~Contributed by Debbie Buck, SAS Global Forum Conference Chair~

Today is the last full day of SAS® Global Forum 2011. Every year, I’m amazed at how quickly the days go by. I hope you’re enjoying the conference as much as I am. I want to thank you for attending and participating in this year’s conference. You’ve made it a wonderful year for me. I’d also like to take a moment to thank our conference leaders. From section chairs to presenters, mentors to session coordinators and all our volunteer team, we could not have done it without you!

But this conference is not nearly over yet – there is still so much for you to do and see today! Don’t miss the Social Media and Networking section presentation from 8 – 8:50 a.m. with Dave Thomas from New Marketing Labs. Thomas will give some practical advice for how companies and individuals should be using social media.

Also remember to spend some time in the SAS Support and Demo Room from 10 a.m. to 5 p.m. today, where you can:

• Talk one-on-one with the developers to get answers to your questions and suggest new features.
• Drop in for a consultation with the Code Doctors. Describe your issues to an expert SAS user who’ll help you diagnose the problems and prescribe the proper treatment. Clinic hours are 10 a.m. – 12 p.m. and 2 – 4 p.m. (Be sure to bring a hard copy and/or electronic file with your code, processes and/or logs.)
• Check out the Super Demos. These 15- to 30-minute interactive presentations by SAS experts cover topics such as “Text Analytics in Action,” “The ABCs of GTL,” “SAS 9.3 Deployment: A Sure Bet” and much more.

And the entertainment and networking opportunities continue. Join us today for lunch and Revenge of the Semi-Colon People: Business Analytics at Work, presented by Greg Nelson and Neil Howard. They’ll tell the story of SAS Global Forum data using programs written by SAS users across the globe. Check at Conference Registration to see if tickets are still available for this event.

Don’t forget the final event of the day – the Kick Back Party. Enjoy drinks and a night of dancing at the world-renowned PURE nightclub in Caesars Palace. PURE is located next to the sports book inside Caesars Palace and combines the magic of the red carpet with the hottest DJ sounds in Las Vegas. Come out and join us, but please remember – you must be 21 years of age, bring your conference badge, and provide a valid US or Canadian driver’s license or a valid passport.

Have a great day!

Debbie Buck

Conference Chair

D.B. & P. Associates