The weekly list of free educational events and resources for the association community… 
“Reading is an act of resistance in a landscape of distraction.” —David L. Ulin
Microcredentials. TopClass LMS shares an association primer on skills-based microcredentialing. They explain why microcredentials are becoming more popular with learners and their employers, how associations benefit from these programs, and what to do next if you want to explore deeper.
Membership app. Clowder shows how a year-round membership app outperforms event apps by keeping members continuously engaged with networking, learning, news, workplace resources, career support, business development, and more. Makes sense to me!
Learning revenue. D2L shares research describing the challenges faced by associations offering virtual learning and by those relying solely on in-person learning. They also explain how associations have adjusted their business models to monetize learning programs. The good news for members and their employers: 74% of associations plan to increase their learning budget.
Remote workplace culture. After the mass transition to remote work, I wondered how people were interacting and building relationships with co-workers, especially in organizations where leaders didn’t make that a priority. Thankfully, Jamie Notter of Propel offers reassuring and helpful advice on maintaining a healthy, cohesive culture in a remote work environment.
Post-conference buzz. Sherry Budziak of .orgSource writes about her experience connecting with others in the hallways of Higher Logic’s Super Forum. She returned home renewed with “a reminder that community is our greatest asset.” How hard does your organization sell this aspect of your events?
AI for associations. Need to sharpen your knowledge about AI? Nimble’s AI success kit includes four useful resources: two 30-minute webinar recordings about AI for associations, plus an introduction to AI for associations and a guide to developing an AI strategy.
Member service. Elizabeth Engel of Spark Consulting reminds us of both the negative and positive power of word-of-mouth marketing. To ensure your members and customers are only passing around positive comments, she offers advice on making sure your member service is in tip-top shape.
Snacks
How to reconceive your association’s magazine as a strategic content asset. | Hilary Marsh, Content Company
Data privacy and compliance: what every association should know in 2025, especially with new AI-related regulations adding another layer of complexity. | Sara Spalt, Cimatri
20 much-needed tips for making panels work. | Barbara Scofidio, Skift Meetings
You never grow old at the table
When I wake up famished, I like having something healthy in the freezer to grab before doing yoga or taking a walk. Lately, that’s been a whole wheat banana muffin. I follow this Best Banana Bread recipe from Bon Appétit but use all wheat flour, Greek yogurt, and walnuts.
I have good intentions but often forget what’s languishing in the fruit drawer. Underneath the citrus and berries, I occasionally find a pair of dull apples or bruised pears. Instead of throwing them in the compost, I sauté them in a little butter and neutral oil with a few dashes of spices (cinnamon, cloves, allspice, ginger, and/or nutmeg), nuts, and raisins. I eat this comforting apple/pear sauté with plain Greek yogurt and granola, if I have it, for breakfast or a late afternoon snack.
My freezer is full of pesto, so now and then I force myself to make something pesto-y. Not such a burden really and a good excuse for pasta. This time, I made chicken pesto and veggie pasta. Besides chicken, the dish included broccoli flowers and stems, carrot, onion, poblano, corn, peas, red bell, mushroom, sundried tomatoes, green onion, milk, and parmesan with farfalle pasta.
This week, we also enjoyed creamy piccata swordfish along with brown rice to soak up the scrumptious sauce. On the side, broccoli greens from the garden sautéed with bacon, onion, red bell, poblano, broccoli stems, carrots, garlic, and ham broth.
Another night, we had pork chops with cranberry pan sauce alongside a nuked sweet potato and leftover greens.
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About CAE credits: Per ASAE, “any continuing professional education offered by any professional entity may be accepted toward the [CAE] professional development requirement as long as it is directly related to either association or nonprofit management as defined by the CAE exam content outline.”
Education providers: 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 4/11 at 12:30 p.m.* – What the Bananas is Agentic AI? AI is No Longer Just a Tool—It’s a Game-Changer for #EventProfs
Agentic AI isn’t just about automation—it’s about AI that acts, decides, and optimizes in real-time to make event planning, marketing, and execution more efficient than ever. Hear a clear, no-fluff explanation of Agentic AI and why it matters for event professionals; how AI can streamline event planning, marketing, and execution; what to avoid when integrating AI into your workflow; and how to build an AI agent that works for you. More info/register.
