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I talked to Shaun Sullivan and he told me that if you guys were able to get a group meeting organized for forum members, he would be more than happy to attend. We have been compiling the list of things for the "Designing BB Applications" session, but I am starting to think that the kind of things we are coming up with might deserve their own discussion within our group, plus some BB folks.
Someone who is going should definately work with Ashley Shockley to book a room and time you could use to get together.
__________________ Peter Gulka
Chief Bus Driver
Blackbaud User Society www.blackbus.org
I talked to Shaun Sullivan and he told me that if you guys were able to get a group meeting organized for forum members, he would be more than happy to attend. We have been compiling the list of things for the "Designing BB Applications" session, but I am starting to think that the kind of things we are coming up with might deserve their own discussion within our group, plus some BB folks.
Someone who is going should definately work with Ashley Shockley to book a room and time you could use to get together.
Peter,
This sounds like a great opportunity. I'll volunteer to talk with Ashley and see if we can set up a meeting time and place. It was mentioned in an early post on a different thread that the best time would probably be between the Pre-Conference Sessions and the Welcome Reception. That's only 1/2 hour, which wouldn't even begin to be enough time. Does anyone else have suggestions for a time before I call her? Would AFTER the reception (8:00 PM Sunday) work?
I'll be out of reach tomorrow, but can contact her first thing Monday morning, so make your time suggestions before then.
Jo
__________________ Jo Ward Raiser's Edge Consultant Houston, TX 713-572-1453
Last year we did it at 4:30 as pre conf sessions ended at 5 last year and those who went to pre-conf sessions just arrived late and we went till 6.
I guess they extended the pre-conf sessions this year which will be complicated but I'd still like to do it before and maybe some time into the reception. I honestly only go to the welcome reception for the finger food and I can stand to get there an hour late - the food will still be there.
Having it before the reception helps you orient yourself to who you can talk to and sit with. As someone who has been to this 3 times alone I really, really, really appreciated last year having familiar faces in a huge crowd like the welcome reception. I also think that we would lose people if we do it that late as people have traveled all day and may need to get to a downtown hotel, etc.
I am not attending a pre conference session so I will be available to meet any time Sunday Afternoon. Are many of you doing the pre-conference sessions? If we do this in place of a pre-conference session would that be a problem? If you've already signed up you can get a 100% refund until the end of August if you feel this is a better use of your time.
I am not planning on attending any pre-conference sessions and will be available most of the day Sunday. Melissa - thanks for all the wonderful insight to the schedule I think yours is a solid plan and valid reasoning.
Jo - THANKS so much for taking this part on.
As "Our Capn" pointed out an excellent opportunity to get front and center with Shaun & BB developers.
I'm getting even more pumped about attending!
__________________ Elaine Tucker Stewardship Coordinator St. Mark's School of Texas USA www.smtexas.org
Last year we did it at 4:30 as pre conf sessions ended at 5 last year and those who went to pre-conf sessions just arrived late and we went till 6.
I guess they extended the pre-conf sessions this year which will be complicated but I'd still like to do it before and maybe some time into the reception. I honestly only go to the welcome reception for the finger food and I can stand to get there an hour late - the food will still be there.
Having it before the reception helps you orient yourself to who you can talk to and sit with. As someone who has been to this 3 times alone I really, really, really appreciated last year having familiar faces in a huge crowd like the welcome reception. I also think that we would lose people if we do it that late as people have traveled all day and may need to get to a downtown hotel, etc.
I am not attending a pre conference session so I will be available to meet any time Sunday Afternoon. Are many of you doing the pre-conference sessions? If we do this in place of a pre-conference session would that be a problem? If you've already signed up you can get a 100% refund until the end of August if you feel this is a better use of your time.
Melissa makes some good arguments for meeting before the reception. My flight gets in about 2:30, so 4:30 would be good for me, and I certainly don't mind being late for the reception. If anyone has objections to this, then make an alternate suggestion and argument for it.
Jo
__________________ Jo Ward Raiser's Edge Consultant Houston, TX 713-572-1453
Melissa makes some good arguments for meeting before the reception. My flight gets in about 2:30, so 4:30 would be good for me, and I certainly don't mind being late for the reception. If anyone has objections to this, then make an alternate suggestion and argument for it.
