The weekly list of free educational events and resources for the association community…
On my calendar. Join me at the virtual .orgCommunity Solutions Day on Wednesday, September 18. I’m looking forward to hearing association success stories about automation, website redesign, data analytics, AI, content personalization, and more.
Product ideas. James Young at Product Community shares ten revenue-generating product ideas. He doesn’t think of them as visionary, but some of them are new to me. He explains how to build product lines using a framework involving product extensions—an interesting and potentially fruitful strategy.
Professional development. We’re at a crossroads in professional development, says Tracy King of InspirEd. Because skills are the new workforce currency, associations must focus on designing and delivering what members need: digital badges, certificates, and hands-on learning programs.
Community. People seek places to belong where they can make a difference—a community. But associations have a hard time delivering the personal and emotional experiences people want from communities. GrowthZone explains how to use the five pillars of communities to engage members: direction and desired outcome, shared responsibility, personal value, progress awareness, and ongoing ecosystem—you’ll find a lot of sound advice here.
Association marketing. Earn up to four CAE credits in the Association Academy’s Association Creative Marketing Masterclass, which meets for four weeks on Thursdays, 1-2pm ET, starting September 19. Taught live by leading association heads of marketing, this course teaches you how to evaluate marketing copy and layout. Each class features a live review of real association marketing collateral, along with recommendations for improvement.
Innovation culture. When Sheri Jacobs of Avenue M polled association professionals, she learned they struggle with prioritizing innovation because of limited time, risk aversion, and lack of leadership support. She shares tips for fostering a culture of experimentation that balances innovation and reality.
Post-event attendee engagement. You put a ton of effort into planning, promoting, and hosting a conference, but once it’s over, attendees drift away. When will you hear from them again? EventMobi explains how to use a year-round community and content hub to keep attendees connected with each other and your association.
Experimentation culture. Here’s more advice on building a culture of learning and experimentation from Adam Grant at Strategy+Business. He describes how leaders can create the psychological safety people need to constantly rethink what’s possible.
Member experience. For their 2024 State of Associations Member Experience (MX) report, Forj surveyed over 1000 association members about membership expectations and experiences. The data revealed interesting findings about learning. The report offers advice on elevating MX, such as adopting an agile mindset and rethinking your approach to learning if you want to outpace the competition.
Extra credit
Managing legal and other AI risks for associations. | Holly E. Peterson, Tenenbaum Law Group PLLC
Are press releases still relevant? | Michelle Garrett, Notified
Why can’t the U.S. build ships? Sobering. | Brian Potter of Construction Physics, Noahpinion
You never grow old at the table
We spent a few days in Buffalo last week with trips to Niagara Falls (what a blast, put it on your list!) and Toronto to visit the Hockey Hall of Fame. No hiking this time, instead we walked several miles a day to breweries (my favorites were Big Ditch, Resurgence, Frequentem, Spotted Octopus, and Gene McCarthy’s/Old First Ward), two historical bars (Ulrich’s 1868 Tavern and Founding Fathers Pub—be prepared to get quizzed on history by the bartender owner), and a gin bar (Graylynn).
The food highlights were beef on weck (OMG!) at Charlie the Butcher’s, chicken finger salad and pepperoni pizza at Bada Bing Bar & Grill, poutine at Big Ditch (even better when topped with blue cheese dressing leftover from the wings), and stuffed banana peppers at Gene McCarthy’s.
When I was back on dinner duty, I pan-seared tilefish fillets topped with a pecan jerk rub. On the side, green beans with basil pesto.
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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 9/13 at 4 p.m.* – Strategic Thinking: How to See Your Work Differently
Unless you are a unicorn, thinking strategically takes time and practice. Gain tips and tools to become more strategic, think more strategically and, even more importantly, communicate strategically. More info/register.
Host: Fridays@4
Speaker: Jessica Kinghorn, principal consultant of Kinghorn Strategy
*All events are online at Eastern Daylight Time unless otherwise noted.