Host: Dahlia El Gazzar, Dahlia+ Agency
Guest: Noelle Russell, AI Leadership Institute
*All events are online at Eastern Daylight Time unless otherwise noted.
Mon 4/14 at 8 a.m. – Sustaining the Health of Chief Staff Executives (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:
- Adam Levy, Executive Director, American Cleft Palate Craniofacial Association
- Silvia Quevedo, Executive Director, Lamaze International
Tue 4/15 at 12 p.m. – Association Risk Management: Icebergs Ahead
Now more than ever, it is important for CEOs to plan for financial uncertainty. Hear how to build a financial contingency plan, what to track in your financials, and how to spot early signs of trouble. More info/register.
Host: Zzeem Consulting
Speakers: Asif Ahmed and Erin Roberts
Tue 4/15 at 12 p.m. – Tech Tuesday: No Pranks, Just Real Tech Fails
Hear real, unfiltered stories of tech failures from industry leaders, and the lessons learned; listen to practical advice for navigating your own technology challenges, with insights from Dave and Tech Council members; and get a chance to share your tech fail story and learn from others. More info/register (ASAE members only).
Host: ASAE Technology Council
Facilitators: Reggie Henry of ASAE and Dave Coriale of DelCor
Tue 4/15 at 12 p.m. – CRVM April 2025 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. This month’s topic is current best practices of best of breed volunteer systems and how they apply or don’t apply in your association to both the national level organization and your chapter/components More info/register (ASAE members only).
Host: ASAE Component Relations and Volunteer Management Council
Facilitators:
- Peggy M. Hoffman, FASAE, CAE President of Mariner Management
- Diane Scheuring, Association Senior Vice President of Membership & Marketing, Hospice and Palliative Nurses
- Kevin Whorton, President of Whorton Research
Wed 4/16 from 9 a.m. to 5 p.m. – CMEpalooza Spring
CMEpalooza is a free, biannual, online conference geared toward individuals involved in the development and implementation of continuing medical education for healthcare professionals. More info/register.
Hosts: Derek Warnick, continuing healthcare education professional, founder of CMEpalooza, and Scott Kober, MBA, Managing Partner at Excalibur Medical Education
Wed 4/16 at 10 a.m. – Small Steps, BIG Results: Improving Your Website Without a Major Redesign
Are you looking to improve your website now without a major redesign or large technology investment? Hear success stories and initiatives that you can implement right away without a big investment. Learn how to refresh your website design; test your site’s usability; create an analytics/SEO reporting dashboard; review, refine and retire your content; and consolidate your digital presence. More info/register.
Host: Results Direct | RD Mobile
Speakers: Laura Graham, Senior Solutions Consultant, and Cecilia Satovich, Executive VP, Results Direct | RD Mobile
Wed 4/16 at 11 a.m. – AI and The Future of Work (Association Chat)
The future of work isn’t coming—it’s already here. As AI reshapes industries, associations and nonprofits must navigate a rapidly shifting landscape or risk being left behind. Hear how associations can harness AI for growth, innovation, and long-term success. More info/register.
Host: KiKi L’Italien, Editor-in-Chief, Association Chat, and VP of Marketing and Community Engagement, Big Red M
Guest: Dan Chuparkoff, CEO, Reinvention Labs
Wed 4/16 at 12 p.m. – How to Increase Your Community’s Value with User-Generated Content
Learn what user-generated content (UGC) looks like in an online community environment, how to encourage members to contribute, and why every association should be implementing a UGC strategy this year. Get recommendations for how to overcome common challenges like low participation and off-topic posts. Walk away with practical ways to turn passive members into active contributors to create a stronger, more vibrant community. More info/register.
