Well, another SchoolDude University has come and gone. To tide you over until next year's SchoolDude University (March 20 - 24, 2010), here are photos from this year's event!
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See you guys next year!
April 06, 2009
March 31, 2009
March 29, 2009
March 28, 2009
Let the fun begin!
SchoolDude University is finally here! We're putting the finishing touches on the classrooms that will host more than 200 classes over the next 4 days. And the computer learning lab is decked out with 60 computers just begging to be used.
Those who arrived early are eager to get to the golf course to brush up on their swings. Tonight, we'll be heading to the Dixie Stampede and Legends Theater. Fun times await!
It may be cloudy, but we're all smiles in the Kingston! Welcome to SDU '09--it's going to be a great time!
-- The Dude
March 26, 2009
March 10, 2009
18 days and counting
I am truly looking forward to meeting up with everyone and learning new ideas again this year. Schooldude University has helped me implement and streamline my busy office. It is the best money spent and I make sure I budget accordingly!
I am looking forward to the nice weather and the great friends too. This winter has been brutal! See you soon. Cape Cod Girls-"Sandy"
March 06, 2009
February 27, 2009
February 19, 2009
Who Are These Cool Dudes?
Rumor has is The Blues Brothers will make an appearance at the General Session!
Has the SchoolDude "water" had an effect on legendary entertainers The Blues Brothers? Some might think we have. This year attendees will enjoy a sit down dinner and a show from Myrtle Beach’s Blues Brothers Band. The Dude has been sporting a new look in honor of this event. For those looking forward to the 2009 event, don't miss this closing session and see for yourself!
November 03, 2008
Looking Forward!
We are in the throws of planning SchoolDude University 2009! We are facing tough financial times and this may be a hinderance for many of our prospective attendees! But we know how valuable this learning experience can be to their success in saving time and money at their educational institution, so we are doing everything we can to get the word out and generate excitement.
Look for SDU '09 promotional materials in your mailbox and e-mail box! A new feature in our pre-conference material was designed specifically for your approving boss or supervisor to help you make the case of why you must attend. And we've supercharged the SchoolDude University website with tons of information about the event -- all in one easy spot: www.schooldude.com/university.
So, we hope you've checked it all out, and that you register soon for next year's event. It is sure to be an incredible experience! And if you have registered, be sure to set up your own account in TypePad so you can contribute here to the 2009 Blog, and let's keep the conversation going until March 2009 and beyond!
Can't wait to see you all there!
-- The Dude
April 29, 2008
SDU '08 Photos!
Wow! SchoolDude University 2008 was a blast!
If you want to relive the excitement of this year's University, simply click the link below to browse through the SchoolDude University 2008 photo album!
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And don't forget to mark your calendars for SchoolDude University 2009, March 28th - April 1st, 2009!
April 17, 2008
Only Around 50 weeks until the next SchoolDude University...
Well, I've been home now for a little over a week and still working on getting caught up. SchoolDude University is one of the major events I look forward to every year and it helps get me ready for the busy travel season ahead. We'll be visiting most of your states over the rest of the year and working hard to bringing our on-demand tools to your peers all across North America. So, thanks for all of your support and we will look forward to seeing you soon.
Next, week... The Texas Facility Masters Conference in Houston, Texas...
April 12, 2008
SDU'08 The streak continues
Thank you again for another great year.
SDU’08 felt like a summit of great minds, coming together to enhance, learn, and disseminate. This year, like the past three, I have walked away from these five days with a refreshed feeling of capability, keen insight, and a substantial plan to refine what I do.
SchoolDude, you have put on a fantastic show. I had the opportunity to network with people I have met there before with whom I can catch up on the previous year’s challenges, accomplishments, and new initiatives. People are doing amazing things around the country to better operations while preserving the teaching in learning process.
I thought the lab was busily last year, this year it was hopping every minute. This is one of the best resources you offer each year and this year was no different. My converging partner, Ken Wertz, utilized the lab and got started on the set up of PMDirect. This will give us a great head start on implementing a very much anticipated product.
