Category Certification

Thanks to Mike Mulcare for announcing this on born to learn!

So, what exactly is SnackBox?

Welcome to SnackBox

Learning Snacks are short, interactive learning presentations about Microsoft technologies and include various media, such as animations and recorded demos. Are you an expert? Be part of this growing and vibrant community – create your own Learning Snack and share it with the world here!

Well, that’s a verbatim explanation taken from the site, but what does that really mean?

SnackBox Highlights

• Provides an easy way to browse and find Microsoft Learning and community- created snacks. 
• Enables the Microsoft Learning Community to easily create snacks using the LCDS and Snack Converter tool.
• Distinguishes between community produced and Microsoft produced Snacks
• Allows users to rate snacks
• Allows us to highlight top community contributors

Alright, enough copy and paste.  Are you seriously telling me that Microsoft has created a simple way to not only create content using LCDS to share with the Learning and Education community, but respectively they have also created a venue for sharing this information with the world, including featured content? If that is the case, woohoo! :)

Though seriously, I highly encourage you to check this out, whether you’re a creator, learner or looking to be a creator/learner/educator/trainer and beyond :)

I’m sure you’ve seen my post here: $25 Certification Exam – Expires June 30th, 2009! (NA Only) or Prometric wants you Microsoft Certified by June 30th! oh and Clicking this link might save a life, Seriously  – So based around these very points, let me change it a little bit and tell you that *I* want you to get certified before June 30th!

Why do I want you to get certified? There’s never been a better time! The opportunity is here now, launch upon it! I have these pretty green vouchers with Discount Codes entitling you to take an exam for $100 off of the exam, that’s right! The exam will only cost you $25 to take!   And it has Second Shot built in to the voucher, which means if you do not pass the exam for whatever reason, you can use the same number to take your exam again for $0!

So, if I do the math correctly…

Wow! $25 for the chance to take an exam! Yay! (I’ve used one of these myself to pass an exam, and the interest in this has been amazing and great!)

I however want to open this up to more than just the people I already know on email, twitter and I meet at User Groups, so are you looking to get Microsoft Certified before June 30th?

There’s never been a better time, and let me know.. I’ll give vouchers out until I run out of vouchers… or until its June 30th, whichever comes first!

For some additional resources on training as well, I direct you to the following locations!

This is a number of supported, as well as Free Resources, so check them out!

How much does Free Microsoft Learning Cost? (Hint: Free!)

5 Free Virtualization Training Courses for the Holidays! (HyperV)

So if you’re interested in getting certified, let me know on twitter @cxi, shoot me an email CXI at pkguild.com , or CXI at NetApp.com (Or even leave a comment here, that’s fine!)

Good luck, and get certified! Thanks! – CXI :) (North America only: Only around 30 left!)

So if you recall my emails about Microsoft Certification vouchers for $25 with Second Shot built in, you’re in semi-luck if you want an ‘extra chance’ to take exams and yet don’t want to worry about using up a voucher which has second shot built in!

Prometric is saying “Hey, come back.. take an exam and it’ll only cost $25”

I know what you’re saying “That sounds remotely familiar to your vouchers, but the Prometric Offer doesn’t seem to have Second Shot built in, or even available as an option!” Yea, there’s nothing I can do about that, but eventually I’ll run out of vouchers… so for every single person who wants one chance to take an exam, here it is! Thanks to Prometric!

So, like it says below, Limit one per customer, and Promo Code: MCPBACK ! :)

Oh, and if you’re looking to get in on the other vouchers I have while I still have some, let me know… but here’s to not looking a gift Prometric in the mouth!

Disclaimer:

Offer available for customers who have taken their last certification exam prior to January 1, 2007.
Also works if you have never taken any certification exams

Here is the mail I will be sending to the folks who I send vouchers to.. :)

Microsoft Learning (and I:))  are pleased to offer an exclusive discount on your Microsoft Certification exam

Use the discount code below and pay only $25USD for your Microsoft Certification exam

To register for your exam visit: http://www.register.prometric.com This offer is only good until June 30^th, 2009 so be sure to act quick on this!

