System Integration

**📣** Welcome to **our first meetup in 2026** that also marks **a new chapter** for the Green Software Foundation and Sustainable IT Netherlands communities, merged into one: **Sustainable IT Action NL!** We look forward to connecting again and continuing the shared communities passion around green IT, exchanging ideas and creating a space for learning, discussion and action. **🌿** We’re excited to gather peers who care about green, efficient, and responsible cloud practices on **February 10th**, kindly hosted by Yoink in Utrecht. *** **⏳ Time schedule** 17:30 – 18:00 Welcome 18:00 – 18:30 Vegetarian bites & networking 18:30 – 18:45 Kick-off & community introductions 18:45 – 19:15 From Overwhelm to Action: Practical Steps for Energy-Aware IT – Jan-Hendrik Kuperus@Yoink 19:15 – 19:45 Building a cost-aware cloud culture without starting from tooling – Femke Kunst @ a.s.r. Verzekeringen 19:45 – 20:00 Pitches 20:00 – 20:45 Drinks & networking **📍** 📍 **Location:** Tractieweg 41, Atelier N, Utrecht. This meetup is kindly hosted by Yoink **❗ Capacity is limited to 50 participants, so please register early.** *** **✏️ Title: From Overwhelm to Action: Practical Steps for Energy-Aware IT** **💡 Speaker: Jan-Hendrik Kuperus** **🍃 Abstract:** Sustainability can often feel overwhelming and lead to inaction. In this talk, you'll learn two key things: how to assess your energy footprint and what practical steps IT personnel can take. Explore topics such as energy-saving automation, playing responsibly with AI, and integrating Green Software Development into your next PI planning session. **📖 About the speaker:** Jan-Hendrik is an all-round Developer, Software Architect, and Trainer with a passion for sustainability. Through his company, Yoink, he demonstrates how sustainability can be integrated into businesses while inspiring others to do the same. **✏️ Title: Building a cost-aware cloud culture without starting from tooling** **💡 Speaker: Femke Kunst** **🍃 Abstract:** In this session, Femke explores how to build cost awareness in cloud environments before the right tooling is in place. She will discuss how to involve different personas across the organization — and the typical obstacles that come with this approach. The talk covers the value of setting up a FinOps champions network, how to approach it pragmatically, and why internal FinOps training courses and workshops matter. The focus is on culture, behavior, and shared ownership: fostering cost awareness as a mindset, even when tooling maturity is still evolving. **📖 About the speaker:** Femke Kunst is a FinOps professional at a.s.r. Verzekeringen, working at the intersection of cloud, cost management, and organizational change. She focuses on helping teams develop sustainable, cost-aware practices that scale beyond tools and dashboards. *** **🎤 Pitches** Our goal is connect people around Sustainable IT. In order to build more connections, we would like to offer the stage to everyone who wants to share something. We will timebox each pitch on 2 minutes exactly! Please note that this session is intended as a community gathering, so commercial pitches are to be avoided :) **🔎 Looking forward to seeing you there!** **👥 Organizing team** Claire Baars (Yoink, host) Wilco Burggraaf, Chris Stapper, Corina Milosoiu, Sabrina Hsieh (Sustainable IT Action NL)

