The weekly list of free educational events and resources for the association community…
Membership reset. A new report from McKinley Advisors got me thinking about the role of membership in associations. Too often, membership “just is.” Yup. “Membership lacks focus and intentionality in execution.” You’ll nod along as the report describes challenges (especially #2) we’ve put up with for way too long. They also suggest next steps, based on client and for-profit research, for delivering your membership promise, for example, infusing community and connection in everything you do.
Inclusion. Which vibe does your association give off? Velvet rope or come party with me? Inspired by a few evening ramblings, Elizabeth Engel of Spark Consulting asks you to examine the impression your association and membership experience are giving to those on the outside looking in. I know which vibe (and bar) I prefer.
AI and events. eShow describes the impact of AI on events and the challenges you must address when using AI. On the plus side, they explain how AI enhances marketing campaigns, personalizes the attendee experience, improves event security, and assists sustainability initiatives.
Content marketing. At Animalz, Ryan Law describes how to find helpful topics for your blog. When you’ve run out of ideas about “general first-order pain points,” write about “more specific second-order pain points, the ones occurring at the same time as first-order pains for the same people.” Here’s another argument for not publishing generic SEO-driven drivel and, instead, helping people solve problems and envision opportunities.
Association trends. The outlook for associations is optimistic, per Marketing General Inc.’s 2024 Association Economic Outlook Report. But a few data points trouble me. Two-thirds of associations plan to develop new products/services, yet only one-third of them plan to hire more staff. They better be proficient at phasing out programs. Also, most associations have abandoned virtual events—a missed opportunity for extending their reach and demonstrating inclusiveness to people who can’t or won’t attend in-person meetings.
Membership course. Association Brain Food readers can earn up to 10 CAE credits from Chris Gloede’s popular 10-week Association Academy Member Growth Certificate Course—only $499 with Brain Food promo code ACADEMY (a $50 discount). Thanks to this course, over 1,000 association executives have learned how to conduct research, develop relevant benefits, establish member content gates, improve recruitment and retention campaigns, and grow membership. See the full course syllabus for more details. The course meets Thursdays, 1-2pm ET from July 11 to September 12. Class size is limited and has sold out in the past, so please register soon.
Extra credit
50 ways to fuel a conversation. | by Debra Fine via Reads with Ravi
From fire hazards to family trees: the Sanborn Fire Insurance maps. | by Tobiah Black, The Public Domain Review
Beautiful. What can we learn from a hospice chef? | by Ann Richardson
You never grow old at the table
Last week, I made pan-seared almaco jack with green curry sauce (keeper!) from Nancie McDermott’s Quick & Easy Thai: 70 Everyday Recipes, along with a package of 90-second jasmine rice. On the side, the standard roasted broccoli and red onion, but this time I tossed it with a spice mix my brother made us for Christmas. I’ve no idea what’s in there, but the broccoli was better than usual.
For Sunday dinner, my southwest skillet—shorthand for a mix of ground chorizo and turkey, sweet potato, spinach and beet greens, onion, poblano, red bell, jalapeño, garlic, black beans, corn, chipotle en adobo, spicy spices, cilantro, and cheese.
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If you have a free webinar or event coming up, please send me the link by Wednesday afternoon the week before it’s scheduled. I’m happy to feature it as long as it’s not too product-centric.
Fri 6/21 at 12 p.m.* – How to Accelerate Non-Dues Revenue Growth: Proven Sales Tactics for Association Professionals
Sales comes with the territory if your job includes attracting sponsors, exhibitors, or advertisers for your association. Learn about strategies and tactics to help you attract and convert higher-paying customers with less effort, and without sacrificing member value. Find out how to get a prospect’s attention, convert the right companies, and create a better sales experience for your prospect and for yourself. 1 CAE credit. More info/register.
Host: Carrie McIntyre, principal, Navigate
*All events are online at Eastern Daylight Time unless otherwise noted.
Fri 6/21 at 1 p.m. – From Live to Lasting: Transforming Webinars into Engaging eLearning
Learn practical strategies to maximize the impact of your existing webinar content by transforming it into versatile, on-demand courses. Explore effective methods to add interactive elements such as quizzes, polls, and discussion boards to keep learners engaged. Understand how to break down webinar content into manageable, bite-sized pieces to facilitate easier consumption and ongoing engagement. 0.75 CAE credit. More info/register.
Host: BlueSky eLearn
Speakers: Jordan Baker, M.Ed., Learning Solutions Advisor, and Dr. Kristen Wall, MA EdD, Director of Learning & Development, Blue Sky eLearn
Fri 6/21 at 3 p.m. – The Informal Consultants Networking Extravaganza
Topic for this month’s networking meeting for association consultants is: business continuity planning for the solopreneur or small practice consultancy—in addition to any immediate concerns of the group, which will be discussed first. This meeting is self-organized by the consultant community, not an official ASAE event. More info.