Mon 9/16 at 8 a.m. – Unplug and Flourish: The Sabbatical Journey (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: Laura Caputo, JD, La Roca Consulting
Tue 9/17 at 12 p.m. – Intro to AI Webinar for Associations and Nonprofits
Learn the basics and importance of generative AI and Large Language Models. Witness the power of AI tools through live demonstrations, showcasing their impact on real-world scenarios. Learn to create targeted personas in ChatGPT for personalized content and interactions. Find out which settings to adjust for privacy and security, and understand what information is safe to input into AI tools. More info/register.
Host: Sidecar
Speaker: Thomas Altman, Co-Founder, Tasio
Tue 9/17 at 12 p.m. – Maximizing Your Online Communities (CRVM September Crunch and Munch)
There are multiple opportunities and successful strategies to maximize an online community. How are you using your community? This is an open discussion, so come with your experiences, ideas and questions. More info/register (ASAE members only).
Host: ASAE Component Relations and Volunteer Management Council
Facilitators:
- Elizabeth George, Chief Membership Office, American Guild of Organists
- Kevin Whorton, President, Whorton Marketing
Tue 9/17 at 1 p.m. – How Well Do You Know Your Members?
Challenge your understanding of your association’s members. Hear the findings from the recently released 2024 State of Association Member Experience Report and put your knowledge to the test. Discuss emerging trends in member engagement and learning preferences. Learn more about adopting an agile mindset to stay competitive and relevant. More info/register.
Host: Forj
Tue 9/17 at 1 p.m. – How Better Data Leads to Better Engagement
Accurate data allows you to segment and serve your members more effectively. But how do you get it? Learn how one association used personalized communications to gather data that boosted member retention, non-dues revenue, and year-round member engagement. More info/register.
Host: PropFuel
Tue 9/17 at 1 p.m. – How to Repurpose Your Event Content Like a Pro
Hear about the importance of repurposing content to extend the content’s lifespan beyond the event. Learn how to use different content formats to offer your message in new ways and measure the impact and success of your re-purposed content. More info/register.
Host: American Marketing Association
Speaker: Victoria Akinsowon, Team Lead, Content Marketing, Cvent
Tue 9/17 at 2 p.m. – Mastering Remote Onboarding: Proven Strategies for Seamless New Hire Integration
Learn how to craft a customized onboarding checklist that ensures every new hire has a smooth transition into your company; foster a strong company culture among remote employees; enhance team cohesion, improve communication, and boost collaboration in a virtual environment; leverage technology for effective remote onboarding, and evaluate and enhance your onboarding program. More info/register.
Host: Association Universe
Speaker: Tim Buteyn, President of ThinkingKap Learning Solutions
Wed 9/18 at 12 p.m. – From Fizzle to Fire: Reinvigorating Volunteerism in Your Member Communities
Dive deep into the challenges of low volunteerism and hear about strategies to support components—from chapters to SIGs to online communities. Explore innovative approaches to attract a diverse pool of volunteers, leveraging technology, social media, and community partnerships. Learn how to guide leaders in fostering a supportive, inclusive, and empowering environment for their volunteers. Discover how to use data and feedback to understand volunteer needs and tailor recruitment and retention efforts. Share effective practices, and resources to power volunteerism in your member communities. More info/register.
Hosts: Billhighway and Mariner Management
Speaker: Peggy Hoffman, president and executive director, Mariner Management
Wed 9/18 at 12 p.m. – Making the Case to Double Your Membership Recruitment Budget
Learn how to build a compelling case for doubling your membership recruitment budget, demonstrate the value of a larger investment to your leadership and board, and unlock the potential for significant membership growth. 1 CAE credit. More info/register.
Host: Marketing General Inc.
Speakers: Michelle Peterson and Elisa Joseph Anders, Marketing General Inc.
Wed 9/18 at 12 p.m. – The Power of Pie: Connecting and Collaborating Through Culinary Delights
Explore how strategic food choices can elevate attendee focus and drive productivity at events. Dive into the delicious world of The Pie Network, where food does more than just satisfy—it connects. Learn from Valentina’s expertise in transforming events through immersive, sensory-engaging strategies. Find out how pie and other culinary delights can foster community engagement and boost retention rates at gatherings. More info/register.
