What sort of sessions would you like to see next year?

Amy Barker

So…. time to start thinking ahead! What are your dream sessions for bbcon 2023?

Jennifer Vincent

@Amy Barker A hiking session in the Rockies!

My favorite sessions are the ones that showcase creative problem solving within the solutions (e.g., tracking prospect management through Actions, use of RENXT notes, constituent code clean up projects that streamline segmentation, etc.)

Barbara Kunkel

@Amy Barker
I agree with @Jennifer Vincent on sessions with problem-solving. Over the last 3 years of virtual sessions, I have noticed more Blackbaud speakers, and I would like to hear more from users on how they solve an issue. Proposal and opportunities are a big one for me, how to set up birthday wish emails to non-constituent spouse, how to create a custom ask string.

Karen Diener

@Amy Barker:

So…. time to start thinking ahead! What are your dream sessions for bbcon 2023?

Ditto what Barbara and Jennifer said. I also like VERY much to talk (and hear) about functionality that is native to Raiser's Edge. If a session is focused on a specific module or additional paid service, it doesn't have as much value. I've worked at, and with, many organizations that cannot afford new products.

karen

Amy Shaiman

@Amy Barker
I agree with others that customer to customer sessions are very valuable. They felt missing this year. By how and what was included in the conference, Blackbaud communicated that they do not want customer voice by not even having a call for proposals this year. I would also like to see information from Blackbaud on all its products. The product that we use wasn't even covered this year in its own sessions and was barely mentioned in the product update where it was (after the intiial listing) included.

Hallie Guiseppe

@Amy Barker
I love learning more about how other organizations are using Blackbaud products. We all use the same tools in creative ways. I most value those who share how each of them solves everyday problems. As an example, I love to hear the creative ways people are using workflow in RENXT or how they maximize the use of opportunities, ratings, custom fields, and so on. Optimizing the use of our RENXT investment is essential. In my experience, many organizations underutilize their subscription and pay for additional tools rather than using the tools they have.

Rochelle Salazar

@Amy Barker Please offer sessions about your other products. We use BBCRM and BBIS, disappointed how the focus is primarily on your Raiser's Edge customers.

Dawn Alonso

@Rochelle Salazar-I agree. It seems like there are a lot of things geared toward Raiser's Edge and I don't use that product at all. I would love to see more about how people are using FENXT and Billing Management in Higher ED (seems to be a lot of focus on K-12.)

Dariel Dixon

I think it's important to have more customer led sessions. Next year, there does need to be a broader call for proposals. @Amy Shaiman referenced the lack of this option, and while a call did go out this year, it was extremely limited and, IMO somewhat rushed. That led to a lack of diversity in the session options that @Rochelle Salazar spoke about, and the smaller size of the conference in general.

We talk about needing to have people from other fields and other products speaking, but there needs to be people willing to speak from their perspectives. That's why it's important to have a open and public call for speakers. I think there needs to be a push for these sessions early enough to allow people to prepare. There's always going to be an abundance of RE sessions as that is the core product.

Also, the hybrid nature of Denver 2023 will have some challenges. I believe the best sessions are interactive and collaborative. Hopefully we will allow for longer sessions (30 minutes is way too short). I'm hoping that they extend the conference to be a little longer and allow for more interaction.

Patti Posey

@Amy Barker I have been attending BBCON since it started back in Charleston. I have been a database administrator for over 27 years. What I loved about the conference back then was the sessions were geared to how other organizations are using the product. All the session were by users from all difference organizations using all different products. Some would show tips and tricks or others on dealing with conversions, adding NXT, Luminate and Teamraiser. Those were some of the best conferences. The products aren't perfect but how they found ways to make them work for their organization. Things they learned along the way and shared with others. I got so much out of those sessions. Then over the past five years it seems to have become a sales pitch conference. Most of the session were targeted toward 3rd party vendors promoting their products and how they work with BB products. I didn't enjoy the last five years because of this. I don't need to purchase anymore products. I want to focus on everything I currently have and want to know how other organizations are utilizing the products and maybe I find a new way of doing something.

Jenny Marquardt

@Patti Posey I couldn't agree more with your words. I also have been a DBA since 1994.

La Donna Borth

@Patti Posey this is an excellent assessment. My supervisor never attended an in-person bbcon. She has only experienced them since they've been virtual. I cannot even convince her to look through the sessions, because she feels it's all sales pitches that are a waste of her time.

Colleen Rives

@Patti Posey Agree 100%!

Marie Stark

@Amy Barker I appreciated when they had learning labs that were included in the price of admission, not in a separate University Day.

Jen Dittrich

@Amy Barker as a brand new organization (may not even be live yet at the time of the conference but am eagerly anticipating on attending) to Blackbaud, specifically RENXT, I would love a session that would be led by an organization that may have recently converted that would give tips and tricks from their conversion, what went right and what could have gone better, and things to look out for.

Beth Broomall

@Amy Barker I am wondering what sessions will be available to the Blackbaud Grantmaking users? I am interested in learning how to use coding to provide in-depth data to my board. I would like to revisit the “how to keep my database clean”. I am also wanting to learn about two-step applications and how to create them. So many topics, so little time. Also, I would like to know if the University Day provides resources for the grantmaking process.

Beth Broomall

@Marie Stark me too!

Beth Broomall

@Patti Posey I could not agree more!