The weekly list of free educational events and resources for the association community…
Association podcasts. Dave Coriale of DelCor and the Reboot IT podcast started a Linked group, Society of Association Podcasters. He’s inviting association podcasters to share their latest episodes there and you to share episodes you recommend for association professionals and industry partners.
Board development. Lowell Aplebaum and his team at Vista Cova published an excellent report on strategies and practices to prepare your board for effective governance. He gathered these unique approaches for pre-orientation engagement, orientation, and ongoing development from interviews with 35 association leaders. The appendix includes an extensive library of board training resources from 25 associations.
Board stewardship. Board members have to think of themselves as stewards who leave their association better positioned for the future than they found it. In a series of articles (part 1, part 2, and part 3) at Naylor’s Association Adviser, Jeff De Cagna describes the elements and imperatives of board stewardship. Share this insightful series with your board—hopefully, it will change your association’s approach to governance and the future.
Small-staff membership marketing. YourMembership offers guidance on membership marketing for small associations, including tips on personalized communication, joining and renewing procedures, new member onboarding, online communities, and online career centers.
Content curation. In one of my past association jobs, members raved most about our daily curated news update—articles we found and selected for multifamily homebuilders and their industry partners. I bet your members would love this valuable benefit too. You like this weekly update, right? Ann Gynn at Content Marketing Institute explains how to deliver curated content to your audience.
Membership models. Tony Rossell of Marketing General Inc. thinks the days of one-size-fits-all membership are over. You’re more likely to attract and keep members with either a combination or tiered membership structure.
Workplace challenges. This member research report from Halmyre Strategies describes the challenges faced by various professions as a new generation enters the workforce: burnout, work-life balance, client demands, doubt about the value of credentials, diversity, and changing workforce roles. They describe how associations can address these issues while meeting the changing needs of professionals.
Microlearning. Tracy King at InspirEd says, “Microlearning thrives within its own ecosystem, in a community of interconnected content. When done right, it’s a powerful tool that drives both business and learning outcomes.” She describes seven roles microlearning can play in your association’s learning portfolio.
Talking AI with your board. Patrick Glaser at McKinley Advisors explains how to discuss AI with your board. He suggests starting with discussions about the impact of AI on your association and industry, and outlining a strategy for AI.
Extra credit
Hit “send” with confidence: a step-by-step email checklist. | Amber Worthen, Email Maven
Top five association podcasts of the week: 6/28/2024. | KiKi L’Italien, Association Chat
Nobody wants to hear how busy you are at work. Seriously. Nobody. | Tony Case, WorkLife
We all need an attention cottage. | Alan Jacobs, The Homebound Symphony
You never grow old at the table
Last week, a new one-pan recipe turned into a keeper: speckled sea trout Thai green curry with green beans over basmati rice from The Fish Store: Recipes and Recollections by Lindsey Bareham.
We went to the beach (Salter Path, NC) for the weekend and had tomato sandwiches (brought from home), shrimp burgers, shrimp melts, and fried flounder. On our way out, we bought—what else—more local NC shrimp. For Sunday dinner, I made a pasta version of this New York Times recipe (archived free version): summer shrimp scampi with tomatoes and corn. I added onion and red bell pepper to the pan, cooked the shrimp last, and added several ladles of pasta water at the end—plus linguine.
On the side, zucchini and summer squash pesto with red bell pepper, broccoli stem, carrot, and onion.
If you’d like to subscribe, please complete the form in the sidebar or at the bottom of this post. I won’t share or sell your email address.
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 product-centric.
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
*All events are online at Eastern Daylight Time unless otherwise noted.
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.
Mon 7/8 at 8 a.m. – Why Fundraising and Marketing Need to Be BFFs (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: Vicky Winkler
Mon 7/8 at 12 p.m. – Membership Monday
This month’s topic will be an encore presentation from one of the great sessions we had at our MMC+T conference in May. Join Joseph LoSasso from the National Hydropower Association, and Nathan Chamberlain from the American Association of Nurse Anesthesiology as they present: Break Down Departmental Dams to Release a Flood of Member Value. More info/register (ASAE members only).