Jo
Well, I am actually getting in Saturday night, so anytime on Sunday is good. Meeting is at the top of my list, so whatever works for everyone.
Melissa or anyone who attended, how many people attended your meeting last year, cause I am wondering how many of us are actually going to be there?
BTW - I just want to say THANK YOU to everyone who is going to organize the forum users getting together and the suggestions list and everything that goes along with all of that. And while I don't really want to take on anything big, this being my first conference, if there are any little things anyone needs help with, feel free to ask me.
Last year we had about 10-15 people at our group meeting. Myself and some others had to leave early because Shaun Sullivan had an special I.T. session for invitees only.
Due to the nature of this meeting I think that we should start at 4 and end at 6 if there are representative(s) there from BB. A lot of the BB folks are there for the Sunday night shindig anyway.
I would like to know that what we suggest would be seriously looked at by the programming staff or whoever is responsible for making the decision. I think that some time of report card should be produced by BB after this meeting stating, that we presented 20 items and that so many would be on the next software version or so many would be on a certain update. This should also include reasons on why that are not going to act upon any of them.
I am not attending a pre conference session so I will be available to meet any time Sunday Afternoon. Are many of you doing the pre-conference sessions? If we do this in place of a pre-conference session would that be a problem? If you've already signed up you can get a 100% refund until the end of August if you feel this is a better use of your time.
My boss is letting me go down on Saturday specifically so that I can attend the pre-conference session on Data Integrity. There is no way that I could attend if the user group meeting conflicted with the pre-conference sessions.
Drew
__________________ J. Drew Allen
Children's Hospital of Philadelphia
Crystal Reports and SQL Server Consultant
It is better to live your destiny imperfectly than to live an imitation of somebody else's life with perfection.
I would like to know that what we suggest would be seriously looked at by the programming staff or whoever is responsible for making the decision. I think that some time of report card should be produced by BB after this meeting stating, that we presented 20 items and that so many would be on the next software version or so many would be on a certain update. This should also include reasons on why that are not going to act upon any of them.
I totally agree, no wants to feel like BB is just trying to pacify us. BB should definitely provide a written response.
Just raised up my head from launching our NetCommunity online registration for our walkathon. (Talk about a lot of learning in a short time frame! As unforutately expected - lots of bugs in this version, but in the end we were able to send out a great e-bulletin and people have been actively signing up at our net community site.)
I am hoping to attend the conference - I've registered, but I'm having major surgery on Monday and not sure what the aftermath will be. Hoping for clean bill of health and the thumbs up to travel in October.
I plan to be there early enough on Sunday to attend an afternoon/evening user forum group and I look forward to putting some faces to your names.
Just raised up my head from launching our NetCommunity online registration for our walkathon. (Talk about a lot of learning in a short time frame! As unforutately expected - lots of bugs in this version, but in the end we were able to send out a great e-bulletin and people have been actively signing up at our net community site.)
I am hoping to attend the conference - I've registered, but I'm having major surgery on Monday and not sure what the aftermath will be. Hoping for clean bill of health and the thumbs up to travel in October.
I plan to be there early enough on Sunday to attend an afternoon/evening user forum group and I look forward to putting some faces to your names.
I am willing to help in any way possible.
Harriet Farmer
Ottawa Humane Society
Harriet, I am sure you will be able to help anyone setting up a similar on-line registration after going through the setup.
All the best for your speedy recovery! Take care,
__________________ Anne Marie
I was born with nothing, and I still have most of it.
I just noticed that the session schedule is available on the BB web site now. There will be two sessions of the Designing Blackbaud Applications - Monday @ 10:00 AM and Tuesday @ 3:45 PM.
Don Sabo and I are working with the conference directors to schedule a meeting for our group on Sunday. More to come on that as we get info from them.
Jo
__________________ Jo Ward Raiser's Edge Consultant Houston, TX 713-572-1453
I am hoping to attend the conference - I've registered, but I'm having major surgery on Monday and not sure what the aftermath will be. Hoping for clean bill of health and the thumbs up to travel in October.
Harriet Farmer
Ottawa Humane Society
Harriet,
I hope your surgery goes as well as mine did. I had both knees replaced in May, and was released after 6 weeks to do "whatever you feel like doing". I'll be thinking of you on Monday and wishing for the best!
Jo
__________________ Jo Ward Raiser's Edge Consultant Houston, TX 713-572-1453
