Association Brain Food Weekly: 3.23.18

The weekly list of free educational events and resources for the association community…

You’re smart and self-aware, so you can tell the difference between perception and reality, right? Don’t be so sure, says Tobin Conley, CAE, of DelCor. He explains how confirmation bias can wreak havoc with your technology project. Talking Heads fans will like this one too.

Online courses are HUGE money-makers for digital entrepreneurs. WBT Systems shares some of the tips they learned from online marketing expert (and multi-millionaire course provider) Amy Porterfield about using webinars as lead generation for online courses.

Lots of folks are freaking out about the looming GDPR deadline, but Josh Aberant at CMS Wire says not to think of it as a crisis, but an opportunity for your email marketing program.

Some employees are chest-deep in GDPR compliance issues right now, but Thor Olavsrud at CIO warns about leaving others in the dark. “Employees tend to have significant gaps in their data privacy awareness, particularly about the data handling requirements of regulations like the GDPR and EU-U.S. Privacy Shield.”

Some quick hits before we get to the list of free webinars:

• How to know if your website has been hit with a Google penalty and how to fix it. (HubSpot)

• Google’s search snippets (meta descriptions) are longer now, but don’t go changing anything. (Search Engine Journal)

• This is so sad: Nearly 20% of women inmates in Japan’s prisons are seniors. They commit minor crimes to escape poverty and solitude. (Quartz)

Off-topic: Check out my Grabbing the Gusto blog if you’d like to check out the list of recipes I’ve made this week or plan to make in the coming weeks, and my regular list of recommended fiction and non-fiction ebooks (including cookbooks) on sale.

Now for the main event: free professional development events for the association community. If your organization has a free webinar or other event coming up, please send me the link. I’ll be happy to feature it as long as it’s not product-centric.

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Tue 3/27 at 12 p.m.* – Association Workplace Study: New Preliminary Results (Washington DC)

The ASAE Foundation is conducting a study to investigate ways associations align workforce development programs to employers’ and learners’ needs and identify opportunities for association-sponsored workforce development and training. Hear the preliminary, informal results from the first phase of this multi-year national study of association-sponsored workforce development across industries. Location: Washington DC. More info/register.

Host: ASAE

Presenter: Polly Karpowicz, CAE, co-chair of the ASAE Task Force on Workforce Development and Senior Director, the Center for Association at Westat

*All times are Eastern Standard Time unless otherwise noted.

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Tue 3/27 at 12:30 p.m. – Raise the Bar with VR

Learn about the advantages of learning through Virtual Reality in terms of identity, embodiment, and immersion; market research from leaders in association industries; the challenges of implementing VR in a CE setting; and game design strategies to facilitate achievable VR-based learning for formal education. 1 CAE credit. More info/register.

Host: Web Courseworks

Presenter: Dan White, CEO, Filament Games

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Tue 3/27 at 1 p.m. – AMS Remorse: Protech Opens the Kimono

Learn about some common reasons AMS implementations fail and how you can do things differently. More info/register.

Host: ReviewMyAMS

Presenters:

• Jennifer Boykin, Protech Associates
• Teri Carden, ReviewMyAMS, as we discuss

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Tue 3/27 at 2 p.m. – Women Leaders in Association Tech: Julie Sciullo (Association Chat)

When Data Analytics Group, a leader in comprehensive analytics solutions for companies and nonprofits, acquired the well-respected Association Analytics, it placed Julie Sciullo at the helm. Hear about the path Julie took to get to where she is today, what she’s learned about leadership in the association tech arena, and what her vision is for the future of the company and her career. More info/register.

Host: KiKi L’Italien, founder, Amplified Growth

Presenter: Julie Sciullo, president and CEO, Association Analytics

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Tue 3/27 at 2 p.m. – The Power of Your Publication: How a Small Revamp in Content and Design Could Mean Large Rewards for Your Association

Are you communicating the value of your association through your publication’s content and design? Learn how to complete a comprehensive assessment for your current publication, ask the right questions and take the necessary steps for a successful redesign launch, cross-promote and keep branding in mind post-launch, and evaluate and measure performance. 1 CAE credit. More info/register.

Host: Naylor Association Solutions

Presenters:

• Josh Spradling, Communications Director, Texas Society of Association Executives
• Jeanie Clapp, Content Strategy & Development Manager, Naylor Association Solutions
• Sarah Sain, Content Strategy & Development Manager, Naylor Association Solutions

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Tue 3/27 at 2 p.m. – Band-Aids to Bad Guys: Turning Perils into Protection

We can’t prevent all security risks, but we can mitigate many things and learn how to react when an emergency occurs. Learn what questions to ask yourselves, your venues and your stakeholders to help keep attendees safer, and receive takeaways you can put into action back at the office. From Band-Aids to bad guys, get an idea of the scope of planning it takes and why a safety mindset from the minute you begin to plan your event is valuable. More info/register.

Host: Smart Meetings.