**Um was geht es dieses mal?** Dieses Mal haben wir zwei Talks für euch! **KI in der BIG direkt gesund - Von der Vision zur Realität - Stephan Rex (BIG direkt gesund)** BIG direkt gesund zeigt in dieser Präsentation, wie die strategische Einführung von Künstlicher Intelligenz im Unternehmen umgesetzt wird. Im Fokus stehen die Rolle des KI-Boards, das Architektur-Zielbild und die ersten praktischen Anwendungsfälle. Die Inhalte geben Einblicke in Erfahrungen aus Pilotprojekten und verdeutlichen, welche Faktoren für eine erfolgreiche Implementierung entscheidend sind. **F\*ck Feature Branches - Felix Fischer (codecentric AG)** Direkt auf Main pushen – das klingt ziemlich gruselig. Wie sollen wir nur ohne PRs und asynchrone, ineffiziente Code Reviews Kontrolle über unsere Kollegen ausüben? In diesem Talk werden wir die Geheimnisse des Trunk-Based-Development lüften. Wir wollen herausfinden, warum die angestaubten Wege der Software-Entwicklung hoffnungslos veraltet sind. Lerne durch Feature Flags, Dark Launches, synchrone Code Reviews und Pair-/ Mob-Programming Dich vom Drama der Feature Branches zu verabschieden! **Hybrides Setup!** Wir freuen uns, euch bei uns in den Räumen der codecentric AG in Dortmund willkommen zu heißen. Vor Ort versorgen wir euch mit Snacks und Getränken und freuen uns gleichzeitig über interessante Diskussionen und einen guten Austausch. Für alle, die es nicht zu uns ins Office schaffen, werden wir das Meetup Hybrid durchführen. Der Stream beginnt ca. 10 Minuten später, damit wir vor Ort ausreichend Möglichkeit für persönliches Kennenlernen haben. Den Live-Stream findet ihr auf dem [YouTube-Channel](https://www.youtube.com/@codecentricAG) der codecentric AG. **Anreise**: Per Zug: Vom Dortmunder HBF sind es ca. 10 Minuten zu Fuß. Mit dem Auto: Rund um das Office gibt es einige Parkflächen, dazu befinden sich in dem Parkhaus der Thier-Galerie weitere Parkplätze.

This time, we will have a slightly different meetup than usual, as we want to gather some feedback about how we should shape the future of PHPAmersfoort. Should we continue as a PHP meetup, or switch to a broader topic such as web development? Should we continue with monthly meetups, or reduce the frequency to bimonthly or quarterly meetups? **Nic Wortel** will open the evening with a short talk about **What's New in PHP 8.5**, and then we will have a group discussion about the future of PHPAmersfoort. Once again the kind people at Enrise are opening their doors for us. 19:00 - Doors open 19:30 - **What's New in PHP 8.5** \- Nic Wortel 20:00 - **The Future of PHPAmersfoort** 21:00 - Social

**Welcome to our February UX Beers in Brussels!** This time, we will host our event on Tuesday the 10th of February at [Proximus](https://www.proximus.be/en/personal/) in Brussels. [Ariad](https://www.ariadgroup.com/) and [Creative Skills](https://www.creativeskills.be/) sponsor our events. 📺 Follow the event online? We stream live via [Youtube](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=EBqyTDAyQBw) \-\-\-\-\-\-\-\-\-\-\-\-\-\-\-\-\-\-\-\-\-\-\-\-\-\-\-\-\-\-\- ***Spots for this event are limited to 45 people in person. We kindly ask you to confirm your attendance and to change your availability on Meetup in advance if you can’t make it, so your spot can be given to someone else.*** \-\-\-\-\-\-\-\-\-\-\-\-\-\-\-\-\-\-\-\-\-\-\-\-\-\-\-\-\-\-\- \#\#\# UX TALKS **Talk 1: Lavender: One Year to Reimagine Design at Proximus** Julie Toussaint and Julien Bertholet from Design System team @Proximus This talk explores the journey of building a Design System from the ground up at Proximus. Julie and Julien will share the challenges they encountered, the design choices they made, and how they laid strong foundations through design tokens, variables, and scalable component libraries. Beyond the system itself, they will look at how they collaborated with multiple teams and supported designers after launch, introducing a new, more consistent way of working across the organization. **Talk 2: Panel discussion about design leadership** [Joana Silva](https://www.linkedin.com/in/joanasf/), UX Design Manager @Lighthouse [Mathias Van Daele](https://www.linkedin.com/in/mathias-van-daele/), Service Design Lead @Luminus [Adrien David](https://www.linkedin.com/in/davidadrien/), UX/UI Design Lead @Proximus \-\-\-\-\-\-\-\-\-\-\-\-\-\-\-\-\-\-\-\-\-\-\-\-\-\-\-\-\-\-\- \#\#\# SCHEDULE 18:00 - Doors open. Drinks & snacks 19.00 - 19.15 - Introduction to UX Belgium Meetup, announcements 19.15 - 19:45 - Talk #1 19:45 -20:15 - BREAK 20:15 - 20:45 - Talk #2 20:45 - 21:30 - Socialize \-\-\-\-\-\-\-\-\-\-\-\-\-\-\-\-\-\-\-\-\-\-\-\-\-\-\-\-\-\-\- \#\#\# SLACK CHANNEL We have our own UX Belgium slack channel. [Come join us and say hi!](https://join.slack.com/t/ux-belgium/shared_invite/zt-1bjpnuiog-T4Di4flXYPWgbT9KrZ53CA) \*\*\* \#\#\# YOUTUBE CHANNEL All our livestreams and talks are recorded and available on our [UX Belgium youtube channel](https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCno7V18T-EglYXprgrUZQ7A). \-\-\-\-\-\-\-\-\-\-\-\-\-\-\-\-\-\-\-\-\-\-\-\-\-\-\-\-\-\-\- \#\#\# ABOUT UX BELGIUM UX Belgium is a growing community of User Experience (UX) professionals in and around Belgium. Look for these types of events: UX Beers Periodically, we gather at a different company, agency or venue to drink beers, network and listen to speakers on various themes in the world of UX and digital design. UX Antwerp: Each last Tuesday of the month UX Brussels: Each second Tuesday of the month, 4x per year UX Hasselt: 4x per year UX Workshops Now and then we organize events to dive deeper into specific skills and techniques in UX. These are smaller, hands-on workshops designed to boost your UX toolbox. \*\*\* The UX Belgium Meetup Team

