I'm now a Microsoft MVP (Most Valuable Professional)!

I'm proud to announce that I was selected a Microsoft MVP (Most Valuable Professional)! According to Microsoft's MVP Awards FAQs, "Over 100 million people participate in technical communities but there are only about 3,500 MVPs worldwide."
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\nWow, one of only 3,500 select Microsoft MVPs. I am truly honored! I was only vaguely familiar with Microsoft MVPs. I knew you had to be nominated in order to win and that only a select few get to be an MVP. Sure enough, according to the FAQs, "Outstanding technical community members are nominated by their peers, Microsoft employees, and MVPs. Each year a panel of Microsoft employees reviews the contributions of each nominee for quality, quantity, and level of impact on the technical community. Today's MVPs reflect Microsoft's global customer base and the breadth of its technologies."
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\nNow I'm wondering who nominated me. I was specifically chosen for my efforts within the Microsoft Office Communications Server technical communities.
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\nCheck out my listing in the Microsoft MVP Directory and here's the email I received:
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Dear Tom Keating,
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\nCongratulations! We are pleased to present you with the 2008 Microsoft® MVP Award! The MVP Award is our way of saying thank you for promoting the spirit of community and enhancing people’s lives and the industry’s success every day. Your extraordinary efforts in Microsoft Office Communications Server technical communities during the past year are greatly appreciated.
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\nBegin taking advantage of your award benefits by signing into the MVP Award Web site using the credentials listed below. Both new and renewing MVPs must specify MSDN or TechNet technical subscription preferences for the next 12 months via the MVP Award Web site.

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\nAs part of the benefits, they'll even mail an "Executive Recommendation" letter up to 4 people as a job reference. After my recent bad news over the theft of my Garmin Nuvi 350 at Disney World, this bit of good news couldn't have come at a better time!
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\nFinally, here's some more info about the Microsoft MVP Program if curious...
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\nThe Microsoft MVP Award Program recognizes and thanks outstanding members of technical communities for their community participation and willingness to help others. The MVP Award is given to exceptional technical community leaders who foster the free and objective exchange of knowledge by actively sharing their real-world expertise with technology users. The MVP Award celebrates the most active community members from around the world who provide invaluable online and offline expertise that enriches the community experience and makes a difference in technical communities that feature Microsoft products.
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\nMVPs are a select group of experts representing technology's best and brightest people who share a commitment to community. While MVPs come from many backgrounds and a wide range of technical communities, they share a passion for technology and a demonstrated willingness to help others. MVPs do this by writing books and articles, managing Web sites, maintaining blogs, participating in user groups, hosting and contributing chats, presenting at events and training sessions, and answering questions in technical newsgroups, forums, or message boards.
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\nMicrosoft MVPs are an amazing group of individuals. By sharing their knowledge and experiences and providing objective feedback, MVPs help people solve problems and discover new capabilities. It gives us great pleasure to recognize and award MVPs as our way of saying thank you for their demonstrated commitment to helping others in technical communities worldwide.