Raiders Of The Lost Badges: Side Quest!

Stay in the know and up-to-date on what's happening in the Blackbaud Community.

Do you see that?

Probably not .. because our Community is full of NINJAS now!

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Give a big ol' "Congrats on becoming a Community Ninja in the Blackbaud Community that is awesome and also... goals!" to our new ninjas:

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Each of them completed all of the Badge Quest challenges!

We want to congratulate one particular ninja for winning Badge Quest 2: Fellowship of the Badges. Congratulations to Ninja, Susan Chomsky! She won last month's $100 Amazon gift card.

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<----- Click Ninja Susan to write a congrats on her wall!

If you want to join the Ninja ranks - all you have to do is complete Badge Quest One, Two, and Three. Right now, you can still be entered to win a $100 gift card for Badge Quest Three (where allowed by law.)

Alright Badge Questers, time for a SIDE QUEST!

Since this is one of the last side quests, I'm going to make it a hefty one by giving away 100 Community Bonus points.

By now, you've made dozens of new connections in Community (if not more, y'all rock!) -- for this side quest, reach out to one of your new friends in Community by posting on their wall or PM'ing them and ask them this question....

"What is your favorite inspirational quote or what is the best piece of nonprofit advice anyone has given you?"

Come back to this page and write what they say in the comments below! Example: "Sunshine Watson said her favorite inspirational quote is _____."

Let's continue to use this Community to inspire each other! I'm looking forward to reading the responses as I love to collect great advice and good quotes.

Ready, set... BADGE QUEST!

Posted by Crystal Bruce on Jun 12, 2018 9:56 AM America/New_York

Mary Harden-Rudisill's favorite quote is: "THIS LAW 2: DO ONE THING… AWESOME!" from FakeGrimlock.

Posted Tue 12 Jun 2018 11:09 AM EDT

Liz Ryan

I tagged Kierstin Sykes and her reply was that a donor had visited her development team and commented that he would like to see them stop spending money on chotskies at events - he'd rather see the money spent on their stated cause. (Am I supposed to quote her exactly?) I have actually heard this same comment from some of our donors when we send them calendars!

Posted Tue 12 Jun 2018 11:43 AM EDT

Mary Zieten

Pattie Hommes said: My favorite quote comes from Martin Luther King and is so relevant these days! "Love is the only force capable of transforming an enemy into a friend"

So true, and so relevant!

Posted Tue 12 Jun 2018 12:18 PM EDT

Patti Hommes

Kaleb Miller had a wonderful quote and some great advice as well, definitely share-worthy!
"I would have to say that my favorite quote is one by Anne Frank- "How wonderful it is that nobody need wait a single moment before starting to improve the world." Isn't that incredibly encouraging?
This kind of ties in to the best piece of advice I've received, which is to never be afraid to think bigger than you already are. Though it may be a risk, we should never hesitate to challenge our circumstances and think outside the box to move forward. Whether it's making a bigger ask, setting a bigger goal, or even making bigger personal goals, we shouldn't fear shooting for the stars!"

Posted Tue 12 Jun 2018 12:35 PM EDT

Aubrie Wright

David Grayson's inspirational quote is, "if everything seems under control, you're just not going fast enough." - Mario Andretti

Definitely made me laugh, mostly because there is a lot of truth to it.

Posted Tue 12 Jun 2018 01:16 PM EDT

Robin Waldinger

Shannon Emery's favorite inspirational quote is from herGrams: "Life is hard, life is short, but girl, life is oh so sweet." :up:

Posted Tue 12 Jun 2018 01:39 PM EDT

Beth Hudson

Shannon Emery said "This one comes from my Dad and my baseline motto: "Be happy. Nothing else matters at the end of the day. Be happy." "
Great advice!

Posted Tue 12 Jun 2018 01:42 PM EDT

Danny Levy

Aubrie Wright says: Focus your attention on building relationships with the people who support your NP, whether through finances, service, etc. Without them there would be no way to keep your NP moving forward. Great relationships cultivate best practices within your NP.

Posted Tue 12 Jun 2018 02:06 PM EDT

Kierstin Sykes

Stephanie Crawley said her favorite inspirational quote when she was young was, "No one can make you feel inferior without your permission." Her current favorite inspirational quote is, "If you judge people, you have no time to love them."

