Natalis laetus tibi
Intro
The Mainframerz meetup events & newsletters are designed to share the latest news and training to 'help you grow your skills and network'.
At our events and through the newsletter you can network with like minded friendly folks keen to help and engage in discussion around the mainframe.
To get the most from our community we invite you to jump in with questions, ideas, or helping with one of our events.
This time the newsletter title is inspired by two organisations celebrating via the Mainframe Book Club two anniversary special interviews which took place.
IBM Champion Time
Time to celebrate another year for some
Starting with the theme of celebrations it won't be long until we start the nominations for our next Year of IBM Champions.
🫵 Don't forget: applying to the IBM Rising Champions program is a recommended pathway to IBM Champion. It's never too late to get started. If you are already advocating for IBM technologies (product reviews, submitting ideas, speaking at conferences, managing or volunteering for user groups, sitting on client advisory boards or councils, posting content on social platforms, etc.) you can apply for your Rising Champions badges today!
IBM Champions nominations will open shortly for voting!
If you are reading this newsletter I always like to remind everyone that appearing and presenting at The Mainframerz Meetup Event or taking part in The Mainframe Book Club counts towards an Act of IBM Advocacy.
🫵 Did you know you can explore, test, build demos, and proof of concepts, with IBM technologies all at your fingertips?
IBM Technology Zone helps you go from concept to concrete.
A quick thank you to Kathryn DuPont, M.A., PCC, ICD.D from the IBM Champions Team, who has shared an event that is open to all mainframers out there.
Now is the time to learn more about IBM Technology Zone and how it can support your concepts and projects, help you deliver great demos to your clients, or simply accelerate your mastery of IBM technologies.
On 17 September, if you have a spare hour you can register for "Inside IBM Technology Zone: elevate your tech journey". The live event runs from 10am-11am Eastern time. Bring your questions!
🤔 Imagine the possibilities! Click here:
It's Good to talk
Why not talk to Marna about your z/OS stack configurations
Marna Walle released a new blog post on z/OS-stack configurations. Marna would like to hear from all of the IBM Ecosystem about your stack configurations whether you are a customer, ISV or managed service provider Marna would like to hear from you.
Knowing what configuration settings are important is a key way we can understand how to simplify configurations. Make your voice heard
Read the post and request from Marna in full here:
🎓 WAVEZ GS 2025 Student Scholarship – Applications Now Open! 🎓
🌍 Visa-Requiring Applicants
WAVEZ is offering fully funded scholarships to attend the GS UK Annual Conference from 3–6 November 2025.
If you need a visa to attend the GS UK Conference 2025, your application must be in by no later than 23:59 on Sunday 14 September 2025.
• Notifications will be sent on 15 September.
• UK/non-visa applicants have until 28 September.
What’s included:
✅ Full 4-day conference pass
✅ Hotel accommodation (3 nights)
✅ All meals – including lunch on Monday - Thursday
✅ WAVEZ networking sessions
✅ Access to technical talks & hands-on workshops (like Capture the Flag!)
✅ Build your career connections
This isn’t first come, first served — we’re looking for thoughtful, well-written applications. Tell us why you want to explore this career path. It could open doors you haven’t considered before.
💡 Tip: Check out the IBM Skills Depot — engaging with it will help your application stand out!
🔗 Apply here: https://lnkd.in/e3jM24gJ
Thank you to Ricki West Apply now to secure your chance to join the WAVEZ Scholarship Class of 2025.
What has 6 tracks and 4 badges the answer is IBM z Day
AI unleashed at IBM zDay: Nov 12th - IBM Z Day's 6 content-rich tech tracks & elevate your skills:
Thank you Jeanne Brooks I have reshared your post in the newsletter to boost reach
▶️ IBM Z - Do more at the core with IBM Z. IBM Z integrates advanced AI into your hybrid cloud, optimizing performance, security and decision-making where critical data resides. Join this track to explore the latest innovations in security, resiliency, performance, and sustainability.
▶️ AI & Data - Get AI value TODAY. The AI+ era is enabling teams to fuel growth while keeping data and apps secure, scaling energy efficient AI with minimal impact to performance. Learn how to readily access and exploit mainframe data for maximum AI model inferencing. Hear client use cases showcasing AI on IBM Z that unlock real-time insights and accelerate business value. 🎓 EARN A BADGE!
▶️ App Dev & IT Ops - Get more from your team, your IT, yourself. Fast track operational efficiencies and accelerate app development using assistants, agents and automation to extract the most value from your IT investments and talent. Use AI and automation to improve developer productivity and code quality. Streamline and simplify IT operations with integrated AI.🎓 EARN A BADGE!
▶️ Security - Protect your most critical data and workloads despite ever-changing threats. Learn how you can reduce risks with intelligent, automated cybersecurity as you prepare for future threats with quantum-safe cryptography and AI-powered security. 🎓 EARN A BADGE!
