MVP Program Abandoned Reinstated

Express Yourself!

Due to customer feedback and requests for more direct Microsoft involvement, we are changing our newsgroups strategy. ... The MVP program will no longer be in operation effective 12/1/99. Joseph Lindstrom, Director Business Development, October 22, 1999 Clearly, the feedback received recently is in strong support of the MVPs and the great contributions they make in the newsgroups. Based on this feedback, we will reinstate the MVP Program effective immediately. Joseph Lindstrom, Director Business Development, October 25, 1999

Over a single weekend, you folks managed to deluge Bill Gates, Steve Balmer, and a bunch of Microsoft VP's with thousands of e-mails regarding the abandonment of their MVP program. We now happily announce that the program was reinstated! This, our friends, is why we're referred to as a community. Well done!

The Resolution!

-----Original Message----- From: Microsoft Product Support <support1@microsoft.com> Date: Monday, October 25, 1999 2:44 PM Subject: MVP Program Last week Microsoft made an announcement about changes to the Most Valuable Professional (MVP) Program. Since that announcement, we have received feedback from customers and MVPs, asking us to reconsider this decision. Our objectives have always been to provide the best technical support in the industry and a part of that support is the activity taking place in the newsgroups today. MVPs make a significant contribution to our customer satisfaction, and we sincerely appreciate their efforts. Clearly, the feedback received recently is in strong support of the MVPs and the great contributions they make in the newsgroups. Based on this feedback, we will reinstate the MVP Program effective immediately. We will also take an additional step to organize an MVP advisory council that will help us shape the program going forward. Our existing customer advisory councils will also be used to gather feedback and help us shape the future of our newsgroups. We will work to improve the existing program in a way that better meets our customer needs. Your MVP Buddy will be contacting you about possible participation in the advisory council. We appreciate your feedback and your contribution to the Microsoft newsgroups.  If you have questions, please contact _____@microsoft.com or your MVP Buddy.  Thank you for your continued support of Microsoft and our products. Joseph Lindstrom Director Business Development

In The News (Post-Resolution)

With a little help from my MVP friends at Microsoft By Hiawatha Bray, Special to boston.com, March 6, 2000 http://www.digitalmass.com/columns/software/0306.html

Microsoft's Most Valuable Professionals program spared the ax By Dave Kearns, Network World Fusion Focus on NT, November 1, 1999 http://www.nwfusion.com/newsletters/nt/1101nt1.html

MS revives MVP program The controversial decision to pull the plug on a volunteer advocacy program is reversed after uproar. By Mary Jo Foley, Sm@rt Reseller, October 25, 1999 3:38 PM PT http://www.zdnet.com/zdnn/stories/news/0,4586,2381386,00.html

Microsoft won't pull plug on free help service Microsoft won't pull plug on free help service By Stephanie Miles and Erich Luening, CNET News.com, October 25, 1999, 5:35 p.m. PT http://news.cnet.com/news/0-1003-200-1401759.html

MS makes U-turn on MVP programme shutdown By Graham Lea, The Register, October 26, 1999 11:46 AM http://www.theregister.co.uk/991026-000005.html

Back again In a reversal of its decision to cancel the MVP program, Microsoft has announced the program has been reinstated. By Kevin D. Weeks, Developer News, October 26, 1999 http://community.borland.com/devnews/article/1,1714,10507,00.html

MVP Program Reinstated By <unattributed>, Microsoft Developer Network, October 26, 1999 http://msdn.microsoft.com/resources/news/mvpnews.asp

Microsoft flip-flop First Microsoft fired its volunteers -- then turned around and rehired them. Does Microsoft understand the software business? By Andrew Leonard, Salon Technology, October 26, 1999 http://salon.com/tech/log/1999/10/26/microsoft_flipflop/

Back again - Update By Kevin D. Weeks, Developer News, October 27, 1999 http://community.borland.com/devnews/article/1,1714,10522,00.html

MS Capitulates on MVPs The email has proven mightier than the executive. By Andy Patrizio, Wired News, October 27, 1999, 3:00am PDT http://www.wired.com/news/print/1,1294,32145,00.html

Dear Microsoft: Apology not accepted By Mary Jo Foley, Sm@rt Reseller, October 28, 1999 10:49 AM PT http://www.zdnet.com/zdnn/stories/comment/0,5859,2383618,00.html