Your entire team was friendly and responsive to questions and general discussion about products and events. Donna gave us a nice introduction to our audience in our session, and we really appreciated her kind words. Dave K gave me a great walk through the new MySchoolDude which I cannot wait to see in action. Scott, Mark and Bill, ran an informative roundtable on ITAM as well as suffered through all my enhancement requests. I could go on, but this blog entry would be much to long.
The sessions this year offered more IT centric subjects than ever before. I really found the workshop run by Bev White to be illuminating and engaging. As an IT Director I am pleased to see so much being offered that directly enhances what I do day in and day out.
On a final note, I want to thank our two local sales reps, Josh and Bob for always making the New England contingent feel like a cohesive group. Josh and Bob always go above and beyond to make us feel welcome and informed. Thanks Bobcat.
April 11, 2008
SDU – Recovery Mode or Full-On Withdrawal?
So have you recovered from SchoolDude University yet? Between the travel, the learning and the good times, you might feel like your body and mind need some time to recover. Of course when you think about all the information sharing and time catching up with friends, then you begin to realize you’re not feeling tired…it’s full on SDU withdrawal!
Having attended all six SchoolDude University events, I can honestly say that this year’s conference was the most amazing in so many ways. We had a new record attendance, some of the most intriguing classes ever, and many fantastic events. It might seem strange for someone from the SchoolDude team to say this, but I learned so much! Our attendees are such wonderful people, and I was privileged to have many of you share your knowledge with me. Plus, you guys are just fun; I had a great time with you all, whether we were hanging out in the hallways or dancing at the General Session. I will miss all you Dudes who came from across the nation (and even across the globe) for this great event, but I look forward to seeing you all next year and greeting you with a friendly hug around the neck instead of a handshake.
April 10, 2008
Post Dude U Depression
As I sit in my office on day 1, post Dude U 2008, I can't help but be a little sad that it's all over. I love all of you and most of you I only get to see once a year!
However, yet again, we have managed to pull off our biggest and best SchoolDude University...and now the countdown begins for Dude U 2009! Which, by the way, is March 28 - April 1, 2009.
A big thank you to everyone who made this year great. I was able to speak with many of you during my classes and thank you to everyone who participated and made each of them great.
Speaking of my classes, the MaintenanceDirect Best Practices roundtable had over 100 people in it on one day - so much so that we brought in extra chairs!! :) A special thank you to my panelists -- Michael Cosentino from St. Lucie Public Schools, Ken Wertz from Sharon Public Schools, Steve Hibbard from Concordia University and Phil Raney from Mountain Home School District. Everyone loved you all and you provided a great insight into how our products help make a difference.
Also, if you are a MaintenanceDirect client, the Facilities Maintenance PMT is looking for your help! Please take our product survey found here - the password is "schooldude":
Thanks to all Dudes -- new and old for making this a great event. I can't wait to see you again next year!
IT/ITAM Roundtables!!!
Thank you to all those who participated in our ITDirect and ITAMDirect Roundtable discussions!! I was excited to see alot of new faces in our classes this year...even in our 8am class after General Session!!! Many thanks to our panelists who were able to lead us off in great discussions not only in our products but to the many challenges that IT Directors face in education. I look forward to seeing you again at SchoolDude University '09!!!!
April 09, 2008
How do you CYA?
Just a quick note here... The response I've had from clients who take there first look at SchoolDude's critical alarm automation is outstanding. Imagine a world where SchoolDude can talk directly to your buildings. It really feels like something from a Sci Fi movie. The efficiency gains are really out of this world...
April 08, 2008
Fun times all around!
Wow, the past few days have been jam packed with opportunities to learn...while having a lot fun, of course!
I hear the roundtable sessions have been especially helpful. They provide chances to see how peers are implementing new processes and handling day-to-day activities. Attendees can share their best practices and benchmark themselves to see if any efficiency improvements can be made. Many would agree it's well worth an hour or two of your time. If you haven't had the chance to attend one of the many roundtables, see if you can squeeze one into tomorrow's schedule.
If you've already checked a roundtable off your must-attend list, there are many other classes left! No matter your title type, you can find something informative. With basic and advanced classes available, the product training sessions have been very helpful to both newbies and veterans. Professional development classes always seem to provide some great take-aways. And those are just a few examples. With another half-day of classes, there's still time to take advantage of this face-to-face interaction.
