The weekly list of free educational events and resources for the association community…
Curiosity. Anne-Laure Le Cunff at Ness Labs says curiosity keeps you young, helps you learn, and fosters better relationships. She describes nine habits that help curious people grow personally and professionally. She calls these habits the “curiosity matrix.” I see them as “nine rules for better living.”
Email benchmarks and tactics. Here’s a must-read for association membership and marketing professionals: PropFuel’s email engagement benchmarking report, which is based on nearly 13 million emails they sent in 2023. The report includes benchmark data, trends, and advice for improving email practices and campaigns, plus association stories showing the impact of PropFuel’s recommended email tactics on their membership and marketing goals.
Event marketing. 360 Live Media introduces the 6 R’s Framework for increasing event attendance: relevance, reach, retention, reputation, revenue, and ROI. They discuss challenges related to each R and suggest advice and metrics to address each of these pain points and guide your future event planning.
Membership renewal. Besides sharing useful advice about renewal campaigns, Katrina Ciccarelli McAfee at Association Analytics explains how to use the data you already have for more effective renewal messaging. This post reminded me of the extent to which membership marketing tools and tactics have improved in the last several years—so many new things to try.
AI policy. Cimatri shares a sample ‘starter’ policy for responsible AI use. Because it’s licensed under Creative Commons, you can share and adapt it as your organization’s AI maturity grows.
AI consultants. Rahim Hirji says everyone’s an AI expert these days, so beware. Sidebar: I can vouch for the consultants at Cimatri, in case you were wondering.
Association magazines. m3Magazines offers advice for transforming your magazine into a valuable resource for members. They start by reviewing the benefits of a well-crafted print magazine—in case you need to make a case to your leadership team. They also explain how to develop a content strategy, identify the best time for a redesign, decrease costs, and increase revenue.
Extra credit
You’ve read your last free article, such is the nature of mortality. | Tommy Gonzalez, McSweeney’s
Strategies from Wall Street Journal readers for building a corporate culture in a hybrid or remote workplace. | Demetria Gallegos, WSJ (gift link)
A labyrinthine structure from the Minoan era was found on a hilltop in Crete. | The History Blog
Teaching students what it means to be an American. This is how we save our country from illiberal forces on both sides. | Richard D. Kahlenberg, The Liberal Patriot
You never grow old at the table
We had a bunch of friends and family over for a 4th of July cookout. I made corn salad—no recipe, but it includes bacon, red bell pepper, sweet onion, garlic, fresh corn off the cob (with its juice), and tomato, tossed with a dressing of lemon juice, rice wine vinegar, and fresh basil.
Another accompaniment to burgers and dogs: cole slaw made with green and red cabbage, carrot, sweet onion, and red bell pepper. Some members of my family don’t like mayo (tragic, I know!), so I make my dressing with lime juice, rice wine vinegar, cilantro, hot sauce, and regular olive oil (not extra-virgin).
Nowadays, I never buy extra-virgin olive oil. Because I mainly use olive oil for sautéing or roasting, I buy large jugs of regular olive oil from Costco or BJ’s. I don’t need the more strongly flavored and expensive extra-virgin oil for cooking.
With the leftover corn salad, I made pasta with hot Italian sausage, jalapeño, onion, chard stems, garlic chives, chard leaves, corn salad, evaporated milk, parmesan, pasta water, butter, and fresh basil. Heavy cream is pretty pricy these days too. I keep a bunch of small cans of evaporated milk in the cupboard in case I only need a half cup of cream for a dish. I probably wouldn’t use it if cream was a dominant flavor, but in this case, the cream merely enriches the sauce.
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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 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
*All events are online at Eastern Daylight Time unless otherwise noted.