Donderdag **26 februari 2026** is het weer tijd voor onze **Techday**: hét vaste moment waarop we kennis delen, elkaar inspireren en nieuwe ideeën direct in de praktijk brengen. Deze editie komt een spreker van Onyx langs. Onyx is gespecialiseerd in cybersecurity. Tijdens deze techday worden theorie, praktijk en nabespreking gecombineerd met directe toepasbaarheid in jullie dagelijkse werkzaamheden. Tijdens de Techday duiken we hands-on in veelvoorkomende kwetsbaarheden en misconfiguraties binnen moderne softwareontwikkeling. Theorie, demo’s en realistische scenario’s wisselen elkaar af. Met de interactieve CTF‑opdrachten leer je niet alleen hoe deze problemen ontstaan en misbruikt worden, maar vooral hoe je ze direct kunt toepassen en voorkomen in je dagelijkse werk. **Wanneer:** Donderdag 26 februari 2026 **Wat:** Cybersecurity in de Praktijk: Hands-on met Onyx **Voor wie:** Iedereen die nieuwsgierig is en wil leren **Agenda** 14:45 - 15:00 - Inloop 15:00 - 18:00 - Opening en introductie Praktijkvoorbeelden: Wat zijn wij in het echt tegengekomen Security misconfiguration: Gezamelijke spot-de-fout met code-snippets CTF opdrachten 18:00 - 19:00 - Eten en napraten We zien je graag op de Techday!

**3D Workshop** * **Ontwerpen met Fusion360** * **Scannen in 3D** * **Het gebruik van 3D printers** **Je bent nu welkom in de nieuwe locatie NewTechPark** Je kunt ook online aan deze fysieke bijeenkomst deelnemen. De bijeenkomst is dan op de locatie te volgen. Als je [hier](w.j.put@hccnet.nl) vooraf een mailtje stuurt kun je dinsdagavond tussen 19.00 en 20.00 uur inloggen met Jitsi voor vragen, of ter kennismaking met hcc!3D. Online neem je deel aan de bijeenkomst met [https://wij.hcc.nl/3D](https://wij.hcc.nl/3D) [(Alleen toegang als je zichtbaar bent met voor- en achternaam. )](https://wij.hcc.nl/3d)

