I'm currently trying to set up online registration for our annual alumni reunion. This event is large and involves participants registering for a number of dinners, lunches, seminars, etc. When I looked at the event registration part in NetCommunity, it makes participants register for everything all at once, which can get confusing when you're looking at 3-4 different dinners/lunches and several seminars. Is there any way to split those registrations into more steps than the 5 that are currently available?
Also, we're trying to capture preferences for the dinners--which year they specify will help us keep track of what our needs are in regards to seating and locations. Any idea how I can do this without adding a separate event (or pricing category) for each option?
This sounds too familiar. Our alumni office just encountered the same problem and we had to hire blackbaud consultants to design the reunion registration form for us. We ended up with 19 separate events under the umbrella (group) of Alumni Reunion 2009. You can take a look at the website (connect.bcm.edu/alumni) and click on register now under the alumni reunion event listed on the right. To capture certain information for the "Reunion Book" a survey form was used (designed inhouse rather than by Blackbaud). Once that is filled out, you will be taken to the event registration itself. We're not completely happy with the solution, but it works for those who persevere. Those that can't call and register by phone. Let me know if I can put you in touch with someone about details. - Judy S.
That's what we ultimately ended up doing as well. It's clunky, particularly w/ the events we do. Did you, by chance, figure out a way to compile a list of events each participant is registered for (for confirmation letters, etc)?
I tried setting up a custom report -- and failed. This was Blackbaud's response:
"Unfortunately, we are unable to export constituents and events they are attending for a specific group of events. However, this has been filed as a suggestion, and I have already added you to the list of clients that would like this functionality. As an alternative, you may wish to try outputting the information needed in an event query, and exporting directly from the query. I am including a Knowledgebase solution with more information on how to do this. Unable to export constituent and events they are attending for a specific group of events http://www.blackbaud.com/esupport/esupport.asp?resource=&number=0&id=BB348741 "