Q&A on the Culminis transition (Extracts from the Culminis website)

What exactly are you doing?

We (Microsoft and the Culminis organization) are turning the Culminis network of User Groups into a volunteer organization similar to INETA.

We are taking the "administration" parts of Culminis inside Microsoft so we can better support the broader user group community.

Why are you doing this?

There are many benefits to both the volunteer model, as run by INETA, and the staffed model, as run by Culminis. We want to move to a model which provides the benefits of both to both the developer and the IT-pro user group communities.

Has Culminis failed?

No, this should not be viewed as a failure. The purpose behind this change is to make the best parts of the Culminis Organization available to all user groups and also to make the benefits of a volunteer structure available to the Culminis User Groups.

Isn't this just a way for Microsoft to save money?

No. In fact the budget for User Group Support remains the same even with the decision to make this change. We believe this is a way to provide more support to the community with the same funding.

Isn't this just an effort by Microsoft to control the user group community?

No, it's an effort by Microsoft to provide better support of the community, and to engage better with it, but it's definitely not an attempt to control it. Culminis will become a volunteer organization but will remain completely independent.

What about my organization? We are not Microsoft centric? I don't WANT to be supported or controlled or influenced by Microsoft

Culminis is an independent IT Pro user group organization, and remains that way. There is nothing stopping you from being a part of Culminis and having absolutely nothing to do with Microsoft.

What happens to my personal information? I trusted Culminis and now Microsoft has done away with them. What happens to my data?

The user group database will become the property of the volunteer Culminis organization. When your information was collected you did not specifically give permission for this to be shared with Microsoft, and hence it will not be shared unless you are specifically asked if it is OK to do so.

I want to get out? How do I cancel my membership in Culminis?

Simply send an email to Culminis at mailto:membership@culminis.com and state that you would like to cancel your group's membership. As your membership information will only be held by Culminis, nothing more is needed. If you do decide to cancel, we would love to know the reasons, but that of course is entirely up to you.

Will I still be able to communicate with my Culminis contact or do I have to work directly with someone in Microsoft now?

You will be able to work directly and only with Culminis volunteers if you wish – there will be no requirement to ever work with or communicate with Microsoft. Until the new structure is fully in place, we can't say if this will be the same Culminis employee as you currently work with or not.

Does this happen right away?

The transition will take a few months. The reason for this is that we want to make sure that we give the user groups the opportunity to have input into the process and to make sure we get this right.

What happens to the "Core Services" that Culminis provides?

We are in the process of evaluating the core services to see which should be provided by the volunteer community and which by Microsoft. In most cases, Microsoft will take on the funding, processes and administration, leaving the volunteer community to contribute their direction, expertise and enthusiasm.

What about "The VOICE"?

Our provisional plan is to provide a set of newsletter services such as content management and mailing list management to both Culminis and INETA, but to leave the editorial and actual content entirely to the community.

What about CommunityWorks or <Insert UG association here>?

The intention is to make Microsoft User Groups Support Services available to any legitimate User Group association. We are still working on the full details of how to do this though, and our initial focus will be on ensuring the new Culminis model, together with INETA, is as successful as it can be.

What difference does this make to me as an IT Pro or Developer who isn't a User Group member?

None.

What difference does this make to me as a user group member?

Very little. You may find additional funds, tools and resources becoming available to your user group over time, but this change shouldn't have any direct effect on you as a member.

What difference does this make to me as a Culminis User Group Leader?

Depending on how the transfer progresses, you may need to re-register your user group, as the current Culminis organization isn't able to share the information you provided it. You should find that additional resources become available to you over time. You will also have the opportunity to vote for, or even become part of, the Culminis Board in a years' time.

What difference does this make to me as an IT Pro User Group Leader that isn't part of Culminis?

Initially very little, other than the opportunity to register your User Group directly with Microsoft - which you have always had. If you run an association of user groups, you will also have the opportunity to register that association. At some point in the future, you may become eligible for the same level of support we currently give to Culminis and INETA.

What difference does this make to me as an INETA User Group Leader?

You should find that additional funding, tools and resources become available to you without having to also join Culminis.

Can I apply to join the initial Culminis board?