Let's not forget the fun to be had tonight, though! The General Session pep rally is in less than 2 hours, and people are pumped! Tonight's the night we all join together for some food and fun. Get ready to wrap up the conference with a night full of music, dancing and games. Fooze ball, ping pong, arcade basketball...it's gonna be a blast! Hope to see you there!
Time Flies
I cannot believe it is almost over. I have met so many great people that I will remember forever. I cannot wait until the General Session tonight to see everyone. I will be looking forward to next year because it so much fun and I get to meet many fantastic people. Now I am fan of you. See you tonight!!!!!!!!!!
Scott Little - Presenter and Five-Time Attendee Shares His Thoughts
He's back, and he's presenting again...and I've heard great things about his two classes. Scott Little from MSBO (Michigan School Business Officials) is here for his 5th SDU and is in his element as one of our fantastic presenters.
I caught up with Scott in the hall this afternoon, and he was commenting on what a great event this is for educational professionals to come to for professional development and networking. He noted how important it is for everyone to share and learn best practices, because they discover they're not alone. And while he was here, Scott had an interesting networking experience of his own...he connected with some of the team from CoSN on the topic of increasing computer use and rising energy costs.
In our conversation, Scott noted that attendees will come away with new techniques and ideas they can implement, which is a big thing. And he also extended a major compliment to our SDU attendees when he said that many of those who are here have already adopted one best practice, and that is using SchoolDude!
Connections
Funny thing about Dude U. Gathered here is a huge sea of like-minded professionals. Yet it is also a small world in many ways. I've met several new connections here at Dude U, and rekindled others I never dreamed of.
For instance, I met a couple of ladies from Franklin-Mckinley schools in San Jose -- my old stomping grounds! These two were so grateful to be here and to be given the opportunity to learn more about using SchoolDude products and share with other users.
I also made a connection with a couple of users from Hopewell Public Schools in Virginia! These two are new to SchoolDude and were enjoying the experience of this SchoolDude "water" we're all drinkin' here!
Other connections I made here were in a series of Focus Groups I was priviledged to conduct. Great poeple, wonderful insight, hugely helpful to my job. Thanks to all who participated!
One unexpected connection I made here was seeing an old colleague of mine from seven years ago. We worked together in a completely different industry in California. Now here we are, both championing the cause of education in our own ways, both affiliated with SchoolDude -- me as an employee, he as CASBO Executive Director.
Connections ... this is definitely the place to forge them, to revitalize them, and to create them. Here's to Dude U and all the great connections we've made this year!
-- barbara bogue
Blown Away!
It's my first Dude U and I have to say what an incredible job done by a vendor to educate and interact with it's clients. I have been to functions and "training" where the emphasis was more about selling than educating.
Genius ! Great Concept - Great Excecution - Great People - Just plain GREAT!
WOW!!!
This is an awesome event. Being a newbie, I really didn't know what to expect and really didn't know if the event would live up to its billing. It has truly backed up its reputation. What has really impressed me was seeing the entire Schooldude organization work together as one. Seeing the clients and there reactions toward Schooldude makes it seem like this is one big, 1000 person family reunion.
Higher Ed is Here
Hi everyone, Is it really Tuesday morning. This conference has been flying by! I just wanted to take a moment to say thank you to all of our Higher Ed clients that came this year. We now have over 300 higher ed clients that are proud to call themselves Dudes and we are happy to have you as part of our family.
There was great discussion yesterday during the roundtable. If you missed yesterday stop by tomorrow to learn best practices about things such as technicians and technology and more. We are looking forward to adding our 400th higher ed client this year. Maybe it could be one of your peers.
Gidday Everyone
Here I am back for a third year, enjoying myself and still managing to learn more about the product I use. It is a long way from Brisbane Australia to Myrtle Beach but the cost and time expended are well worth it.
I come every year thinking that Brisbane Catholic Education is going OK with the use of IT Direct but every year get challenged about improvements we can make in our use of the product and also in our processes.
I feel spoilt by the welcome I get but I recognise that it is a genuine reflection of the way that the Company operates. There is always a doubt being so far away and operating in a time zone that is 15 hours ahead of the support of the product that I will be disadvantaged but we have found a window of early morning for us/late afternoon for Schooldude that enables direct training to occur.
