MVP Reconnect Launches
For over 10 years, my life pretty much revolved around what I did as a Microsoft MVP — Most Valuable Professional. I started as an MVP in 2003 and retired in 2013. Even after I retired from the program, many of my closest friends were either retired MVPs or current MVPs.
I was an MVP in two Microsoft Office products, PowerPoint and OneNote. If you know me in real life, you know that OneNote is the love of my life. I live in it. Being able to help people with OneNote and PowerPoint questions got me through some of the toughest times I’ve had. Even this last year, the friends from my MVP time have reached out to make sure I am ok.
After I retired from the program, my main way to keep connected with people from the program was an MVP group on FB. The group is a great place for MVPs to connect. Because the MVP award is an annual award, you can get it for many years… and then suddenly you are retired (for reasons ranging from health to career changes to becoming a Microsoft employee). Once that happens, your only source of information on the program — your only connection to Microsoft — your only way to get information on programs and changes — becomes the MVPs who are still active in the program. And they are quite limited on what they can share.
Now, there is another way for retired MVPs to reconnect with each other and the company: MVP Reconnect. This new program launches today. If you retired in good standing from the program, you can go to the site and sign up to participate. (A hint: If you want to make it easy on those validating new members, please provide both your MVP ID and the email address you used as an MVP when you sign up.)
So, why sign up? There are many reasons, but I want to give you my top three reasons:
1) I miss being a part of the MVP family. Joining and being involved with MVP Reconnect allows me to easily reach out to the people I miss.
2) I miss the chances to help others. I still help via email, Tiwtter, and FB, but I don’t have as many chances to help — I generally have to get a direct contact in order to know people need something. Yes, I could answer questions on MS Answers… and I will start doing that again. What MVP Reconnect gives me is a reason to do it — to help those involved in the program.
3) I miss having a reason to go to community events. Who knows…if I participate in MVP Reconnect, my budget (money and energy) might just decide that traveling to events need to happen. Getting out to a community event once in awhile can’t hurt and will probably help.
Want to know what you are getting? Check out this video:
If you are a former MVP, let me know if you have questions. Check the program out. Sign up. It’ll do you good! (I promise, there is good stuff in store for those who register!)
