Best Music Venues in New Orleans

February 26th, 2010
Shelley

File this entry under fun things to do in New Orleans.  In the January issue of my Southern Living magazine readers selected House of Blues New Orleans as the best live music venue in Louisiana.  I’ve probably walked by HOB NOLA hundreds of times, but I’ve never stopped in – maybe we should give it a try while we’re in town for the SmartFindExpress Solutions Summit conference.  Anyone interested? Rumor has it there’s a metal box of Mississippi Delta mud underneath the stage. 

The thing is, the Crescent City has tons of music venues.  I love this quote from the Southern Living article, “There’s more live music in New Orleans than anyone could ever hear in a lifetime of late nights.”  That same article included Harry Connick, Jr’s top 3 music venues:

So, there you have it!  Plenty of great suggestions for live music in New Orleans.  Okay, readers, now it’s your turn.  Do you have any recommendations?  Share them by adding a comment to this post.  Laissez les bon temps rouler y’all!

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Conference Tip: The Art of Requesting Enhancements

February 25th, 2010
Shelley

The SmartFindExpress Solutions Summit provides you with a great opportunity to request product enhancements.  Sure, the conference is designed to expand your product knowledge so that you go home with the tools you need to maximize your SmartFindExpress investment.  But, because this event is really all about you, be sure to make the most of the time you have with the eSchool Solutions team.  After all, you’ll have the undivided attention of 17 team members – including our most experienced product experts – for two whole days!

At eSchool Solutions, we have several goals.  For example, we strive to provide quality customer support – every day to every client.  Another goal?  To add value to our clients through the development of new features – and functionalities – to existing products like SmartFindExpress.  That’s where you come in.

Let’s face it, no one knows SmartFindExpress better than you!  If you’ve got a great idea for a product enhancement – make sure you share it with an eSchool Solutions team member.  But, before you make your suggestion, take a couple of minutes to think about your request and ask yourself these questions:

  • What question am I trying to answer?
  • What problem am I trying to solve?
  • What results do I need?
  • What needs to happen?

See where I’m going with this? Be specific!  Asking for a daily count of filled jobs, by location is much more helpful than “I need better reports.”  Help us help you and consider the art of requesting enhancements while you’re in New Orleans.  We can’t wait to hear your suggestions next month!

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Conference Deadlines Fast Approaching

February 19th, 2010
Shelley

We’re less than two months away from the annual SmartFindExpressSolutions Summit!  The eSchool Solutions team is in full conference mode – developing presentations, preparing handouts, planning the welcome reception, and more.  As a result, you’ll leave New Orleans with the tools you need to successfully manage SmartFindExpress, as well as real solutions – from your peers – to generate greater efficiencies in substitute management.  And, we guarantee you’re going to have fun in the process!

Please make note of two important – fast approaching – deadlines:

  • Early conference registration ends Monday, March 1.  Don’t miss the chance to save your district money! 
  • Discounted hotel room rate and availability guarantee ends Monday, March 8.  The Sheraton New Orleans is offering a great price on rooms; just $129 (+ tax), but you’ll have to act fast!  Remember the French Quarter Festival starts Saturday, April 10 and the hotel is sold out that night.

I’ve created this handy dandy SmartFindExpress Solutions Summit checklist for your convenience.  Remember to:

  • Complete your online conference registration by March 1 to receive the early registration discount
  • Make your flight arrangements (plan to arrive in time for the welcome reception Wednesday, April 7 from 4:30 to 6:00P)
  • Contact Airport Shuttle New Orleans to arrange your ride to/from the airport/hotel (a rental car is not necessary)
  • Make your hotel reservation at the Sheraton New Orleans (as noted above)
  • Check out Shelley’s Picks for a list of fun things to do each evening – or over the weekend, if you’re sticking around
  • Go to www.neworleanscvb.com to request a Visitor’s Planning Guide; access to great information regarding restaurants,music,area attractions and tours, as well as area maps and coupons
  • Bring plenty of business cards to share with your peers

We can’t wait to welcome you to Crescent City.  Laissez les bon temps rouler y’all! 

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Happy Mardi Gras Y’all!

February 16th, 2010
Shelley

Today is Mardi Gras!  And, while we’re not in New Orleans for the big celebration, we’ll be there soon enough for the SmartFindExpress Solutions Summit.  Remember, you can save money by registering for the conference early; simply register on – or before – Monday, March 1. 

Plus, our team registration discount makes it cost effective to bring SmartFindExpress operators, HR directors and administrators, as well as IT professionals.  There’s something for everyone at this year’s Solutions Summit; click here to download a copy of the agenda. 

Don’t forget to arrive in time for our welcome reception, Wednesday, April 7.  Join us from 4:30 to 6:00P for a little Mardi Gras fun.

Bummed you can’t be in New Orleans today?  Watch the live parade cam; it’s the next best thing to being there!  Also, check out 40 of the best Mardi Gras songs to get you in the mood!  Laissez les bon temps rouler!

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Twitter Part I: Getting Excited About New Orleans

February 11th, 2010
Shelley

While there are lots of things you can do to prepare for your upcoming New Orleans trip, I’m focusing on Twitter.  Why?  Two reasons.  First, it’s a fun, cool, hip way to find out what’s happening in NOLA.  (Yeah, that’s right, I said hip – even though it totally embarrasses my 15-year old son when I say it.)

Second, more and more school districts are using Twitter to communicate with the public.  In Twitter Part II, I’ll focus on one district in particular – Hays Consolidated (TX) – and how Solutions Summit featured speaker, Tricia Griffith, is using Twitter to communicate with her substitutes.