Another plus for me is that I know that I can send an email as I leave the Office in the afternoon and I will have an answer the first thing when I get to work in the morning. It is nice having a company work for me while I sleep.
Schooldude University has become a regular part of my year and the investment of time and money is very worthwhile. Thanks not only to the Schooldude staff, but also all the other participants for the contribution you have made.
Yes it is an enjoyable experience but one that also encapsulates personal and professional growth for me.
Hope to see all of you back here next year
Classes
Welcome to day three of classes at Schooldude University. Today's schedule of classes really includes some nice sessions. I'm going to try to attend 3-4 classes today. A few that I have my eye on are "Implementing Software Asset Management Best Practices," "Integrating Schooldude Applications with BAS," and "FS Direct Training- Invoicing." Hope to see you there...
April 07, 2008
Bigger and Better .... Again
Wow, what a great SchoolDude U 2008! Two days already have come and gone with so much excitement in the atmosphere here. I have met new "Freshmen" and other "classes" that have alot to offer to this group of school facilities professionals. Questions and best practices are being shared and answered. Comments about the growth of SchoolDude and the continuing Legendary Customer Service is so encouraging to hear as it is the foundation that continues to prove it's importance.
If you don't get excited about the SchoolDude solutions and applications, then wake up... we are all here to help each other become the best... no, the most efficient "Dudes" and "Dudetts" of your district and/or community.
Just walk up, introduce yourself to someone from your state or another state and share your experiences. You just might... no, you will have a new friend.
Enjoy the remainder of the SchoolDude U 2008 and know that you are part of a growing family.
Schooldude University 2008!!!
It's Monday and the day is slowly coming to an end. But today was a great day to be at Schooldude University. Classes were being taught and to see the clients come to the lab to apply what they have learned was great to see. The Welcome Reception was great!! I believe everyone that was there had a great time!! Tonight I anticipate more fun and fellowship with the clients. I can truly say that we have the BEST CLIENTS! and it's a great honor to help them and provide that Legendary Service to them.
First Time Teaching at my Sixth Dude U!
Well this just goes to prove that you can come to SchoolDude University every year, but still try something new! As an "old school" member of the Dude team, this is my sixth year (woo hoo...perfect attendance). But in all my years, I had never taught a class...until today that is!
Today I had the honor of teaching the class "A Wealth of Health", which offers easy tips for healthy living that anyone can try. Class was pretty full, so I hope each person who attended took away at least one idea or tip on how they can increase their personal well being - and hopefully they'll share that with their friends and co-workers!
If you want to learn more, just catch me in the hall or drop by my class on Wednesday! This is a great place to share and learn, and I hope everyone is having a great educational experience!
SchoolDude 2008
SchoolDude 2008 is absolutely fantastic. In the classes the interaction is wonderful. So many new people learning about the PM Direct program and how to make their schools better. The questions are fantastic. Things that I did not even think about that people are using the PM Direct program for; Seasonal equipment, Vehicle maintenance, Custodial check sheets for daily and weekly cleaning. This presents more opportunites to get the documentation without having to burdon the facility managers. I am very impressed with all that is being accomplished. I continue to learn from everyone I come in contact with at this FANTASTIC gathering of dedicated individuals who work to make or schools, universities and centers of learning safer and better for everyone.
For the staff at SchoolDude.com you all have made this a wonderful time for all and have again been there to make it all happen, just like you do everyday with a smile and a pleasent voice ready to help. Thank You so very, Very, VERY much for all that you do.
Charlie
Newbie 2008
This is my first DUDE U and having a wonderful time with the client's and meeting new a fun people. I went to the mystery theater Saturday night which all the client's and myself enjoyed. The welcome reception was very interesting, I sat with severals client from NY,Ct,NM and many others which were very nice people. The client's loved the dancing DUDE and I just told the client's, ya and I have to work with them all daily. Well I'm very tired but a good tired, and hope to see many more DUDE U to come!
T-Shirt Corner
I have really enjoyed meeting all the clients this year. I am in the perfect spot to see everyone coming and going to their classes all day. Everyone is so sweet and excited to be here. Please stop by take some suvoniers home to your co-workers and family!