Host: ASAE
Tue 7/9 at 12 p.m. – Disability Inclusion and Accessible Marketing 101
Hear guidance on adopting sustained inclusion practices within marketing and communications. Learn how you can leverage disability inclusion in marketing as a competitive advantage, while creating a positive impact for our world. More info/register.
Host: American Marketing Association
Speakers:
- Catherine Nichols, VP, Office of Accessibility, Salesforce
- Sena Pottackal, Associate, Client Experience, DEI and Corporate Communications, Current Global
- Allyce Torres, Director of Marketing and Communications, Disability:IN
- Aria Childers, Assistant Manager DEI, American Marketing Association
Tue 7/9 at 12 p.m. – Tech Tuesday: Driving Organizational Growth Through Empowerment and Innovation
Hear Juan’s experiences and strategies on how to foster an environment where innovation flourishes and teams are inspired to reach new heights. Gain valuable insights into creating a culture of empowerment and innovation. More info/register (ASAE members only).
Host: ASAE
Guest speaker: Juan Sanchez, CIO, Inteleos
Moderators: Dave Coriale of DelCor and Reggie Henry of ASAE
Tue 7/9 at 12 p.m. – LGBTQIA2+ 2024 Community Call
A unique and inclusive opportunity for association professionals across all career stages to connect and engage over lunch and a space where you can openly share and discuss topics that are current and significant to the LGBTQIA2+ association community. Whether you have burning questions, pressing issues, or insightful experiences to share, this judgment-free zone welcomes your valuable contributions. More info/register (ASAE members only).
Host: ASAE
Tue 7/9 at 1 p.m. – Navigating the Data Frontier: Defining the Data-Driven Associations
Join a best-practice sharing session to learn from leading industry experts on fostering and building a data-driven organization association. Explore how data-driven strategies can enhance member engagement, inform strategic decisions, and drive organizational growth. Discover practical steps and best practices to transform your association into a data-driven powerhouse, poised for success in the digital age. More info/register.
Host: Association Women Technology Champions
Speakers:
- Chantal Almonord, Chief Information & Engagement Officer, ISPOR
- Kraig Conrad, Chief Executive Officer and Contract Management Institute Chair, NCMA
- Wes Trochlil, Owner, Effective Database Management
Tue 7/9 at 1 p.m. – Advocacy for Associations: Keeping Members Engaged All Year Long
As the Congressional Management Foundation put it, “direct constituent interactions have more influence on lawmakers’ decisions than other advocacy strategies.” How do you activate your members for advocacy in 2024, when they can access all the world’s information and entertainment on a device in their pocket? Learn how to communicate with members to active them for advocacy, teach them to effectively engage lawmakers, and use social media and new technology to super-charge your advocacy efforts. 1 CAE credit. More info/register.
Host: UST Education
Speaker: Michael Hoffman, Co-Founder and CEO, Gather Voices
Wed 7/10 at 11 a.m. – Mastering the Art of Partner and Sponsor Engagement: Strategies for Avoiding Being Ghosted
Hear about the challenges and uncertainties associations face when engaging with potential partners and sponsors. Learn strategies for implementing a multi-channel approach to connect with the right people, including leveraging social media, personalized outreach, and networking events. Discover effective techniques for building and maintaining long-term partnerships, promoting mutual benefits, and avoiding being ghosted by potential partners. 1 CAE credit. More info/register.
Host: UST Education
Speakers:
- Marisol Garza, Director of Strategic Partnerships, Multiview
- Dianne Vance, Director, Sales And Business Development, American Occupational Therapy Association
Wed 7/10 at 12 p.m. – Getting On the Same Page & Making the Case
Learn how to measure the efficacy of your current internal communications and build a better strategy. Find out about the magic question that provides information re alignment, sentiment, and communication opportunities. Hear about common measurement data and why it may make sense for you to collect your own data, how to use a specific two-question survey to collect powerful data about what’s going on in your organization and a basic business case approach that enables a different type of conversation with leaders. More info/register.
Host: L-12 Services Corp.
Speakers:
- Mike Klein, MBA, FIIC, SCMP, Principle, Changing The Terms
- Lizabeth Wesely-Casella, Founder & CEO, L-12 Services Corp.