Organizer: Cecilia Sepp, CAE, founder, Rogue Tulips Consulting
Fri 6/21 at 4 p.m. – Autism Acceptance at Work
Learn how to create a better work environment, and best support neurodiverse co-workers. More info/register.
Host: Fridays@4
Speaker: Katie Kinde, Incompass Education Coordinator, and autism self-advocate
Mon 6/24 at 8 a.m. – DEI and the STEM Workforce (Radio Free 501c, the podcast of Rogue Tulips Consulting)
Every week Rogue Tulips brings the nonprofit community intriguing guests discussing vital topics affecting nonprofit organizations around the world—and we have fun doing it! Episodes are published Monday mornings in both audio and video format, available on YouTube, Spotify, Amazon Music, iHeart Radio, Apple Podcast, and Google Podcast (to name a few!).
Host: Cecilia Sepp, CAE, CNP, principal and founder, Rogue Tulips Consulting
Guest: Norman Fortenberry, Chief Executive Officer, Great Minds in STEM
Tue 6/25 at 10 a.m. – 10 Awkward Questions to Ask your Tech Vendor
An AMS salesperson might wow you with all the system’s bells and whistles, but asking key awkward questions will help you determine if you are investing in the right system to meet your association’s needs. Learn how asking the right awkward questions can set you and your association up for success. More info/register.
Host: Ellipsis Partners
Speakers: Jim Pearson, MS Ed, PMP, senior consultant, and Moira Edwards, CAE, president, Ellipsis Partners LLC
Tue 6/25 at 11 a.m. – To Take a Stand or Not: A Framework to Discuss and Decide
Learn how to rank the importance of polarizing positions based on your brand purpose, how and why certain polarizing issues become part of your brand conversation and how to manage them, the decision-making factors within which companies/associations navigate taking a stand, and how to effectively give leaders common language to determine if an issue is worthy of a campaign or public statement. More info/register.
Hosts: crisis communications experts Adele Gambardella and Chip Massey
Tue 6/25 at 12 p.m. – AWTC Leadership Technology Award Spotlight with Tracy Petrillo
Join award winner Tracy Petrillo to discuss perceptions in leadership and how to get your work noticed. Discuss practical approaches to demonstrate trust as you advance your career. Explore the unique value you bring to your work. More info/register.
Host: Association Women Technology Champions
Speaker: Tracy Petrillo, EdD, CAE, Chief Learning Officer, CASBO
Tue 6/25 at 12 p.m. – Insurance for Associations
Insurance prices have gone up and exclusions have increased. Do you have the right protection? Join us as we chat with broker Jodi Nobel to find out what you need to know about your organization’s insurance coverage. More info/register.
Host: Zzeem Consulting
Speaker: Jodi Nobel
Tue 6/25 at 3 p.m. – ASAE Quarterly Consultant Community Call
ASAE’s goal for this meeting is to provide updates to the consultant community and to open lines of communication between ASAE staff and consultant members. These calls are joined by ASAE leadership as needed to answer any questions from members. More info/register (ASAE members only).
Host: ASAE
Wed 6/26 from 9 a.m. to 4:30 p.m. – Engagement Platforms Demo Day
See presentations from a limited number of industry partners that offer Engagement Platforms. Mobile experts will be showcasing apps and sharing their knowledge with the association market. More info/register.
Host: ASAE
Presenters: PropFuel, Accredible, Higher Logic, Clowder, Credivera, SmartJobBoard, eShow, TopClass LMS, Matchbox, Hivebrite
Wed 6/26 from 10:30 a.m. to 2 p.m. – Unlock Member Loyalty: Volunteer Strategies for Higher Renewals (Arlington VA)
Volunteer (or chapter) programs create a sense of belonging and nudge members into a deeper connection with your association. Learn how to design volunteer programs that tap into members’ aspirations and fuel association loyalty. Discover how fostering a culture of volunteerism both strengthens your association and increases member retention through deeper engagement at all levels. Location: Arlington VA. CAE credits. More info/register (yes, it’s free and lunch is included).
Hosts: Impexium, Billhighway, Mariner Management, and Higher Logic
Speaker: Peggy Hoffman, President & Executive Director, Mariner Management & Marketing
Wed 6/26 at 11 a.m. – Seizing the Moment: Real-Time Event Data Analysis for Immediate Impact
With the phasing out of online cookies, in-person experiences have become one of the most effective ways to gather first-party data. And with generative AI making audiences question everything they see online, in-person events are taking center stage as the most trustworthy way to connect. Learn how to gather essential attendee data at the registration stage, monitor attendee behavior and evaluate interest level without invading privacy, ensure instant access to leads and their engagement history, use AI to analyze attendee data in real time, and drive the sales pipeline by streamlining data flow to CRMs. More info/register.
