The weekly list of free educational events and resources for the association community…
“If more of us valued food and cheer and song above hoarded gold, it would be a merrier world.” ~J.R.R. Tolkien
Merry Christmas! This is the last Association Brain Food of the year, unless my list of good reads becomes unwieldy. Otherwise, I’ll return to your inboxes on Friday, January 10. Until then, thank you for spending time with me here. I wish you and your loved ones a most joyful, cozy and relaxing holiday season.
Awards program. For anyone who oversees an association’s awards program, this OpenWater post explains everything a first-time awards program manager needs to know. Even if you have experience managing an awards program, you’ll find something new and useful here.
Emails to members. It’s not just you. Members all over don’t read the emails their associations send. Elizabeth Engel of Spark Consulting shares three ideas to help you fix that problem.
Online learning strategy. D2L explains what you need to know to build and implement an effective online learning strategy, including vision and purpose, necessary resources and expertise, success criteria, communication plan, and assessment.
Content marketing strategy. This interactive quiz from MemberBoat helps you identify must-have content marketing strategies and potential gaps.
GA help from sponsors. Bruce Rosenthal and Dan Kowitz explain how associations can leverage the policy expertise of corporate sponsors to help conduct and develop government affairs research and resources.
Community building. People seek communities—places to belong where they can make a difference. But associations have a hard time delivering the personal and emotional experiences people want from communities. GrowthZone offers advice on engaging members with the five pillars of communities: direction and desired outcome, shared responsibility, personal value, progress awareness, and an ongoing ecosystem.
Certification pricing. If members complain or inquire about the price of your credentialing programs, follow the lead of the Higher Education Consortium for Student Affairs Certification. They explained the reasoning behind their pricing in a post titled, Is Certification a Money Grab?
Small-staff technology. Tori Miller Liu and Meredith Ellison shared a list of software used by 83 small-staff associations.
Bite-sized learning. I don’t like shoulding on you, but every association should offer plenty of microlearning for busy members and customers. James Young at Product Community provides a primer on bite-sized learning, including its attributes, forms, pros and cons, and examples of how members use it.
Snacks
The death of critical thinking will kill us long before AI. | Joan Westenberg
Medieval scholars say 536 CE was the worst year to be alive. | History Facts
The Amazon River doesn’t have any bridges—and for good reason. | Tom Hale, IFL Science
You never grow old at the table
Here’s an excellent coq au vin recipe for a cozy night or Christmas Eve dinner, although I can’t imagine not having Italian on the Eve. Make it as instructed in a slow cooker, but I prefer to cook it in the oven for 1-1/2 hours at 350.
On the side, mashed potatoes or rutabagas to soak up that amazing sauce. I also made Brussels sprouts sauteed with red onion, red bell pepper, garlic, ham broth and dried cranberries.
This recipe for one-skillet eggplant parmesan was fantastic. I mixed two thawed ice cubes of basil pesto into the dish before baking.
It’s been a long time since I made my old chipotle salmon recipe—so good! I didn’t have a lime to juice, so I used two mandarin oranges instead.
Another cozy comfort meal: stovetop roast chicken with lemon herb sauce. I used a mix of parsley, tarragon and chives, and added extra lemon juice.
Wishing festive feasting to all!
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.
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 12/20 at 12 p.m.* – Year-End Reflection and Future Planning (Member ROI Group)
Reflect on the invaluable insights we’ve shared throughout the year and participate in shaping the future of our collective learning journey. Revisit key learnings: refresh your memory on the strategies and tactics that have helped associations like yours boost member value and engagement. Share success stories: hear from peers who have implemented insights from our sessions and achieved tangible results. Participate in collaborative future planning: help us design the roadmap for 2025, ensuring our content aligns perfectly with your association’s evolving needs. 1 CAE credit. More info/register.
Host: Ed Rigsbee
*All events are online at Eastern Standard Time unless otherwise noted.
Fri 12/20 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, we’ll look ahead to 2025 and talk about special projects and activities like promoting the Google Directory, creating resources, and developing the business continuity/crisis situation back up network. Bring your ideas. Plus, we’ll share good news and cover topics and questions from the group. More info.
