CiviCRM Community Forums (archive)

I am a new user - just found out about CiviCRM a couple of weeks ago, but my head his swimming with ideas of things that CiviCRM could be used for.  I am a former programmer, and computer consultant. 

I currently sit on two volunteer sports boards.  One of these organizations has been looking at setting up a registration system for approximately 30,000 players, plus coaches, parents, refs, etc.  This sounds like a perfect fit for CiviCRM, however it is likely a little beyond my expertise, and (more importantly) available time.

Where would you advise us to start with this?  Hire an expert? (Can you recommend one that might have done something like this before?)

Obviously there is the preliminary work:
Defining our needs.
Developing specifications.
Designing or describing the work flows.

I was looking for the Special Interest group on multi-domain model for CiviCRM, but could seem to find it.

Any ideas would be helpful.
(This is a different project, than the one I've posted about in Post Installation and Setup forum.)

I may also start a topic in the professional services forum, to get some feedback there.

Thanks

Thanks Dave,

I edited my post after you replied but before I say your reply, and added that I might try posting in the Prof. Svcs forum. lol!

I'm already about halfway through the book - its a great resource! - I've gotta say that I am extremely impressed with CiviCRM, and everyone involved here, and all of the work that has been done so far. 
I will contribute whatever I can along the way, and this will certainly include some financial contributions, as soon as I figure out if I want to contribute to the project in general or a specific feature - or both!!!  If we end up using CiviCRM for either organization, I will certainly try to push some organizational contributions as well.

Could you point me to the sig group mentioned by Donald in this topic: http://forum.civicrm.org/index.php/topic,24214.0.html?

Thanks