COMMON is a volunteer organization and is committed to serve its members with highest quality
member-to-member education, community networking and first-in-class professional leadership
building. Volunteering in COMMON can serve as a prime opportunity for YiPs to exhibit their
personal leadership capacity and maybe learn a few things in the process. Looking at the time I’ve
spent working in various capacities as a volunteer for COMMON, I have nothing but positive things
to say. Working on a volunteer team for COMMON hones and enriches the ability to set targets,
accomplish goals, negotiate, speak publicly and network with colleagues all over the world---all the
while helping to build and shape the COMMON membership experience for fellow members both
today and into the future.
Young i Professionals
Two specific opportunities come to mind that I’d like to explore with my readers: COMMON blogging
and the CAAC (COMMON America’s Advisory Council).
COMMON in the Blogosphere
To all those in the blogosphere: COMMON is expanding its social networking capabilities and is
looking for a few good bloggers to contribute. Topics can range from technical topics to opinion
pieces – whatever is on your mind! Take the opportunity to have your voice heard and words read
throughout the community.
Blogging is a great way to introduce yourself to the community and provides a conduit to fantastic
experiences meeting and growing in knowledge with fellow colleagues. If you’ve got an opinion or a
specialty, share it with the world!
If you are interested in blogging for COMMON, get in contact with Brian May at
brian_may@common.org.
COMMON America’s Advisory Council (CAAC)
The CAAC advises IBM on its future direction and is responsible for presenting and managing the
requirements garnered from the COMMON community. The CAAC has been highly successful at
providing direction, through the COMMON membership, to IBM’s development efforts for future
versions of the platform. A perfect example of the CAAC’s impact on the platform: PHP. The CAAC
headed up the effort to bring PHP to the platform and was successful in doing so.
The CAAC meets in person twice a year: once at the Annual Meeting and once in Rochester
in addition to bi-weekly conference calls. Participation in the CAAC provides a fundamental
opportunity to have a hand in the future of the platform and its continued vitality. As an important
group, YiP Power customers have a vested interest in the future of the platform. Applying for
membership to the CAAC is the perfect way to use your expertise and provide direction for where
Power systems and IBM i need to go.
If you are interested in applying for the CAAC or would like more information, visit the CAAC website
at http://common.org/index.php/vol-groups/caac.html or e-mail CAAC@COMMON.org.
