The CDM+ Perspective

Conference Candids!

2009-10-29T09:51:00.001-07:00

Suran 2009 Wrap-Up

2009-10-29T08:24:00.000-07:00

Your roving Suran correspondent tried mightily to update you on Wednesday's happenings while it was still Wednesday, but alas...not to be.

Here it is Thursday morning and we're back in the office, back to routine and—to answer a question one of you just asked our receptionist—back to regular support hours, too.

Wednesday is finally coming into focus; yesterday it was still a blur. Between interviewing participants and snapping photos for posterity, this photographer/reporter did pause to listen to and try to absorb all the news we heard from Randy and Alex at yesterday's general session. WOW!

Those of you who attended Suran 2009 were the first to hear what's coming for CDM+, and it's exciting. In fact, the crowd broke into applause several times during Alex's presentation.

Among other things, we'll be adding several tools to the Web Ministry Toolkit. But, why wait? As Tom Black pointed out on Tuesday, WMT is already a powerful way to bring the useful information that's in CDM+ to the people who need it.

Knowing that Wednesday was the last day of Suran 2009, your reporter made an extra effort to collect feedback. Almost everyone agreed to chat about both CDM+ and the conference, and for that we say, "Thanks!" In addition to Web Ministry Tools, Check-In/Check-Out and Enhanced Notices seemed to generate the most comments. We also had lots of people realize the advantages of data hosting and inquire about moving to that.

We could go on and on, but we'll just take the chance to say that once again, the CDM+ staff was blessed by your presence at the conference. The Annual Users Conference energizes those who attend and, once we get a few nights' rest, those of us who work for Suran Systems as well.

If you weren't able to join us this year, please make plans to be at Suran 2010.

Wednesday Pics

2009-10-29T08:00:00.000-07:00

The staff gathers before Wednesday's classes get underway.

Front Row: Steve Hansen, Paul Manning, Tim Goins, Leonard Spell,

Sue Clay, Randy Clay

Second Row: Alex Clay, Terry Hatmaker, Scott Sturdivant,

Kristi Murray, Sharman Pepper

Back Row: Aaron Kangas, Tom Pelphrey, Ron Bearden

Alex makes some exciting announcements

Attendees applaud one of the answers during Q&A

One of the conference benefits is having Paul review your data!

Tim does phone support for those who couldn't join us

Our Director of Training hard at work

We owe a huge "Thanks" to Edmond and the rest of the
Seelbach staff. They were superb at anticipating our needs.

Goodbye from Louisville and the Seelbach Hilton

Tuesday Highlights

2009-10-29T03:52:00.000-07:00

OJ takes it all in

Teacher Ron gets animated

Panelist number 1 Mike Currans makes his point

Could YOU answer Mike's questions? No fair looking!

Vicki Gonzalez—panelist number 2 and CDM+ user extraordinaire

Our third panelist Tom Black taught us new ways to look at CDM+

Web Ministry Tools on Tom's website

Two Days Down

2009-10-27T18:33:00.001-07:00

With laptop in hand and aching feet finally up, your Suran correspondent is pleased to report that according to our attendees, Day 2 was filled with excellent training. It also featured another delicious lunch in the historic Rathskeller and—a first for this year—a panel discussion that was exceptionally well-received.

The first of our three presenters for the "Impact Ministry" panel was Michael Currans, senior minister of Pathway Church and Ministry Center in Lexington, Kentucky. Mike started us off with an entertaining series of questions that proved just how little attention we pay to what we think we already know...not a good practice in church accounting.

Vicki Gonzalez, who serves on the executive staff of Victory Christian Center in Lowellville, Ohio, made us all realize that there's a lot more to be gleaned from a careful look at contributions than just the amount your church will be depositing in the bank.

Our last presenter, Tom Black, has served as Guest Director at Northeast Christian Church in Louisville, Kentuky for 16 months and that's just how long he has used CDM+. Perhaps because Tom is relatively new to CDM+, he lacks some preconceptions about what the system is "supposed" to do—and that's a good thing! A natural "pusher of the envelope," Tom showed us the tremendous potential for outreach ministry that we already have in CDM+, especially in Web Ministry Tools and Check-In/Check-Out.

Well, there's more to be said, but Day 3 starts early, so goodnight to all from Louisville.

Worth a Thousand Words...

2009-10-26T22:00:00.000-07:00

Bright and early!

Waiting to register

Here you go

It's in the bag

All smiles

Hmm, what to take?

Quite a spread

Working out the details

Welcome from the Director of Training, Tom Pelphrey

Tom gives the details

Randy paints the big picture

Ron, Alex, Terry, Aaron and Tim

OJ picks the $300 amazon.com winner

And the winner is...Lee Snyder. Congratulations, Lee!

Monday class with Terry

Listening to Tom

Contributions à la Steve

Suran 2009 Has Begun!

2009-10-26T16:30:00.000-07:00

Hello from Louisville and Suran 2009. There's just one more class period left in Day 1, and what an experience we've had so far. We're at the Seelbach Hilton, which you should already know from mailings and previous e-mails. Well, the Seelbach is living up to expectations.

The staff arrived yesterday, assembled bags, brainstormed, dined together and then crashed. (Hey, we've put in some long hours, folks!) We were up bright and early, though, and had the registration tables ready before all but the early, early birds arrived. We just encouraged those to grab something extra off the continental breakfast trays.

More tomorrow. Gotta run and record more conference history. Will post pictures soon.

The Night Before

2009-10-25T23:00:00.000-07:00

Our director

Scott, OJ, Aaron

The joy of meeting

Let's review the schedule

Got that, Tim?

Rookwood pottery in the Rathskeller (will be our luncheon venue)

The Rathskeller

Tooled leather ceiling in the Rathskeller

Pre-Conference Planning

2009-10-24T18:00:00.001-07:00

What's the point, Terry?

Tom concentrates

Gotcha!

The sky's the limit, Alex