Host: Skift Meetings
Speakers:
- Ben Durham-Kilcullen, Vice President of Engineering for Stova
- Angela Tupper, Branded Content Editor for Skift Meetings
Wed 6/26 at 12 p.m. – Employee Mental Health Check-In
Learn how to appropriately check on the mental health of your team, gain insight into privacy “dos and don’ts,” and consider the perspectives of different workforce communities. Walk away with tips for noninvasive ways of showing you care about your team members’ mental health and well-being. 1 CAE credit. More info/register.
Host: Association Xchange (AXC)
Speakers:
- Christine A. Glover, SHRM-SCP, VP of HR, Consulting, Marcum
- Cynthia White, Director of HR, Consulting, Marcum
Wed 6/26 at 12 p.m. – Unleash the Power of the Voice of Non-Members
Learn how to design and implement effective non-member research despite common challenges, understand the intrinsic and extrinsic factors that motivate professionals within your industry, and the critical differences between non-member and member affinity to your association’s brand and how it influences their sense of belonging. 1 CAE credit. More info/register.
Host: Halmyre
Speakers:
- Michael Grant, Director of Communications & Marketing, Canadian Society of Medical Laboratory Science
- Diane Webb, Finance & Marketing Manager, Nebraska Pharmacists Association
- Christine Saunders, Founder and President, Halmyre
Wed 6/26 at 1 p.m. – Crystal Ball Predictions for the Future of Associations
Learn what the panelists are seeing in their professions and with their memberships, and what this means for associations moving forward. Hear about the roles of associations in workforce development, new opportunities amidst evolving business models, creating organizational cultures that value agility and flexibility, and fostering strategic partnerships beyond transactional relationships. 1 CAE credit. More info/register.
Host: Fonteva
Speakers:
- Meredith Ellison, DBA, CAE, Executive Director, Association for the Advancement of Artificial Intelligence
- Monica Pemberton, Vice President and Chief Information Officer, American Council on Education
- Tracy Petrillo, Chief Learning Officer, California Association of School Business Officials
- Natasha Rankin, MBA, CAE, Chief Executive Officer, Irrigation Association
Wed 6/26 at 1 p.m. – Using and Creating Legislative Scorecards
Discover how legislative scorecards can transform your organization’s strategy by ranking and categorizing elected officials based on their voting records, committee involvement, and more. Learn how to leverage legislative scorecards to inform the public, energize advocates, identify champions, and influence officials’ actions. Find out how the Freedom From Religion Foundation, Inc. creates and deploys legislative scorecards to elevate its public affairs strategy. More info/register.
Host: Quorum
Speaker: Ryan Jayne, Senior Policy Counsel, Freedom From Religion Foundation
Wed 6/26 at 1 p.m. – Make your Association’s Value Clear and Compelling
Now, more than ever, your members expect a simple and consistent brand experience to help cut through the content and communications noise they navigate every day. The key to a successful brand lies in having a clear and compelling value proposition. Learn how to use a template to craft a value proposition, write your statement, and apply your value proposition. More info/register.
Host: Mercury Creative Group
Speakers: Cheri Quinn, Director of Brand Strategy, and Emily Youngblood, Client Services Director, Mercury Creative Group
Wed 6/26 at 1 p.m. – The State of DEI in the Meetings Industry and Beyond
Hear about the state of DEI at major tourism and meetings organizations and in the industry in general, how incorporating DEI programs that emphasize supplier diversity can create more engaging events, tips for making your meetings and events programs more inclusive to all, and resources for incorporating DEI elements in your meetings and events programs. More info/register.
Host: Meetings Today
Speakers:
- Julie Coker, CEO, San Diego Tourism Authority
- Jason Dunn, CEO, National Coalition of Black Meeting Professionals
- Elliott L. Ferguson II, President & CEO of Destination DC; Past National Chair, U.S. Travel Association
- Al Hutchinson, President & CEO, Visit Baltimore
Wed 6/26 at 2 p.m. – Creating Events with AI
Hear about AI technologies on the market and how they can help you save time; how to use AI in the pre-event, live event, and post-event stages; and the value and impact of AI on your events. 1 CMP credit. More info/register.
Host: MeetingsNet
Speaker: Brooke Gracey, Marketing Director, Cvent
Wed 6/26 at 2 p.m. – How Hotel Costs, Safety Factors Are Impacting Convention City Competitiveness
Hear about new data and trends impacting the site-selection process from the research team behind the 2024 Convention Cities Index (CCi). Planners can use the CCi to compare destinations and evaluate which markets best meet the unique needs of their group. Get a behind-the-scenes look at the CCi research and a peek at the top 25 U.S. cities and top 25 global cities scoring highest on this year’s list. More info/register.
