The weekly list of free educational events and resources for the association community…
Online learning program development. Apti explains how to take a proactive approach to developing online learning programs. Their method anticipates member needs and industry trends, instead of reacting to ideas from SMEs alone.
New member engagement study. Contribute to industry research by taking Amanda Kaiser’s New Member Engagement Study survey. As soon as the numbers are crunched, you’ll be the first to receive the study’s essential insights, including the range of tactics and measurements associations are using to welcome new members.
AMS selection. If you’re embarking on an AMS project, start your research with 108 ideaspace’s list of issues to consider when selecting an association management system (AMS). They go into detail on items that belong on your list: reporting, security, API, technology partners, access control, cost of ownership, vendor stability, and the ability to expand software capabilities as your needs change.
AI tools course. During the Association Academy’s Association Artificial Intelligence Certificate Course, you’ll have hands-on time in class to learn how to use AI tools to create high-quality text, image, video, and other content. Earn one CAE credit for each live class you attend. The course meets Thursdays, 1-2pm ET starting May 22. Help me subsidize Brain Food expenses and save yourself $50 with promo code BRAINFOOD.
Membership crisis. At Boardroom, Sarah Sladek sends out a wake-up call about the essence of membership. “Membership is a relationship. It’s not a product or a transaction… When you join an association, you are making the decision to be a part of a community… You are making a statement to the world about who you are and what’s important to you.” How well does your membership strategy and marketing align with her assertion?
AI’s impact. Being Human in 2035, a report from Elon University’s Imagining the Digital Future Center, has popped up in my stream a few times lately. I’ve only dipped into it, but it looks fascinating enough to share. The report describes how experts expect AI to profoundly reshape human traits and behaviors by 2035. We are living in momentous times.
Repurposing webinars. eLearningDOC describes the benefits of turning your webinars into self-paced, dynamic, and interactive learning experiences. They explain how to extend the life of your webinars while expanding your association’s educational portfolio.
Membership benefits. Elizabeth Stice at Current offers a slant from outside our industry on why membership organizations are worth the effort. While membership requires effort and responsibility, it combats modern alienation. She says the sense of belonging and connection that membership provides is essential for personal fulfillment and societal health. Again, are you offering and promoting this aspect of membership?
Sponsored content. Lead Marvels helps you make a case for a new revenue stream at your association—sponsored content. They explain how five associations addressed common challenges and objections to sponsored content and how they use it to generate revenue and member engagement.
Snacks
Trade show guidance for exhibitors: how to accommodate attendees at different stages of the sales funnel. | Julius Solaris
A non-partisan issue we can all get behind: the ridiculous complexity of our federal tax forms. | an honest 2014 letter from Donald Rumsfeld to the IRS via Emily Domenech
The average college student is illiterate. | Hilarius Bookbinder (pseudonym of a 30-year tenured professor at a regional public university), Persuasion
You never grow old at the table
One of our favorite one-pan meals is a southwest skillet with ground chorizo and turkey, sweet potatoes, and black beans. Greens of some type—spinach, chard, or whatever you find in your garden, farmers’ market, or supermarket—are an essential ingredient in this dish.
A quick dinner for a Friday night when happy hour goes too long: flounder with spiced breadcrumb topping. This time, my topping included red bell pepper, green onion, jalapeño, and garlic. On the side, my go-to: broccoli roasted with red onion and garlic powder, and a nuked sweet potato.
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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 4/18 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
*All events are online at Eastern Daylight Time unless otherwise noted.
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
Mon 4/21 at 8 a.m. – 2025 Behind the Scenes at 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: Todd McElwee, Assistant Publisher, USAE News
Mon 4/21 at 3 p.m. – Open Forum for Healthcare Associations on Navigating Federal Funding and Adapting to Policy Shifts
Join fellow medical and healthcare association CEOs for a candid, high-level dialogue on navigating the complex challenges facing our organizations today. This open forum will explore critical issues including the impact of the tariff policies on the medical and healthcare community, including pharmaceutical imports, NIH and other funding restrictions, federal conference attendance limitations, changes to healthcare policies, and evolving regulations. More info/register (ASAE members only).
