Association Brain Food: 7.4.25

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

“And into the forest I go, to lose my mind and find my soul…” —John Muir

Early-career skills gaps. Not so long ago, young people learned industry and workplace basics in entry-level positions. But now, because AI has taken over many of these entry-level tasks, young people don’t have the chance to develop the basic skills they need for the next step up. TopClass LMS describes how associations can help employers fill these skills gaps.

Balancing human and AI work. At Associations Now, Sarah Sain, CAE describes how associations are using AI to create more time for meaningful staff/member interactions. She suggests letting AI handle routine questions and data-gathering, “so humans can excel at what they do best—connecting, advising, and genuinely caring about members when it matters most.”

Membership benchmarks. Fellow membership geeks, it’s here: the 17^th annual edition of the membership marketing benchmarking report from MGI. Now you can see how you measure up against other associations and what’s working for your peers. The report covers all aspects of recruitment, engagement, and retention, plus expanded and new sections on AI, generational issues, workforce development, and membership research.

Association SEO course. The SEO for Associations Certificate Course at Association Academy covers Search Engine Optimization (SEO) for association websites, including immediate steps and long-term strategies to help your association attract more website traffic by improving your ranking with Google and other search engines. Earn up to 5 CAE credits while learning at your own pace in five one-hour on-demand lessons. Save $50 with the promo code BRAINFOOD.

Vibe coding. I’ve heard about vibe coding but didn’t really get it until reading this article at Every by Katie Parrott, who describes herself as “aggressively untechnical.” Yet she’s using “AI tools that finally speak our language” to create software that solves problems and improves processes. A tip of the hat to Maddie Grant who shared this in the Association Women Technology Champions’ Slack channel.

Association boards. In recognition of Day 2,000 of The Turbulent Twenties, Jeff De Cagna shares nine questions about the future of association boards that those who serve on or work with boards should reflect upon and discuss.

Non-dues revenue. YM Careers describes five proven member benefits—online services, events, and resources—that boost your association’s non-dues revenue during challenging economic times.

Exhibiting strategy. Here’s one for industry partners. Ben Barclay at Exhibitor shares advice from event psychology advisor Victoria Matey, who says a little knowledge of behavioral science can improve your exhibit strategy. She describes how to use booth layout, desks, engagement motivators, scents, color, and biophilic design to connect more deeply with attendees and create resonating experiences.

Email signup forms. Andy Crestodina at Orbit Media explains how to improve email signup forms and increase subscriber growth.

You never grow old at the table

With only two of us in the house, you’d think I’d halve a recipe that makes enough for a 13” x 9” baking dish, but no. So, chipotle chicken enchiladas were a three-peat meal. Thankfully, we loved them. I subbed sweet potatoes for the butternut squash. Instead of stuffing individual enchiladas, I covered the bottom of the dish with semicircles of wheat tortillas, spread the filling over them, and covered it all with semicircles of flour tortillas. On the side, green cabbage sautéed with red onion, red bell pepper, carrot, jalapeño, ham, and garlic.

Fettuccine and meatballs in marinara on a 90-something-degree day? Sure, why not. I pulled the meatballs I had made a while back from the freezer but still had to heat up the oven for our veg: roasted broccoli with red onion, garlic powder, ground cayenne pepper, and salt.

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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.

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Mon 7/7 at 8 a.m.* – Negotiating with Consultants (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: Vinnu Deshetty, founder, The Event ROI Coach

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

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Tue 7/8 at 10:30 a.m. – Navigating LD-203 Reporting

Learn about hidden risks and best practices for lobbyists and employers. More info/register.

Host: Gary Gallant, Gallant Law Group

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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

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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

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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

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Wed 7/9 at 1 p.m. – Lights, Camera, Impact: Sharpening Your Video Skills for Success

Whether it’s live meetings on Zoom/Teams or creating asynchronous content for social media or internal communications, hear how to deliver your message with clarity, confidence, and professionalism. Through practical exercises and expert guidance, learn the art of being articulate and authoritative on camera, ensuring your video content stands out. 1 CAE credit. More info/register.

Host: UST Education

Speaker: Michael Hoffman, Co-Founder and CEO, Gather Voices

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Wed 7/9 at 1 p.m. – 4 Actionable Strategies to Design High-Impact, High-Revenue CE

Learn how to increase your CE program revenue by 15% using four proven strategies. Hear how to transform your existing CE programs to increase learner engagement, support career advancement, and generate predictable, recurring revenue. Find out how to package your content for higher value, tailor learning experiences to individual goals, build credentialing pathways that learners pay to pursue, and move from one-off transactions to long-term subscriptions. More info/register.

Host: BenchPrep

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Wed 7/9 at 2 p.m. – 7 Ways to Avoid a Boring Webinar

There is no such thing as webinar fatigue, just boring webinars. Regardless of your industry, it’s time to make your webinars more approachable, more authentic and more human. Learn about multiple types of conversational formats, tips for engaging executive audiences, gamification and unique formats, serializing webinar programs, and putting your audience in the presentation. More info/register.