Host: Northstar Meetings Group
Moderators: Loren Edelstein, Vice President, Content Director, and Elise Schoening, Editor, Meeting News, Senior Editor, Northstar Meetings Group
Wed 6/26 at 2 p.m. – FBO Monthly Virtual Meet Up
Monthly Virtual Meet Ups provide professionals in the Finance, Business, Operations and HR community with an opportunity to share pressing problems they are facing and gather input from their peers. These interactive discussions provide a low stake, engaging and informative experience. More info/register (ASAE members only).
Host: ASAE
Wed 6/26 at 3 p.m. – Navigating the Member Journey Part 6: Using Your Data to Create, Track, & Report Association KPIs
Periodically, associations go through an arduous process of defining strategic goals for the next few years. But very often, associations find it hard to measure progress because they lack clear KPIs to track their goals and/or a way to share them across the association. Learn how to identify the key metrics you can use to measure the progress of your strategic goals, use a snapshot dashboard to view all your KPIs in one place, and ensure you have what you need to track and report on your KPIs. 1 CAE credit. More info/register.
Host: Association Analytics
Speaker: Bill Conforti, SVP of Strategy & Solutions, Association Analytics
Thu 6/27 at 12 p.m. – Looking Forward 2024 Challenges: First Look at How the Issues Impact Association Strategy
Thanks to the Looking Forward® Impact survey, we have a sense of how our current environment is impacting association members. Now, let’s examine the logical next question—given the situation members are in, how will this impact association strategy? What are the challenges associations face to their strategies and business model as they endeavor to carry out their mission? Hear about the challenges facing association strategy, the commonalities among associations, and complimentary Looking Forward® Dashboard custom reporting that facilitates conversations unique to your board or staff. 1.5 CAE credits. More info/register.
Host: Association Laboratory
Speakers: Nikki Golden, CAE, strategist, Felicia D. Kenan, JM, MPA, CAE, CMP, strategist, and Dean West, founder and president, Association Laboratory
Thu 6/27 at 12 p.m. – How to Accelerate Non-Dues Revenue Growth: Proven Sales Tactics for Association Professionals
Sales comes with the territory if your job includes attracting sponsors, exhibitors, or advertisers for your association. Learn about strategies and tactics to help you attract and convert higher-paying customers with less effort, and without sacrificing member value. Find out how to get a prospect’s attention, convert the right companies, and create a better sales experience for your prospect and for yourself. 1 CAE credit. More info/register.
Host: Carrie McIntyre, principal, Navigate
Thu 6/27 at 12:30 p.m. – Ten Years in, OMB Makes Significant Changes to the Uniform Guidance: Learn from the Experts
Ten years ago, OMB took the notable step of consolidating a myriad of circulars that regulated federal financial assistance (i.e., grants) into a “super” circular known as the Uniform Guidance. Now, OMB has published the most significant rewrite of this regulation to date. Hear about these changes and how nonprofits can utilize the new flexibilities to their advantage while remaining mindful and vigilant of compliance concerns and obligations. More info/register.
Host: Venable LLP
Speakers:
- Marc Bucalo, Co-Founder, Award Advisors
- Dan Durst, Co-Founder, Award Advisors
- Diz Locaria, Partner, Government Contracts, Venable LLP
Thu 6/27 at 2 p.m. – Integrations 101
Hear real-world use cases where integrations helped associations improve their business processes and expose new user data and insights. Learn what an integration is and what it is not, why integrations are important for associations, the role of clean data for effective integrations, and what middleware is and whether you need it. More info/register.
Host: 501Works
Speakers:
- Josh Carlson, Founder & Chief Innovator, PerByte
- Richard Reyes, MBA, Vice President, Digital Strategy, ConnexFM
- James Marquis, CIO, 501Works
Fri 6/28 at 1 p.m. – Talk with CAEs
An online space for CAE candidates to ask questions about the CAE (e.g., exam preparations, eligibility, exam content outline, study strategies, practice questions, tips and advice, etc.) and current CAEs to share their knowledge and experience with the exam. More info/register.
Facilitators:
- Aaron Grau, CAE, President, Global Association Partners
- DeeJay Hastings, CAE, Executive Consultant, LEWIS, LLC
Fri 6/28 at 4 p.m. – What Have You Done to Make Your Workplace Equitable, Accessible, and Open to the LGBTQIA+ Community
Join your association and nonprofit colleagues for an open networking discussion and best practices sharing about making our workplaces more inclusive for the LGBTQIA+ community. More info/register.
Host: Fridays@4
Facilitator: David Falchek, CAE IOM CMP, Executive Director, Serving Seniors, Inc.
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