Last month, I mentioned that 2017 is all about paying our customer debt by launching as many features from our top wishlist items as we can this year. We are now very close to our next major software update, coming by the end of March: Wild Apricot Version 5.10. I’m happy to let you know that this release will give you the ability to schedule email blasts, something many of you have been waiting patiently for. Along with this emailing feature, you’ll see a host of other upgrades, such as a Not attending button for your event announcements, the ability to automatically suspend overdue memberships, the ability for recurring members to update their credit cards, and more. Full details below.
On another note, you may have noticed that we have brought back our free expert webinar series. The next one is coming up tomorrow, from database expert Wes Trochlil on how to use data to achieve your mission. And in March, we are hosting two webinars, instead of just one. On March 14, membership program expert Joy Duling will show you how to keep members forever. On March 28, Rick Lent and Nancy Settle-Murphy, two leading experts on meetings, will reveal how successful leaders run virtual meetings that actually get work done.
Coming in 5.10: Scheduling email blasts
By the end of March our latest update — Wild Apricot Version 5.10 — will include the long awaited Scheduled E-mail Blasts feature. It has been a top voted WA forum idea for a while and now it’s ready to be released.
This is the initial release of this feature, which will evolve based on client feedback. So bear in mind that we will monitor usage closely and improve the functionality in the upcoming releases.
Now let’s take a look at how it works:
Scheduled e-mail blasts
Now, you can set up an email in advance to be delivered to a contact or a saved contact list on X date at X time.
Emails
Scheduled blasts will appear in the list of Emails (formerly Drafts) and stay there up until the moment of delivery. To edit a previously scheduled email click the Pause button, to prevent it from being sent, and convert it to an editable draft.
Sorting
The emails in the list are arranged by the “last modified” criterion. But if you filter them to view scheduled only, the emails will be arranged by delivery date and time, with the most recent at the top. This allows you to check the order and the schedule of your outgoing emails quickly and easily.
See how it works in this short 2-min video:
Other upcoming Version 5.10 improvements
Not attending option
With Version 5.10, you’ll be able to include a macro in your event announcements to display a Not attending button, so that invitees can exclude themselves from future announcements for the current event.
Automatically suspend overdue memberships
As part of the renewal policy for your membership levels, you’ll be able to automatically suspend members if they don't renew their membership within a certain number of days.
Recurring members can update their credit card details
Previously, when members needed to change their credit card information for recurring membership fees, they had to stop the recurring payment, then renew their membership with the new credit card details. Now, members paying via PayPal Payflow Pro, Authorize.Net, Moneris, or Stripe will be able to change their credit card information from their member profile. Administrators can update credit card information for members paying via PayPal Payflow Pro, Authorize.Net, Moneris, or Stripe from the Membership tab of the member's contact record.
Unpaid members and member-only registration types
Previously, new members could register for events using member-only registration types before their membership was paid for. With 5.10, you can prevent new unpaid members from registering for events using member-only registration types simply by enabling the Payment has to be received in full before membership is activated option on the New applications tab for the membership levels you choose.
Free and Variable event labels no longer displayed
Previously, registration types without a registration fee appeared on various registration screens as Free, and registration types without a registration fee but with extra cost fields appeared as Variable. Now, registration types without a fixed price will appear without any cost or label.
Link to or bookmark a particular area in admin view
Previously, different areas in admin view shared the same URL. As a result, you couldn't bookmark a particular area, or share a link to that area. Now, each area in admin view is identified by a unique URL, allowing you to bookmark the area or share a link to it. You can even bookmark individual pages or page templates since they are uniquely identified by a page number.
For more information on the upcoming 5.10 release,
click here.
Free Expert Webinar Tomorrow: Top Database Expert Reveals How to Use Data to Achieve Your Mission

Is your membership database a mess? Nine out of ten organizations don't use their databases properly. That's why we're hosting a free webinar tomorrow, Tuesday, Feb 28, with top database expert Wes Trochlil, who will show us how the most successful nonprofits use their database to achieve their mission.
Sign up now and we'll see you tomorrow, February 28 at 2:00 PM (ET) / 11:00 AM (PT).
While we’re on the topic of free webinars, we are doubling up in March, with two expert webinars:
- March 14 with Joy Duling — The 8 Step Formula For Keeping Members Forever. Sign up here.
- March 28 with Rick Lent and Nancy Settle-Murphy — Leading Great Virtual Meetings That Actually Get Work Done. Sign up here.
This Month’s Blog Posts
If you're looking for quick tips to improve your sponsorship emails, sell out your annual conference, or sign up for more free webinars, make sure to check out this month's blog posts:
That’s all for this month.