I am in my second year of administering The Raiser's Edge and would love to attend the 2006 Charleston Conference. Wo all's been, and what are the pros and cons? Thanks, Cat

I went last year for the first time. I really enjoyed it. It was great to hear other users havingthe same problems as me, and to see some of the cool toys BB has coming down the pipe. Amazing food, and activities. Charleston is my favorite place to visit in the states :) Cons - BB is unable to get out of sales mode no matter what the venue. Every other session had a subtle or even overt nudge to get you to buy more stuff from them. Go with an open mind as well as specific questions. Meet lots of people. Peter Gulka Database Administrator NAIT Development Office Edmonton AB Canada email: [Email Removed] www.nait.ca/buildingondemand

I went to the conference two years ago and I am hoping to be able to go this year. The pros: as long as you are an active end user/computer geek,it was helpful. I wouldn't recommend it to someone just starting out. There sere some very useful sessions. It was helpful to meet and mingle with other development professionals. As Peter mentioned there was an underlying sales theme throughout the conference. Charleston is a great City. If you can't get to the conference a Local User group might be helpful. Cindy March Long Island University Assistant Director of Planned Giving 700 Northern Boulevard Brookville, NY 11548

I am planning (hoping) to attend this year. I think last year Melissa spearheaded some forum users activities/meetings during the conference (Melissa if I've gotten you mixed up with someone else - please accept my apologies). Did they go well? Elaine Tucker Stewardship Coordinator St. Mark's School of Texas www.smtexas.org [Email Removed]

It was me - you are not mistaken. I am planning on going again this year and presuming I do I will absolutely be getting a group together. We met on Sunday for about an hour and shared some thoughts on current issues and then since you knew people's faces you usually saw one or two of us in each session you attended. It was nice to have familiar faces and people to meet up with to talk about the sessions. After 3 years attending I can easily spot a sales pitch session and try to avoid them. I love sessions taught by other users and there are some FANTASTIC BB presenters I would seek out and attend their session even if I feel pretty knowledgeable about the topic. I learned a ton my first year but I agree that if you have a lot to learn about the basics then you should be attending training before the conference. A conference is not training. For me at this point in my learning about RE I go mostly for the networking and learning from other users. Last year, I had a great roommate in Harriet F. and spent some great time with Cindy O, Nora and the gang and even got Don S. in a speedo at the conference center hot tub. I wouldn't ever attend another year without getting a forum group together as you guys are fantastic. *** my spelling is fine, it's my typing that stinks. Where is spell check? Melissa S. Graves Manager, Development Database & Direct Mail Planned Parenthood of Connecticut [Email Removed] 203-752-2804

I am planning to go as well (hopefully teaching a seminar at the conference) and would like to network with folks on both the Raiser's Edge and Education Edge applications. These conferences have a wealth of information and as Melissa reported you have to avoid the pitchy sales oriented programs if that is not on your agenda. I would like to know if anyone would be interested in getting together during the conference, if so, we could agree on sharing names and locations with each other so we can make that connection.

Blackbaud holds an annual conference in Canada as well. IT is the same as the Charleston one, just a little smaller and geared towards Canadian clients. I am presenting a session on Vision and Leadership at that conference. Since it is in June, and June is in the same fiscal year as last October's conference, I had to make a choice. My boss told me that I could go to the conference in Vancouver, but would have to miss the Charleston one in October. :( I accepted, but am going to try and get there anyway :) Peter Gulka Database Administrator NAIT Development Office Edmonton AB Canada email: [Email Removed] www.nait.ca/buildingondemand