2007-2008 Top Contributors

Normally this would be a blog post announcing the great and wonderful things being made available to the 2007-2008 Top Contributors for the BPX, BOBJ and SDN Communities, instead though it’s to share a most dishearting turn of events.

We’ve had a massive amount of “point gaming” take place and a surge in reports of abuse and emails reporting point gaming. We have investigate very thoroughly every case and either we or the moderators have made decisions based on the investigation. Our decisions are based on the desire for quality, integrity and fairness.

Therefore we have deleted several accounts over the past week and as our systems syncronize you will begin to see names disappear from the lists, forums and blogs. We will also be running a “clean up” to ensure we have cleansed the systems of these misuses early next week. We are also putting measures in place to better fight this juvinele and unprofessional behaviour and we have continued to enforce, encourage and enable the moderators to fight this small but annoying precentage of negative activity in the community. We will not tolerate this behaviour.

Some of the negative side effects of this clean up however will effect the total number of points so far collected in the On track for a great end to the year. However, we want honest and well earned/deserved contribution to the community and not artificial so we stand by the decisions made.

As soon as the “clean up” phase takes place next week I will post the results of who we consider our “Top Contributors” for 2007-2008.

These will be the folks who have earned a 100% discount to the TechEd of their choice (not including travel & expenses), a 50% discount to the TechEd of their choice (not including travel & expenses) or a  free pass to the Community Day of their choice (not including SAP Teched, travel & expenses). Atthe SAP TechEd they will get special seating at the Keynote, Demo Jam as well special access to the Networking Lounge at the Clubhouse and the ability to host their very own sessions during the event. They will be made immortal in a new “Top Contributor Video” will will be doing this year (in fact in more than one!) and their photo will be added to the new “Community Hall of Fame” coming at SAP TechEd Las Vegas!

Further more in the interest of “green” we have decided to pass this year on the paper certificates and pins but instead will provide each of these new “Top Contibutors” will instructions on how to show their pride even more so to the entire community.

These new Top Contributors will also be invited to speak directly with the Community team a special message forum designed just for them where we will share what is new in the community, strategy, new features as well as decisions coming and future opportunities that will be made availble to them in the community environment – they will have access to the area for the entire year proceeding (August 1, 2008 until July 31, 2009). 

Thank you for your patience and understanding in this matter and thank you for helping us to make sure honest quality contribution is still the priority!