Twitter 101.  So, what exactly is Twitter? According to their website, it’s a way for people to share and discover what’s happening right now, anywhere in the world.  If you’re not on Twitter, you’ll need to create an account.  It’s super simple, so let’s get started.

  • Go to Twitter.com
  • Click on the “Get Started Now” button
  • Enter your name, email address and select a username (it’s recommended that you use your own name – if you can still get it); then click “Create my account.”  You will automatically be taken to your home page.

That’s it!  Easy, right?  Now comes the fun part.  Following tweeters.  There are some great NOLA resources that I recommend.  Here’s how you find and follow them.

  • Select “Find People” (located on the upper right side of the navigation bar)
  • Then, using the “Find on Twitter” tab, search for the following: VisitNewOrleans (this is my personal favorite); now, click on the link to get to its Tweetstream
  • Once there, click the “follow” button
  • Click the “Home” button (located on the upper right side of the navigation bar) to watch/follow your favorites

That’s all there is to it!  Here are some other NOLA Tweetstreams I follow:

  • NewOrleans (another good general info site)
  • NOLAnews (from www.nola.com)
  • PresHall (I’m a music junkie, so I follow Preservation Hall; see Shelley’s Picks for more info)
  • MyMardiGras (follow this year’s Mardi Gras festivities real-time; totally cool!)
  • jazzfest (I go every year!)

Well, what about this, fellow tweeters?  I know you’re out there.  Are there any other resources you’d recommend we follow on Twitter – to inspire our NOLA trip?  To add your recommendations, simply comment on this post.

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Conference Tip: Bring Your Business Card

February 8th, 2010
Shelley

For the second consecutive year, we’ll be providing all Solutions Summit participants with an attendee directory.  The directory is a highly sought after tool – no doubt.    However, we highly recommend that you bring a stack of updated (current) business cards.  We find that – in addition to the conference directory – attendees love collecting business cards.  Having your card handy makes it easy to share contact info.  

Don’t have a business card?  Simply Google “free business card template” and create your own.  It’s easy and cost effective.  Here are some suggestions from my Google search:

If you have a suggestion for a free business card template, please add your comment to this post.  Laissez les bon temps rouler!

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It’s Carnival Time in the Big Easy

February 5th, 2010
Shelley

That’s Mardi Gras to you.  Today, I’m offering a few Mardi Gras basics.  Hey, even though we can’t be there, we can at least get in the Carvinal spirit!  Carnival refers to the season of revelry before Mardi Gras.  It starts on January 6, known as Kings’ Day – named because it falls on the twelfth day of Christmas, the day the Wise Men are said to have reached Bethlehem. 

Mardi Gras is always on the Tuesday that is 46 days before Easter.  It’s always the day before Ash Wednesday, the start of Lent.

Today is the official start of the parade season – it always begins the second Friday before Mardi Gras.  According to www.nola.com, parades are held on weekends only at the beginning of the season, then become more frequent until the week prior to Mardi Gras when there’s at least one parade a day.  There are nine parades on Mardi Gras – most notably Rex.

Speaking of Rex, he’s considered the king of Mardi Gras and is always a prominent New Orleans businessman. 

Every parade has a theme – usually borrowed from mythology, history or Hollywood.  Most parades have mock royalty (kings, queens, etc.).  This year, Drew Brees (beloved quarterback for the New Orleans Saints) is King Bacchus. 

Parades are sponsored by krewes – named for figures in Greek mythology, like Bacchus for the god of wine. 

The colors of Carnival are purple, green and gold.  Purple is for justice, green is for faith and gold represents power.

This ends today’s lesson.  Laissez les bon temps rouler!

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Who Dat Nation

February 3rd, 2010
Shelley

There is nothing like the New Orleans experience.  If you’ve never been, you’re probably wondering why all the fuss.  I have a friend who recently said, “There’s no other place on earth like New Orleans.  I love the people and would like to be around them all the time.”

I just came across this article, Dear Miami: Get Ready for the Who Dat Nation Coming for the Super Bowl, written by a Times-Picayune columnist.  It really shows the spirit – the joie de vivre – of the people of New Orleans.  As you read it, maybe you’ll understand why residents are so passionate about rebuilding their beloved city.  At the very least, this article should provide a little inspiration for your upcoming trip. As the great Irma Thomas would say, it’s time to get your backfield in motion!  Go Saints!

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Announcing the Solutions Summit Team!

February 1st, 2010
Shelley

Drum roll please…The following team members will be representing eSchool Solutions at the SmartFindExpress Solutions Summit in New Orleans. 

  • Barbara Smith, Technical Writer
  • Brett Fadeley, Chief Executive Officer
  • Donna Hunt, Instructional Coordinator
  • John May, Director, Product Management
  • Karen Aho, Senior Business Analyst
  • Larry Thomas, Escalations Engineer
  • Lorri Glover, SmartFindExpress Product Manager
  • Mike Mrstik, Project Lead, Shared Direct Response Team
  • Rita Reid-Smith, Project Lead, Shared Direct Response Team
  • Rosanne Brown, Instructional Coordinator
  • Tom Smith, Vice President, Customer Focus
  • Warren Milligan, Datacenter Manager

Plus, we’re excited to be bringing along three of our newest team members: Chris Bongiovanni (Chief Technology Officer), Lisa Welton, (Vice President, Marketing) and Michele Shahir-Motlagh (Project Implementation Manager).  Chris will be addressing participants in the general session, as well as facilitating the Integration Services breakout session. 

Of course, Meghann Anderson and I will be on hand to make sure you have everything you need.  As always, you’ll be able to spot the eSchool Solutions team – we’ll be wearing our matching polo shirts throughout the event. 

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