Association Brain Food: 11.15.24

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

“May you experience each day as a sacred gift woven around the heart of wonder.” —John O’Donohue, Eternal Echoes: Celtic Reflections on Our Yearning to Belong

Chapter education partnerships. TopClass LMS explains why, instead of competing, associations should partner with their chapters to design and/or deliver online education programs. They describe revenue-sharing models and offer tips for ensuring a profitable, equitable and peaceful partnership.

Awards program. OpenWater provides suggestions for improving the transparency and fairness of your association’s awards program, so no one thinks it’s a biased insider’s game. Their advice covers the program structure, application/nomination process, judge selection and judging criteria.

Attendee preferences. American Public Health Association wanted to streamline their annual meetings’ educational tracks and align the agenda with the interests of their 12,000 attendees. To find out what was resonating with attendees, they placed AI sensors near stages to gather anonymous, aggregated behavioral data—and got some surprising insights too.

Faux inclusion. Cecilia Sepp of Rogue Tulips Consulting takes issue with associations that repeatedly ask the same people to join committees and other groups rather than announcing and offering these opportunities to all members. What do you lose by making your organization more transparent? What’s the real reason you’re hoarding these opportunities for favored members? Are you okay with sharing your answers with everyone? Some association professionals have a lot to learn about basic human psychology and true inclusion.

Staff committee liaison. How many of you received training before taking on a committee liaison role? Yeah, me neither. Mariner Management & Marketing describes three strategies to help staff liaisons lay the foundation for a strong partnership with committee leaders.

Microlearning. eLearningDOC explains why microlearning is an ideal learning format for busy professionals and how to add it to your association’s education portfolio.

Community culture. Amanda Kaiser lays out five steps for creating a community culture that gives members the “These are my people!” feeling—that community vibe, found-my-tribe, insta-family feeling. You can’t assume this experience will happen on its own, you have to make it happen.

Generations. Why do we care about generations, asks Merritt Rohlfing at Association Analytics. He’s convinced there are more effective ways to gauge audience needs, target and communicate messages, and deliver your association’s value proposition.

Snacks

It’s time to amplify your content’s reach and turn it into a valued and respected business asset. But is your organization up to the challenge? Find out by completing the CAOS Content Operations and Strategy Maturity Assessment.

The writes and write-nots: in a couple decades there won’t be many people who can write. | Paul Graham

Vapid vibes: what does our culture want us to want? | Peco, Pilgrims in the Machine

You never grow old at the table

This sheet-pan roasted chicken thigh shawarma recipe is excellent as is—I didn’t make any changes. On the side, Brussels sprouts sautéed with kielbasa, red onion, red bell pepper, jalapeño pepper, garlic and ham broth. I was hoping to make chicken salad with the leftovers, but only one small thigh remained.

As usual, we enjoyed tilefish with spiced breadcrumbs—a regular repeat in our house. On the side, asparagus sautéed with lemon zest, garlic powder and some breadcrumbs from the tilefish topping.

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If you’d like to subscribe to Association Brain Food, please complete the form in the sidebar or at the bottom of this post. I won’t share or sell your email address.

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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.

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Fri 11/15 at 1 p.m.* – Talk with CAEs

If you’re taking the exam in December, here’s your chance to ask questions about preparation, exam content outline, study strategies, practice questions, and get tips and advice from current CAEs. More info/register.

Lead facilitator: DeeJay Hastings, CAE, Executive Consultant, Lewis Association Consultants

*All events are online at Eastern Standard Time unless otherwise noted.

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Fri 11/15 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 deep dive conversation into business continuity planning, and a special update from Nicole Holmes, ASAE Staff Liaison, plus the usual agenda of sharing of good news and topics or questions from the group. More info.

Organizer: Cecilia Sepp, CAE, founder, Rogue Tulips Consulting

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Fri 11/15 at 4 p.m. – Advocacy Program

Learn how to leverage grassroots advocacy to amplify your organization’s voice, advance your priorities, and create lasting positive change. Discover practical techniques to engage your employees, members, or supporters, transforming them into a powerful force for advocacy and driving impactful outcomes for your organization and community. More info/register.