Wed 7/10 at 12 p.m. – Leveraging Agile Leadership in an Evolving Agile Digital Era
Envision a business landscape where change is the sole constant. How do you steer it? Learn a proven framework for embracing agility and fostering innovation. Through strategies, AI, real-world examples, interactive discussions, and actionable takeaways, you’ll develop the skills to survive disruption and thrive in the digital age. 1 CAE credit. More info/register.
Host: AIOT
Speaker: Dr. Maurine Kwende, founder, EMK Learning Solutions LLC
Wed 7/10 at 1 p.m. – Questioning the Orthodox Beliefs of Association Governing
Learn about orthodox beliefs and why they’re detrimental to the work of association boards, CEOs, and staff partners; the most sacrosanct orthodox beliefs of association governing; and how association directors, officers, CEOs, and governance staff can think and act beyond orthodoxy. More info/register. If you register, take this quick LinkedIn poll and see his survey too.
Host: Association Forum Governance SIG
Speaker: Jeff De Cagna FRSA FASAE, executive advisor, Foresight First LLC
Wed 7/10 at 1 p.m. – 2024 State of Membership Survey: An All-Star Panel Weighs In
Hear what association executives and consultants are seeing in the profession and with membership and what these insights mean for all associations moving forward. Learn how associations are adapting to meet the needs of their industries and members, where associations are in their progress on a journey to digital transformation, the current status of hybrid and remote work for association professionals, and where associations are with new initiatives and providing opportunities. 1 CAE credit. More info/register.
Host: Fonteva
Speakers:
- Kerri McGovern, MPP, CAE, Senior Director, Membership, Association of Corporate Counsel
- Elisa Pratt, MA, CAE, CVF, Chief Executive Officer, Brewer Pratt Solutions
- Chuck Salvetti, MA, Director, Membership Development, Association of Women’s Health, Obstetric & Neonatal Nurses
- Sarah Sladek, Author and Founder & CEO, XYZ University
Wed 7/10 at 2 p.m. – Crafting Crowd-Pleasing Event Menus
Get an understanding of common dietary restrictions and how to cater to them elegantly. Hear about creative ideas for offering variety while maintaining cohesion in your menu, tips for effectively communicating menu options and collecting guest preferences, and cost-effective strategies to create an impressive dining experience within your budget. 1 CMP credit. More info/register.
Host: Northstar Meetings Group
Speakers:
- Tracy Stuckrath, Founder, Thrive! Meetings & Events
- Dustin Ward, Executive Chef, Bold Catering & Design
- Ryan Whitten, Director of Culinary, Bold American Catering
- Sarah J.F. Braley (moderator), Managing Editor, Northstar Meetings Group
Thu 7/11 at 11 a.m. – Planning Like It’s Your Opening Day: Resources to Develop Your Next Annual Budget
Hear about a new approach to annual budgeting—one focused on how to grow revenue, relevance, and relationships, not on how to simply cut expenses. Learn about budgeting aligned to the mission and requirements within by-laws, examples of the budgeting process at all stages of development, and a plan for next year’s association budget built on an “opening day” mindset. 1 CAE credit. More info/register.
Host: UST Education
Speaker: Lawrence M. Paska, Ph.D., CAE, Executive Director, National Council for the Social Studies
Thu 7/11 at 1 p.m. – Do You Trust Your Member Data? Break Your Data Silos with a Single Source of Truth
Data silos lead to inaccurate data, poor member experiences, and frustration for everyone involved. By establishing a Single Source of Truth (SSoT), you can avoid costly customizations, ensure seamless integrations, and create experiences that delight both members and staff. Hear how establishing a SSoT can transform your member-centric organization and allow you to trust your member data again. Learn how data silos alienate members and how to fix them. Find out how to create personalized, engaging member experiences, reduce reliance on IT, and free up resources. 1 CAE credit. More info/register.
Host: iMIS by ASI
Thu 7/11 at 1 p.m. – The Power of Connection: “Handling Difficult Conversations Effectively
Delve into the art and science of conversation and learn how to become an adept conversationalist. Learn how to hone active listening skills, foster empathy, and master the dynamics of engaging dialogue. Hear how to navigate challenging conversations and handle sensitive topics, conflicts, and diverse viewpoints gracefully. Find out how to refine your verbal and non-verbal communication to convey clarity, empathy, and understanding. 1 CAE credit. More info/register.
