How do you start a Regional Users Group?

Merrianne McGill

We are wanting to host a RE users group in the Western Pennsylvania, Eastern Ohio region. Can anyone share how they set up and hosted such a group? We want to incorporate our IT folks into the mix as well. Thanks!

Joshua Bekerman bCLO bCRE

There is a lot of great information in this slide show from the bbcon 2013 presentation by Nora Isaac and David Berger: Creating a Blackbaud Product Users Group

Merrianne McGill

Thank you so much!

Mallory Gilbert

Merrianne McGill:

We are wanting to host a RE users group in the Western Pennsylvania, Eastern Ohio region. Can anyone share how they set up and hosted such a group? We want to incorporate our IT folks into the mix as well. Thanks!

Hey Merrianne - There is also some info on this page - https://www.blackbaud.com/nonprofit-events/user-roadshows


Email Usergroups@blackbaud.com to get started!

Gracie Schild

You might also try the local Community Foundation in whatever the largest town is in your target area. Here, the Santa Fe Community Foundation had an RE User's Group for a while, and I'm trying to revive it. They provided the space and the "hardware" for demos, coordination, all a part of their HUB for non-profit development. It kind of died down, and now there's a Salesforce for Non-profits user's group that I've attended a couple times. Can't get excited about the software, but it's good for me as a consultant to know any and every software option out there!


Gracie Schild

Bluebird Business Services

Santa Fe NM

Katherine Mannion

You could try going through your local AFP.  They can help you get the word out to their members.

Jen Claudy

If there is a BB-sponsored User Group in your area, you can request the list of folks who attend that and start there with forming a local group.  That's what we did years ago.  Also, until such time as there is functionality with the Community, I recommend starting a LinkedIn Group.  Then, instead of needing to maintain a list of "members" and their email addresses (which change whenever someone changes jobs/orgs), you can just post about meetings and everyone can keep an eye on that Group page.  (I would make it so that you approve requests to join the group, that way it stays local.)

J Baumann

Merrianne McGill:

We are wanting to host a RE users group in the Western Pennsylvania, Eastern Ohio region. Can anyone share how they set up and hosted such a group? We want to incorporate our IT folks into the mix as well. Thanks!

Merrianne,

   Along with another user, I started the Twin Cities group back in 1997.  We started with the people with whom we took RE 101 training - so a small group.  One of the hardest parts  then was finding the users, but believe me, once you get a group going, word will spread if the meetings are what people are seeking to round out their best use of RE.  I'd second the suggestion to start either a LinkedIn or Facebook group to uncover users in your area.

   When our group started, my boss at the time thought the idea was such a good one, he made a commitment to have our organization host the meetings in out training space.  We started out with monthly meetings that were two hours long, from 9:30-11:30 A.M.  Over the years, that has changed 6x a year - the second Friday of every other month.  When I left my organization (and my boss had already retired), I asked for a volunteer to take over hosting the group.  That same woman and organization are still hosting it.  She maintains an email list of users, sends out a notice about 2-3 weeks in advance of each meeting, and asks for topics/questions people may have.  She prepares the agenda and emails it a few days before the meeting.  So the users set the agenda, and the host provides a room with RE projected on a screen and access to bathrooms - that's it.  We do introductions every meeting - generally 30-40 people attend, then work our way through the agenda - usually 4-7 items.  After agenda items are addressed, the balance of the time is an open forum, time for any user to ask questions of the group, whether it's RE specifically, or related to RE, such as companion softwares for auctions, credit card/electronic processing, etc.

   Because it's only 2 hours every other month, it's not a too-huge commitment for someone.  The group members change, it grows, but it has continued regularly for 21 years.  In between meetings, members can send questions via email to the group as well as post job openings.  The current coordinator ususally invites Blackbaud to connect to one of our meetings each year, via telephone conference.  For instance - they demonstrated NXT one time, etc.  But it is definistely a group run for and by USERS.  Blackbaud has no official involvement, endorsement, input, etc.  It has been very successful.

    Best of luck!