Bbcon 2017: A First Hand Account

First time bbcon attendee and I feel like I'm at my first rock concert!

The line at registration is in a huge, drafty hall with the omni-present people chatting sound that permeates the indoor atmosphere. There's an excitement here that is brewing like the morning coffee that calls to so many people. I page through the agenda in the impressive bbcon app and realize, I'm going to miss a lot. But, at the same time, I know I will learn plenty, meet many, and have a great time.

Opening session was fantastic with Micah Bournes empowering words. What a way to start any conference but especially one that is focused on Philanthropy. Most of us here have jobs with a goal of helping people from all different backgrounds. The technology of the day makes the world smaller and has the potential to bring us to an understanding of how others live and work and play.

The same is true for bbcon which gave me the chance today to connect with health care attendees from the Twin Cities, higher education people from L.A. and software reps from Charleston. Certainly there were questions about donor acquisitions, analytics, and grateful patients. But there were also questions about the wild fires in California, the snow and cold in St. Paul, Minnesota, that doesn't seem to bother those hardy people and the "where are you from" questions that always lead to more connections.

I took so many notes during my sessions that my phone ran out of energy. Me? I'm headed out now to the evening session and maybe some Thai food.

Day Two:

Wednesday was filled with many more connections from all over the country, in all sorts of positions at schools, hospitals, and other nonprofits. Though it was another long day, my notes section in my bbcon app is filled with ideas and suggestions from some very generous and smart attendees. My first time here and I am impressed by the willingness on the part of everyone to talk about their success stories, their problems and the tips/suggestions that have helped them in their jobs.

I was entranced by the BB Sky talk during the big session in the morning. This growing collection of apps should lead philanthropy uniquely into the future. Call it the “App”ian Way to successful fundraising. I can’t wait to see what developers come up with for us. Enda O’Doherty’s washing machine story is, I sense, only the beginning of what this amazing man will accomplish. He is certainly someone who has already made a difference in this world.

Because of my job, I spent most of my session time in healthcare-related sessions where I was totally blown away by the success of two women, Karen and Tonya from Tacoma, Washington’s MultiCare Health System. And there were others, not presenting, but who were willing to talk about how they do what they do and why they do it that way.

One suggestion I heard from more than a couple of people is a chance to meet with others who want to share tips in a more formal setting. I think a no-name 30-minute session in various rooms mid-afternoon, would be a nice addition for this conference, allowing “meet ups” in quieter rooms where ideas can be shared more easily.

I look forward to Thursday’s keynote speaker, Robin Wright. But, it will be sad to hop into my car and drive back to Richmond. I expect the dreaded D.C. rush hour traffic will allow me even more time to enjoy thinking back on all that I’ve experienced here at bbcon.