Every year hundreds of dedicated SAS® users and event volunteers work tirelessly to create an amazing conference experience for SAS Global Forum attendees. This year, as you know, COVID-19 changed our plans. But our devoted team of volunteers, including our conference chairs and session presenters, was still determined to provide an educational and engaging experience for SAS users.
Since March 5, when we first announced that SAS Global Forum would become a virtual experience, a lot has happened. At SAS and in the world around us, our priorities have shifted, and our ability to meet and network has changed.
But one thing remains the same: SAS Global Forum is a celebration of how our customers and partners do great things with SAS.
Our event teams of customers, partners and employees have worked together to design a virtual program that will delight and engage SAS users and many others who are interested in doing great things with data.
Before I show you what they came up with, I want to take a minute to thank the SAS Global Users Group Executive Board, including Conference Chair Lisa Mendez and her conference content teams. Along the way, Lisa has shared a Meet the Conference Team series on LinkedIn, which I find inspiring and helpful in getting to know all the volunteers who spend hours making the SAS community what it is.
SAS® Global Forum 2020 videos and papers
Together with the Executive Board, we’re excited to share some SAS Global Forum news! Today, 80 sessions will launch on the SAS Users YouTube channel, and even more sessions will be coming in the next several weeks. I’m amazed and inspired that so many presenters were brave enough to share their skills and knowledge in this new video platform instead of presenting to a room of attendees as they had originally planned.
In addition to the videos, you can also access the 2020 Users Program Proceedings, where you’ll find 360 new papers on a wide variety of educational and applicable topics. To easily find what you’re looking for, we have a variety of ways you can sort the content (see links below).
Knowledge is empowering
Today, more than ever, what many of you are doing with SAS can make a difference in the world. As we consult with health care providers, government agencies, pharmaceutical researchers and supply chain experts, we’re seeing up close how analytics is helping to save lives and keep our economy running during the current outbreak.
Today, more than ever, what many of you are doing with SAS can make a difference in the world. Click To TweetWe’re in the science of caring. Teams across the company are helping our users learn the SAS skills they require for their current needs, as well as newly emerging demands.
While many of us are in a new, work-from-home period, I also want you to know that we can learn from home. I’m digging into some free SAS learning resources myself! We're here to help, and I invite everyone to tap into free learning resources to help advance critical, job-focused skills. SAS Training offers free online training courses, video tutorials and software trials to help you learn SAS and gain analytics skills.
SAS can help you feel empowered by knowing the latest stats about COVID-19. The importance of data and analytics as we deal with the current pandemic is immeasurable. Take a minute to explore our COVID-19 resource hub, where you’ll find informational visualizations, use cases and trends.
I recently shared with our team that I’m doubling down on positivity, and I’m looking for silver linings. So let me be the first to tell you that I look forward to seeing you in person again soon. As we remain optimistic and look forward to a more normal year next year, please save the date for SAS Global Forum 2021 in Las Vegas on April 19-22. It will be one to remember!
