How to report on conference sessions? - Blackbaud User Society

**Peter Gulka** · 10-02-2006, 05:21 PM

So... many of us are attending the conference, but many MAN more are not able. It would behoove those of us who are going to grab as much information as we can glean and package it in such a way as everyone else would be able to benefit.

On the soft side, everyone should take the kind of notes that would allow a quick write up to post on the forum.

The other issue is how to present it in here. Ideally we'd have a page that looked like the session grid. Click on the grid, and get redirected to notes from everyone that attended.

Thoughts? Ideas? Offers to write the silly thing?

**RobertWild** · 10-02-2006, 07:04 PM

This is going to sound like a high school assignment, however..

What about writing a report/overview/notes, stuffing it into a PDF, and uploading the PDF to the shared documents section?

Then, start a thread, possibly in the events forum, that is a sticky for a while where people can discuss or ask questions relating to the conference?

cheers

Rob

**Elaine Tucker** · 10-02-2006, 09:38 PM

That sounds doable - for those who can create pdf's what about those who can't (don't have the right software... etc...)

**RobertWild** · 10-02-2006, 11:04 PM

Well, for those who don't have Adobe products on their system, and either have, or can get authorised admin access to their machines, they could try PDF creator at sourceforge.net: Link

Note: not tested by this user. Other alternatives may be available from various online shareware sites, most can be indexed by Google. Try a search for "PDF Creator" or similar.

**Peter Gulka** · 10-02-2006, 11:16 PM

I have access to Adobe Acrobat full, and could generate PDF's if need be if that is the way we decide to go.

10-03-2006, 11:17 AM

I know as someone who is not attending the conference I would be very, very grateful if even some attendees could do the little writeup thingy. I think it would also help some people's lobbying positions for attendance at the next conference! Thanks!!

**Melissa Siobhan** · 10-03-2006, 11:20 AM

I ususally do a short write up of my learnings from the conference to share with my colleagues. Because the audience is different I'm sure I'd have to modify it for all of you to include more detail but I'd be happy to share my notes from the sessions I attend.

**Matthew** · 10-03-2006, 11:24 AM

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**kspitler** · 10-03-2006, 11:34 AM

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**DrewAllen** · 10-03-2006, 11:49 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by AyeCapn

The other issue is how to present it in here. Ideally we'd have a page that looked like the session grid. Click on the grid, and get redirected to notes from everyone that attended.

While it's not a grid, I was thinking that there could be a sub-forum for each of the tracks and then a thread for each of the sessions. Exactly how many levels deep can you nest sub-forums?

Drew

**Peter Gulka** · 10-03-2006, 12:03 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by DrewAllen

While it's not a grid, I was thinking that there could be a sub-forum for each of the tracks and then a thread for each of the sessions. Exactly how many levels deep can you nest sub-forums?

Drew

I want this! Hopefully its a built in feature that I just need to activate.

Forums can be nested infinitely I think.

**Don Sabo** · 10-03-2006, 01:33 PM

What if we have to pick a number, say 5 or more people attending the same session, do we want each person to write their notes of the session? If a lot of people take the Advanced RE track then we might have some boring reading.
I think that we should submit them to one person, possibly Aye Capn, and then he or his lackey, can reformat them to PDF's and post them on the site.
I volunteer to do a review of the food selections. At work my nickname is Mr. Food.

**Eugene_phillips** · 10-03-2006, 01:42 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Don Sabo

What if we have to pick a number, say 5 or more people attending the same session, do we want each person to write their notes of the session? If a lot of people take the Advanced RE track then we might have some boring reading.
I think that we should submit them to one person, possibly Aye Capn, and then he or his lackey, can reformat them to PDF's and post them on the site.
I volunteer to do a review of the food selections. At work my nickname is Mr. Food.

Maybe we can get volunteers for a certain sesion. I know I will be takeing a lot of the internet sessions.

**Peter Gulka** · 10-03-2006, 02:13 PM

Created sub-forums to contain any and all summaries or discussion regarding sessions.

I'll probably create threads for all the sessions and restrict new threads from being created.

EDIT: maybe also create a conference specific calendar which would automatically create the threads...

**DrewAllen** · 10-03-2006, 03:45 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Don Sabo

What if we have to pick a number, say 5 or more people attending the same session, do we want each person to write their notes of the session? If a lot of people take the Advanced RE track then we might have some boring reading.
I think that we should submit them to one person, possibly Aye Capn, and then he or his lackey, can reformat them to PDF's and post them on the site.
I volunteer to do a review of the food selections. At work my nickname is Mr. Food.

I think that it's good to have multiple viewpoints on each session whenever possible. I know that I'm going to the session on using TIE specifically to heckle support my colleagues at the second best Children's Hospital (Boston). My opinion may not be that objective.

Drew

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How to report on conference sessions?