An important aspect of our work here at Market Connections is to stay abreast of technology initiatives that affect IT decision-makers. One way we do this is to attend industry seminars and workshops that address these initiatives and ways that organizations are tackling them.

Recently, I attended InfoWorld’s Virtualization for Government Executive Forum in Washington, DC.  The event centered on technology virtualization, the idea of moving beyond physical resources to address IT needs by pooling and sharing technology. The seminar included speakers from commercial and government spaces who offered their experiences, challenges, and predictions for virtualization within their organizations and beyond.

Virtualization is already an industry buzzword and, as organizational resources become increasingly strained, it will become a crucial part of most IT systems.

Market Connections� and I would like to take the time to express our most sincere condolences to those who were affected by the events that took place this week at Virginia Tech.� We have several colleagues who have personal ties to the university and have been at a total loss during this tragic time.�

The Hokie Spirit Memorial Fund has been set up by Virginia Tech to remember and honor the victims of this horrific event.� The fund will provide assistance to victims and their families, grief counseling, memorials, communication expenses, and comfort expenses.� � If you would like to donate to the fund, please go to http://www.vt.edu/fund/.� Again, we offer our deepest sympathies to the victims and their families.

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At Market Connections, we feel that it’s important to give back to the community that gives so much to us. Recently, I attended a “Blue Reach” event that connects professional sports officials with pediatric hospital patients managing health-related issues. I joined the Blue Reach team and two Major League Baseball umpires at Johns Hopkins Children’s Center in Baltimore. During the event, we pulled red wagons filled to the brim with Build-a-Bear toys and stopped by each room so that the umpires could meet with and lift the spirits of the patients.
One child screamed with delight, “A bear, a bear, mom it’s a bear!” as the umpires walked through the door, stuffed bears overflowing from each arm.  Another young patient donned his favorite baseball jersey and held his autographed baseball up to show his mom. This event was so extraordinary because it was much more than a bear or a baseball, it was an opportunity to refocus and create a lasting memory.

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Blue Reach is only one of the several programs offered by Blue for Kids, a nonprofit organization that facilitates community outreach opportunities for sports officials.� Check out their website at www.blueforkids.com to learn about the good things this organization is doing for kids.

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Market Connections, together with CDW-G, posted a link in the February issue of the FCW’s SI E-Newsletter inviting readers to complete an opinion poll. Please click here to download the Executive Summary of the opinion poll results. http://marketconnectionsinc.com/index.asp?PageAction=Custom&ID=82