Host: Tracy Stuckrath, founder and event planner, thrive! meetings & events
Guest: Valentina Ruffoni, founder and event strategist, Beyond The Event
Wed 9/18 at 1 p.m. – Associations & Non-Profits: Digital Initiatives to Grow Sponsorship Revenue
Hear about innovative digital initiatives and ideas that associations and nonprofits can leverage to boost their sponsorship revenue and stand out from other purpose driven organizations. Gain expert insights on transforming your digital strategy to attract and retain sponsors effectively. More info/register.
Host: Growth Owl, LLC
Speakers:
- Michelle Brien, Chief Marketing Officer, Matchbox
- Lori Zoss-Kraska, Founder/CEO, Growth Owl, LLC
Wed 9/18 at 2 p.m. – Alternative Venues for Small Groups
Learn how to find alternative venues and what to consider during the site-selection process. Hear about creative ways to integrate the venue’s character into the event design process, from branding to room layouts. Find out how to navigate logistical challenges, such as A/V and accessibility, in non-turnkey venues. 1 CMP credit. More info/register.
Host: Northstar Meetings Group
Speakers:
- Megan Janel Zimmer, Senior Event Experience Strategist, Encore
- Elise Schoening (moderator), Editor, Meeting News; Senior Editor, Northstar Meetings Group
Wed 9/18 at 3 p.m. – How to Build a Marketing Plan and Get It Approved for 2025
Learn how to build a powerful marketing plan that aligns with your business objectives, gain plan approval from executives and board members, and flawlessly execute your marketing plan by turning ideas into measurable results. Hear about the advantages of scenario planning and how it can prepare your marketing team to adapt to the ever-changing economic landscape. More info/register.
Host: Exit Five
Speakers:
- Dave Gerhardt, Founder of Exit Five
- Rowan Tonkin, CMO at Planful
Thu 9/19 at 12 p.m. – Association Systems: Do You Have the Right Tech Stack for Your Association’s Needs?
Have you ever wondered whether your association has the right technology platforms? Are you keeping up with the latest tech? Are you focusing on the right projects? Should you first focus on tools rather than projects? If you’re thinking about doing a technology assessment, explore the first step: looking at your core association systems. More info/register.
Host: Achurch Consulting
Speakers: Tammy Marko, PMP, Technology Consultant, and George Rears, MBA, PMP, CSM, Technology Consultant, Achurch Consulting
Thu 9/19 at 12 p.m. – Leveraging Corporate Social Responsibility Funds for Sponsorships (Alexandria VA)
Is your association looking for new ways to grow non-dues revenue, or seeking to engage corporate sponsors beyond their marketing teams? If so, CSR funds could present opportunities for you. Find out why and how to start conversations with CSR teams. Location: Alexandria VA. More info/register.
Hosts: NoVa Association Senior Executives and PAR: Professionals for Association Revenue
Speaker: corporate partnerships guru Bruce Rosenthal of Bruce Rosenthal Associates
Thu 9/19 at 12 p.m. – Unlock Your Organizational Superpower: Embrace Diversity
Learn how diversity fuels innovation, creates a broad tapestry of workforce talent, connects to your diverse stakeholder base, retains and engages top workforce talent, and aids in understanding the role of employee resource groups. More info/register.
Host: Association Xchange
Speakers:
- Kelli C. Baxter, Executive Director, American Translators Association
- Randy Townsend, Inaugural Editor-in-Chief, George Washington Journal of Ethics in Publishing, George Washington University
- Damita Snow (moderator), CAE, ENV SP, Director, Accessibility & Diversity, Equity and Inclusion Strategy, Publications & Standards, American Society of Civil Engineers
Thu 9/19 at 12 p.m. – Which Governance Model is Right for You?
Many of our governance challenges are rooted in the governance model we use. Perhaps it’s a poor fit for the association, or maybe we’re just not applying it correctly. Learn which models to consider, and the pros and cons of each. More info/register.
Host: Zzeem Consulting
Thu 9/19 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 9/19 at 1 p.m. – Advocating as a Woman in a Male Dominated World
Women are breaking barriers and taking on leadership roles in fields once considered exclusive to men. However, the path to leadership for women in these environments can be challenging. Learn how to advocate for yourself and your career by speaking up, expressing your goals, and seeking support. More info/register.