▶️ IBM Z Skills Acceleration - Skill up and take your career to new heights! Get free in-depth training and learn from global subject matter experts to advance your skills and earn industry recognized badges. Engage in hands-on coding activities as you grow your network and deepen your expertise in enterprise computing. 🎓 EARN A BADGE!
▶️ NEW! Ecosystem in Action - Dive into a future forward innovation showcase of the vibrant, diverse IBM Z and LinuxONE Ecosystem Solutions. Explore industry solutions and visionary approaches for the mainframe platform featuring our global ecosystem. From ISVs and global system integrators to startups and industry changemakers, you’ll discover real-world customer use cases leveraging the mainframe for breakthrough outcomes and competitive advantage across key industries and spanning AI, app modernization, resiliency and more. There is something for everyone at IBM Z Day! ⚡⚡
Register today >>> www.ibm.biz/ibmzday-2025
Natalis laetus tibi ! From the Mainframe Book Club
Open Mainframe Project
The Mainframe Book Club would like to pass on bitrthday greetings to the Open Mainframe Project who turned 10 years.
The Project was first announced on August 17, 2015 at LinuxCon/CloudOpen/ContainerCon as part of these 10 year anniversary celebrations The Mainframe Book Club invited Richelle Anne Craw on as a guest interviewee to talk about her latest podcast which is launched as a part of the Open Mainframe Project.
Natalis laetus tibi !
Natalis laetus tibi ! From the Mainframe Book Club
Emma Foundation
At the Mainframerz we have been lucky enough to have had Cable Rose on to speak at the Mainframerz Meetup event about the role of the EMMA Foundation; if you missed the great series of talks on the night and want to know more about Emma:-
How did the Mainframe Book Club mark this event of course we spoke to one of the ir students of the month "new to z" was invited on to be a guest of The Mainframe Book Club and we had a very engaging chat; for me one takeaway is that Coursera does have problems with course content and you can cheat the answers and that as a platform it may not be right for everyone. I found this quite informative as you would think the problems of a large platform would be overcome by now.
To find out more about Stephen, Emma and a love of book binding and some great book recommendations I recommend you watch the special guest interview with Stephen to celebrate Emma's 1 year anniversary.
When is Emma turning 1 I am reliable informed that the 10th September is the official big day. If you are eading this newsletter then hopefully you are seeing it in your newsfeeds on 10th September.
Natalis laetus tibi ! - Happy birthday to you !
Want to find out more about Emma: https://www.emma.foundation/
Now the big finish
IBM z17 All you need to know
I want to steer everyone to a fellow IBM Champion in Georges Kopp he is a really nice chap and he has gone above and beyond in his latest post as he has shared all about what makes up the new IBM z17 and it is well worth a read.
If you like to follow accounts that share interesting mainframe content then Georges is well worth a follow.
Georges has helpfully listed the operating systems that are supported and the software languages that are s. If you would like to know all about this with more great links then you can find the post here:
Just a reminder if you have made it this far, then don't forget to subscribe to the newsletter if you haven't already.
✨ 💬 Potpourri {mainframe & non-mainframe stories} ✨
Snail Mail, Email or Pigeon Post?
Very briefly I wanted to share a post about Telkom South Africa and a race between a Pigeon and the Largest South African Telecom provider to deliver a 4GB message over a distance of 60 miles.
Carried on a flash drive, Winston completed the journey and delivered the full 4GB of data before Telkom had managed to transmit even 4% of the file, highlighting the slow internet speeds at the time in a humorous yet telling comparison.
Thank you to Samir Khayat whose shared this story originally, on this original post here: You will find in the comments a humourous April Fools story about IP Over Arian Carriers.
Would you like to know how IBM Tests a Quantum Processor
Yes we've all heard about Quantum of Solace sorry thats a movie, I mean we have all heard of Quantum computers by now but we probably haven't all heard how you tests the processors of a Quantum Computer.
A nod to the upcoming GS UK
With the upcoming Guide Share on the horizon I wanted to share a post from the Mainframe Society about how IT vendors can become true 'Partners'.
I thought as GS UK approaches and many of us are thinking of attending in the UK and for some in Europe as well I would share a post that caught my attention and made me think of GS UK.
In fact it is a very simple question: "....what really makes the difference in those partnerships."
Join the discussion on the Live Feed:https://lnkd.in/ec8_AU28
Do you have an event or topic you would like to present or do you have a topic or idea for an upcoming event if so we would love to hear from you.
You can post a comment on the newsletter or you can connect with me Andrew (Andy) McCandless on LinkedIn and message me in private with your thoughts.
Just a reminder if you have made it this far, then don't forget to subscribe to the newsletter if you haven't already.
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