Host: Fridays@4

Speaker: David Namura, Gov’t Affairs & Public Policy, Google

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Mon 11/18 at 8 a.m. – Communicating Success: supported by USAE News (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: Owen Kavanaugh, Kavanaugh Solutions

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Mon 11/18 at 12 p.m. – Membership Monday: The Secrets to Building a Meaningful Engagement Model

Learn how to create an engagement scoring model that truly captures all the ways your members connect with you. Hear about the art and science behind engagement scoring, breaking the process into three easy steps, and practical tips on building a model that reflects what your members care about (aka your value proposition). More info/register (ASAE members only).

Host: ASAE Member Professionals Community

Speaker: Heather Tran, business analyst and data expert, Association Analytics

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Mon 11/18 from 12:30 to 5 p.m. – Ven-Con DC (Washington DC)

Join us prior to AMSFest to continue the conversation we started at past Ven-Con events. Our goal remains the same: to work together as vendors and consultants to help associations achieve better outcomes with their technology projects. Come help identify key challenges all vendors and consultants face in helping associations succeed, and meet and learn with other AMS/CRM vendors and consultants. Location: Washington DC. Register/more info (fee-based event for vendors and consultants only).

Host: 501Works

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Tue 11/19 at 11 a.m. – Good Intentions vs Bad Actors: Considerations on Security for Non-profit

Learn why cybersecurity—protection of data, technology, and physical security—is the responsibility of all organizations. Hear about the impact of non-compliance with regulations such as HIPAA, including potential fines and reputational damage that can affect organizations, including non-profits. Get tips for discussing the prioritization of cybersecurity at the executive and board level, identifying opportunities to seek grants and partnerships for funding, and exercising caution when engaging with external entities. 1 CAE credit. More info/register.

Host: UST Education

Speakers: Ali Niroo, Managing Partner, and Melanie Thomas, Vice President of Cybersecurity, Bridgepointe Technologies

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Tue 11/19 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

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Tue 11/19 at 12 p.m. – CRVM November 2024 Crunch and Munch

Crunch and Munch is a chance to come together once a month with peers for a casual conversation on hot topics relevant to the component relations and volunteer management community. Come prepared to share your successes, challenges and ideas. More info/register (ASAE members only).

Host: ASAE Component Relations and Volunteer Management Professionals Council

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Tue 11/19 at 1 p.m. – Evaluating New Revenue Opportunities

Explore key factors for guiding your association’s assessment of new products, programs or services. Discover how to utilize our clear scoring system to make informed decisions on whether to move forward with a potential revenue stream. Gain insights on the challenges association leaders face around pursuing revenue ideas and how to overcome them. More info/register.

Host: McKinley Advisors

Speakers: Megan Cruz, CAE, Practice Director, and Susan Davis, M.S., CAE, Senior Consultant, McKinley Advisors

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Tue 11/19 at 1 p.m. – Crafting Newsletters Your Members Can’t Ignore

Explore AI-powered tools that slash production time and utilize data-driven personalization techniques that speak directly to each member’s interests. Hear strategies to turn your newsletter into a community-building powerhouse, fostering connections among members and strengthening their bond with your association. Learn about techniques for crafting data-driven content that reinforces your association’s mission and values and a framework for measuring and demonstrating the tangible value your newsletter brings to members. 1 CAE credit. More info/register.

Host: UST Education

Speaker: Erica Salm Rench, MBA, COO, Rasa.io

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Wed 11/20 at 10 a.m. – Inclusive Learning-Survey Questions

Hear about the results of a three-year research project on learner survey questions that can be used to measure any training program for its success in supporting inclusive learning—focusing on barriers and supports for learning, accessibility, diversity, and belonging. Learn about a new tool that ensures learning programs work successfully for all participants. More info/register.

Speakers: inclusive learning expert Ingeborg Kroese and learning evaluation expert Will Thalheimer

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Wed 11/20 at 12 p.m. – Nonprofit Financial Reporting: Building a Simple System for Complicated Needs

Explore best practices for designing an accounting system that delivers abundant benefits: streamlined reporting, greater accuracy, and operational efficiency. Learn how to structure your system in 3D, leverage one-click reporting, and avoid common pitfalls. Hear about best practices that will allow your nonprofit to thrive and give thanks for the clarity and ease of managing financial data. More info/register.

Host: Your Part-Time Controller

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Wed 11/20 at 2:30 p.m. – Contract Consequences: Being Sued!