Anna
Another great year!
It is so nice to be back here for SchoolDude University. It just gets bigger, yet better. Keep up the good work, SchoolDude!
First Timer!
What an experience! This is my first Dude U and it is an event to remember. Ton's of dedicated folks looking to do their jobs better; hoping to find new tools and techniques that ultimateky save their district money!
Eduational professionals are an interesting lot. They don't get paid much. They usually receive very little recognition. But they are dedicated to their cause. To us, they are Rock Stars! Without their efforts America's schools would be even worse off than they are now. We're trying to improve that reality. These professionals are in the trenches, trying, striving, working, every day!
So, back to Dude U. Here we are, all gathered in one place. There are more than 800 of us plus employees, amounting to nearly 1000 -- like a swarm of ants in the sugar!
And the educational value of the classes, professional development and networking that are made possible here is sugar to these folks.
So, from the newbie in the crowd -- well done, Dudes and Dudettes! I am proud to be a part of this incredible event, with the opportunity to share with these remarkable people.
-- Barbara Bogue
SchoolDude Marketing "newbie"
SchoolDude University 2008!!
The anticipation of SchoolDude University really starts to take effect with the dawn of a new year and 2008 was no different. As January, February, and March came and went, we all were ready to see our close friends and clients, meet the new faces and put them with the voices we've become so accustom to.
With over 45 different states and 1000 total attendees for the 2008 University, I, like everyone else, was fortunate enough to have a great showing of states which ranged as far as Alaska, Idaho, Montana, Kansas, Oklahoma, and South Dakota.
I can't begin to explain how great of a feeling it is to have such a great representation of eclectic directors and administrators here in Myrtle Beach, how everyone is here to share their stories, learn more about best practices, and their success stories. It really proves that this company has been on the right track since the beginning and is staying on that path each and every year.
Myrtle Beach and SchoolDude University is the best place to be and I'm so gratefully to everyone who showed up and the people who helped make this happen!!
Day 2
So this is my second day at my first SchoolDude University ever! It's still early but I've had a lot of fun so far. I'm working at the back table in the lab so come see me if you need some online training scheduled! The lab is filling up and it looks like everyone is enjoying chatting and working with our support team. Great start to the day and I'll update again later! :)
South Carolina
As one of four (I think) Schooldude employees that can call them self a South Carolinian- I wanted to say welcome to the Palmetto State! I grew up about an hour from here and I almost feel like the Schooldude ambassador to South Carolina. Our state slogan is "smiling faces and beautiful places" and this is very true in Myrtle Beach. Certainly you can see the ocean, dine out, play golf and go shopping here, but I thought I would let you in on some little known facts about North Myrtle Beach, SC:
-Television "Wheel of Fortune" hostess Vanna White is from North Myrtle Beach. She returns twice a year for vacation. If you want some good local ice cream, Vanna is known to enjoy "Painter's Ice Cream" on Hwy 17 just north of here.
-The "Shag" is the state dance of South Carolina and many historians believe that it got started here in North Myrtle Beach. Wikipedia says "The shag is a form of swing dancing that evolved from the jitterbug and jump blues of the big band jazz era."
-Beach Music goes hand in hand with Shag dancing and, like the shag, it all got started in North Myrtle Beach. In the 1950s and 1960s many teenagers would vacation in North Myrtle Beach to find a district of dance clubs called Ocean Drive. This is where beach music was born. Groups like The Embers, The Coastline Band, The Chairman of The Board and The Band of Oz find their roots here. The Ocean Drive district is still in operation and you can visit places like "Fat Herold's" and "Ducks" during your stay in North Myrtle.
Guys, that's really all I can think of right now. If you have any questions about the area or you just want a great restaurant recommendation, please stop me and ask.
Second Day - SchoolDude University
This is my second Schooldude University as an employee and it is fantastic. I have gotten to meet and speak with so many people that I have trained and spoken to in assisting them with our products and people who use our products. I am having the best time. I cannot wait to meet and talk to more people.
Day 2 - SchoolDude University!
We had a great time last night at the Welcome Reception. The Dude made an appearance and really got the party started. He showed us some of his John Travolta moves and even started a conga line! A good time was had by all as we mingled and danced. We're excited to be back in the hotel this morning for more classes, lab time, and networking.