Host: GrowthZone
Speaker: Jessica Rickel, Business & Marketing Strategist
Wed 4/16 at 1 p.m. – What Works (and What Doesn’t) in Association Growth & Engagement
Are your association’s strategies actually working—or are they just keeping you busy? In an industry filled with revenue models, engagement tactics, and membership initiatives, knowing what truly drives success can mean the difference between growth and stagnation. From what makes affinity programs profitable to the engagement strategies that actually retain members, Lucas breaks down the common pitfalls associations face and how to navigate them successfully. More info/register.
Host: KiKi L’Italien, Editor-in-Chief, Association Chat, and VP of Marketing and Community Engagement, Big Red M
Guest: Lucas McCann, President & CEO of Core Affinity
Wed 4/16 at 2 p.m. – Overcoming LMS Data Migration Challenges: Effective Transition Strategies
Learn about key LMS data migration challenges, developing an LMS migration project plan, effective LMS migration solutions, and a data migration process and guide. More info/register.
Host: MapleLMS
Wed 4/16 at 2:30 p.m. – Recitals Are Often M.I.A. in Event Contracts
In event contracts, Recitals reflect a critical element of the Preamble. Yet, the majority of contracts fail to include them. Learn about the three critical elements missing from most contracts’ Recitals section, why they matter, and what planners can do to include them in future contracts. More info/register.
Host: Heather Reid, CEO and founder, Planner Protect
Thu 4/17 at 11 a.m. – Mastering Standard Operating Procedures: Enhancing Efficiency and Compliance
Standard Operating Procedures (SOPs) are the backbone of quality and consistency in any organization, ensuring that every task is performed with uniformity and precision. Learn what SOPs are and how to identify your organization’s needs, create tailored SOPs, and implement them effectively. Hear how SOPs can enhance operational efficiency, ensure compliance with legal and industry standards, and provide a strong basis for training and quality control. 1 CAE credit. More info/register.
Host: UST Education
Speakers: Daniel Elacqua, Chief Executive Officer, and Towsif Nasor, Technology Advisor at Strategico Consultants
Thu 4/17 at 11 a.m. – The Event Tech Dating Game: Round 2
We had an amazing first episode of the Event Tech Dating Game. It’s time to gear up for Round 2. This time, we’re shaking things up with a new planner, fresh tech suitors, and brand-new topic category (Data Analytics). Get ready for more tech love! More info/register.
Host: Dahlia+ Agency
Thu 4/17 at 2 p.m. – Driving Connection & Collaboration In A New World
Learn how to forge authentic connections, articulate your value to win the respect of the executive team, and work with all generations to achieve shared goals. More info/register.
Host: Smart Meetings
Speaker: Shane Feldman, founder of Count Me In
Fri 4/18 at 12 p.m. – CAE LiveChat
This program is open to all CAE candidates, current CAEs, and all ASAE members. The goal is to provide an open, online space for CAE candidates to ask questions about anything and everything about CAE (e.g., exam preparations, eligibility, exam content outline, study strategies, practice questions, tips and advice, etc.) as well as current CAEs to share their knowledge and experience with the CAE exam as well as any ASAE members who wish to join. More info/register (ASAE members only).
Host: ASAE
Facilitators:
- DeeJay Hastings, IOM, CAE, Deputy Executive Director & Consultant, LEWIS, LLC (Lead Facilitator)
- Wanda Little Coffey, MBA, CAE, Senior Director, Volunteer Relations, ASAE
Fri 4/18 at 3 p.m. – Nonprofit Consultants Collaborative Monthly Networking Meeting
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 the usual agenda of sharing of good news and topics or questions from the group. More info/register.
Organizer: Cecilia Sepp, CAE, founder, Rogue Tulips Consulting
Tue 4/22 at 10:30 a.m. – Fix Your Conference in One Hour: Insider Tips & Game-Changing Strategies
Want to make your conference more engaging, valuable, and impactful? Join this sneak peek of the Conference Improvement Kit, a new tool designed to help event organizers, conference planners, and leaders create better networking, deeper engagement, and stronger sponsor/exhibitor experience. Hear about game-changing strategies to boost engagement and networking, common event mistakes and how to fix them, and innovative formats to make sessions more interactive. More info/register.