**We’re happy to announce our next workshop provided by Craftsmen & Dutch Railways!** Join us for a hands-on workshop: “*Help! I Inherited Legacy Code – What Now?*” What exactly is legacy code? Ask five developers and you’ll get five different answers – and none of them are wrong. In this workshop, we define legacy code as code without tests. Why? Because without tests, making changes becomes risky and error-prone. To refactor safely, we first need to build a solid understanding of what the code does, and write tests around it. This session explores practical techniques to make legacy code more testable and maintainable, so you can work with it more confidently. This workshop will be organized on-site in cooperation with the NS - Nationale Spoorwegen (Utrecht)! **Introduction:** During the workshop, you'll get hands-on experience with several techniques to bring legacy code under test. We'll also cover how to add new, tested features to untested codebases. The workshop blends practical exercises with theoretical principles from Michael Feathers' Working Effectively with Legacy Code. We’ll emphasize interaction, peer learning, and lots of space for discussion. **What you’ll learn (objectives):** * Understand what characterization tests are and how they can help * Learn techniques to break dependencies and isolate code for testing * Practice adding safe, tested features to legacy code * Give names to techniques you might already use instinctively, so you can better communicate about them * Gain confidence working in legacy systems without fear of breaking things **Who should attend?** Software developers (Java/Kotlin developers) who work with existing codebases and want to strengthen their legacy code handling skills. **What you’ll need:** * Basic understanding of object-oriented programming and unit testing * Your own laptop + charger * Make sure you can build Java 17 with Maven (and that you are able to run unit tests) * Recommended: IntelliJ IDEA. Other IDEs are welcome, but IDE-specific issues are your own responsibility ;-) **Agenda:** 16:00 - Walk-in & Food 17:00 - Start workshop 20:00 - End of the workshop 20:00-20:30 - Closing & Drinks **Location:** NS - Nationale Spoorwegen Katreinetoren - 'De Kookstudio' Stationshal 17 3511 CE Utrecht **Registration:** A valid ID is required to enter the building

Hallo liebe Java User Group Mitglieder! Im ersten Meetup des Jahres geht es mit Felix Tensing um das Thema Bottom-Up-Tests. Wir freuen uns euch zu sehen (virtuell oder vor Ort). Dank an [BRANDAD](https://brandad-solutions.de/) für Location, Bier und Pizza! \-\-\- Frühes Testen in der Softwareentwicklung gilt längst als bewährte Praxis – dennoch verlassen sich viele Entwickler:innen weiterhin auf „den Tester“, um ihre Arbeit zu prüfen. Entwicklung und Test laufen getrennt, Feedbackschleifen verlängern sich und es entstehen Wissenssilos. Die Folge: Fehler werden spät entdeckt, Korrekturen teurer und das gemeinsame Verständnis für Anforderungen und Nutzer:innen bleibt lückenhaft. Exploratives Testen bietet hier eine einfache und wirkungsvolle Lösung. In selbstorganisierten Sessions können Teams ohne Vorwissen unmittelbar starten. Test-Chartas geben Orientierung, ohne die kreative Erkundung einzuschränken. Schon kurze, fokussierte Sessions liefern wertvolles Feedback, decken blinde Flecken auf und fördern den Wissensaustausch im Team. So profitiert das ganze Team vom Knowledge-Aufbau – sei es fachliches Wissen, Testmethoden oder Aspekte wie Barrierefreiheit. Der Vortrag zeigt praxisnah, wie Entwickler:innen exploratives Testen bottom-up einführen können – auch ohne offizielles „Go“ von oben. Anhand von Beispielen, konkreten Anleitungen und leicht übertragbaren Formaten erhalten Teilnehmende einen Hands-on-Einstieg, mit dem sie sofort beginnen und profitieren können. Exploratives Testen zeigt sofort Wirkung – wenn ihr es einfach ausprobiert. \-\-\- Dein Vortrag bei der Java Usergroup Nürnberg! Hast du dich in letzter Zeit in deinem Projekt oder privat mit einem interessanten Thema beschäftigt? Vermutlich ist das nicht nur für dich selbst interessant! Hast du Lust, selber einmal einen Vortrag bei der Java-Usergroup Nürnberg zu halten? Wir sind nicht nur auf Java-Themen fokussiert, sondern beschäftigen uns gern mit und um alles über Software Entwicklung und IT. Wir wollen bei der JUG nicht nur bekannten Speaker\*innen eine Plattform geben und die neuesten State-of-the-Art Technologien vorstellen. Wir freuen uns auch besonders, wenn wir Themen aus unserem technologischen (Arbeits-)alltag Raum geben zu können. Melde dich gerne bei uns, wenn du dazu Lust hast, wir geben wenn gewünscht gerne auch Hilfestellung bei der Vorbereitung!

