The weekly list of free educational events and resources for the association community…
Member connections. Clowder explains how members can use your association’s membership app as a peer-to-peer networking tool. They give tips on helping members leverage an app’s features to boost connections and get membership value year-round.
Lean startup methodology. Ten years ago, Elizabeth Engel and Guillermo Ortiz de Zárate introduced the association community to lean startup methodology in their paper, Innovate the Lean Way—a “highly useful approach for associations seeking to stay relevant, create real member value, increase membership, and investigate ideas for non-dues revenue.” Since culture change is the biggest barrier to success, in Lean at 10: Culture Eats Methodology for Lunch, they’re joined by Jamie Notter to share association case studies and revisit the lean methodology as an “evidence-based, data-informed way to mitigate risk when developing new programs, products, and services for members and new audiences.”
Data warehouse. GrowthZone describes the advantages of a built-in data warehouse in your AMS. They also explain the difference between a database and a data warehouse, and share examples of membership, event, and financial insights that a data warehouse helps you track and measure.
Keynote speakers. A survey by Freeman discovered that only 1% of event attendees want to hear from celebrity speakers. In another study, attendees ranked celebrity speakers dead last. Andrea Doyle at Skift Meetings says planners are realizing famous keynotes are too expensive and don’t deliver enough ROI.
Learning vs. education. Jeff Cobb of Tagoras shares a zinger of a quote in a recent post: “It’s a tragic fact that most of us know only how to be taught.” He discusses the difference between learning and education and encourages you to think about your own learning and what you’re offering members.
Membership renewals. MGI suggests strategies to increase renewals, based on their 40 years of membership marketing experience and over a decade of surveying associations for their membership benchmark report. They cover reasons members don’t renew, renewal campaigns (and mistakes), channels, testing, grace periods, and metrics.
Jobs-to-be-done. Tony Ulwick introduces the jobs-to-be-done framework for defining, categorizing, capturing, and organizing member and customer needs. The goal is to understand the jobs your market segments are trying to get done and the metrics they use to measure success. I’ve heard about people using this framework to develop and market products, so give it a look-see.
Snacks
Event marketing. Time to throw out your old event marketing playbook. Attendees and exhibitors don’t want your sales pitch or marketing fluff. They want results and value. | Warwick Davies, The Event Mechanic
POV browsing. An interesting podcast episode hosted by Liz Boeree and featuring Jamie Joyce about the Society Library, which creates “structured ‘debate map’ databases, so you can compare and contrast the reasoning and evidence which justifies different points of view.”
Immigration. What both sides get wrong about immigration. Common sense! | Martin Gurri, The Free Press
You never grow old at the table
My knock-out dish this past weekend was crab- and spinach-stuffed flounder. I topped one half of each fillet with a mix of lump crabmeat, chopped spinach, cream cheese, green onion, Parmesan, lemon thyme, basil, garlic powder, and breadcrumbs, then folded the other half over it, brushed it with melted butter, and sprinkled on a little Old Bay. Oh yes.
On the side, Brussels sprouts roasted with red onion, garlic powder, smoked paprika, cayenne, balsamic, and soy sauce.
I’m enjoying hummus for breakfast in a wheat tortilla with roasted eggplant, red onion, and, sometimes, leftover vegetables—it’s messy but so satisfying.
When I wake up ravenous and can’t wait for breakfast, I defrost a whole wheat banana muffin. I follow this Best Banana Bread recipe from Bon Appétit but use all wheat flour, Greek yogurt, and walnuts (or pecans).
We’ve been enjoying lots of leftovers, but on one of my nights, I had to make a vegetable so I scrounged up some odds and sods from the produce drawer and garden: cabbage and chard sautéed with bacon, onion, red bell, carrot, poblano, jalapeño, garlic, and ham broth.
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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 6/27 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 lack community. More info/register.
Host: Association Women Technology Champions
*All events are online at Eastern Daylight Time unless otherwise noted.
Mon 6/30 at 8 a.m. – Association Management as a Family Business (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: Wendy, Owen, and Damian Kavanagh
Tue 7/1 at 1 p.m. – Three Big Ways Verifiable Credentials Can Benefit Professional Organizations
Hear about three big ways in which verifiable credentials have brought benefits to the speakers’ professional organizations. More info/register.
Host: ASAE
Speakers:
- Dale Cyr, MBA, CAE, CEO and Executive Director, Inteleos
- Dan Demers, Director of Business Development, CannAmm
- Dan Giurescu, CEO, Credivera
- Gabriella Boulos, Director of Programs and Events, Canadian Council of Innovators
- Juan Sanchez, CIO, Inteleos
Wed 7/2 at 12 p.m. – Scenarios for Surviving and Even Thriving Amidst Chaos
Scenario planning is a powerful tool that helps your business prepare for the future by exploring multiple possible futures rather than trying to predict just one. Learn how to use this approach to anticipate change and manage risks, improve decision-making, boost adaptability, uncover opportunities, and build resilience. 1 CAE credit. More info/register.
Host: AIOT
Speaker: Ann Feeney, CAE
Tue 7/8 at 12 p.m. – Tech Tuesday: Who’s Got Your Back? Identifying and Leveraging Your Allies
Hear about the critical importance of recognizing and collaborating with key allies within your organization to maximize effectiveness and achieve shared goals. Explore various facets of strategic alliances, including: examining how different departments, such as HR, Marketing, and Membership, can optimize their use of technology and internal expertise; and the value of identifying Subject Matter Expert (SME) champions to guide tool identification and implementation. More info/register (ASAE members only).
Host: ASAE
Moderators: Reggie Henry, ASAE and Dave Coriale, DelCor
Guests:
- Edima Elinewinga, CAE VP & Chief Technology Officer, Association of Corporate Counsel
- Leah Cannon, CPA, CAE, SHRM-CP, Chief Operating Officer, National Board of Certification and Recertification for Nurse Anesthetists
Wed 7/9 at 11 a.m. – The Growth Mindset: How Nonprofits Can Thrive Despite Limited Resources
Many nonprofit leaders assume that limited resources mean limited growth—but that doesn’t have to be the case. This session will shift your mindset and provide actionable insights to help you grow revenue and engagement by aligning your team, understanding your audience, and crafting outcome-driven strategies. Walk away with a clear framework to break free from stagnation and accelerate your organization’s success. 1 CAE credit. More info/register.
Host: UST Education.
Speaker: Henry Stoever, Founder & Managing Principal at Windsor Strategy
Wed 7/9 at 12 p.m. – The Video Mindset Shift: When Content Becomes Strategy (Buzzworthy LIVE)
What if your next video wasn’t about promotion—but about solving real problems? Learn how one small team redefined video as a tool for recruitment, outreach, and trust-building in an industry most people haven’t even heard of. Hear how their short-form videos are supporting workforce development, public education, and member value—all without a big budget. More info/register.
Host: WorkerBee.TV
Guest: Toni Kervina, Director of Content & Learning, ASNT
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.
Association Brain Food 