NonprofitEye

Language with a Chip on Its Shoulder: From Here to Blackbaud's Infinity by Pam Ashlund Don't have time to read the whole thing? Jump to the funny part! Background: This week I attended the 2006 Blackbaud Conference in beautiful Charleston, South Carolina. Well, at the convention center (in the not so beautiful airport area). There was over 850 attendees, representing nonprofits, educational institutions, churches, etc. Arrangements were made with six hotels, which booked to capacity (even overbooked at the Embassy Suites). They also arranged for shuttles from these six hotels. See No Room at the Inn for my midnight adventures. Needless to say, I was running, hiking, taking local transportation etc. and still running late for everything. To make a breakfast at 7:30 am (which would be 4:30 am California time), I would have had to wake up at 5:30 am (2:30 am my time), leave by 6:00 am, run the mile to the Holiday Inn where the shuttle for the convention center departed, to make b...

No Room At the Inn: Pam heads for the Blackbaud Accounting Training by pam ashlund Come along with Pam on her work travel adventures. Don't have time to read the whole thing? Jump to the punch line! Los Angeles, 8:30 am OK, make that 8:45 am. Realizing the clock is running down, feed the cats, throw the laptop in the carry-on, dash out the door, drag my suitcase down the fire stairs behind me and beat it to LAX. LAX, 10:45 am Take off in a very ugly (and old) airbus. The plane is completely full. The guy sitting in our center seat leaves me no elbow room. Food is "pay-to-play" and I buy some cheese and crackers for five bucks. Watch "The Devil Wears Prada" while sit-sleeping for four and half hours. Dulles, Washington D.C. 6:15 pm Arrive at Dulles and take TWO airport subways to Terminal A, while chugging a dry cappuccino, lugging my carry-on and talking to Ma on the cell phone. Dulles, 7:25 pm Jump on the 30-seater to Charleston. This plane is half empty and t...