We zien dat AI inmiddels door veel mensen en organisaties wordt gebruikt, vooral voor tekst, plannen en ideeën. Tegelijkertijd merken we dat dit gebruik vaak onzeker en oppervlakkig blijft. Mensen experimenteren, maar twijfelen: * Klopt dit wel? * Gebruik ik AI “goed”? * Haal ik er echt voordeel uit, of kost het vooral tijd? De kern van het probleem is niet een gebrek aan tools of kennis, maar een gebrek aan grip, overzicht en vertrouwen in het eigen oordeel bij het werken met AI. **Wat houdt deze workshop in?** We willen een kleinschalige pilot-workshop (halve dag) organiseren waarin we professionals helpen om: * AI anders te leren zien (als denkpartner, niet als antwoordmachine) * Bewuster vragen te stellen en context te geven * AI‑output te beoordelen in plaats van blind te volgen Het is nadrukkelijk geen technische training en geen overzicht van tools. Het is een leerervaring die zich richt op denken, beoordelen en professioneel gebruik. **Voor wie is dit bedoeld?** De Training richt zich op: * Niet-technische managers en professionals * Die veel werken met tekst, plannen en besluitvorming * Die AI al gebruiken (bijv. ChatGPT), maar daar nog te weinig zekerheid en rendement uit halen **Wat maakt deze aanpak anders?** * Interactief en herkenbaar: deelnemers werken met hun eigen praktijk en leren van elkaar * Beperkt en scherp: geen overload, maar drie kerninzichten * Veilig en menselijk: twijfel wordt genormaliseerd, niet weggepoetst Deelnemers weten na afloop wat ze “maandag anders doen” **Pilot2** Na een succesvolle eerste pilot op 16 januari hebben we weer verbeteringen aangebracht voor deze pilot. We verwachten dan ook eerlijke feedback om deze workshop nog gerichter in te kunnen zetten om professionals meer bewust te maken van de mogelijkheden en onmogelijkheden van AI. Deze workshop wordt verzorgd door Edgar Stormbroek en Ziryan Salayi 9:00 9:30 Inloop 9:30 - 12:00 AI in praktijk 12:00 - 13:00 Lunch 13:00 - 14:00 Vervolg AI in praktijk 14:00 - 14:30 Afronding en feedback Aanmelden op: https://www.eventbrite.nl/e/tickets-ai-essentials-for-non-it-professionals-1980623807124?aff=oddtdtcreator&_gl=1%2A1r9ydzt%2A_up%2AMQ..%2A_ga%2AODU5MzQzMDcyLjE3NzAzNzU0ODI.%2A_ga_TQVES5V6SH%2AczE3NzAzNzU0ODIkbzEkZzAkdDE3NzAzNzU0ODIkajYwJGwwJGgw