Host: UST Education
Speaker: Kate Coffey-Bacon, VP of Marketing and Events, US Transactions Corporation/UST Education
Thu 7/11 at 2 p.m. – Maximizing Email Engagement: Key Takeaways from PropFuel’s 2024 Association Email Engagement Benchmark Report
Ready to take the guesswork out of email engagement? Hear the key insights from PropFuel’s first-ever email engagement benchmarking report, which analyzed 13 million emails to reveal the strategies that work (and ones that don’t). Learn about practical methods to optimize campaign audiences, transform broadcast emails into conversations, and maximize response rates. Get real-world examples of how two associations used strategies from the report to adopt the conversational engagement method and improve their email game. More info/register.
Host: PropFuel
Speakers:
- Keith Gentry, Director of Member Engagement and Insights at ACEP
- Jenna Goins, Director of Membership and Marketing at NACUFS
- Dave Will, Co-Founder and CEO at PropFuel
Fri 7/12 at 11 a.m. – Cybersecurity for Organizations
How do you improve cybersecurity within your organization? Hear about best practices, things to consider, and steps to take to improve your cybersecurity landscape. More info/register.
Host: Association Women Technology Champions
Speakers:
- Brian C. Lynch, CLCS, MLIS, Partner & Asst. Vice President, Ames & Gough
- Audra Palmero, Sales Account Executive, Imperva
- Wendy Sahli, Director Of Technology, RAPS
Fri 7/12 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 7/12 at 4 p.m. – Online Communities Series: Part 3 – Leveraging Volunteer Community Champions to Increase Online Member Engagement
Learn how to clearly define the foundation of the volunteer program, find your superusers and engage the right people to be volunteers, work synchronously with volunteers and keep them engaged over time, and prepare for what to do in the best-case and worst-case scenarios. 1 CAE credit. More info/register.
Host: Fridays@4
Speaker: Catherine Hackney, Online Community Consultant Specializing in Association Member Communities
Mon 7/15 at 1 p.m. – Women in AI: Regulations and Their Global Impact on Ethics
Learn about the emerging challenges in realizing a “fit to purpose” AI blueprint and how to navigate new and existing infrastructures. Get insights on how to determine your goals and choose the right framework for your organization. Hear about resources to apply responsible and explainable AI frameworks. More info/register.
Host: Women in AI
Speakers:
- Ana Clarke, Founder & CEO, AC SmartData (Australia)
- Nancy Eke-Agu, AI Transformation Leader, JDZ Technology Consulting (Canada)
- Emma G Moller, AI Advisor & CEO, Lumiera (Europe)
- Charlotte Tao, Co-Founder & AI CTO (USA)
Tue 7/16 at 12 p.m. – Is the Juice Worth the Squeeze? Increasing Your Business Efficiency
Learn how to incorporate greater efficiencies into your operations and processes so that your growth will be smoother and faster. Topics will include: business management processes; improving productivity; getting the right people in the right seats; client journeys, operational efficiencies, and process redesign; technology as enabler or obstacle; outsourcing; innovation; and how to find the inspiration and new ideas to continue to increase efficiencies. More info/register.
Host: Braintrust Professional Institute
Speakers: Randall Craig and Ronja Francoeur, Braintrust Professional Institute
Tue 7/16 at 12 p.m. – Intro to AI Webinar for Associations and Nonprofits
Learn what Generative AI and Large Language Models are and how they work. Get an up-close look at how an actual AI expert utilizes these tools in real-world scenarios. Take away the knowledge and confidence to responsibly implement AI in your workflows. More info/register.
Host: Sidecar
Speaker: Thomas Altman, Co-Founder, Tasio
Wed 7/17 at 11 a.m. – Don’t Be a Data Hoarder
Data hoarding wastes staff time, creates a bad member experience, and costs your association revenue. Fortunately, there are steps you can take to better manage information and fight the tendency to accumulate harmful information. Learn how to streamline your data management process and increase efficiency, improve the quality of your data and make it easier to analyze, enhance the member experience by using more useful data, reduce costs associated with organizing and managing large amounts of data, and create new opportunities for revenue growth driven by better insights. 1 CAE credit. More info/register.
