9/27/2013 #bbcon 1 Creating a Blackbaud Product User Group DAVID A. BERGER NATIONAL DIRECTOR, DATABASE MANAGEMENT & PROSPECT RESEARCH DEVEREUX F OUNDATION NORA I SAAC I NFORMATION T ECHNOLOGY DIRECTOR T HE ALS ASSOCIATION, GREATER PHILADELPHIA CHAPTER
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9/27/2013 #bbcon 1
Creating a Blackbaud Product User Group
DAVID A. BERGER
NATIONAL DIRECTOR, DATABASE MANAGEMENT & PROSPECT RESEARCH
DEVEREUX FOUNDATION
NORA ISAAC
INFORMATION TECHNOLOGY DIRECTOR
THE ALS ASSOCIATION, GREATER PHILADELPHIA CHAPTER
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DEFINING A
BLACKBAUD PRODUCT
USER GROUP
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“In personal or business computing, a user group is a set of
people who have similar interests, goals, or concerns. The
members have regular meetings where they can share their ideas.”
- WhatIs.com
• “An organization of users of a specific hardware or software
product. Members share experiences and ideas to improve their
understanding and use of a particular product. User groups are
often responsible for influencing vendors to modify or enhance
their products.”
- PC Magazine Encyclopedia
WHAT IS A USER GROUP
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- Independently run [from a Blackbaud User Group]
- Members within same geographic area
- Group is managed members
- Meetings are open to anyone interested
- Group success depends on the members involvement
- Members use similar Blackbaud products
- Group usually has an online presence:
• Facebook, LinkedIn, website
USER GROUP
CHARACTERISTICS
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FACEBOOK:
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LINKEDIN:
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WEBSITE:
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Networking: • Meet people who share your work experience and use the tools to
get the job done.
• Develop contacts for ongoing information exchange.
Knowledge Exchange:
• Learn from people who have developed processes to make doing
the job easier.
• Learn about other new products from people who use them.
• Benefit from presentations by vendors.
Community Voice:
• Speak as a group to Blackbaud and/or a software vendor and
have a say in how the application is developed.
• Provide helpful information to the vendor to make the tools better.
INDEPENDENT USER
GROUP BENEFITS
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STARTING YOUR OWN USER GROUP
Your User Group will need invested coordinators:
• People who will invest their time in making the group work
• Find and encourage people to attend
• Maintain a membership list
• Coordinate the meetings
• Determine the location of the meeting
• Arrange for meeting registration for group members
• Make sure there are topics to be discussed
• Prepare an agenda
• Optionally arrange for a discussion group online
• Get the word out on meetings and other info through email
• Offer handouts & have drawings
Once you have a coordinator, you can ask for others to
help take ownership of the group to share the duties.
COORDINATION AND FACILITATION:
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STARTING YOUR OWN USER GROUP
Once you have someone on board to coordinate and facilitate the
group, you need a place to meet:
• Group member’s place of business
• Learn about their cause – get to know our members
• Person from the organization can arrange for food, space and
resources
• Same place every time
• Members get used to the location
• No worries about picking a spot to meet
• Available places: public libraries, Group leader’s home,
Conference Room/Centers
What you need at the location: Public transportation, room with
tables and access for everyone, audio visual equipment, and a
person to take ownership of the meeting place so it is ready for the
meeting.
A PLACE TO MEET:
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STARTING YOUR OWN USER GROUP
You know where you can meet, you have someone facilitating this
meeting - you need to reach other Blackbaud Users in your
geographic area:
• Difficult to manage as some members have limited access to social
networking sites
• One person can manage a list and email members
• Use sites such as Blackbaud forums, Blackbus.org, LinkedIn,
Facebook, Twitter
• Start small – it’s not the number of people who attend, it’s the quality
of the discussion
• Build members by word of mouth
Get the word out and see what happens - you may be surprised!
A WAY TO COMMUNICATE
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STARTING YOUR OWN USER GROUP
You have your members and have set up your first meeting, now
what?
• Arrange for speakers:
• Members who demonstrate a competent use of BB products
• Vendors - local and national
• Determine topics of discussion:
• Poll members
• Scan boards and pick up on latest topics being discussed
• Create an Agenda
• Notify your members:
• Publicize the meeting location and include directions and public
transportation info.
• Suggest carpooling to members
The meeting has to have substance
to make it worth the time away from the office!
PREPARE FOR THE MEETING
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BLACKBAUD USER GROUP AGENDA
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INDEPENDENT USER GROUP AGENDA
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PREPARING FOR YOUR MEETING
Speakers provide topics of discussion, facilitate focus groups,
offer goodies for members, training and best tips and tricks.