Host: ASAE
Moderator: Johnnie White, MBA, CMP, CAE, Chief Executive Officer, American Association of Clinical Endocrinology
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 12:30 p.m. – Managing Risk for Nonprofit Meetings and Events in 2025
Meetings and other events present multidisciplinary legal issues in their planning and execution, whether the event is large or small, or held virtually or in person. This panel will offer “must have” strategies and best practices acquired through real-world examples to protect nonprofit organizations. More info/register.
Host: Venable LLP
Speakers: Sarah Fisher, Associate; Brian Melnyk, Associate; and Andrew Steinberg, Partner, Venable LLP
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
Tue 4/22 at 2 p.m. – The Future of Association Boards Community Dialogue
Host: Jeff De Cagna, executive advisor, Foresight First LLC
Tue 4/22 at 3 p.m. – Integrations Unpacked: Maximizing Efficiency and Outcomes in Event Management
Learn the fundamentals of integrations, their benefits, and best practices for successful implementation. Explore real-world scenarios where integrations can streamline operations and when alternative solutions may be more practical. More info/register.
Host: Cadmium
Speakers: Bryan Carey Jr., PMP, Technical Project Manager (Integrations), and Amanda Law (Moderator), Event Marketing Manager, Cadmium
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 an 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
Wed 4/23 at 2 p.m. – Multiply Member Value with AI: Strategies for Associations
Learn how to compete with the rise of AI searches and summaries and be your members’ go-to resource for valuable industry information. Get tips to increase the likelihood of your association and resources being found in AI search results. Understand the role your online community will play in the AI-influenced landscape. Explore data privacy considerations and ways to maximize your organization’s adaptability to new challenges and opportunities as AI changes the game. 1 CAE credit. More info/register.
Host: ASAE
Speaker: Rob Wenger, Chief Information Officer, Higher Logic
Wed 4/23 at 2 p.m. – Best Practices for Site Selection
Hear about the top factors to consider when selecting a venue, including location, accessibility, capacity and amenities; the role of local culture, attractions and accommodations in enhancing attendee experience; tools and technologies that streamline venue research and site selection; and strategies for negotiating contracts and managing vendor relationships. 1 CMP credit. More info/register.
Host: Northstar Meetings Group
Moderator: Lizzie Wilcox, Associate Editor, Northstar Meetings Group
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 11 a.m. – How to Find Jobs in Turbulent Times
Hear about the critical aspects of leveraging being let go, turning setbacks into opportunities for growth. Learn how to strategically address unemployment gaps, transforming them into compelling narratives of resilience and skill development. Discover techniques to cultivate a positive and proactive attitude, even in the face of adversity. More info/register.
Host: ASAE
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
Thu 4/24 at 1 p.m. – Understanding AI Agents: A Game Changer for Associations
Explore what AI agents are, how they work, and their potential to transform association operations and member services. More info/register.
Host: Dan Streeter, CEO, Mission Fuel
Thu 4/24 at 2 p.m. – Using AI as a Leader: A Practical Guide for Executives
You don’t need to be a technologist to lead with AI. You just need the right approach. Get a foundational understanding of predictive, generative, and agentic AI; a framework to connect AI initiatives to your business strategy; key questions every leader should ask to focus their AI efforts; and the confidence to lead AI conversations across your organization. More info/register.
Host: Charlene Li, CEO and founder, Quantum Networks Group
Thu 4/24 at 2 p.m. – Best Practices for Managing Event Risk
Hear about the state of safety and security in the events world and tips for keeping everyone safe. Learn what emergencies are keeping meeting professionals up at night in 2025, how to set clear roles and responsibilities as part of a crisis communication plan, and what that looked like at some of the highest profile gatherings in the country, including the Super Bowl. More info/register.
Host: Smart Meetings
Speakers:
- Stephanie Turner, senior vice president of convention sales and strategies, New Orleans & Company
- Dianna Waldroup, vice president of convention services, Destination DC
Thu 4/24 at 3 p.m. – Testing Assumptions & Leveraging Change Comms
Change initiatives like Return-to-Office (RTO) are often launched with good intentions—but poor assumptions. When teams skip the step of identifying what really needs testing, they risk burnout, disengagement, and broken trust. Learn to identify risky assumptions in your RTO strategy, design small experiments you can run to de-risk RTO in your organization, align strategic communication with culture and capacity, and what change leaders must do differently—starting now to create early adoption. More info/register.