Posted Tue 12 Jun 2018 02:49 PM EDT

Austen Brown

Kierstin Sykes told me that the best non-profit advice she got was from a donor who had come to speak to the entire development team. He recommended that they stop spending valuable money on extras for guests at events. That they just wanted to know that their gift was used to make an impact."

Posted Tue 12 Jun 2018 03:20 PM EDT

Karen Tuecke

Mercedes McCay Read responded to the question, "What is the best piece of nonprofit advice anyone has given you?" with "From a data person standpoint - no database is perfect, so use what you have because it's "good enough.""

Posted Tue 12 Jun 2018 03:38 PM EDT

Ash Elverfeld

Stephanie Crawley said that, "The best piece of nonprofit advice anyone has given me is to take care of myself and not let work overshadow my life. I can't do my best work if I am drained of my energy, health and time in service to the organization." Amen!

Posted Tue 12 Jun 2018 05:17 PM EDT

Joanne Felci

Barbara Gill's inspirational quote (which I think is awesome): Why not go out on a limb? That's where the fruit is. (With some question as to authenticity, this is generally attributed to Mark Twain.)

Posted Wed 13 Jun 2018 08:05 AM EDT

Elizabeth Johnson

Cathy Spencer shared with me: A favorite inspirational quote comes from Albert Schweitzer:
"At times our own light goes out and is rekindled by a spark from another person. Each of us has cause to think with deep gratitude of those who have lighted the flame."

Wow, that is powerful! Thanks, Cathy!

Posted Wed 13 Jun 2018 08:55 AM EDT

Brent Troth

Alex Jays said "My boss wandered into my office last night and said, 'Stop preaching to the choir, let them preach.' I guess that's pretty good non-profit advice!"

Posted Wed 13 Jun 2018 10:28 AM EDT

Judy Spigarelli

Gavin Mann said - When speaking to potential high level donors, I like these words of advice, "if you ask for money you get advice, if you ask for advice you get money"

Posted Wed 13 Jun 2018 10:41 AM EDT

Crystal Chouinard

Alex Jays said the best advice he has received is that it's okay to say you don't know the answer to something, constituents will appreciate your honesty.

Posted Wed 13 Jun 2018 11:40 AM EDT

Joanne Felci

Lisa Slawinski's favorite inspirations quote is 'be a voice, not an echo' - love it!

Posted Wed 13 Jun 2018 11:40 AM EDT

Heather MacKenzie

Kirsten Petersen, who gets more interesting the more we chat with each other, said this - “There are three ways to ultimate success:
The first way is to be kind.
The second way is to be kind.
The third way is to be kind.”
-Mister Rogers

and I love this quote!! Well chosen, Kirsten!

Posted Wed 13 Jun 2018 12:49 PM EDT

Jennifer Vincent

Danny Levy said that his favorite bit of advice was to not be afraid to ask for compensation that matches the level of work and commitment, as if you were working in the for-profit arena. Sounds like a good bit of advice to keep in mind :)

Posted Wed 13 Jun 2018 01:44 PM EDT

Sage Evans

Judy Spigarelli mentioned the comment "Be stronger than your excuse." She said whether it's advancing in a career, or learning new RE tips, or cleaning out the garage - if you really want something, don't let self-proclaimed obstacles stand in your way! I couldn't agree more!!

Posted Wed 13 Jun 2018 02:32 PM EDT

Jen Claudy

Sunshine Watson shared this inspirational quote:

"While we have the gift of life, it seems to me the only tragedy is to allow part of us to die - whether it is our spirit, our creativity or our glorious uniqueness." - Gilda Radner

Posted Wed 13 Jun 2018 02:50 PM EDT

Kirsten Petersen

Jen Claudy said her favorite inspirational quote is: "When one door closes, another opens; but we often look so long and so regretfully upon the closed door that we do not see the one which has opened for us." - Alexander Graham Bell

Posted Wed 13 Jun 2018 03:58 PM EDT

Sunshine Watson

One of Jen Claudy's favorite quotes is, "What you do, who you're with, and how you feel about the world around you, is completely up to you." - Mike Rowe

Posted Wed 13 Jun 2018 04:51 PM EDT

Susan Chomsky

from Heather MacKenzie and so very true. . .
"Everything's okay in the end. If it's not okay, it's not the end." ~ Anonymous

Posted Thu 14 Jun 2018 09:08 AM EDT

Barb Faasse

"Everything's okay in the end. If it's not okay, it's not the end." (Anonymous) is a favorite quote from Heather MacKenzie

Posted Thu 14 Jun 2018 09:49 AM EDT

JoAnn Strommen

Love never gives up, never loses faith, is always hopeful, and endures through every circumstance. 1 Corinthians 13:7 from Barb Faasse.

