Nonprofit Bridge

Is it better to use integrated software where not all the pieces are equally good or to search out the best applications of each category and try to use them together?  My current organization has chosen the integrated route, but it’s very a painful process.  One vendor which promised to integrate with our existing fundraising software has never been able to get it working completely.  Two other products that we bought from the same vendor, expecting them to work well together, still have been a challenge to integrate.  Obviously many are concerned about this issue, as evidenced by the site Integration Proclamation.

This reminds me of the early days of PC software.  Remember Symphony and Framework?  Of course now you have Microsoft Office, which does have modules that work together well.  But it seems that if an organization can identify its top needs, there’s some merit to searching out the products that are strong in those product types.  Integrated software can work too, but only if the ‘strong’ modules agree with your top priorities.

With Convio & GetActive’s recent announced merger, the ‘all from one vendor’ concept seems to be gaining new steam.  But it seems like there will always be room for products which do one thing especially well.

I’ve attended this conference for several years, but this is the first time I’ll be presenting a session.  You can view details here.  My session will cover online registration forms and how they can be used for both pledge-based (e.g. walk-a-thons) and non pledge-based (e.g. education) events.  I’m still deciding on speakers, so if you have a lot of experience to share on this subject, please contact me.

Last year’s event was held in the state of Washington while this year it will be held in Washington D.C (not quite as interesting a locale).  It’s a rare opportunity to exchange ideas with 1000+ people from across the country who help nonprofits implement technology.   I also enjoy the chance to meet people that I otherwise only know through email or group lists.

During a seminar last year, my wife and I received a recommendation for the film The Secret, available online and now also available as a book.  I’ve just started to read the book, but the basic idea is using the power of attraction – what you focus on is what increases in your life.  I write a little about each day, focusing on positive things that happened.  It’s so important to look for the good since how you view the world affects how you feel, it’s not the events.  This is why some people who’ve had a difficult life are still able to be optimistic yet others who seem to have everything are miserable.  Even things that seem to be negative can end up being positive in the long run.  I’ve haven’t always been successful in applying these principles, but I’m trying to do it as much as I can, especially by not being around people who always choose to see the worst.

A few months ago I purchased a Sansa E280 for about the same price that I could have had an Ipod, which everyone else in the world seems to prefer.  I’ve used Zen music players in the past and enjoyed listening to my music library, but always felt it would be ideal to have a selection of any music I wanted, not just what I already owned.  I’ve been a long time subscriber to Rhapsody which has allowed me to stream music to my computer.  Now with my Sansa,  I have Rhapsody to Go, which allows me to select any music I want.  If something really appeals to me, I still buy the CD, but not nearly as often as I used to.  ‘Renting’ the music seems to work for me.  Being able to take music with me costs $15/month instead of the $10/month I had been paying for Rhapsody, but I think it’s worth it.

The Ipods certainly are pretty and easy to use, but still don’t work with subscription services.  Amazing.

Welcome to my new blog.  I intend to write about my thoughts about dealing with change, acceptance, as well as nonprofit technology where I make my living.  Since I believe in looking for the good in every day, this will also be a place for positive thoughts.  Stay tuned.