Host: L-12 Services
Speakers: Lizabeth Wesely-Casella and David Bland
Thu 4/24 at 4 p.m. – Combatting Financial Fraud Affecting Trade Associations
Learn how to identify, prevent, and mitigate fraud within your nonprofit and trade association. Hear insights on the fraud landscape, social engineering, fraud as a service, mail theft, what this data is worth, common social engineering tactics, and best practices on what you can control. More info/register.
Host: ASAE Reston Loudoun Swap
Speakers: Tom Ciolkosz, Senior VP, and Gina Ni, Vice President Treasury Management Consultant, M & T Bank
Thu 4/24 at 4 p.m. – The Ultimate Guide to Event Engagement: How to Create Remarkable Experiences
Learn about the remarkable experiences which lead to engagement, understanding participant goals, designing your event around what your audience truly cares about, and enabling seamless interaction and connection with the right data and technology. More info/register.
Host: Grip Events
Speakers:
- Laura Pace, Managing Director, Yellow Fish
- Lizzy Evans, Chief Product Officer, Grip
- Hew Leith, SVP of Marketing, Grip
Fri 4/25 at 1 p.m. – Elevating Your Email Game: Design to Impress & Strategies for Success
Discover the secrets behind crafting emails that not only catch the eye but also resonate deeply with your members’ expectations. We’ll dive into essential design best practices, explore innovative strategies to refine your understanding of member preferences, and showcase the power of working together as a full organization to get results. 0.75 CAE credit. More info/register.
Host: Blue Sky eLearn
Speaker: Amber Worthen, CEO of Email Maven
Fri 4/25 at 1 p.m. – AI & IRL: Event Experts Reveal How to Maximize Your Investment in 2025
In a world where AI tools are evolving daily and human connection feels more valuable than ever, how do you allocate your marketing budget for maximum impact? Learn which AI tools are delivering the most value for event professionals today, how to measure event ROI in ways that resonate with leadership, what elements of in-person events cannot be replicated digitally, expert predictions for event industry trends in the next 12 months, and insights into upcoming innovations at INBOUND and Eventastic. More info/register.
Host: INBOUND
Speakers:
- Jay Schwedelson, Founder of GURU Media Hub and SubjectLine.com, President and CEO of Outcome Media
- Melissa Mahon, Chief Operating Officer at MAS
- Dahlia El Gazzar, Tech Evangelist + Idea Igniteur at DAHLIA+Agency
- Moderated by Courtney Dagher, HubSpot’s Head of Marketing & Content Programming for Global Events
Fri 4/25 at 1 p.m. – Foresight Fridays: Using Foresight in Society and Politics & Economic Conditions
With budget discussions, nonprofit status considerations, and broader systemic instability, it’s important to pay attention to the drivers of change that impact our organizations and members. These issues have been brewing long before the change in administration. Foresight visioning has helped many associations prepare for this uncertainty. Learn about ASAE’s ForesightWorks drivers of change in Society and Politics, and Economic Conditions, the forces that are shaping these drivers, and how associations can meet this moment. More info/register (ASAE members only).
Host: ASAE
Speakers:
- Danielle Duran Baron, FASAE, CAE, VP, Marketing, Communications & Industry Relations, School Nutrition Association
- Tommy Goodwin, FASAE, CAE, Executive Vice President, Exhibitions & Conferences
- Josh Calder, Futurist, Foresight Alliance
- Mark Justman, Futurist, Foresight Alliance
Wed 4/29 at 11 a.m. – Association of the United States Navy: Two-Year Plan to Reinvent Mission, Leading the Way to a Bright Future
Get an in-depth look at the Association of the United States Navy’s (AUSN) strategic two-year transformation plan. Hear about the organization’s renewed mission, leadership transition, financial restructuring, and membership reinvention strategies. Find out how AUSN is positioning itself for long-term sustainability through targeted investments, new revenue models, and reputation-building efforts. Gain insights into aligning board and staff priorities with revenue generation while maintaining a strong infrastructure and community presence. 1 CAE credit. More info/register.
