I love the small business community.  Some days I hate it too.  This year we have seen great strides forward, but the fear by me has always been how many people are driving it.  Don't get me wrong - I think the community is amazing and more than capable at driving things forward for itself, but some pigs are more equal (driving) than others.

This year there have been some stand-out heros, who have consistently provided feedback to Microsoft as to what more we should be doing to help.  That is what I see easily.  They also lead their groups, build the local community and put business opportunities in front of people around them.

Three of those people have moved from group leaders to being back into community at large - and I am not sure that this has been recognised - both in terms of their efforts to the community and also the help they have given Microsoft.

The three people are Tom, Richard and Susanne.  They all did great things with their groups - taking them to new heights (other group leaders do this, but have not moved on yet, so I will shout out to them later) - but they are now "just" members of their groups.

Richard sent this to his group

"I said at the meeting in May where we made a lot of the decisions regarding the self-funding, and elected the various officers of the group, that I would be standing down as Chairman in October.  I had decided this for several reasons, but mainly the fact that I now feel that we have a strong core of a group, and that someone else should come in with new ideas and drive to push the group forward.  It is always a danger in such an organisation, that the founder stays too long, and the organisation becomes 'his' rather than reflecting the needs of the members."

Susanne sent this a couple of days ago

"And I take the opportunity to inform you all that I will be stepping down from my role within the Kent group and this meeting will be my last as leader – I have had a great year and a bit organising it but I feel it is time for others to take more control. Thanks to everyone who has offered support and now it’s time to see if others can take the group to the next level."

Obviously, we have other great leaders and Tom and Richard have been suceeded by two energetic fellows. 

I wanted to publicly say thanks and go on record with

"I could not have asked for a better group of leaders to kick me (all of them) and lead the community groups.  Tom, Susanne and Richard - Thanks for all your help - we could not have got to where we are without you - please keep up the feedback and thanks for all your help. Having you leave scares me just a bit.  I just hope there is no big churn for the other group leaders - I still need you :-)"

If you have found your group leader a bonus, please, at this time of year, remember to tell them it was worth their time and effort.  The reason I said I sometimes hate the community is because feedback is often spartan - while I have got used to that at Microsoft, I hear that it is not always better in the groups themselves.