Posted Thu 14 Jun 2018 10:51 AM EDT

Larry Wheeler

Kathi Sacha says...

Larry, This is one of my favorite quotes: " Be not afraid of going slowly, be afraid only of standing still"- Chinese Proverb

Posted Thu 14 Jun 2018 12:00 PM EDT

Claudia Sauers

Heather MacKenzie said "Everything's okay in the end. If it's not okay, it's not the end." - good ol' Anonymous.

Posted Thu 14 Jun 2018 12:09 PM EDT

Carley Haynes

Austen Brown says her answer to this is "The biggest barrier to success is often fear of failure. But that's okay… it's better to try often and fail, than to wait for perfection which will never come."

Posted Thu 14 Jun 2018 12:48 PM EDT

Laura Salfen

Amy Dana said: I loved hearing Ashley Judd at bbcon a few years ago talking about how we try to be everything to everyone. She said, "You are enough. Your are SO enough."

Posted Thu 14 Jun 2018 01:33 PM EDT

Barbara Gill

There is SOOOOO much good stuff here! Should be required reading.

Posted Thu 14 Jun 2018 01:37 PM EDT

Jason Guan

My friend, Laura Salfen, who works as a DA at the San Antonio Botanical Garden, said her quotes are "You can't pour from an empty cup" and "There are more important things in life than doing your hair everyday". The first quote was from herself and the second comes from one of her professors."

Posted Thu 14 Jun 2018 01:50 PM EDT

Barbara Gill

Ninja Sauntel Richardson says "One of my favorite inspiration quotes is "there are years that asks questions, and there are years that answer" by Zora Neale Hurston. For me, this quote speaks volumes both personally and professionally :)"

Posted Thu 14 Jun 2018 02:10 PM EDT

Amy Dana

George Buss chose "It is only with the heart that one can see rightly - What is essential is invisible to the eye." Antoine de Saint-Exupery "The Little Prince" spoken by the Fox to his new friend, the Prince.

Posted Thu 14 Jun 2018 04:32 PM EDT

Sauntel Richardson

Hi All! My new Ninja Friend, Barbara Gill, said that her favorite inspirational quote is: "Be a lamp, or a lifeboat, or a ladder (attributed to Rumi)"

Posted Thu 14 Jun 2018 04:41 PM EDT

Marie Stark

Sunshine Watson's favorite saying is "We should live every day like people who have just been rescued from the moon.”"

Posted Fri 15 Jun 2018 08:11 AM EDT

Chris Geady

Nice advice from Cindy Filler (UND Foundation): "This relates to love Feb in general... stop dreaming and start doing."

Posted Fri 15 Jun 2018 09:15 AM EDT

Marie Stark

Amy Dana's quote for the day is "Everybody's workin' for the weekend." :

Posted Fri 15 Jun 2018 10:19 AM EDT

George Buss

Christopher Blitz's inspirational quote came from his father, and it rocks - "If you're going to half-ass it, don't bother doing it!"

If you really live that, you're work will show it. (Might need to make this our new ALTRU team slogan. :) )

Posted Fri 15 Jun 2018 11:00 AM EDT

Rachel Lamb

Jen Claudy quoted Alexander Graham Bell, stating, “When one door closes, another opens; but we often look so long and so regretfully upon the closed door that we do not see the one which has opened for us.”

Posted Fri 15 Jun 2018 05:08 PM EDT

Joan Perry

So I personally went with an inspiration quote...but as a DBA, Chris Geady shared a GREAT piece of advice that does always impact what we do

Here's one: Remember, of all the software and policies you decide to implement, you need to factor in time and resources to maintain it.