Ha mannen! Weer een reguliere ManKracht meetup op de vrijdagavond in Amersfoort! Zoals altijd is de intentie voor onze meetups op locatie om een gemakkelijke, veilige en open atmosfeer te ervaren waarin we allemaal kunnen delen of inbrengen wat ons bezig houdt als man. Uiteraard zijn tijdens de ManKracht Avond nieuwe deelnemers welkom, we streven zoals altijd naar een groepsgrootte aan van 6 tot maximaal 10 man. Hier kort wat belangrijke info op een rijtje: * De offline meetup begint stipt om 20:00, vanaf dat moment zijn de 'deuren' gesloten. We vragen je dus om uiterlijk 5 minuten van te voren aan te komen. Je bent vanaf 19:30 welkom. * De avond duurt tot ongeveer 21:30. Voel je vrij om daarna het gesprek met andere deelnemers voort te zetten op een andere locatie (café/bar/kroeg). * Graag op tijd de RSVP in te vullen i.v.m. beperkte plaatsen. Mocht je op tijd weten dat je verhinderd bent, graag je RSVP aanpassen zodat mannen op de wachtlijst op tijd weten dat ze toch kunnen deelnemen. * Voel je vrij om een vriend mee te nemen, geef dit in dat geval ook even aan in de RSVP. Hopelijk zien we elkaar weer en mocht je nog vragen hebben dan hoor ik het graag natuurlijk. P.S. locatie is thuis bij Sam

## **Making Smart Money Decisions in Relationships** *Live expert discussion + facilitated breakout circles on 'Love & Money'* RSVP (**https://luma.com/b3dphgts)** Money is rarely just about numbers. It’s about who decides. Who carries responsibility. Who plans ahead — and who assumes things will work out. This Valentine’s FinFit Circle session is ***for women who want to build relationships — new or ongoing — that are loving, fair, and financially secure***, without being naïve, pessimistic, or afraid to ask real questions. Whether you’re dating, in a long-term commitment, separating, or starting again, this conversation helps you think clearly about money before emotions or circumstances decide for you. *** ## **What this session is really about** This live FinFit Circle session explores how money shapes relationships in practice — through everyday decisions and conversations. Together, we’ll look at: * **Where money decisions actually get made** (often earlier than we think) * **Which assumptions tend to create tension or imbalance over time** * **Which questions, financial and legal arrangements, and boundaries matter most across different stages of relationships**, while you still have room to choose differently *** ## **Three expert lenses, one grounded conversation** Money in relationships doesn’t sit in one domain — which is why this session brings together emotional, financial, and legal perspectives: * **[Stephanie Clifford-Kroon](https://clifford-kroon-coaching.lovable.app/about)**, Certified Relationship Coach * **[Nadam Schmidt](https://www.linkedin.com/in/nadamschmidt/)**, Certified Financial Planner * **[Siham Maachi](https://silkadvocaten.nl/en/team/siham-maachi/)**, International Family Lawyer & Solicitor *** ## **What you’ll walk away with** * **Clarity on your money patterns** and how they show up in relationships * Key questions and **practical tips** **to discuss money constructively** with a (future) partner * ​Ways to think about **shared vs individual finances**, including what’s smart, why, and tradeoffs * **Legal realities** worth knowing early (agreements, rights, timing) * **Perspective and connection** from women navigating similar questions *** ## **How the session works** * **60-minute live fireside conversation** * **30-minute interactive breakout circles** (4–6 women) **Location:** FinFit Circle · Online *** ## **Contribution** This session is **€30**. If you’re able, you can **pay it forward** by sponsoring another woman’s place at the same introductory rate, helping keep these conversations accessible in the FinFit community. *** 👉 **Reserve your spot: https://luma.com/b3dphgts**

Join us for some focused writing time. All writers and all experience levels are welcome and don’t worry, no one will see what you've written. This session is about getting your writing done and meeting other writers in your area. When you show up, say hello to everyone, grab a drink, and get your writing tools ready. Once you’re all settled, take some time to chat with your fellow writers. Once everyone’s arrived, I will lead quick introductions and then set the timer for our quiet and focused writing session. Afterward, we’ll have time to chat and get to know each other. We often talk about our successes and challenges as writers. If you don’t have time to stick around, no worries! **A note about the format** We don’t host critiques or readings. These events are a safe space for writers of all skill levels and genres to work on their craft, so no one will read or critique your writing. For our full event schedule, visit [https://shutupwrite.com](https://www.shutupwrite.com). **Other Important Details:** WiFi name/password: [PLEASE INCLUDE DETAILS] Travel / Parking info: [PLEASE INCLUDE DETAILS]

