I was both humbled and honored to receive the MVP award, effective 10/1/2008, for contributions to the technical community for Microsoft SMS 2003 & System Center Configuration Manager 2007.
Edited version of the email follows:
Subject: Congratulations 2009 Microsoft MVP!
Dear Steve Thompson,
Congratulations! We are pleased to present you with the 2009 Microsoft® MVP Award! This award is given to exceptional technical community leaders who actively share their high quality, real world expertise with others.
The Microsoft MVP Award provides us the unique opportunity to celebrate and honor your significant contributions and say "Thank you for your technical leadership."
Toby Richards
General Manager
Community Support Services
At Microsoft, we believe that technical communities enhance people's lives and the industry's success because independent experts, like you, help others extract greater value from products and technologies through the free and objective exchange of knowledge. As a Microsoft MVP, you are part of a highly select group of experts that represent technology's best and brightest who share a deep commitment to community and a willingness to help others.
On behalf of everyone at Microsoft, thank you for your contributions to technical communities.
It's been a great experience being part of this community. Please allow me a moment to reflect... I was first awarded MVP status in December 1995 for contributions in Compuserve forums (how many have used Compuserve?? ;) for Microsoft Access. I still have the MVP award letter -- yes, Microsoft sent letters in those days.
I started using these forums to learn Microsoft Access, in the learning process; by answering questions and helping members, it deepened my technical knowledge of the product. Along the way I was recognized by Microsoft for my technical contributions, and awarded MVP status.
In the late 90's when it appeared that Microsoft was going to let Microsoft Access, specifically Jet (the database engine) die a slow death, I transitioned to the Microsoft SQL Server MVP program. That was a great experience, allowing me to further my understanding of SQL Server which made me better at SMS in general. The MVP community in it's entirety is an awesome group, the System Center folks made me feel part of their world, even though, formally I was part of another product group.
Now that I am part of the System Center MVP group, I look forward to things to come.
And, watch this space for continued contributions; I'm planning a series of blogs on SQL Server Reporting Services. I'm always open to suggestions as well.