Internet incantations The Internet can sometimes make a company's interface to its users frighteningly up close and personal. By Constance Petersen, Developer News, October 29, 1999 http://community.borland.com/devnews/article/1,1714,10541,00.html

The MS Support Takeover By Dave Methvin, WinMag.com, November 1, 1999 http://www.winmag.com/columns/bigpicture/1999/1101.htm

In The News (Pre-Resolution)

Microsoft angels have wings plucked 'MVP' volunteer advocacy group told by Redmond their services are no longer required. By Mary Jo Foley, Sm@rt Reseller, October 22, 1999 9:12 AM PT http://www.zdnet.com/zdnn/stories/news/0,4586,2379010,00.html

Microsoft to end volunteer-support program By Bob Trott, InfoWorld Electric, October 22, 1999 3:02 PM PT http://www.infoworld.com/cgi-bin/displayStory.pl?991022.pimvp.htm

Microsoft axes free newsgroup support team By John Lettice, The Register, October 24, 1999 1:28 PM http://www.theregister.co.uk/991024-000004.html

Anger as Microsoft scraps MVP scheme By Mary Jo Foley and Dave Wilby, 25 Oct 1999 15:00:56 GMT http://www.zdnet.co.uk/news/1999/42/ns-10942.html

So Long to Microsoft's Mysterious Munchkins? By John C. Dvorak, 25 Oct 1999 http://www.zdnet.com/pcmag/stories/opinions/0,7802,2380951,00.html

The Kiss-Off

-----Original Message----- From: Microsoft Product Support <support1@microsoft.com> Date: Thursday, October 21, 1999 6:17 PM Subject: Changes to the Microsoft Most Valuable Professional (MVP) Program Dear MVP, Thank you for your past participation in Microsoft technical newsgroups. Your participation and contributions have been greatly appreciated.  In light of your participation, we would like to let you know about certain changes that will soon be taking place in the technical newsgroups, including the elimination of the MVP Program.   Each year, Microsoft customer participation in the newsgroups has grown and we expect this to continue. Due to customer feedback and requests for more direct Microsoft involvement, we are changing our newsgroups strategy.  Effective 12/1/99, we will be moving to a program in which technical newsgroups are staffed by Microsoft support professionals.  The MVP program will no longer be in operation effective 12/1/99. This shift in focus in the newsgroups will allow us to respond to customer requests for more contact with Microsoft support professionals and guaranteed response times.   Microsoft will redirect their investments previously made in the MVP Program to the newsgroups overall and driving customer awareness of this valuable resource. MVPs should be aware of the following: The MVP buddy position will no longer exist and these Microsoft support professionals will be focused on assisting customers on line in a broader arena.  We recommend you take advantage of Microsoft Webcasts, our online training modules focused on Microsoft products and technologies in order to obtain technical and product information. <http://support.microsoft.com/servicedesks/msdn/webcasts/msdn_webcasts.htm> We also recommend you take advantage of our extensive online support offerings.  <www.microsoft.com/support.> We will no longer be granting MVP Bucks.  Please feel free to use the MVP bucks you currently have before 12/1/99. MSDN and Tech Net subscriptions created in connection with the MVP Program will not be renewed.  You will be able to continue to use existing accounts until the expiration date (most likely 12/31/99). Your MSN account will no longer be operational after 11/30/99. MVP Programs at Microsoft subsidiaries around the world may still be in existence.   Each program is run separately. Those individuals who participate in our newsgroups by posting and answering customer questions will have a connection with Microsoft.  We will maintain a forum attended by Microsoft support professionals.  In this forum, those who participate heavily in the newsgroups will be able to ask support professionals questions and obtain guidance on technical and product issues.  Please visit this site for updated information. <http://support.microsoft.com/support/mvp/> You will be hearing more about Microsoft community programs for the newsgroups and other forums. We believe that this new approach to newsgroups and community will be beneficial for all Microsoft customers.  If you have any questions or suggestions relating to the changes in the technical newsgroups, we would appreciate hearing from you.  Please contact me at support1@microsoft.com. Thank you for your support. Sincerely, Joseph Lindstrom Director of Business Development

The Future?

http://communities.microsoft.com/newsgroups/