Hear about Joan’s experience being named in a lawsuit, the lessons event planners can take from her experience and what you can do to protect yourself. More info/register.

Host: Planner Protect

Speaker: Joan Eisenstodt, Hospitality & Meetings Industry Consultant & Trainer, Principal, Eisenstodt Assocs., LLC

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Thu 11/21 at 11 a.m. – Unlocking the Power of Personalization: Building Blocks for Your Marketing Campaign

Your members want the right information at the right time, in the right channels. Personalization, especially within the member journey, is the key to re-engaging your members an driving sustainable membership growth. Learn how to develop detailed buyer personas using real customer data and insights, map customer journeys and leverage real-time triggers for hyper-personalized experiences, set measurable KPIs and continuously optimize your personalized campaigns, and assess your organization’s digital marketing maturity and chart a path forward. More info/register.

Host: fusionSpan

Speakers:

• Matthew Hanagan, Lead Solution Engineer, Salesforce
• Jessica Richardson, Senior Consultant, Marketing & Digital Strategy, fusionSpan

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Thu 11/21 at 11 a.m. – Failing Forward

This interactive program goes beyond theory. Hear Glover’s story of success, failure, recovery, and his proven Fail Forward Process. Learn how to manage your successes and redefine your failures, transforming them into the fuel you need for sustainable success. 1 CAE credit. More info/register.

Host: UST Education

Speaker: Paul Glover, President, Glover & Associates

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Thu 11/21 at 12 p.m. – Member ROI Group

The live discussions will predominately be about 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

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Thu 11/21 at 1 p.m. – Tackling Governance Challenges in Healthcare Associations

Hear a discussion on the unique challenges of managing governance for a healthcare association. Topics will include staffing a healthcare association; leading from behind; conducting a governance audit to make sure your ducks are in a row; managing outdated structures and processes and moving into the future; and what’s keeping you up at night. More info/register (ASAE members only).

Host: ASAE Healthcare Community Advisory Committee

Speakers:

• Maricela Arias-Cantu, MS, MHA, CAE, Deputy Chief Executive Officer, Society for Public Health Education
• Carey Goryl, MSW, CAE, CPRP, CEO, Association for Advancing Physician & Provider Recruitment
• Susan Motley, CAE, Executive Director, NAMI Central Virginia
• Kirsten Shaffer, CAE, Executive Director, National Association Medical Staff Services (Smithbucklin)

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Thu 11/21 at 1 p.m. – Strategic Networking: Making Networking an Art Not an Accident

Hear about the power of strategic networking and cultivating relationships to advance both your career and your organization’s strategic objectives. Explore how building solid professional connections can help you thrive in dynamic environments, solve complex challenges, and support your organization’s long-term goals. Learn practical techniques to develop meaningful relationships, leverage networks to influence decision-making, and drive collaboration, ultimately enhancing both personal and organizational success. 1 CAE credit. More info/register.

Host: ASAE

Speaker: Vern Schellenger, President and CEO at Contacts Count LLC

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Thu 11/21 at 2 p.m. – Outsmarting Uncertainty: Legal Insights for Event Pros

Hear about hot-button issues and advice to help planners protect their organizations and ensure a successful event. Learn how to negotiate practical, achievable sustainability clauses that reflect your event’s environmental goals; the legal implications of AI, including data privacy and intellectual-property concerns; and how force majeure clauses are evolving to account for unpredictable disruptions and what you need to watch for in your contracts. 1 CMP credit. More info/register.

Host: MeetingsNet

Speaker: Jill Blood, vice president and deputy general counsel at Maritz

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Thu 11/21 at 3 p.m. – Association Chat Insider Weekly Recap

Come together with the association community to chat about the hot topics that matter most. Our meetings are a safe space: no recordings, no live streams—just real, raw conversations. Want to explore what’s buzzing in the association world? This is your weekly chance to connect, share, and learn from one another. More info/register.

Host: KiKi L’Italien, host, Association Chat

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Thu 11/21 at 4 p.m. – Implementing and Using AI in an Associations World of Cybersecurity Risks

Learn about responsible AI use, implementation, and security, including the impact of bias in data, developers’ responsibilities, and the crucial need to build trust; selecting appropriate technology to secure your organization’s data and the questions to ask when vendors promote their “AI” tools; the growing trends for increased regulations related to AI and the necessity of human involvement in the constantly evolving AI landscape; and ensuring your association is thinking about how to staff safely. More info/register.