Host: UST Education
Speakers:
- David Vardeman, Sr. VP, Department Head, Not for Profit & Global Business Development
- Lt Com. Steve Rogers, USN, Ret
Wed 4/29 at 12 p.m. – Love at First Login: Making Your Member Experience Irresistible
Explore how to create a member experience so seamless, so personal, they actually want to log in. Hear from Kristen Christianson of CUES on launching the award-winning myCUES Dashboard, Rhoni Rakos of Ellipsis Partners with insights on what really drives engagement and digital ROI, and Alyssa Hulka, VP of Strategy at Accella on lessons from digital transformations across the country. More info/register.
Host: Accella
Wed 4/29 at 12 p.m. – Trends Talk with Sarah Sladek
Sarah sits down with LaToya Tapscott, CAE, Senior Director, Global Head of the HBA Think Tank, to explore how she unites communities and keeps people focused on a shared mission—even in the face of challenges. With a remarkable track record in stakeholder engagement and community building, LaToya is a force for connection and impact. More info/register.
Host: Sarah Sladek, Founder and CEO, XYZ University
Wed 4/29 at 1 p.m. – Creating Super Member Profiles That Drive Engagement and Personalization
Member profiles shouldn’t be a dusty database—they should be your secret weapon for engagement. Learn how to collect the right data (without overwhelming your members), build trust through two-way interactions, and use that insight to unlock true personalization at scale. Find out what makes a profile “super” (and what data actually matters), how to collect and update member info without friction, and how AI and automation make personalization scalable. Whether you’re building journeys manually or with AI, it all starts with better profiles. More info/register.
Host: PropFuel
Speaker: PropFuel CEO and Co-Founder Dave Will
Wed 4/29 at 1 p.m. – The Essential Volunteer: Harness the Power of Your Volunteers to Ensure Resiliency
Learn about proven strategies for developing an impactful and rewarding volunteer program; best practices for recruiting, onboarding, supporting, and recognizing volunteers; and leveraging existing resources to foster engagement and collaboration. More info/register.
Host: YourMembership AMS by Momentive Software
Speaker: Allyson Olaniel, Membership Expert, YourMembership AMS
Thu 4/30 at 1 p.m. – Maximizing Member Engagement: ABCA’s Strategies for Mobile App Success
Learn how the American Baseball Coaches Association (ABCA) uses their mobile app to drive year-round member engagement beyond events, boost retention and enhance member experience. Whether your goal is to boost networking, drive member value, or improve accessibility, we’ll share actionable steps to make your app a core part of your digital strategy. More info/register.
Host: Clowder
Speakers:
- Jon Litchfield, Deputy Executive Director, American Baseball Coaches Association
- Zach Haile, Assistant Executive Director, , American Baseball Coaches Association
- Caitlin Franz, Senior Client Advisor, Clowder
Thu 4/30 at 1 p.m. – AI: The Good, the Bad, and the Ugly
AI is reshaping how organizations manage information, engage members, and extract value from their data, but with rapid industry shifts and lingering uncertainty, associations may be unsure of when—or how—to take the leap. Join us for a showdown of perspectives as three experts step into their roles as The Good, The Bad, and The Ugly of AI in associations and business organizations— each bringing a unique take on the opportunities, risks, and uncertainties ahead. 1 CAE credit. More info/register.
Host: UST Education
Speakers: Kelly Lakas, CEO; Dr. Chris Hinrichs, Co-Founder and Chief Technology Officer; Mike Lakas, Chief Strategy Advisor; and Jason Ford, Director of Technology, Onyx Point Systems
Thu 4/30 at 1 p.m. – Destination and Site Selection: The Basics and Deeper Dives
Selecting destinations and sites for meetings and events is one of the most important aspects meeting and event planners and their employers and clients face. It is the planner’s responsibility to perform due diligence that addresses myriad factors and help guide organizations to well-considered decisions. Hear about the basics of effective destination and site selection; resources, in addition to DMOs (aka CVBs), to inform your searches and decisions; and asking better “tell me more” questions to secure answers to your specific questions. 1 CMP credit. More info/register.
Host: Meetings Today
Speaker: veteran meeting consultant Joan Eisenstodt
Thu 5/1 at 2 p.m. – Become Your Best Customer: Self-Master Vendor Accountability Through Strategic Troubleshooting
Learn how to transform your organization from a passive technology consumer to an empowered partner. Explore how IT leaders and platform users can develop the internal capabilities to effectively troubleshoot issues, ask the right questions, and hold vendors accountable for delivering on their promises. More info/register.
Host: 501Works LLC
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