Do you ever wish you could just talk to another Raiser’s Edge or Financial Edge user about a particular issue or problem you’re having? Do you ever wonder how other organizations are using the system, or if you’re using it as efficiently as you could be? Did you just figure out some little cool trick that you’re dying to tell somebody about? You’re not alone!
Now, you can interact with others like you, thanks to forums and user groups popping-up all over the web and social media sites. In addition to the ones sponsored by Blackbaud, there are several other independent user groups out there to help.
Look for independent user groups on:
- LinkedIn– there is one, general group, as well as several region-based groups. Don’t see one for your city? Start one-and invite me to join!
- Yahoo! Groups-again, there’s a general user’s group and several around the country
- Facebook– Dave Berger over at Archmere Academy does the selfless, and usually thankless, job of maintaining this page to help other Raiser’s Edge users connect and stay up to date on news and issues about the software.
Most of these tend to be about Raiser’s Edge. I guess fund raisers are more social than accountants 
Finally, check out www.blackbus.org., for users of all Blackbaud products. “The Bus”, as it is affectionately known, is an independent forum and an all around friendly community of like minded folks all over the map.
And of course, don’t forget about all the Help functions available elsewhere.
So, if you want to be a part of a community where you don’t feel silly throwing out words like Constituent and Config, find or start a group you like and start posting!
Do you know of any others you’d like to tell us about? Leave us a comment!
Keeping you on the Leading Edge,
