AFP International Conference brings us together in New Orleans

I'm in a really good mood.

Maybe it's a carryover from last night...listening to Stevie Wonder sing about how he loves Barack Obama, American Idol and life.  How can you listen to Stevie and not be happy?  He's a soulful guy.

But maybe I'm happy because I'm heading to New Orleans later today, my first trip back since Katrina hit the town where I spent my freshman year in college.  I'm not going back to visit Tulane, although I do hope to grab an hour or two to ride the St. Charles Streetcar to the heart of the garden district and walk my old route around campus.

Nostalgia aside, and I seem to be having plenty of that this week, I'm happy and excited about the event that is taking me back to my old stamping grounds.  That's the 46th annual International Conference held by the Association of Fundraising Professionals.

Blackbaud is exceptionally proud to partner with AFP as the full conference sponsor.  It's one of the ways we show our support of the fundraising profession, which really grew up along side our technology.  We believe in and value the good work the association does to promote ethical fundraising and provide high-quality educational opportunities for the industry's professionals.

This year, I have the pleasure of going to the conference not just as a Blackbaud representative and an AFP partner, but also as the President of the SC Lowcountry chapter of the association.  I got involved with the group locally as a way to give back to my own community.  Through the years, I have worked along side so many interesting, devoted professionals, who have become colleagues and friends.  I have especially enjoyed being able to work both internationally and locally with AFP, connecting the two as we all collectively invest in the long-term health and growth of the nonprofit sector.

On Sunday morning, at the AFP Chapter President's Council meeting, our chapter is being honored for achieving 10-Star status.  This recognition acknowledges that we have accomplished a variety of activities and serve as a model chapter.  Even more exciting than this recognition is the fact that, that same morning, we will be presented with an award check for achieiving the highest percentage membership growth in 2008 for chapters of our size. 

I need to be clear that, as 2009 President, I'm simply the one who has the honor of accepting on behalf of last year's board.  The real credit goes to that board, who worked diligently under the leadership of Toni McHugh of MUSC's Storm Eye Institute.  Toni, and Lori Cook of The Citadel Foundation (our 2008 and 2009 membership chair and a rising star in the industry) are the two people who really made this happen.

Although the schedule is action packed over the next few days, I hope to blog while I'm in New Orleans, sharing news about the exciting events taking place -- with the chapter, with the association and with Blackbaud.

So stay tuned!

P.S.  And in case you're wondering, I'm going for Adam in season eight of American Idol.  My 10-year old (the die hard fan of the family who has us all watching together) thinks Adam and Danny flip flop as the top performer each week.  We'll see.