Bookings are running at a feverish pace with more than eight weeks to go before the Care Data Systems team hits the road for our September Regional User Group tour.

Four of the six venues are already safely beyond the half-way mark, and we expect the other two to be showing the same level of interest before the summer holidays begin.

As ever, the advice is to book soon. Why?

Apart from a great opportunity to engage with the CDS team and other users, the RUGs will be your opportunity to take a long, hard look at the about-to-be-launched donorflex 9.

We've already shared a few details of the new features that will delight you in Organised Events. This time, let's give you a glimpse of what you'll soon be able to see in the Mailing and Analysis file.

In donorflex 9, you'll be able to save and reload a file that describes:

  • How a mailing was set up
  • The field selected
  • Their order and
  • A link to a mailing template

In short, once the mailing file is created, the required mail merge is done within one process.

Music to your ears? We thought so.

So you've booked, then?

If you haven't yet booked, can you afford to miss out? Seats are being filled at a steady rate, and we expect some venues to have the House Full signs out before the summer holidays.

The six dates on the road won't just focus on new and improved functionality. Armed with the experience of working very closely with users during the past couple of very challenging years, we'll be passing on some very useable advice as to how you can make even more of donorflex.

RUG 2010 agenda

This is the way the RUG agenda is shaping up:

  • 9.00am-9.45am: Registration
  • 9.45am-10.00am: Take your seats
  • 10.00am-10.05am: Welcome and housekeeping
  • 10.05am-11.00am: donorflex 9 coming up! This is why Always listening, always learning is the theme of this year's RUGs. Every contact we have with users is an opportunity for us to make donorflex even better. We're sure you'll be purring when you hear of the improvements that are coming your way
  • 11.00am-11.15am: Refreshments and comfort break
  • 11.15am-12.30pm: On your marks! Running an event in donorflex becomes better and better. In this session we'll show you what we've done with Organised Events, imports, Just Giving and Rapid Data Entry
  • 12.30pm-1.15pm: Munch and mingle
  • 1.15pm-2.15pm: The Money Hour. We live in an era when value for money is vital. That's why we'll be looking at Gift Aid issues, finance and Direct Debit in this session
  • 2.15pm-2.30pm: Refreshments ready for the home run
  • 2.30pm-3.45pm: Be a smarter donorflex user. Want to create more opportunities and keep supporters active? Of course you do. We'll bring our experience of working with 200-plus clients to bear on subjects like mail-merging thank you letters – you'll love what we've done in donorflex 9 – and using donorflex's powerful search tools to make the most of your data

And the cost?

After keeping the delegate rate pegged for the past three years, rising costs have forced a slight increase to £30 plus VAT in 2010. Don't worry, though. As you can read, what we have planned will be great value.

Want a reminder of the dates?

The RUG dates and venues are as follows:

  • 8 September 2010, Wednesday, South East, Princess Alice Hospice, Esher, Surrey
  • 9 September 2010, Thursday, North East, Barnsley Hospice, Barnsley, Yorkshire
  • 9 September 2010, Thursday, North West, Claire House, Bebington, Wirral, Cheshire
  • 22 September 2010, Wednesday, South West + Wales, Thornbury Golf Centre, Thornbury, Bristol
  • 23 September 2010, Thursday, Midlands, Garden Organic, Ryton-on-Dunsmore, Coventry
  • 23 September 2010, Thursday, Scotland + Northern Ireland, St Leonard's Hall, Edinburgh University, Edinburgh

Want to book?

RUG gatherings are always a highly popular opportunity to chat about donorflex with the Care Data Systems team and other users, and to return home equipped with sharper skills and fresh enthusiasm.

Even before the agenda being published, bookings are coming in daily.

To make sure you bag your places, ask your donorflex Liaison Manager to click this bookings link, log in to the Client menu's Courses and bookings link, then simply complete the booking form for the venue that's right for you and your colleagues.

Don't forget, the first part of the booking form is solely to provide us with the details of the person managing your booking – the second stage is for the details of the individual delegates.

It means that, if you complete only the first part of the form, you won't have registered a booking.

Apart from reminding you that you can read the CDS Terms & Conditions by clicking the link provided, all that's left to say is that we're looking forward to hearing from you!