, trick or anything else you want to share with us, even if is not Python related, this is your chance to show it to the world and get some feedback!

    http://www.meetup.com/pythonkc/events/28456721/?a=ea2_lnm&rv=ea2


    Read more...

    Check out "Tackling the challenges of email archiving, legal discovery, and regulatory compliance in the cloud" on Kansas City Cloud Computing User Group

    Time: January 31, 2012 from 11:30am to 1pm
    Location: Microsoft, Overland Park
    Organized By: Dennis Chepurnov

    Event Description:
    Presenter: Jonathan Fencik, Senior Learning Consultant, Symantec

    As cloud-based productivity solutions like Microsoft Office 365 are becoming more prominent, businesses often struggle to support the explosion in electronic communication with scalable and secure strategies for email archival and storage management. Motions to discover electronic data are commonplace in today’s world of litigation; yet most companies are unprepared to find electronically stored information, especially email and attachments. Discovery costs represent at least 50% of the cost of litigation—most of which relates to the collection and review of email.
    Join us to learn how Symantec.cloud solutions can help businesses address security, archiving and basic disaster recovery with a predictable total cost of ownership.

    Compatible with Office 365
    Automated Legal Holds
    Lightning-Fast Search and Retrieval
    Collaborative eDiscovery
    Restore lost or deleted emails
    Folder Synchronization
    Mobile Archive Access

    Lunch will be provided. Seating is limited. Register today!
    https://www.clicktoattend.com/invitation.aspx?code=158734


    Read more...

    Greetings KC-OWASP chapter:

    In 2011 was another busy year for our chapter, we hosted meetings with
    web security and software security presenters from F5, local speaker
    Rob Kraft, pen testing tool company Core Impact, and Jim Manico from
    SaaS security vendor White Hat.

    In addition, we were present at the K.C. Developer conference in June
    and B-Sides KC in October to speak or make OWASP materials available
    and answer questions about software security.

    Plus, we got together to brainstorm about information security, share
    job and employment leads, and learn from each other.

    With security bugs and compromises continuing to make the news
    regularly, you don't have to look very far to see that the OWASP
    message remains even more relevant now than ever. We're excited and
    eager to maintain our localized dedication to the OWASP mission of
    increasing awareness of vulnerabilities and the remediation insights
    that are needed to address them in 2012.

    The first Kansas City OWASP chapter event of 2012 will be January 19
    at 7PM at the Flying Saucer.
    The Flying Saucer in Kansas City is located at: 101 East 13th Street
    Kansas City, MO 64106-2923

    This will be a social event (no formal speaker planned) and a chance
    to network with tasty food, drinks and discuss chapter leadership for
    2012.

    Hope to see you there,

    Mat Caughron, KC OWASP volunteer chapter leader


    Read more...

    Access SIG
    January 18, 2012 6:30 - 8:30 p.m.
    Johnson County Community College
    Regnier 3rd Floor Room: RC 355
    Beginner Presentation:
    Janet Gelsinger's presentation is Tip #21 from the Access Solutions book by Arvin Meyer and Douglas Steele
    How to build a database application to handle calendars for several people and produce a customized week-at-a-glance calendar report.
    Janet is a Teradata DBA with Hallmark Cards and also develops Microsoft Access databases.
    Advanced Presentation:
    Jim Watkins' presentation is Tip #32: Using the ListView Control from the Access Solutions book by Arvin Meyer and Douglas Steel
    Jim is a senior developer for Heritage Computer Consulting & Services, Inc. HCCS is a 20 year Computer Consulting located in Overland Park, Kansas specializing in providing custom solutions to real world challenges for their clients.
    Give-away:
    Microsoft Access 2010 Step by Step - Experience learning made easy - and quickly teach yourself how to create your own database with Access 2010.
    Please note: Give-away drawing for HUG members only.
    Sponsored by: Heritage Computer Consulting & Services, Inc.


    Read more...

    The Lawrence Apple Users' Group 2.0 will be having a meeting entitled "Popcorn and a Movie" Wednesday, February 1st, 7pm at DCSS, 745 Vermont Street, Lawrence, KS

    Just want to socialize and hangout with your fellow Apple enthusiasts. Here's your chance. We'll show a Apple related movie and provide the popcorn. Feel free to bring snacks for yourself or to share with the group.

    Meetings are always free and questions are always welcome, even if it isn't about the topic being discussed. A door prize will also be given out to an attendee. Go to http://www.laugks.org for more info or Contact Dave Greenbaum, 785-218-9676, [email protected] to be notified of upcoming meetings.

    Note our inclement weather policy: if USD 497 is closed, our meeting will be cancelled. Check our website if there is a question about whether the meeting is cancelled due to weather.


    Read more...

    Venture Fridays is a simple but fun concept: The startup culture of Kansas City and surrounding areas is invited to gather at our private office lounge to discuss what we’re all thinking about, working on, needing help with, and might do for each other. Existing or aspiring entrepreneurs of all types and ages are invited. Let’s raise our glasses to building the entrepreneurial culture beyond ourselves.