Host: Association Women Technology Champions
Speaker: Nallely Suárez Gass, Director of Professional Services, Elevar Development
Thu 9/19 at 1 p.m. – Unlocking Growth: Strategies and Frameworks for Learning Businesses
Drawing on a new executive briefing from Leading Learning, this session explores essential strategies that can drive your learning business forward. Discover the two primary levers that underlie growth, the critical importance of growing your reach and impact along with revenue, and how to align growth tactics to your core goals. 1 CAE credit. More info/register.
Host: Leading Learning/Tagoras
Speakers:
- Jeff Cobb and Celisa Steele, co-founders of Tagoras and Leading Learning
- Ujjwal Gupta, CPO and co-founder of BenchPrep
Thu 9/19 at 3 p.m. – Craft a Compelling Communication Strategy to Boost Member Engagement
Learn about the importance of setting a primary goal to guide your communication plan, options for prioritizing audiences and research to understand communications preferences of members, implementing communication strategies to elevate member engagement, metrics to track to evaluate your activities, and ways to assign responsibilities for executing of your communication strategy. More info/register.
Host: Grype Digital
Speakers:
- Farra Trompeter, Co-Director at Big Duck
- Farhad Khan, CEO & Membership Strategist at Grype Digital
Thu 9/19 at 3 p.m. – Curious Leadership Shift #1: Cultivating a Growth Mindset
Unlock your leadership potential by embracing a growth mindset—the foundation of curiosity and continuous learning. Learn how shifting from a fixed mindset to a growth-focused one allows leaders to view challenges as opportunities, inspire innovation, and create a resilient team. Hear actionable strategies to nurture personal and organizational growth. More info/register.
Host: Lateral Solutions
Thu 9/19 at 4p.m. – Award Winning Marketing Campaigns Using Digital Platforms
Hear the success story behind the American Institute of Architect’s (AIA) membership marketing campaign that not only achieved unprecedented recruitment and retention levels but also clinched the prestigious ASAE Gold Circle Award. Learn about the pivotal role of collaboration in the campaign’s success, crafting compelling videos that resonate with both potential and existing members, leveraging digital platforms for maximum reach, and establishing a digital library to build capacity for efficient deployment, repurposing, and redeployment across multiple campaigns. More info/register.
Host: ASAE Reston-Loudoun Swap
Speaker: Mike Skiados MBA, CAE, Managing Director, Membership Strategy and Engagement, AIA
Fri 9/20 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.
Lead facilitator: DeeJay Hastings, CAE, Executive Consultant, Lewis Association Consultants
Fri 9/20 at 3 p.m. – The Informal Consultants Networking Extravaganza
This monthly networking meeting is for full-time consultants who work with non-profits and associations. You don’t have to be an ASAE member to attend this consultant-organized event. This month’s agenda includes a discussion facilitated by Jeff De Cagna about the impact AI will have on association consulting work plus a conversation about getting the most out of your ASAE membership. More info.
Organizer: Cecilia Sepp, CAE, founder, Rogue Tulips Consulting
Fri 9/20 at 4 p.m. – Communication Audits, Analysis & Answers
Conducting a communication audit of emails, websites, social media pages and other tools is an important exercise to ensure that your organization presents itself in a positive, on-brand voice. Learn how to conduct a communication audit and what to do with the results. Hear about the most common inconsistencies, a timeline for how to implement changes, and ideas for improving the effectiveness of your association’s visual and written communications efforts. More info/register.
Host: Fridays@4
Speaker: Denise Gavilan, owner of Gavilan & Associates LLC
Tue 9/24 from 10 a.m. to 1:30 p.m. – Email Camp: Deliverability Domination
Find out how to overcome deliverability challenges so you can land in your fans’ hearts, minds, and inboxes. More info/register.
Host: Sinch Email
Tue 9/24 at 1 p.m. – How Open Access Will Affect Your Journal Strategy and Revenue
Learn about the White House directive that all US taxpayer-funded research must be publicly available by December 31, 2025, including who is affected, how it impacts associations, and the timeline for implementation. Hear about new business models associations are exploring for life post-open access and processes organizations are using to develop new member benefits and generate non-dues revenue. 1 CAE credit. More info/register.
