For the first part of the Opening Session at COMMON in Nashville on Sunday, it was business as usual: COMMON President Randy Dufault welcomed the crowd and reminded everyone that COMMON was more than just an industry-leading conference -- it's a user group meeting, too, where COMMON leaders and members alike conduct the business that keeps COMMON running.

And in the spirit of user groups, Dufault asked the crowd for a show of hands of those who had already upgraded to V6R1, which has been available for barely a week, and the question itself drew hearty laughs and few -- if any -- could show their hands.

Still, the point Dufault was getting at was clear: when it comes time to install V6R1 or make any IT-related leap, you want the collective experience, tips, tricks, and advice that can only come from an active group of users on your side.