Host: ASAE Reston-Loudoun Swap

Speaker: Melanie Thomas, VP of Cybersecurity, Bridgepoint

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Thu 11/21 at 6:30 p.m. – The Association Chat November Magazine Launch Party

Be part of an exclusive gathering of association professionals as we unveil the November issue of Association Chat Magazine. Be among the first to see the latest issue. Engage with industry innovators and thought leaders. Hear exclusive insights you won’t find anywhere else. Network with fellow association executives. More info/register.

Host: KiKi L’Italien, host, Association Chat

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Fri 11/22 at 11:30 a.m. – World Café: Taking Partnerships Beyond the Photo Op

Partnerships between associations are an important element in your international development toolbox. Yet all too often they amount to little more than an empty statement. Learn how to move beyond the symbolic photo opportunities and create relationships that deliver real value to members. Explore how to make international partnerships more tangible and impactful, focusing on best practices, challenges, and strategies to ensure lasting collaboration. More info/register.

Host: ASAE International Associations Advisory Council

Speakers:

• Ginger Ausloos, Vice President, Information Technology, AACSB International—The Association to Advance Collegiate Schools of Business
• Kerry Cosby, Associate Director, Global Affairs and Analytics Initiatives, AACC – The American Association of Clinical Chemistry
• Brandon Hackworth, CAE, Vice President, Governance and Membership at American Association of Orthodontists
• Amy Hissrich, Vice President, International Affairs, ASAE
• Michiel Gen (moderator), Partner, Exempla Management & Consulting

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Fri 11/22 at 1 p.m. – The Art of Asking: Mastering the Feedback Loop

Explore methods to gather insights across all learning environments, from webinars with hundreds of participants to self-driven learning journeys. Learn how to create a feedback culture that has learners eagerly sharing their thoughts; become a data detective, skilled in the art of turning mere comments into actionable gold; and implement a toolkit of strategies to not just gather feedback, but to weave it seamlessly into the fabric of your educational offerings. 0.75 CAE credit. More info/register.

Host: Blue Sky eLearn

Speaker: Dr. Kristen Wall, MA EdD, Director of Learning & Development, Blue Sky eLearn

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Fri 11/22 at 4 p.m. – Credentialing: Certificates, Certification, and Accreditation – How to Tell the Difference and What It Means for Your Association

The world of credentialing can be confusing. There are certification boards, associations offering certifications, certificates of completion, and accreditation. Get a high-level overview of credentialing covering topics in the CAE exam outline with enough detail to learn if credentialing could serve your members. More info/register.

Host: Fridays@4

Speaker: Cindy Lemek, CAE ICE-CCP, executive director of the Wound, Ostomy, Continence Nursing Certification Board

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Mon 11/25 at 1:30 p.m. – Associations Host Thriving Gatherings: Best Practices and Success Stories from Two Small Staff Leaders

Learn how to host successful, high-impact gatherings by fostering community, engaging members, and creating lasting value. Hear real-world success stories and hands-on insights that demonstrate how to navigate challenges, maximize resources, and elevate organizations through meaningful events. Walk away with actionable ideas on collaboration, team synergy, and impactful member engagement that will help you take your gatherings to the next level. More info/register.

Host: Vista Cova

Speakers:

• Lindsay Currie, Executive Officer of the Council on Undergraduate Research
• Christina Lewellen, MBA, CAE, Executive Director of ATLIS

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Tue 11/26 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

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Tue 11/26 at 1 p.m. – Empower Your Leadership: Navigating IT Strategies for Non-Technical Leaders

Equip yourself with the strategic acumen to leverage technology as a formidable ally in realizing your vision for business excellence and sustainable competitive advantage. Hear about the nuances of aligning technology with overarching business strategies, ensuring your organization not only survives but thrives in the digital age. 1 CAE credit. More info/register.

Host: UST Education

Speakers: Daniel Elacqua, Chief Executive Officer, and Chris Maynard, Senior Executive, Strategico Consultants

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Association Brain Food Weekly is published Friday mornings. If you’re offering free professional development to the association community, please send me the link via email by Wednesday afternoon the week before it’s scheduled.

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Painting in the public domain: Autumn Rain by J. Alden Weir (1890)

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