Presenter: Alan Kleinfeld, CMP, LEO, Director of Emergency Planning at Arrive Management Group

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Wed 3/28 at 12 p.m. – The Neuroscience of Creativity: Finding Your “Aha” Moment

Learn how to unlock your creativity and find your “Aha” moment. Hear about the neuroscience of creativity and a case study of how one association experienced an “Aha” moment and brought that idea to fruition. Take away tips on how to create an environment ripe for creativity and inspiration. 1 CAE credit. More info/register.

Host: ASAE

Presenters:

• Lakisha Ann Woods, CAE, Sr. Vice President & Chief Marketing Officer, National Association of Home Builders
• Sheri Singer, Founder, Singer Communications

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Wed 3/28 at 1 p.m. – Doing Mobile Right

Learn about the components and benefits of making mobile the first step in any new program or service for your group. Topics include: building loyalty through year-round engagement, connecting with younger members, developing mobile-only content to build interactions, best practice ideas for a mobile presence, and case studies for associations with a strong mobile program. 1 CAE credit. More info/register.

Host: enSYNC

Presenter: Brad LaTour, Pinxter Digital

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Wed 3/28 at 1 p.m. – Successful Negotiations in a Seller’s Market

Meeting demand is up—way up—and new hotel room supply is low, especially in the four- and five-star brands. Learn specific methods to utilize a strategic RFP process and assess your leverage based on multiple hotel revenue management criteria. The ultimate focus is on value-based negotiations and improving hotelier communications and partnerships. 1 CMP credit. More info/register.

Host: Meetings Today

Presenter: Robyn Mietkiewicz, senior director of global meeting services, Meeting Sites Resource

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Wed 3/28 at 2 p.m. – The Changing Landscape of Integrated Email Marketing

With Higher Logic’s acquisition of Informz and Real Magnet, there is a lot to talk about, like an update on the long term strategies of Higher Logic’s products. Hear about the world of email marketing and marketing automation. More info/register.

Host: C Systems Global

Presenters: Meghan Curtin and Jim Katz, Higher Logic

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Wed 3/28 at 2 p.m. – Leadership Essentials: Tools to Maximize Planning

Learn about planning tools that should be part of every leadership toolkit, tools for immediate implementation, and tips for maximizing planning with limited means. Take away a list of planning tool resources, both traditional and digital. 1 CAE credit. More info/register.

Host: iCohere

Presenter: Dr. Amanda Batson, founder and CEO of ADB Partners

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Thu 3/29 at 12 p.m. – Let’s Talk About GDPR

Every day, ​associations use data intelligence to understand and serve both members and potential members. The General Data Protection Regulation (GDPR) is dramatically altering the definition of privacy and personal data. How can associations prepare and adhere to these changes? Sit in on a panel discussion on the most important issues and questions that associations are facing with GDPR. More info/register.

Host: Community Brands

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Thu 3/29 at 1 p.m. – Stop Building Membership, Start Building Communities: How Might Associations Create Value through Design Thinking

Associations have all sorts of metrics at their hands that allow them to parse data and track membership outcomes at a broad level. But how do we use this information to create impactful outcomes for real people? Learn about the pitfalls of relying too heavily on technology as a change-maker, and how association leaders have successfully used design thinking techniques to create more human centered outcomes at a local chapter, and national association level. More info/register.

Host: Unleashed Technologies

Presenters: Joseph Carter-Brown, Jennifer Jericho, and Kate Lawless

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Thu 3/29 at 2 p.m. – Tax Reform and the Exempt Organization

The Tax Cuts & Jobs Act created a multitude of income tax changes for all U.S. taxpayers. Unfortunately, certain changes that impact exempt organizations, including Executive Compensation, Qualified Transportation Fringe Benefits, and Unrelated Business Income Tax are not as well known.

Learn about the changes specific to exempt organizations and their practical challenges for implementation. 1 CAE credit. More info/register.

Host: Johnson Lambert LLP

Presenter: John Huskins, CPA, Principal, Johnson Lambert LLP

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Thu 3/29 at 2:30 p.m. – How to Re-engage When Prospects Suddenly Go Dark

A prospect “gone dark” is the business development expert’s most frustrating situation. There are myriad reasons a prospect won’t return your calls. Winning those prospects back requires some purposeful persistence, some sales strategy, and a combination of good planning and old-fashioned research. More info/register.

Host: The Moery Company

Presenter: J.P. Moery, founder and president, The Moery Company

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Thu 4/5 at 12 p.m. – Tips on Building a Speakers Bureau for Chapters

Offering effective speakers who can discuss timely, industry-relevant topics helps increase chapter engagement while driving wider awareness of your association. Learn how other associations have built their speakers bureaus, including how they’ve driven adoption. Hear about resources available to chapters that want to build their own speakers bureau. 1 CAE credit. More info/register.

Host: Billhighway

Presenter: Peggy Hoffman, CAE, Co-Founder & President, Mariner Management & Marketing LLC

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That’s it for now. If you can’t attend a live webinar, go ahead and register if the topic interests you. Most webinar hosts send registrants a link to the recording.

Association Brain Food Weekly is published Friday mornings. If your organization offers free professional development for the association community, please send me the link via email or Twitter.

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Creative Commons licensed photo by Ian Schneider on Unsplash.