Every day nonprofits deal with software systems that don't talk to each other or work together. They spend time and money on systems that aren't integrated. They're hampered by the inability to extract needed information from a given tool and resort to entering the information several times in different systems.

Update: The recording of the call is now up and available. You can also read the transcript of our post-call chat.

If you have questions for GetActive and Convio, then join us TODAY, Tuesday, February 6 at 11am Pacific, for a live discussion with Sheeraz Haji and Tom Krackeler of GetActive and Gene Austin and Dave Crooke of Convio. NTEN Executive Director Katrin Verclas will moderate this event. We hope you can participate with your questions to the panelists.

I probably need another 23 hours to process the acquisition news today. But I'm never one to reach reasoned conclusions. I prefer the kind to which one jumps. I justify this by calling it "going with my gut." So I may eat my words later, but here goes.

I'm cautiously optimistic about both the Blackbaud/Target and Convio/GetActive mergers.

This just in: Blackbaud announced yesteday that it will acquire Target Software, a Boston-based software company for high-end nonprofit fundraising. A more detailed article on the acquisition is here.

Meanwhile, Get Active announced today that it is bought by Convio. In a letter to its clients and partners, NTEN boad member and Get Active CEO Sheeraz Haji writes:

"GetActive is to be acquired by Convio, Inc. This is a significant milestone for the nonprofit sector, our company, and our product. But most important of all, this is great news for our partners and clients.