Ben jij gefascineerd door de wereld van hacking en cybersecurity? Goed nieuws! Wat ooit een exclusieve serie workshops was voor studenten van NOVI, is nu toegankelijk voor iedereen met een passie voor hacking. 🚀 **Hack Friday** is jouw wekelijkse dosis cybersecurity praktijk. Elke vrijdagochtend duiken we samen in de diepe, duistere wereld van een nieuwe machine of challenge, onder de deskundige begeleiding van een van de cybersecurity experts van NOVI. Het is de perfecte manier om je skills te testen, te verbeteren en iets nieuws te leren in een vriendelijke en ondersteunende omgeving. 🛠️💻 ### Wat heb je nodig? * **Een werkende Kali Linux installatie**: Zorg dat je klaar bent om de uitdaging aan te gaan met je eigen Kali Linux setup. * **Een nieuwsgierige geest**: Heb je zin om te leren en uitgedaagd te worden? Dan pas je perfect in onze Hack Friday! ### Waarom meedoen? * **Leer van de besten**: Onze cybersecurity experts staan klaar om hun kennis te delen en je door de challenges te begeleiden. * **Wekelijkse uitdagingen**: Elke week bieden we een nieuwe machine of challenge aan, zodat je je vaardigheden kunt blijven ontwikkelen. * **Ontmoet gelijkgestemden**: Sluit je aan bij een community van enthousiaste hackers en cybersecurity professionals. ### Details: * **Wanneer**: Elke vrijdagochtend * **Waar**: op locatie in Utrecht * **Voor wie**: Iedereen met een interesse in hacking en cybersecurity, van beginners tot gevorderden. Ben je klaar om je hacking skills naar een hoger niveau te tillen en deel uit te maken van onze groeiende community? Sluit je dan aan bij Hack Friday en daag jezelf elke week uit met nieuwe en spannende cybersecurity avonturen! 🌟🔒 Registreer nu en laat zien wat je in huis hebt! Wij kunnen niet wachten om je te ontmoeten.

### Tools in your AI's Toolbox : An introduction to MCP Servers The generative AI revolution has unlocked unprecedented capabilities, but the next frontier is agency: empowering models to interact with, query, and act upon the world. The current challenge is the “N x M integration problem,” where every AI model requires a custom, brittle integration for each external tool or data source. This approach simply doesn’t scale. How can we give an AI access to our sales leads, code repositories, or IoT devices in a standardized, secure, and reusable way? This session introduces Anthropic’s Model Context Protocol (MCP), the open-source framework designed to solve this challenge and become the universal connector—the USB-C port—for AI. MCP standardizes how AI models discover and use external tools, moving beyond simple function-calling to a robust, client-server architecture. We will dive into how this open protocol is creating a new ecosystem for building powerful, context-aware AI agents. Join this session for a developer-focused introduction where you will learn how to: Understand the core concepts of the open-source Model Context Protocol and its architecture. Utilize pre-built, open-source MCP servers to instantly connect AI to tools like Git, Slack, and databases. Build a custom MCP server to securely expose your own proprietary data and APIs as tools for any compliant AI. Move beyond bespoke integrations and contribute to a standardized, collaborative, and open ecosystem. Stop building one-off connectors and start building intelligent agents. This session will give you the practical knowledge to leverage MCP and create the next generation of AI that doesn’t just talk, but does. Want to be a speaker? submit your talk to our Call for Presenters!!! [https://sessionize.com/azure-cbus-2026/](https://sessionize.com/azure-cbus-2026/)

WQC has weekly Thursday night social nights at the Westerville Java Central. Come and grab a coffee and connect with the community: low stakes, chill environment, and tasty drinks. No registration is required; come as you are.

