EditWhat does it take to be a MMS speaker?
To speak at MMS, you simply have to be willing to share your knowledge and expertise with your peers. That's it. The people you will present to are people just like you. And, if you are a myITforum.com member, it's simply like talking to a room full of friends.
You may not think that you are knowledgeable enough, but that's generally not the case. If you've been in the IT industry for even a short length of time, you have valuable information to share. MMS is a community-based conference where your thoughts and experience are definitely welcome.
If you've never presented in front of a large audience before, there's really nothing to it, when you consider you probably already talk to a multitude of people every day and every week at work. Sure, it can be daunting, but the value for you is worth the additional pressure of public speaking. Speaking at MMS gives you a strong experience point on your resume and also shows your current management that you are someone who is ready for advancement in your current employment.
And, don't forget about the value you will provide for the attendees of MMS simply by sharing your knowledge.
Frankly, some of the best presentations have come from "first-timers". First timers have the ability to bring a "newness" and a different perspective to the topics offered at each MMS.
EditHow do I come up with a good topic?
Coming up with a good topic to present at MMS can seem a little challenging. But, you can't think about it that way. If you work with Active Directory, SMS, MOM, or any other Microsoft technology that requires managing, you already have a head start in coming up with a topic.
Have you come up with a best practice for your company? Have you developed a custom solution? Have you worked with Microsoft on any bugs or fixes in Microsoft products? Have you come up with a unique shortcut to getting something done, possibly in a process or using a script?
If you've been active in the myITforum.com community for long, you know there are "pain points" using the Microsoft technologies. You can use these areas to help come up with a topic to speak on. So, in effect, you can use the community to help develop your topic and idea.
EditHow do I develop and submit my idea?
The best way to develop and submit your topic is to handle it like everything else you do in your job. Use thorough processes and research -- the kind your manager expects from you. :)
Just kidding. Simply jot your idea down, and then put it into an outline form. You'll find that as you put your idea into an outline, the whole idea will start to formulate, flow, and come together. Once you have your outline, title it. The title can be to the point or slightly creative and catchy.
Then, write a short abstract of what you want to present. The abstract should be concise and accurate, but lengthy enough so that people reading the abstract will immediately get a sense of what the session will be about and what direction you are taking.