I have had the distinct honor of delivering technical presentations at IDUG events for more than a decade now, and as much as I enjoy presenting, I also look forward to learning from others when I go to this event. From the latest development news, to user-proven implementation tips, IDUG delivers quality education from the perspective of the actual user. You don't get that at a lot of other technical conferences.

Whether you are a DBA or a programmer...a system programmer or a data administrator...or anything in between, IDUG offers quality events that will provide you with a wealth of information. I think that IDUG is a better value overall than attending a week-long instructor-led training class. Think about it. At IDUG you will get the opportunity to attend over a dozen different presentations on various DB2 topics. Such diverse coverage gives you the ability to learn about more than just a single topic (like you'd learn at that week-long class). And IDUG offers even more. You can network with your peers, as well as well-known industry consultants and the DB2 developers from IBM. The vendor exhibition area provides you with an opportunity to hear about all of the latest and greatest DBA solutions and tools -- and you'll probably come away with a couple nice giveaways, too. Furthermore, if you come in on the preceding weekend you can sign-up for a day long DB2 seminar/course on the topic of your choosing, thereby coupling classroom training with the conference.

And if you want to get DB2 certified, IDUG is the place to do it. In fact, the DB2 certification tests will be administered during the show in Denver, so you can take them right during the IDUG conference. So study up and be ready to take those exams in May.

Finally, this year IDUG has collaborated with the International Informix Users Group (IIUG) to add significant Informix-focused programming to the technical agenda. Since IBM has acquired Informix it makes sense that the Informix technology should be covered at IDUG events, too. This collaboration has added about 50 Informix-focused technical sessions to IDUG’s traditional conference agenda of more than 150 DB2-focused sessions presented over the event’s four-day agenda. Whether interested in DB2, Informix or technology that spans the product lines, registered attendees will be eligible to attend any of the technical sessions presented in Denver.

With so many opportunities to learn I really don't know why every DB2 professional doesn't urge their manager to send them to IDUG! In fact, if you are having trouble convincing your manager to send you to IDUG, the good folks at IDUG have provided a justification kit for you to use when discussing IDUG with your manager. There is a discount for early registration, so the sooner you get approval the better. Good luck... and I hope to see you in Denver in May!