January 1st 2010 does not just signal the beginning of a new year and decade but concurrently it marks the time when Microsoft expands the Windows Home Server MVP family.

With the Microsoft Most Valuable Professional award, Microsoft recognizes individuals for their "exceptional contributions and commitment to technical communities worldwide over the past year". This is Microsoft's special way of saying thanks and being an MVP allows you to be a part of a great, intelligent group of people as well as tap on resources that otherwise one would never have access to.

We received word that Nick Asseloos of AutoExit fame has been awarded with the Microsoft MVP award.

Existing notable MVP figures have had their status renewed: Christoph Dommermuth and Martin Rothschink from the home-server-blog.de. Andrew Edney from usingwindowshomeserver.com , Christopher Courtney a.k.a. "Drashna" from wegotserved.com and Philip Churchill from mswhs.com.

(Apologies if we are missing anyone else - we will update this list accordingly when more information is available.)

You can view the entire list of Microsoft MVP for the Windows Home Server competency here.

Congratulations! Well done guys, what a great way to start the new year!