Host: UST Education
Speakers:
- Kate Fryer, CEO, Endocrine Society
- Pam Harley, Partner, Clarke & Esposito
- David Jackson, Executive Officer, ASPET
- Joanna M. Pineda, CEO & Chief Troublemaker, Matrix Group International, Inc.
Wed 9/25 from 9 a.m. to 2:10 p.m. – LMS Demo Days
Watch presentations from a limited number of industry partners that offer LMS platforms. More info/register.
Host: ASAE
Presenters: TopClass LMS by ASI, Thought Industries, Blue Sky eLearn, BenchPrep, Freestone LMS by Community Brands, and D2L
Wed 9/25 from 10 a.m. to 1:30 p.m. – Email Camp: Email Geek Supershow
Defend your title as an email geek with rounds of email marketing strategy and inspiration. More info/register.
Host: Sinch Email
Wed 9/25 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. More info/register.
Host: Association Women Technology Champions
Wed 9/25 at 2 p.m. – 2024 Association Community Trends & Strategies
Hear about the latest trends and benchmarks from the 2024 Association Community Benchmark Report and discover game-changing community strategies to enhance member engagement and improve your online community’s performance. 1 CAE credit. More info/register.
Host: Higher Logic
Speakers: Tiffany Moule, Customer Advisor; Bekah Weidner, Sr. Consultant – Platform Advisor; and Kelly Whelan, Content Marketing Manager, Higher Logic
Thu 9/26 from 9 a.m. to 2:30 p.m. – LMS Demo Days
Watch presentations from a limited number of industry partners that offer LMS platforms. More info/register.
Host: ASAE
Presenters: Crowd Wisdom by Community Brands, Maple LMS, Enigma Chat, and the rest to be announced
Thu 9/26 from 10 a.m. to 1:30 p.m. – Email Camp: Omnichannel Smackdown
When you tag team your communications channels, it’s not even a competition. Learn how to get them working in beautiful harmony. More info/register.
Host: Sinch Email
Thu 9/26 at 12:30 p.m. – Maximize Your Investment and Post-Event Potential: Turn Content into Revenue Streams and Member Value
Association events are a goldmine for content and sponsorship opportunities. Your annual conference can fill your content calendar while generating non-dues revenue to fund your content throughout the year, enhance member benefits by providing valuable continuous content, and offer industry partners richer options beyond simple brand awareness. Learn how to identify content that provides incredible member value, develop non-dues revenue models that work before, during and after your event, create a content calendar filled with engaging content, and use content to create FOMO to grow your annual attendance. More info/register.
Host: .orgCommunity
Speaker: Dan Turnbull, business development, WorkerBee.TV
Thu 9/26 at 1 p.m. – From Constraint to Opportunity: Leveraging Video for Business Growth With Minimal Resources
Hear about changing trends in consumer behavior towards video content and their implications for business strategies; different video types crucial for B2B growth, including product demos, customer testimonials, and explainer videos, and their significance in driving engagement and conversions; and strategies to produce compelling video content efficiently, optimizing impact while effectively managing resources such as time and budget constraints. 1 CAE credit. More info/register.
Host: UST Education
Speaker: Peter Matejcek, CEO, INhouse Video
Thu 9/26 at 1:30 p.m. – Not-So-Everyday AI: AI Assisted Certificate/Certification Program Creation in 60 Minutes or Less
Learn how to leverage AI to build a complete certificate/certification program from start to finish in just 60 minutes. From defining key competencies to generating exam questions, creating engaging content, and prepping candidates for success, we’ll guide you step-by-step through the tools and strategies that can streamline and supercharge your certification development process. More info/register.
Host: Dan Streeter, MissionFuel
Thu 9/26 at 9 p.m. – Building a Consistent Practice of Foresight
Learn how boards, CEOs and other contributors can collaborate to build a consistent practice of foresight. More info/register.
Speaker: Jeff De Cagna, Executive Advisor, Foresight First LLC
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