Got this cool email this morning:

Congratulations! On behalf of VMware, we would like to thank you for all the work you’ve done giving back to the virtualization community and sharing your expertise with others. We are pleased to present you with the VMware vExpert Award for 2009. VMware is giving this award to individuals who have contributed significantly to the community of VMware users over the past year.
VMware vExpert award winners will receive:
* An award certificate and gift
* Access to a private vExpert community
* vExpert logo to display on website or email signature
* Free subscription to conference session materials on VMworld.com
* Access to exclusive online events and other opportunities to participate in activities
* Inclusion in public vExpert directory
The vExpert award duration is one year (through February, 2010).

The vExpert program is new from VMware as of today (Feb 25th, 2009).  I presume they are modeling it after similar programs like Microsoft’s Most Valuable Professional. Looks like I’m one of 300 people chosen for the inaugural award. Pretty neat!

You can read more about the program from its administrator, John Troyer on this VMTN blog post.

I didn’t plan on a big speech, but I will say: thanks, C-Dawg! Time to update my email and forum signatures.