    Doors are open on Rainbow Boulevard (Westwood, Kan.) 4 to 6 p.m. on the 2nd Friday of every month. Who are your hosts? We’re a web marketing metacompany, still whiffing the baby powder of our start in 2009. We work hard, and we play hard. Sometimes Venture Fridays will be co-located with other events, sometimes not. Either way, we’ll be here drinking and thinking. Will you? Drop in.

    No soliciting or mooching please (entrepreneurial mojo required; read more in Discussions).


    Read more...

    On Feb 29th, KC Design Week and Cut & Paste are hosting the first Kansas City Design Battle. Think of it as a Live onstage Iron Chef for designers. Eight contestants will battle on three heats in front of a live audience to showcase their skills and win a great prize and, of course, bragging rights. If you are a Graphic or Motion Designer who is interested in participating or know someone who is, contact Alex Ogata at aogata @ hntb.com for more information.
    Currently on its third year, the Kansas City Design Week is a series of events that celebrate the value of design and highlights its impact on our society.
    Cut & Paste is a globally recognized design competition with year-round events in New York, Berlin, Sao Paulo, Tokyo, Tel Aviv and other cities.


    http://www.kcdesignweek.org/


    Read more...

    January Social Happy Hour: Jan 19
    No agenda for our January happy hour, just an opportunity to socialize in real life at O'Dowd's on the Plaza. Happy hour specials include 1/2 Price Small Plates and specials on Draft Beer, House Wine, Bud Light, Miller Lite, Michelob Ultra and MGD 64 Bottles, Vodka Red Bulls, Appletini's and Cosmopolitan's.

    Join us if you can! Please RSVP so we can give O'Dowd's a heads up on how many to expect.


    Read more...

    Hammerspace Hobby & Community Workshop
    440 E 63 ST, Kansas City, MO

    We currently meet every Thusday in our new shared work space. Meetings start at 7pm and are open to all those interested. If your interested in seeing what we're all about, come on a Thursday to see all the current projects. When you get here just give us a call and we'll come let you in. The number down in the cave is (202) 621-2252.

    http://www.meetup.com/Cowtown-Computer-Congress/events/43733242/?a=me2o_grp&rv=me2o


    Read more...

    A new year brings hope and opportunity. I'd bet that you’re probably
    thinking about the things you want to accomplish this year. Setting
    goals is great, but with all of life’s distractions….do YOU follow
    through?

    Your community can help on January 26th…by providing peer to peer
    accountability.

    Accomplish Your 2012 Goals: Social Accountability Happy Hour,
    Presented By CoSentry

    Registration (required) & more info here:
    http://www.kcitp.com/2012/01/03/achieve-your-2012-goals-social-accountability-happy-hour-presented-by-cosentry/

    Make sure you register TODAY, as space is limited! Our last 3
    networking events have SOLD OUT! (Registration is required)

    Don’t miss this opportunity to create a better future for yourself.


    Read more...

    The Access SIG will meet as scheduled on Jan 18th at JCCC Regnier Bldg. 2nd floor at 6:30 pm

    Two presentations; first for beginners, the second advanced topics. Detailed agenda will be published later.


    Read more...

    The first WEB SIG of the Heartland Users Group will meet at JCCC Regnier Bldg.

    Date: Tuesday, January 17th
    Time: 6:00 pm - 8:00 pm
    Location: RC 245`

    Topics:
    1.Facebook - what tips can you share to customize it for specific purposes
    2.Facebook - how do you set up a Facebook account to market a business, issue (such as FairTax), or professional group (such as the Heartland Users Group)?
    3.Facebook - how do you connect the Facebook icon to a Web page and what does it do?
    4.Facebook - what else should we know or can we share about the fastest growing communication tool in the history of mankind.
    5.Meetings - what is the best date/time to meet going forward? We'll decide the 2012 schedule at this meeting.

    Thank you,
    Lisa Friedrichsen
    JCCC Professor
    WEB SIG leader for the Heartland Users Group


    Read more...

    Jan 10th Windows/Freeware at the New Horizons Learning Center at 6:30 pm

    Due to a scheduling conflict the meeting this month will be the second Tuesday, 1/10/2012. This meeting will be a recap of significant items covered the past year and some files I know people are interested in such as Microsoft ICE whereby we can create panoramic photographs with just a click of a button. Are there new/improved free applications that change the present landscape? Did we get a new tech tool/gadget for Christmas? If so do bring it to the meeting so we can all see it or to get help with attributes you are not yet well acquainted with.

    As usual there will be a question and answer session for general or specific questions.

    Date: 1/10/2012 6:30 PM - 9 PM
    Where: New Horizons Computer Learning Center
    Metcalf South Shopping Center
    96th & Metcalf, Overland Park, KS

    (Please enter the door of Metcalf South on the lower level of the shopping center on the West - You will find New Horizons inside the center area.)

    Room: 6 see a map at
    www.newhorizonskc.com

    Bill Diamond
    Windows/Freeware SIG leader


    Read more...

    Group Tools

    Random Prize Winner
    Use this tool to generate random numbers for prize drawings.




    Follow this twitter list of the twitter accounts for the user groups. Ask for your group to be added to this list: twitter list
    Subscribe to the Kansas City User Group Newspaper at Paper.li

    Blog Archive

    Followers