**Important time note:** Please plan on arriving between 5:30 and 6:00 as the elevators lock after 6 and you'll need to message us and we'll need to come get you. The building address is 4450 Bridge Park The entrance is 6620 Mooney St, Suite 400 **Abstract** TBD **YouTube Link** TBA

Connected Westerville Night of Networking flips the script on networking, with surprises and connections that'll make you say, "Who knew networking could be this much fun?!"

Want to be a speaker? submit your talk to our Call for Presenters!!! https://sessionize.com/cbus-hug-2026/

#### Turning Rentals Into Income: How Investors Pay Off Properties Faster #### **Featuring Guest Speaker: John Blackburn** **👉 Get your FREE TICKET [HERE](https://www.eventbrite.com/e/turning-rentals-into-income-how-investors-pay-off-properties-faster-tickets-1980492192461?aff=cicmeetupapp)** #### A lot of people get into real estate because they want freedom. Then they buy a rental…and realize most of the rent goes straight to the bank. They technically own property, but the mortgage controls the income. And waiting 30 years for properties to be paid off doesn’t feel realistic. This meetup is about understanding a different way to think about rental properties… one that focuses on paying them off sooner so the income is actually usable. **Featured Guest Speaker: John Blackburn** We’re excited to welcome John Blackburn as our guest speaker for this event. John has been actively investing in real estate since 2006 and has: * Been involved in **5,000+ real estate transactions** * Helped investors **acquire over $150 million in rental property** * **Raised more than $100 million** in private capital John didn’t start with family money or shortcuts. He built his portfolio by focusing on clear systems, real numbers, and long-term strategy. For this meetup, John will walk through how investors shift their focus from simply owning rentals to building properties that eventually pay them…without a mortgage attached. **What You’ll Learn** John will break down, in simple terms: * Why most rental properties don’t produce much usable income early on * Why buying more rentals isn’t always the answer * How investors structure their properties to pay off mortgages in a fraction of the time * How properties can work together to eliminate debt faster * What changes once rentals become free and clear This approach is often referred to as an accelerated paydown strategy — using rental income intentionally to reduce debt sooner, rather than waiting decades for mortgages to run their course. John will also share a simple calculator you can use to see how this works with real numbers and realistic scenarios. **The Core Idea** When a rental has a mortgage, the rent has one job: **pay the bank.** When a rental is paid off, the rent has a different job: **pay you.** Most people only see one timeline…30 years. This session shows how investors shorten that timeline and gradually increase their income as properties become free and clear. **Who This Event Is For** This event is for people who want more than just “owning rentals” on paper. * Rental owners who are tired of most of the rent going to the bank and want a clearer path to real, usable income * New investors who want to understand how rental properties actually build wealth over time before jumping in * People with capital who want to invest in real estate with intention and a long-term plan * Anyone serious about freedom and curious how rental properties transition from debt-heavy assets into income-producing ones **Event Details** **Location:** Ohio Brewing Company - 421 E 2nd Ave, Columbus, OH 43201 **Date & Time:** January 25th, 6–8 PM (Doors open at 5:30) **Cost:** Free (Seats are limited - RSVP required) **👉 Get your FREE TICKET [HERE](https://www.eventbrite.com/e/turning-rentals-into-income-how-investors-pay-off-properties-faster-tickets-1980492192461?aff=cicmeetupapp)** If you’ve ever wondered how rental properties actually turn into freedom —this is the room to be in.

Bring your Raspberry Pi, Arduino, microcontroller, or any other electronic project and join fellow electronics makers for a night of creativity and collaboration! This session is open forum to share your current projects—whether complete or in progress, it’s all interesting! Whether you’re deep into embedded systems, exploring new ideas, or just getting started, you’ll find a welcoming space to collaborate, share, and get inspired. This session will be at the Karl Road Library in Conference Room 1