Host: Better Meetings
Speaker: Lee Gimpel, founder of Better Meetings
Tue 4/22 at 1 p.m. – From Voice to Value: Turning Advocacy into Funding & Partnership Power
Explore how advocacy can be transformed into a strategic tool for attracting sponsorships, partnerships, and philanthropic support. Learn how showing up, being a trusted voice, and aligning your mission with funders’ priorities can open new doors. More info/register.
Host: Lori Zoss Kraska, MBA, CFRE, founder and CEO, Growth Owl
Speaker: Joan Wright, Executive Director, Childcare Resources
Wed 4/23 from 8:45 a.m. to 4:10 p.m. – Association Management System (AMS) Demo Days
This two-day event features presentations from a limited number of industry partners that offer AMS platforms. They’ll showcase their platforms and share their knowledge with the association market. More info/register.
Host: ASAE
Participants: Protech, Glue Up, Nimble AMS by Momentive Software, Mem360 by Saralux, re:Members AMS, Element AMS, MemberClicks Trade, Naylor, YourMembership by Momentive Software, and MemberSuite
Wed 4/23 at 12 p.m. – Welcome with Purpose: Designing an Onboarding Experience That Drives Engagement and Retention
First impressions matter—and in today’s competitive membership landscape, a strong onboarding strategy can make all the difference in member retention and long-term member engagement. Hear about practical approaches to onboarding that go beyond the welcome email including how to engage members from day one and map the first-year journey. Whether you’re building an onboarding program from scratch, or refining an existing one, this session will offer actionable ideas to help your members feel seen, supported, excited to get connected, and stay involved. More info/register.
Host: Association Xchange
Speaker: Christi Beatty, CAE, Vice President of Chapter Services & Member Engagement, Associated General Contractors of America
Wed 4/23 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 4/23 at 1 p.m. – Transforming Your Annual Conference Into Year-Round Engagement & Revenue
Hear how to evolve your event into a 365-day content and engagement strategy. Learn how to repurpose conference content into always-on digital programming, leverage multiple media formats (videos, webinars, podcasts, and articles), and create sponsorship inventory that drives non-dues revenue. 1 CAE credit. More info/register.
Host: UST Education
Speakers: Marcus Leite, Director, Sales & Marketing, and Dan Stevens, President, WorkerBee.TV
Wed 4/23 at 1 p.m. – The Best AI Tools for Association Professionals in 2025
Cut through the noise and explore the top AI tools available today, breaking them down by their strengths in key areas: content creation, spreadsheet and data analysis, web search and research, team collaboration and productivity, and automation and workflow optimization. Walk away with a clear understanding of how to leverage AI to work smarter—not harder—so you can focus on what matters most: delivering value to your members. 1 CAE credit. More info/register.
Host: Fonteva
Speaker: Joseph Burak, Chief Strategist, TRANSiT Strategy & Analytics
Thu 4/24 from 9 a.m. to 4 p.m. – Association Management System (AMS) Demo Days
This two-day event features presentations from a limited number of industry partners that offer AMS platforms. They’ll showcase their platforms and share their knowledge with the association market. More info/register.
Host: ASAE
Participants: MemberClicks Professional, Aplusify, Fonteva, GrowthZone, Aptify by Momentive Software, iMIS by ASI, re:Members AMS Platform, Altai Systems, and NetForum by Momentive Software
Thu 4/24 at 1 p.m. – Strategic Reinvention: Building Future-Ready Associations
To meet the demands of today and ensure future readiness, association leaders must innovate without compromising their mission—no easy feat. Learn about the critical gaps between recognizing the need for innovation, maintaining strategic focus, creating alignment across Board and staff, and ensuring successful execution. 1 CAE credit. More info/register.
Host: UST Education
Speaker: Alanna McKee, Founder & CEO at Scarlet Oak Consulting
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 your event is scheduled.
Creative Commons licensed photo by James Lee via Unsplash
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