Posted Mon 18 Jun 2018 01:22 PM EDT

Stephanie Crawley

My new connection Suzan Schwartzentrover's favorite quote is: "I alone cannot change the world, but I can cast a stone across the water to create many ripples. (Mother Teresa)"

Posted Wed 20 Jun 2018 01:06 PM EDT

Judy Ramos

Beth Hudson said one of her favorite quotes is from Eleanor Roosevelt:“Never mistake knowledge for wisdom. One helps you make a living; the other helps you make a life. ”

Posted Wed 20 Jun 2018 04:29 PM EDT

Matthew Crawford

I've got to get working on finishing the ninja badge!

Posted Fri 22 Jun 2018 10:00 AM EDT

Melonie AllynSchwerin

Holly Herbert's inspirational quote is the poem "Phenomenal Woman" by Maya Angelou. Super inspiring!

Posted Fri 22 Jun 2018 01:46 PM EDT

Jessica Bobbitt

Jennifer Vincent's inspirational quote: "The most common way people give up their power is by thinking they don't have any." - Alice Walker

Posted Fri 22 Jun 2018 04:57 PM EDT

Mercedes McCayRead

Karen Tuecke said: "My favorite piece of advice directed me to leave the for profit world and join the nonprofit career path in 2006. I did not enjoy my job so a coworker told me to 'Do what you love and love what you do.' I love working in the not for profit sector and love what I do."

Posted Mon 25 Jun 2018 11:57 AM EDT

Petra Hall

Keep moving forward!

Posted Tue 26 Jun 2018 12:46 PM EDT

Arlene Harten

Stephanie Crawley’s and mine favourite and inspirational quote is: Remember to love each other instead of judge one another. "If you judge people, you have no time to love them.” Mother Theresa

Posted Tue 26 Jun 2018 02:21 PM EDT

Robert Brown

My favorite quote is this:

“Life is 10% of what happens to you and 90% how you React to it, Stay Strong, Be Unstoppable.” - Diamond Dallas Page

Posted Wed 27 Jun 2018 10:28 AM EDT

Cara Groshong

I wasn't PM'd, but this has always been my favorite quote!
"

And give. Give in any way you can, of whatever you possess. To give is to love. To withhold is to wither. Care less for your harvest than for how it is shared, and your life will have meaning and your heart will have peace.” ~Kent Nerburn

Posted Wed 27 Jun 2018 12:03 PM EDT

Jenna Anderson

The inimitable Ron Swanson: "Never half-ass two things, whole-ass one thing." Very applicable in Data.

Posted Wed 27 Jun 2018 01:03 PM EDT

Stacy Wintjen

Tanya Brozell says her favorite inspirational quote is "If you genuinely want something, don’t wait for it. Teach yourself to be impatient."
and the best piece of nonprofit advice she has received is "It is important to build and value relationships."

Posted Thu 28 Jun 2018 03:48 PM EDT

Chris Rainwater

Jen Claudy responded with, "The secret of getting ahead is getting started. -Mark Twain." I wish this didn't hit so close to home but it's great advice.

Posted Fri 29 Jun 2018 09:24 AM EDT

Lia Wilson

A fellow Ninja, Susan Chomsky, shared some of her favorite inspirational quotes with me, and my favorite two are below:
"Creativity is intelligence having fun." - Albert Einstein
"We may encounter many defeats, but we must not be defeated." Maya Angelou

Posted Fri 29 Jun 2018 01:48 PM EDT

Jenna Anderson

I can't help but post this gem from Crystal Chouinard who penned a new "Go Ninja, Go Ninja, Go rap" on behalf of Vanilla Ice, which was subsequently deemed an inspirational mantra:

YO! It's the data machines
Gonna rock that data without being seen
Have you ever seen data nerds Get Down?
Slammin and Jammin to the new swing sound
Yeah, everybody let's move
Vanilla is here with the New Jack Groove
Gonna rock, And roll this place
With the power of the ninja database
Iceman, ya know I'm not playin Devastate the show while the data is sayin
Ninja, Ninja, RAP! Ninja, Ninja, RAP! GO GO GO GO!
Go Ninja, Go Ninja, GO: Go Ninja, Go Ninja, GO!
Go Ninja, Go Ninja, GO: Go Ninja, Go Ninja, GO! GO GO GO GO!

Posted Fri 29 Jun 2018 05:30 PM EDT

Kristine Lemons

My mom used to say "If you're asked to do something you don't know how to do yet, it's okay to say yes and figure out how to get it done!"

Posted Tue 03 Jul 2018 05:28 PM EDT