These exams have “Second Shot” built in, meaning if for whatever reason you do not pass the first time, you can use the same voucher for your second time at $0 cost.

If for whatever reason you find yourself unable to use the voucher you’re given, let me know immediately so it can be recycled to someone else who can use it!

Your voucher code is: VoucherCodeHere!

If you need any help finding resources to study, train and prepare for your exam, let me know and I can help you get access to those resources.

Thanks!

Christopher Kusek, CISSP
Technology Evangelist, Consultant
CISSP | MCSE* | NCSA* | NCIE* | CWUG

NetApp
630.362.1320 Mobile
Christopher.Kusek@NetApp.com
Use 50% Less Storage with NetApp

www.netapp.com/guarantee

P Please consider the environment before printing this message.

Yea, so this is the ‘format’ for the emails I’ll be sending… for what it’s worth :)

Here are the details as published in the CWUG Regular mailing:

Plan to spend the evening of Thurs, May 21st with a laptop, RC software and the most technical and talented group of IT Professionals gathered in one place.  We are gearing up for a Release Candidate Loadfest – bring a laptop, blank DVD and/or 4 gb (or higher) USB thumbnail drive and leave with either the Release Candidate of Windows 7 or Windows Server 2008 R2 (hopefully you are already running one of these today; learn ways to run the other version).  We’re planning a packed agenda of presentations – Microsoft’s Daniel Savage will present System Center Operations Manager 2007 R2 and Microsoft’s Rob Nottoli will present Windows Server 2008 R2.  Attendees can join us at either the Microsoft Downers Grove or Chicago office.  Your registration is your entry into our biggest giveaways of the year (but you must be present at one of the meetings to win). Please share with your technical teams.

1. Event URL : http://msevents.microsoft.com/CUI/EventDetail.aspx?EventID=1032416349&Culture=en-US
Event Title : CWUG May Meeting Chicago. There is a restaurant open in the basement of the AON Center.  Food is not provided at this meeting.

2. Event URL : http://msevents.microsoft.com/CUI/EventDetail.aspx?EventID=1032416350&Culture=en-US
Event Title : CWUG May Meeting Downers Grove. Because there isn’t a restaurant open or conveniently located, food is provided.

5:00 – 5:30 Networking

5:30 – 6:00 Room Introductions

6:00 – 6:15 Meeting Kick Off

Session 1:  SCOM 2007 R2 Presentation

15 minutes: Break and Q&A for Windows 7 and Windows Server 2008 R2

Session 2:  Windows Server 2008 R2

Giveaways are planned – one of which will be running the Release Candidate of Windows 7 (and another that could back up a PC running or in preparation of the Release Candidate).

Chris Urban’s book is out!  Announced at MMS 2009, Mastering System Center Configuration Manager 2007 R2 is available at http://www.wiley.com/WileyCDA/WileyTitle/productCd-047017367X.html.

CWUG’s Christopher Kusek has been “On The Bus” and is attending Tech Ed 2009 this week https://www.pkguild.com/

For all the Microsoft Partner Program participants, check out the US Central Region Partner Team’s Blog at http://blogs.technet.com/uspartner_centralregion/default.aspx and attend CWUG’s May meeting for some great partner opportunities in May and June.

Save the date for the biggest CWUG event of 2009 (yet….) – Thursday, May 21st.

The CWUG Crew

To take things a step further, I will also have Microsoft Certification Vouchers available for people looking to take an exam before June 30th, 2009!   The vouchers entitle you to two chances to take an exam for $25.00 total, which is just great!

There is a caveat around this, in order to use a voucher you have to actually use it, and for every one who takes an exam, you will be entered into a drawing for a special prize for taking advantage of your education and certification! :)

So, get ready for the fun and adventure on Thursday, and get your Certification hat on! Every one of you who takes it to bear has a good chance of winning a major prize!   See you Thursday! (Oh, and I’ll be in Downers Grove for whoever is counting/asking :))