2012 brings fresh ideas and improvements to Cartegraph User Groups

As 2011 winds down, everyone is getting into planning mode and looking towards the fresh calendar year that 2012 will bring. That planning, no doubt, includes budgeting and, for many of you, selecting which training events and conferences you want to attend next year.

Cartegraph is doing the same.  And the past month has kept us busy with the business of registering for trade shows, picking User Group dates, and more.

As we planned the newest User Group schedule, we were very attentive to the input, feedback, and suggestions provided by attendees of our 2011 events.  Using this information, we were able to make several improvements. 

Needless to say, we think you’ll appreciate and enjoy this fresh take on the longstanding User Group format. 

Here’s a snapshot of what you can expect at these events come January 1.

• Increased networking opportunities.  We’ve heard your feedback loud and clear and worked with the User Group schedule to squeeze every networking opportunity we could into the day. 
  
  To start things off on the right foot, we’re inviting you to come to the User Group a little earlier to enjoy a networking breakfast. This will allow you to get to know other attendees and how they use Cartegraph before the event even officially begins.
  
  We’ve also extended our lunch break to a full hour, allowing you ample time to visit with other organizations and glean ideas from how they’re getting the most out of their investment.

• Roundtable discussions.  User Groups have always been an excellent venue for getting ideas from others about how they maximize their use of Cartegraph.
  
  In 2012, we’re taking this a step further and offering Industry Best Practice Discussion Groups where attendees will be paired up with others who use Cartegraph in similar ways or want to visit on popular industry topics.
  
  These discussion groups will also be customizable per event based on modules or departments in attendance.

• Advanced training.  Cartegraph already offers a wide-range of beginner training online through our popular Client Center WebEd sessions.  At the User Groups, we’ve decided to elevate the training to more advanced topics that are applicable to all attendees.
  
  Also included will be the Product and Technology Best Practices Session which will include real-life examples from the workforce, management, and citizen perspectives.

We’re looking forward to introducing this new format in 2012. We’re still finalizing dates for the first half of the year, so be sure to visit the Events Calendar to see when a User Group is added in your area.

If you have any questions or are interested in hosting a User Group in your area, just submit a comment below and someone will be in touch.

Likewise, if you have additional ideas and/or suggestions that you think will make our User Groups more valuable, be sure to post them in the comments section below!