Win a $500 Shopping Spree, iPod Shuffle & More!

Today, we are announcing our first in an ongoing series of monthly giveaways.  We've got some great prizes lined up and it couldn't be easier for you to cash in.  For August, here's the deal --  just write a simple use case describing how you are using Bamboo technology in your organization and post it on a forum here at Bamboo Nation.  At the end of the month, we'll select our three favorite stories and award the following prizes:

Grand Prize - A $500 Gift Certificate redeemable in the Bamboo Online Store. 

Five hundred big ones goes a long way in the Bamboo Online Store.  Most Bamboo Web Parts are less than $500... but you can also put this toward the purchase of a bigger ticket item, like Team Calendar, System Log Manager or the new Bamboo Project Management Suite. 

Second Prize - A 2GB iPod Shuffle.  This top-of-the-line iPod shuffle has been custom engraved with the Bamboo Nation URL, community.bamboosolutions.com, so you'll never forget how to find your favorite SharePoint community site.  Perfect for the gym or the bike trail.  We have a couple of these on hand, so this won't be your last chance to win one.

Third Prize - A Limited Edition "I Am Bamboo Nation" T-Shirt.  You'll be the envy of SharePoint nerds everywhere, stylin' in this high quality Bamboo Nation apparel. 

Everybody Wins! - Just for entering, we'll send you an I Am Bamboo Nation sticker to adorn your laptop, vehicle or workspace.  Show your pride!  Let the world know that you are a proud citizen of Bamboo Nation.

Here's How to Play - Just write a simple use case describing how you are currently using a Bamboo Web Part or Solution Accelerator in your SharePoint deployment.  Post your use case to the most appropriate Bamboo Nation forum (e.g. if you're writing about the Calendar Plus Web Part, please post your use case to the Calendar Web Part Forum) and shoot a note to Community Manager Chris Dooley at chris.dooley@bamboosolutions.com just to make sure we've seen your post.  Be sure to include your snail mail address in your e-mail so we can send you an I Am Bamboo Nation sticker.  If you have any questions about where or how to post, feel free to e-mail Chris with those as well.

How to Win - If you want to give yourself the best shot at winning, here are a few hints and suggestions about what we'll be looking for:

• A picture is worth a thousand words.  Please include screen shots, architectural diagrams, even a picture of yourself.  Liven up your presentation with some graphics.  Chris will be publishing a few tips on how to include images in forum posts, check back here for more details shortly.
• Tell us what is unique about your implementation.  You'll definitely receive extra points for having used a Bamboo Web Part in an inventive or unanticipated manner. 
• Keep it real.  Tell us how this technology affects real people in the workplace.  Has teamwork or productivity improved since you deployed this solution? 
• Have a sense of humor, and be yourself.  Remember, we'll be reading a lot of SharePoint use cases... if you make us laugh, or make a personal connection, I promise we will reward you for it.
• Make it useful.  Share some information that others can benefit from.  Ultimately, that's what this is all about, sharing information for the general good. 
• You don't have to reference your company name.  We would love for you to tell us who you are, tell us all about your business and post links back to your site.  But we know that some companies or government agencies require review before you share information like this.  We promise not to punish you if you have to anonymize your entry.  We'll work with you to protect your privacy as necessary.

Contest Rules

• Entries must be posted by midnight August 31st, 2008. 
• Winners will be selected and notified no later than September 5th, 2008
• Winners will be determined subjectively by the Bamboo Nation team.  Our decisions are final.
• Prize substitutions will be permitted for the Grand Prize winner only.  If you would rather have the iPod Shuffle than the $500 gift certificate, no problem. 
• This contest is informal, just for fun, and we reserve the right to change the rules or cancel the whole thing if the legal department gets involved.
• Bamboo employees are not eligible, but Bamboo partners may participate.  If you are a consultant or a system integrator, feel free to write a use case describing a solution you have developed for a client.

So, c'mon stop what you're doing, take a few minutes and post your use case right now.  A fifteen minute investment could win you five hundred bucks, you've got nothing to lose.