Host: UST Education
Speaker: Justin Burniske, MBA, Principal Consultant, Co-Owner, Meta-Dao
Wed 7/17 at 12 p.m. – Be Change Ready: Transform Your Component Strategy
Hear from several association change catalysts who’ve taken their chapters to the next level. Find out what they changed, why they did it, and how they harnessed the power of change to drive meaningful progress. Dive into their specific challenges including volunteer burnout, low engagement, and activity without progress. Learn how these CRPs secured executive buy-in and leveraged changes within their associations to generate momentum. More info/register.
Hosts: Billhighway and Mariner Management
Speakers: Peggy Hoffman of Mariner Management plus Jennifer Steffan, JoAnna Leon, Linda Norris-Waldt, CAE, and Glorianne O’Neilin
Wed 7/17 at 12 p.m. – Why the Board’s Duty of Foresight Remains a Radical Idea Ten Years Later
Learn what made the board’s duty of foresight a radical idea in 2014, why the duty of foresight remains a radical idea today, and how association boards and staff partners can act with intention to choose the duty of foresight. More info/register.
Host: Ewald Consulting
Speaker: Jeff De Cagna AIMP FRSA FASAE, Foresight First LLC
Wed 7/17 at 12 p.m. – Can Content Strategy Be Led by AI?
AI is the doer—the magical assistant “robot” we’ve all been dreaming for decades. With it though, comes a lofty set of questions around copyright, intellectual property, ideation and originality. For content marketers, there’s a fine line to balance between the value of accelerated productivity, at the expense of control and ownership. How do you decide when it’s time to turn to AI? Is there even room for AI to build your overall content strategy? Learn about the potential application of AI for associations from a brand and content programming perspective. More info/register.
Host: HighRoad Solutions
Speaker: Aimee Pagano, Director of Programming, HighRoad Solutions
Wed 7/17 at 1 p.m. – The Art of Persuasive Writing: Secrets from the Masters
Unlock the secrets of the greatest communicators and learn how to write with clarity, impact, and persuasion. Discover proven techniques to craft compelling messages that resonate with your audience. From mastering the active voice to using simple yet powerful metaphors, gain practical insights to elevate your writing and influence others effectively. 1 CAE credit. More info/register.
Host: UST Education
Speaker: Bill McGlade, President, Community Leaders Institute & epIQ Creative Group
Thu 7/18 at 12 p.m. – How to Prepare Your Association’s Data for AI
From assessing the limitations of your current AMS or CRM to implementing solutions that bridge gaps between legacy and modern systems, get a roadmap for consolidating and structuring your data. Learn how to transform fragmented, inconsistent data into a unified, AI-ready resource that can drive your association’s success in the digital age. Hear about practical tools and techniques to navigate the complexities of data preparation, ensuring your association is poised to leverage AI effectively. More info/register.
Host: fusionSpan
Speakers:
- Nicole Adair, Principal Solution Engineer, Salesforce
- Jason Cookman, Senior Salesforce Architect, fusionSpan
Thu 7/18 at 1 p.m. – Creating Events with AI
Looking for advice on how to put AI to work in your events? Learn about the 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. More info/register.
Host: American Marketing Association
Speaker: Brooke Gracey, Marketing Director, Cvent
Fri 7/19 at 3 p.m. – The Informal Consultants Networking Extravaganza
A monthly networking meeting for full-time consultants who work with non-profits and associations. It’s not an official ASAE event so you don’t have to be an ASAE member to attend. This month, besides news-sharing and advice-seeking, the focus is Business Development at ASAE24: Carrie McIntyre, founder of Navigate, will share tips for connecting, explaining what you do to a colleague (or potential client), and advice on following up. If you’re not attending ASAE this year, Carrie’s tips and advice will still have value as they are applicable throughout your business year. More info.
Organizer: Cecilia Sepp, CAE, founder, Rogue Tulips Consulting
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 by Wednesday afternoon the week before it’s scheduled.
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