Hi, I am really looking forward to this conference. My experience with contacting other RE users has been overwhelmingly with American clients, so it will be cool to speak with others from Canada. I hope my sessiongoes well to! Peter Gulka Database Administrator NAIT Development Office Edmonton AB Canada email: [Email Removed] www.nait.ca/buildingondemand

Hi Peter, I am debating attending the Canadian conference rather than the US conference this year. However, for those coming from the East, the cost is not much different. (Flying to Charleston is less than flying to Vancouver, and the Vancouver host hotel is pricey.) Also, if I'm reading the blurb correctly, there are only 2 days of training; that is a long way for me to go for 2 days. I am also not sure that there is such a big diff between US and Canadian user needs. I guess for someone going from the West, this is a good deal. Are you planning to also attend Charleston? Harriet Farmer Ottawa Humane Society

I also would like to go to the conference and the cost is a lot less for me than going to Charleston. The hotel is pricey. I did attend one conference in Charleston and found it really helpful. As far as I know there is not another user in a four hundred mile radius of me and I really like having this forum, the next best thing to a users group. As I work in a rural College I find Canadian issues quite different than the American issues. So I am really looking forward to this conference. The timing is also a lot better for me than in the fall. Joyce

Hi Joyce, Where are you located? Also, I am curious as to what differences you are experiencing between Canadian and US based users. I suspect that it is related to your being in the educational field. I am with an animal welfare organization - and there are very few of us using RE either in the US or Canada. Thanks, Harriet Farmer Ottawa Humane Society

I am in southern BC in the West Kootenays. I find most of the Universities and Colleges in the States are private and rely on a lot on grants for funding and large alumni donation. There has been a culture of supporting the University or College you graduated from and want you children to also attend. I don’t find that same culture in Canada. I believe we have a lot to learn from the States as the funding for education is being decreased for post secondary education in canada. We also are a two year program so our alumni are not as commitment to our College as the degree granting Universities, we are working on this. Our tax laws are also very different. Joyce Buckler Selkirk College

Hi Harriet, I was only supposed to get one conference in this year, but they made an exception since I get to present. In exchange, I had to give up Charleston 2006. For me its ok. The last conference in October caused me some pretty nasty brain burnout. A two day event might be better for me. Less overwhelming. My wife is coming too :) Peter Gulka Database Administrator NAIT Development Office Edmonton AB Canada email: [Email Removed] www.nait.ca/buildingondemand

Hi Peter, Sorry I won't see you in Charleston, but if the Canadian conference were closer to home for me, I would have considered switching. (I love Vancouver) In any case, I have another conference to attend for the other app I support (Chameleon) which is 5 days in May, so going away again in June was not attractive to me. What are you presenting? Harriet Farmer Ottawa Humane Society

I am the third one on this list: http://www.blackbaud.com/events/bb_conf/canada/sessions/development.aspx  Peter Gulka Database Administrator NAIT Development Office Edmonton AB Canada email: [Email Removed] www.nait.ca/buildingondemand

Peter, I am certain our Development Manager would be interested in this topic, since we are just starting our first capital building campaign. Since neither of us can attend, can I get a copy of your presentation later on? Harriet

Sure. Once I write it.... Peter Gulka Database Administrator NAIT Development Office Edmonton AB Canada email: [Email Removed] www.nait.ca/buildingondemand