Jen’s PASS Diary: I can no other answer make but thanks, and thanks; and ever thanks.

Thank you for electing me for a second term as a Director-At-Large for PASS!

I’m delighted to serve alongside Tim Ford (t) again. I can’t emphasise this enough: Tim does an awesome job of the SQLSaturday portfolio. That. Is. Hard. Work.

I’d also like to welcome Ryan J. Adams (t) as the newly elected director. I’m looking forward to working with him and learning from his great community experience.

I’m sad that Amy Lewis (t) will no longer be on the Board; Amy was so welcoming to me from my first PASS Summit visit in 2011, when I didn’t really know anybody and I’d just travelled thousands of miles from home to Seattle, and I didn’t really know anybody. I will never forget her kindness to me. Amy is one of the kindest, strongest and most generous people I’ve met and she will continue to inspire me. Amy – *hugs*. If you see Amy at PASS Summit, please say ‘thank you’ for all that she does.

As for me? Well……

Yep. What he said. That’s me.

I’ve had lots of commentary about being the only European candidate. I really don’t know what to say. I was very surprised that it was only my name on the ballot sheet. What people don’t seem to realise is that there is an OPEN seat so a European could have won that. By definition, it’s OPEN and it’s not restricted to any geography. Let’s take an example. If we’d had two Europeans win two seats this year: EMEA and the OPEN seat. Let’s pretend a European wins next year. That means we’d have three Europeans on the Board, doing what it is we normally do when were in the US: complain about the tea and American beer (hint: they serve both too cold). I have no idea why I was the only candidate from this region but it’s clear that we need more folks to step up to the plate from over here. There are tons of hugely talented candidates – not just from Europe – and I’d encourage people to start thinking now about perhaps throwing their hat in the ring for the next time.

So, if you’re thinking that you might put yourself forward, here are some words for you, regardless of where you live.

Our deepest fear is not that we are inadequate. Our deepest fear is that we are powerful beyond measure. It is our light, not our darkness that most frightens us. Your playing small does not serve the world. There is nothing enlightened about shrinking so that other people won’t feel insecure around you. We are all meant to shine as children do. It’s not just in some of us; it is in everyone. And as we let our own lights shine, we unconsciously give other people permission to do the same. As we are liberated from our own fear, our presence automatically liberates others.

(Variation of a quote by Marianne Williamson, taken from the film Coach Carter.)