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 8 a.m. – Is AI Going to Eat my Lunch? (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
Guests: Mike Jacka and Bryant Richardson
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
Tue 7/16 at 12 p.m. – Component Operations (CRVM July Crunch and Munch)
Discuss the various operations your organization has in place for managing components. Funding: How do your components get funded? What models are in place to drive revenue and navigate tight budgets? Component Elections: How does your organization recruit candidates to serve with components? How do you “sell” volunteering? Are your voters turning up? Awards Program: What awards and criteria do your components use to recognize members and leaders? Component Leadership: How do your components structure their leadership team? What positions are in place to effectively manage the component goals. More info/register (ASAE members only).
Host: ASAE Component Relations and Volunteer Management Council
Facilitators: Amy Biedenharn and Regais Wilson
Tue 7/16 at 1 p.m. – Expert Exchange: Navigating Trust in AI and Technology
In this Ask Me Anything session, hear insights about the complexities of cultivating trust in AI and technological innovations, for example, building trust in a digital age, harnessing AI responsibly, and mitigating technology risks. More info/register.
Host: Quorum
Speakers: Aaron Guiterman, Chairman, US Public Affairs, and Jeremy Thompson, Senior Vice President, Washington DC, Edelman Global Advisory
Tue 7/16 at 1:10 p.m. – Lessons in Learning: Is Your Definition of Inclusion in Learning Too Small?
Learn about the nuances of inclusive learning environments, including the critical differences between accommodations and inclusion and why it matters. Discover how inclusive learning goes beyond Alt Text and color accessibility. Learn practical strategies to foster an inclusive atmosphere for all learners. More info/register.
Host: InspirEd
Speakers:
- Carolyn B. Thompson, president, Training Systems
- Tracy King, CAE, CEO, InspirEd
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. 1 CAE credit. 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 2 p.m. – Beyond the Numbers: Understanding Data to Drive Strategic Decisions
Learn the fundamentals of data management, including what to collect and how to store it securely. Find out how to democratize your data by visualizing and analyzing data effectively using various tools, compare internal and external data perspectives to identify industry trends, and develop actionable strategies based on data insights for organizational improvement. 1 CAE credit. More info/register.
Host: Association Adviser / Naylor Association Solutions
Speakers: Nate Brown, Software Sales Engineer, and Chad Lloyd, Chief Data Officer, Naylor Association Solutions
Wed 7/17 at 2 p.m. – Digging into the Event Data Goldmine
Learn how to identify KPIs that directly contribute to event and program growth, align event metrics with your organization’s broader objectives, and use analytics to mature your event strategy and increase stakeholder engagement. 1 CMP credit. More info/register.
Host: MeetingsNet
Speaker: Jordan Clark, Sr. Manager, Event Program Design, Cvent
Wed 7/17 at 4:30 p.m. – Suburban Maryland Summer Meetup (Gaithersburg MD)
Join us for a casual meet-up of association pros. Bring a question, an idea or simply a curious mind. We’ll connect over a beverage and snack. Location: Gaithersburg MD. More info/register (ASAE members only).
Host: ASAE Suburban Maryland Network (Columbia Idea Swaps)
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 12 p.m. – Volunteer Recruitment and Engagement
Volunteer engagement is a key metric for association sustainability. And volunteers are the lifeblood of your association. Why do some associations have a line-up of volunteers and others struggle to fill positions? Find out how you can attract and retain great talent on your committees, your task forces and your board. More info/register.
Host: Zzeem Consulting
Thu 7/18 at 12 p.m. – Member ROI Group
The live discussions will be predominately in CAE education domains related to member ROI on the first and third Thursdays of the month with some exceptions. 1 CAE credit. More info/register.
Host: Ed Rigsbee
Thu 7/18 at 1 p.m. – Ensuring Integrity: Offering Exam Prep While Maintaining Accreditation Standards
Professionals seeking certification rely on associations for exam preparation and training. However, many associations hesitate to provide this support due to accreditation concerns requiring a firewall between education and certification. Learn about upholding exam integrity and complying with accreditation requirements, the value in offering learning and exam prep products to enhance the learner experience and organizational growth, and strategies for navigating accreditation standards and offering exam preparation or certification training resources. More info/register.