Organizer: Cecilia Sepp, CAE, founder, Rogue Tulips Consulting
Fri 12/27 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
Tue 1/7 at 12 p.m. – Data Analytics Network
Please join us to find out our brand-new plans for DAN in 2025. We can’t wait to show you! Engage in association peer-led discussions on topics related to data and analytics on the first Tuesday of each month. 1 CAE credit. Location: Arlington VA. More info/register.
Host: Data Analytics Network
Wed 1/8 at 12 p.m. – The Association Community Needs A Different AI Conversation…Right Now
More than two years after ChatGPT irrevocably disrupted our world, there is an open and robust conversation about ethical, purposeful, and responsible generative AI adoption occurring in nearly every sector of our society. So why isn’t this conversation happening in associations? Hear about six purposeful AI provocations for 2025 that will help shift your thinking about the present and future of generative AI and help move our community’s AI conversation in a different and necessary direction. 1 CAE credit. More info/register.
Host: AIOT
Speaker: Jeff De Cagna, executive advisor, Foresight First
Wed 1/8 at 1 p.m. – The Keys to Marketing Across Generations in 2025
Join a Gen-Xer and a Millennial who’ve cracked the code to cross-generational marketing to drive demand. Discover how tech adoption timing influences everything from trust to buying cycles, and learn about the different ways generations approach content consumption and purchasing decisions. Explore self-education styles and the psychology behind it all. 1 CAE credit. More info/register.
Host: UST Education
Speakers:
- Sam Bush, Founder, Ambush
- Kate Coffey-Bacon, VP of Marketing and Events, US Transactions Corporation/UST Education
- Mary Miller, Director of Marketing, Paytrace
Thu 1/9 at 11 a.m. – Cybersecurity Questions You Should Be Asking
The threats, risks, and potential solutions within cybersecurity are changing faster than any other area of technology. As critical as this topic is for an organization’s future and brand reputation, it is one of the least understood by executives. This webinar does away with the tech-talk and explains the must-know facts about cybersecurity risks, what executives need to understand, what questions to ask, and how to ensure your IT team is headed in the right direction at an adequate pace. 1 CAE credit. More info/register.
Host: UST Education
Speaker: Brian Scott, President, CIO, ClearTone Consulting LLC
Thu 1/9 at 11 a.m. – The Event Tech Dating Game
Find the innovative, problem-solving tech solution you need in this one-of-a-kind virtual experience designed exclusively for event planners and marketing professionals. Bold tech contenders compete to become THE ultimate solution to real-world event planning challenges. One savvy event planner puts three ambitious tech companies in the hot seat who address tough, no-holds-barred challenges like managing last-minute hiccups, boosting attendee engagement, and simplifying those all-too-tedious check-ins. More info/register.
Host: Dahlia+ Agency
Speakers:
- Vinnu Deshetty, Event ROI Coach
- Dahlia El Gazzar, Tech Evangelist + Idea Igniteur, Dahlia+ Agency
Thu 1/9 at 1 p.m. – Top Digital Trends Shaping Associations in 2025
Struggling to keep members engaged and meet their evolving expectations? Get solutions to the challenges associations face in aligning their offerings with what members truly value. Learn how to leverage technology and innovative programming to improve member retention, boost engagement, and create new sources of sustainable non-dues revenue. Gain actionable strategies to solve these challenges and position your association for success in 2025. 1 CAE credit. More info/register.
Host: UST Education
Speaker: Dan Stevens, President, WorkerBee.TV
Thu 1/9 at 2 p.m. – Big Changes Are on the Horizon for PCI Compliance
Beginning in April 2025, businesses that accept credit cards are expected to be compliant with PCI DSS version 4.0. Some of the key changes from past versions of PCI include stricter security requirements like mandatory multi-factor authentication for all access to cardholder data environments, automated log reviews, and enhanced vulnerability scanning procedures. Learn about these changes and what they might mean for your organization. More info/register.
Host: 501Works
Speaker: James Marquis, CIO, 501Works
Thu 1/9 at 2 p.m. – The Future of Association Boards (FAB) Community January 2025 Kickoff Event
Host: Jeff De Cagna, executive advisor, Foresight First
Thu 1/9 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, Editor-in-Chief, Association Chat, and VP of Marketing and Community Engagement, Big Red M
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.
Creative Commons licensed photo by Alicia Slough via Unsplash
Amazon.com and AssociationBrainFood.com links allow me to earn a royalty on any sales or leads that result from clicking. Thank you!
Association Brain Food 