Altru Skype Chats Start Tomorrow

The community is a powerful resource. We stock it with FAQs and announcements. We trouble shoot and offer solutions. And while our team strives to provide amazing support, I think the larger value could come from you, our users. You have at your fingertips, a group of people who work in the same type of organization, in a similar role, using the same software. So if you want advice on how to increase donations, membership retention, or event attendance, all you have to do is ask. Someone else is working on the same goals. We realize that you do want to talk to each other and exchange ideas, so in addition to the community, we hold a weekly chat session in Skype.

The Altru Skype chats are starting back up tomorrow, with an open invitation to all our users. We'll talk about what you guys want to cover this year. Which sessions you enjoyed; which sessions you wish we'd had. If you're interested in adding special guests, or keeping it Altru only - let's talk options. So come to the chat with some questions or suggestions!

If you haven't heard of the chats, here's the jist: All Altru users are invited to Skype chat with their peers, every Wed from 1-2 pm ET. While someone from Blackbaud will host the chats, the idea is not so much to connect with our support staff (as you have many other means to do so), but to talk with your peers about how they use Altru or do their jobs in general.

The forum is open, but each week will have a general theme.

Jan 8 – Open. The 1st chat of 2014 will be an open invite for everyone who is interested in chatting to join and meet the other group members. We can discuss what topics you’d like to cover in the upcoming months.

Jan 15 – Membership: How do you acquire, reward, and retain members?

Jan 22 – Fundraising: How do you determine goals for 2014? What are they? How do you plan to reach them?

Jan 29 - Visitor Services: Reception, Admission, Programs, Stats ... where are you focused right now?

Feb 5 – Volunteers: How do you acquire, reward, and retain volunteers? How do you track them in Altru?

Feb 12 – Membership: Benefits, Pricing, Marketing

Feb 19 – Hardware and Windows XP end of life discussion (Webex Call, instead of Skype chat)

Feb 26 – Events: Preparing for summer camps, fundraisers, galas, and more.

To join the Skype group, add Kristen.Gastaldo as a contact and I’ll put you in the group. No mics or cameras required; we just type to each other in a large IM session. Hope to see you tomorrow!