Host: BenchPrep
Speakers: Laureen Kaczmarek, Learning Consultant, and Ashish Rangnekar, CEO, BenchPrep
Thu 7/18 at 1 p.m. – Nonprofits & Associations: Growing Industry Categories for Sponsorship Outreach
Learn about growing industry categories you might want to consider as you outreach organizations for sponsorship support. More info/register.
Host: Lori Zoss Kraska, MBA, CFRE, founder, GrowthOwl
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 12 p.m. – Cybersecurity Questions You Should be Asking
If you pay attention to cyber-news, you know the rate of incidents continues to climb. More data stolen, more companies extorted, more downtime experienced, and more reputations and brands tarnished. Learn what’s driving this surge in cybersecurity incidents, whether phishing really is that big of a risk and training is that important, what AI has to do with cyber risk, how you can understand if your IT team is doing the right thing, and how you know if you’re doing enough. More info/register.
Host: ClearTone Consulting
Fri 7/19 at 1 p.m. – From Live to Lasting: Transforming Webinars into Engaging eLearning
Learn strategies to maximize the impact of your existing webinar content by transforming it into versatile, on-demand courses. Discover how on-demand learning can enhance accessibility and flexibility for your learners. Get acquainted with the tools and platforms essential for converting webinar recordings into comprehensive eLearning courses. Explore 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: Blue Sky eLearn
Speakers: Jordan Baker, M.Ed., Learning Solutions Advisor, and Dr. Kristen Wall, MA EdD, Director of Learning & Development, Blue Sky eLearn
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
Fri 7/19 at 4 p.m. – Volunteers: the Good, the Bad, the Struggles, and the Victories
Bring your success stories, your sticky situations, and your questions. Together we can celebrate or find a path forward. More info/register.
Host: Fridays@4
Facilitator: Fridays@4 board member Heather Story
Tue 7/23 at 1 p.m. – Are Gen Zs Joiners? How to Engage the Next Generation of Members
62% of associations are experiencing flat or declining memberships due to their inability to recruit Gen Z. Learn proven strategies to engage young members, including how to identify the primary obstacles preventing next gen engagement and growth, increase your association’s value among young people, utilize the new ‘cycle to engagement,’ and create a culture of belonging. 1 CAE credit. More info/register.
Host: Forj
Speaker: Sarah Sladek, CEO of XYZ University
Wed 7/24 at 12 p.m. – AWTC Meet & Greet
Connect with new faces in the association tech community! Join us for a 30-minute welcome event to forge fresh connections and discover our vibrant Slack community. Attending ASAE Annual? Start networking early and get to know your AWTC colleagues. More info/register.
Host: Association Women Technology Champions (AWTC)
Wed 7/24 at 1 p.m. – Continuing the Association Competition Conversation
Hear about the mindsets and strategies required to maintain relevance in a rapidly changing environment. Learn about the necessity of identifying and leading from your strengths, concentrating your resources, changing business models and dues structures, and getting the product and service mix right—and sunsetting programs when necessary. 1 CAE credit. More info/register.
Host: Fonteva
Speakers:
- Mary Byers, CAE, CSP, Author of Race for Relevance: 5 Radical Changes for Associations
- Bruce Rosenthal, Corporate Partnership & Sponsorship Consultant, Bruce Rosenthal Associates, LLC
- Leonard Toenjes, CAE, President, Associated General Contractors (AGC) of Missouri
Thu 7/25 at 1 p.m. – 5 Things Every Speaker Should Know Before They Start Training
Are you ready to elevate your training sessions and leave a lasting impact on your audience? Hear about the five essential elements every speaker needs to know before stepping in front of their audience. Whether you’re a seasoned speaker or just starting out, this session will equip you with the tools and insights to deliver engaging, impactful, and memorable presentations. 1 CAE credit. More info/register.
Host: Event Garde
Speaker: Aaron Wołowiec, Founder & President, Event Garde
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