The first annual Robert Catterall Annual Memorial Editorial Award was presented by Content Committee Chair Tony Andrews today at #IDUGNA. This global award recognizes intellectual generosity and technical clarity, honoring the IDUG member who has contributed not just the highest number of articles in a year, but specifically in-depth articles written for the benefit of the reader. Congratulations to Emil Kotrč, whose acceptance was played via video. We'd also like to thank Marcia Catterall for being present for the inaugural award presentation.

Another well-deserved honor! Congratulations to our #IDUG Volunteers of the year, Marcus Davage and Julia Carter. Your contributions help bring valuable insights and education to the broader community. We appreciate you! #IDUGNA #NA26

IDUG is thrilled to recognize Steen Rasmussen with the IDUG Lifetime Achievement award. Well deserved - thank you for your contributions over the years! 📷 #IDUG President Kurt Struyf and award winner Steen Rasmussen, #IDUGNA #NA26

Good morning from Atlanta! Our Broadcom keynote is just wrapping up, featuring AI Mythbusters John Campbell, Namik Hrle and Tracy Hutcheson. Next up - coffee, followed by Db2 #LUW and #zOS spotlights, IDUG Essentials training, and morning sessions. Wish you were here! 📷 by Ronny Schneider - thank you for a better photo than the one we took 😉

It's not too late to join us in Atlanta for the IDUG 2026 NA Db2 Tech Conference, with free admission to IBM TechXchange with your IDUG registration. Start here - idug.org/events/idug-na-2026 If you missed the famous Know Before You Go email, send a dm or email [email protected] and we will send it over. See you soon!

New on the pod - Marcus and Julia chat with recent retiree and long-time IDUG volunteer Les King about his journey with Db2 LUW, plus what’s kept him hooked the whole way. (Expect a few surprises, of course.) idug.org/podcast

The IDUG EMEA Call for Presentations is open! With our shift from fall to spring, we have a tight timeline this year, so don't wait...abstracts will be accepted through December 6, 2026. Start here - lnkd.in/eHUxxVSw Questions? Email [email protected]

This time next week at #IDUG #NA26, we'll have heard the first of several Daily Keynotes, learned more about what's new for #Db2 #LUW and #zOS in Spotlight Sessions, and will be heading into the last session before lunch. Will you be there with us? idug.org/events/idug-na-2026 Shout out what you're most looking forward to in the comments below!

If you're headed to IDUG hashtag#NA26 in Atlanta, now is the time to start planning your session itinerary! Head over to idugna2026.sched.com to get started. Reminder: your hashtag#NA26 registration includes complimentary access to IBM TechXchange! Tickets are still available - register now @ idug.org/events/idug-na-2026

Need to brush up on your fundamentals? Managers, do you have new staff members who need training? Join us in Atlanta – the Essentials track is included with conference registration, and runs alongside technical and breakout sessions. Participants have the unique opportunity to master Db2 Essentials while taking part in other conference activities, including IBM TechXchange. Start here - idug.org/events/idug-na-2026

The IDUG WIT Keynote is highly anticipated at our #Db2 Tech Conferences. This month in Atlanta, the #NA26 WIT Keynote features Mary Ann Furno, sharing insights about the impact of AI breakthroughs and the necessary mindset shifts that come with it. Join us! idug.org/events/idug-na-2026 The IDUG WIT Keynote at #NA26 is sponsored by Broadcom.

Big news: the "AI Mythbusters and Db2" Keynote Address at #EMEA26, you're in luck - our friends at Broadcom are bringing it to Atlanta for the #NA26 attendees! Highly rated by your IDUG peers, this is a can't-miss session. Register for NA today - idug.org/events/idug-na-2026 Featuring Namik Hrle, Tracy Hutcheson, and John Campbell

IDUG EMEA 2027 Call for Presentations is OPEN! IDUG is excited to visit the IBM Germany Lab & Technology Campus for our 39th annual EMEA Db2 Tech Conference. hashtag#EMEA27 will be held 26-30 April 2027, and we need your expertise to make it happen! Submission deadline is 12 December 2026. Learn more and submit your abstract here: lnkd.in/eHUxxVSw

📣 It's official! The 2027 IDUG EMEA Db2 Tech Conference will be held in Ehningen, Germany, home of the IBM Germany Lab & Technology Campus. Mark your calendar and plan to join your IDUG colleagues in late April, 2027. Learn more and register - idug.org/events/emea2027

Community is one of the best parts of every IDUG Db2 Tech Conference. If you're not here at #EMEA26, make plans to join #IDUG at the next in-person opportunity! IDUG NA is in Atlanta next month, and multiple 2027 locations are in the works. Stay tuned. 📷 The IDUG Solution Center within the Centro de Congressos da Alfândega do Porto

📣 REMINDER for IDUG #NA26 and IBM TechXchange participants! The preferred Hotel Block registration deadline is October 1st. Take advantage of the hotel booking opportunity ASAP and book this week! As a reminder, to secure your complimentary TechX admission, you should **register for IDUG NA first.** idug.org/events/idug-na-2026 Once you've completed your IDUG NA registration, you'll receive an email from IBM with instructions and a link to your complimentary IBM TechXchange pass. Hotel booking is available at the end of the TechX registration workflow. See you in Atlanta!

This time next week, #EMEA26 will be in full swing! The IDUG Db2 Tech Conferences are known for featuring the highest-quality speakers and education, and this tradition will continue in Porto. Learn more about the EMEA keynote sessions at the link below...and if you haven't registered, there's still time! idug.org/emea26-featured-spe…

Have you heard? IDUG has launched a Member Referral program and YOU could win a free pass to the 2027 Db2 Tech Conference of your choice. Here's how it works: - Refer colleagues and friends to join IDUG for the top-notch education, timely product updates, and high-quality people (it's free!) - When the new member signs up, have them put your name in the Referred By field after their personal information - For every member you refer, your name gets thrown into the (digital) hat for prize drawing. Contest period runs from September 1, 2026 through January 31, 2027. Winner of the random drawing will be notified on or before February 15, 2027. Start here - idug.org/membership-informat…

Have you visited the IDUG blog recently? New articles are submitted regularly, with several posted already this month. Check it out - idug.org/news We hope to see you and many of these authors at our flagship events in Porto and Atlanta in the coming weeks! #IDUGDb2 #EMEA26 #NA26

REMINDER: your 2026 IBM TechXchange ticket is free with your IDUG NA purchase. Here's how it works - - First, register for the IDUG NA Db2 Tech Conference at idug.org/events/idug-na-2026 - When your registration is complete, you will receive an email from IBM with a customized link to register for TechX at no cost. (The email may take a few days to arrive.) - Using that link, you can register for a $0 TechXchange ticket. - You'll be able to see the hotel room block at the end of that registration process. Questions? Email [email protected]