A wonderful experience and growing...
Let me say this has been a wonderful experience so far. Last night we had the Welcome Reception and the food and music were great. As a member of Client Services I cannot tell you how valuable an experience getting to meet face-to-face the clients we all work with. It is so nice to hear how SchoolDude.com impacts people's lives on a daily basis. I am looking forward to meeting even more of the familiar names and voices over the next few days. It makes me proud to work for such a hard-working company and even more so to work supporting the individuals and organizations that are impacting today's youth. There will be much more to come in the next few days, so I will report back in later!
April 06, 2008
First Day of SchoolDude University!
As the day is winding down, people are getting ready for the Welcome Reception. Today has been a great start to a great conference. As I worked in the computer lab today I heard nothing but great things from the clients as they came from their different classes. It seems that they were excited about what they learned and were very eager to apply it in the lab. I can hardly wait for the Welcome Reception to begin. This is always a great and exciting event where you can eat and mingle with the clients!! Tomorrow I teach my first class and believe it or not I am excited about it as well. This will be my first class that I have ever taught, but I am ready for what is to come. I'll be back tomorrow to let you know how it goes.
My very first day of Schooldude University
I just want to say this has been amazing. I attended 2 classes and they helped settle me into this event. I was a little overwhelmed at first because I wasn't sure where to go and what to do but I just started talking to the clients and focused on that person. I asked the individual how they were using the product and he explained that he was taking over the transportation area and needed to understand more fully about the Trip Direct product. I also ran into a client whom we visited on our first trip out in the field. I was received with a very warm welcome and she was very excited that I remembered them. I was asked on a short notice to introduce a speaker and admittedly I was a little nervous but she was very nice and told me not to worry and she was simply honored to be here. I thoroughly enjoyed her presentation about grantsmanship. She kept our attention the whole time with her pleasant sense of humor and engaged the audience throughout the entire time. I learned a great deal about writing grants and I am excited to learn more. Overall, it's been a good day!
Wow! What a day...
As a "newbie" to Schooldude University I have found today's events to be fantastic. There's no way to describe or understand the university until you have seen it in action. It has been great to meet all of our loyal clients and talk to them about how they're using our solutions. I had the pleasure to talk to several FS Direct and Trip Direct users about our newly formed Schedule Star partnership. The amount of time that the athletic departments waste on making double entries and resolving duplicate bookings is a crying shame! The Schedule Star connection gets everyone on the same page and it create excellent event management organization wide. Please stop me (or anyone) if you have questions about excellent event management. Catch you after the reception~ Justin
Hello from behind the scenes
Unfortunately, the SchoolDude IT staff does not usually get to know too many clients on a personal basis. While we always keep in mind the number of people who depend on the servers to be up and running, Dude U has a way of driving the point home even more. Getting to see some of the faces on the other side of the blinking lights and humming servers always reinforces the sense that we are making a difference to many living, breathing people.
Day 1 is Almost Complete!!!
Well Day 1 classes have just came to an end! We have had a great day of classes with excellent feedback. I was able to introduce Kent Hudson and Brent Hair to their class and then conducted "What is FSDirect" and "What is CommunityUse". Classes were very well attended and glad to help our clients better implement the SchoolDude.com solutions.
The importance of our scheduling tools are at an all time high with all the budget cuts, locks and layoffs. The impact of invoicing outside groups is an average of $15 per student in cost recovery!!! Please come by the lab to learn more about these solutions.
Pat
First Day at SchoolDude University!
The first day in the learning lab has been great! We've been meeting many of the clients we talk to over the phone every day. Classes have started and I've heard a lot of positive feedback about how helpful they are. It's also great to be able to take the time to sit down and help people one-on-one. I'm looking forward to the next 2 1/2 days!
SchoolDude University Day 1
This is my first day at my first Dude U ever! I'm so excited to be here and it's great being able to meet some of the clients I talk to every day. Everyone is so friendly and I'm glad I have the opportunity to experience some of their excitement and enthusiasm for SchoolDude.com in person. I'm in the Learning Lab now, ready to schedule online trainings for after the University and I'm really looking forward to the Welcome Reception tonight!
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