Host: ON24

Speaker: Mark Bornstein, Vice President, Marketing and Chief Evangelist, ON24

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Thu 7/10 at 2 p.m. – The Art of Email Deliverability: Strategies to Boost Your Sending Reputation

If email is a key part of your communication strategy, your sending reputation is more than just a technical metric—it’s a direct reflection of your brand’s credibility and trustworthiness. Learn modern sending strategies that improve inbox placement and engagement; a practical framework to implement high-deliverability practices within your team; and tools, techniques, and immediate next steps to improve your sender score. More info/register.

Host: 501Works

Speakers:

• Erica Salm Rench, COO, rasa.io
• James Marquis, CIO, 501Works

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Fri 7/11 at 1 p.m. – Foresight Fridays: Content, Learning, and Knowledge

Foresight visioning is a tool that has helped many associations level up to deliver for new needs. Learn about areas of concern and risk for associations with A.I, higher education transformation, hybrid meetings, the future of information, and the rise of influencers. Hear how one association is using foresight visioning to drive strategy and collaboration. 1 CAE credit. More info/register (ASAE members only).

Host: ASAE

Speakers:

• Denise Roosendaal, FASAE, CAE and the Executive Director for the Institute of Credentialing Excellence
• Beth Surmont, FASAE, CAE, Vice President, Event Strategy & Design, 360 Live Media

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Tue 7/15 at 10:30 a.m.  10 Minute Meditation

Introducing mindfulness into your work day helps you cope with stress and reduce the feelings of burnout. Join us to create 10 minutes of pure space in your busy day. We’ll start with 5 minutes of arriving, a 10-minute meditation, and a 5-minute check-out. Open to all, with no prior meditation experience needed. More info/register.

Host: Association Women Technology Champions

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Tue 7/15 at 1 p.m. – The Association Marketing Manifesto – Live, Part 1: The Growth Mindset Shift: Why Marketing Is at the Heart of Association Strategy

This opening session of the three-part webinar series reframes the role of marketing in the association space, challenging the long-held perception of marketing as a cost center or order-taker. Explore how associations mirror recurring revenue models like software businesses—and why expanding into this mindset is the key to strategic, sustainable growth. Hear how the cultural and structural shifts required to position marketing as a high-impact growth driver instead of a reactive, internal service department. 1 CAE credit. More info/register.

Host: UST Education

Speaker: Brianne Wheeler, CEO / Founder at Levitate Marketing

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Tue 7/15 at 1 p.m. – Business Model Innovation

Explore proven strategies for financial resilience and mission-driven innovation drawn from extensive research and the findings in our latest report. Learn how association business model dimensions work together to define how your organization creates, delivers and captures value; actionable approaches to drive meaningful change across five critical dimensions, including value, revenue, community, reach and operations; and key indicators that reveal when it’s time to rethink and reinvent your business model for maximum impact. More info/register.

Host: McKinley Advisors

Speakers: Patrick Glaser, M.A., MPA, Chief Practice Officer, and Meena Dayak, M.A., Practice Director, McKinley Advisors

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Tue 7/15 at 1 p.m. – Fit-for-Purpose Association and Nonprofit Boards: Three Critical Ideas We Must Understand

In a world of brittle systems, high anxiety, non-linear outcomes, and incomprehensible challenges, it is essential for association and nonprofit boards to set a higher standard of stewardship, governing, and foresight and become fit for purpose. Hear about three critical ideas that everyone serving on or working with association/nonprofit boards must understand about what it will take for them to elevate their performance and become fit for purpose. 1 CAE credit. More info/register.

Host: Raffa Investment Advisers

Speaker: Jeff De Cagna AIMP FRSA FASAE, Executive Advisor, Foresight First LLC

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Wed 7/16 at 11:30 a.m. – Our KPI is Joy: How Live Events Catalyze Happiness, Productivity and Trust

Find out why you should think beyond logistics and see events as powerful catalysts for joy, trust, and collaboration. Learn why joy must be a core metric—and how associations can design events that don’t just inform, but transform. Hear about the future of events, why joy is serious business, and how we can design gatherings that bring people together in lasting, meaningful ways. More info/register.

Host: KiKi L’Italien, Editor-in-Chief, Association Chat, and VP of Marketing and Community Engagement, Big Red M

Guest: Tahira Endean, Head of Program, IMEX

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Wed 7/16 at 1 p.m. – Lean at 10: Lessons Learned

Association execs are always on the lookout for good ideas for new programs, products, and services, and once we think we have one, we want to build it as quickly and efficiently as possible. Learn about the key concepts and tools of lean startup methodology. Hear case studies from association executives applying lean startup methodology to their product development processes. Find out about cultural challenges associated with implementing lean startup principles and tools to navigate those challenges within your own organizations. 1 CAE credit. More info/register.

Host: UST Education

Speakers:

• Elizabeth Engel, M.A., CAE, Chief Strategist, Spark Consulting, LLC
• Jamie Notter, Co-Founder, PROPEL
• Chrissy Bagby, Chief Strategy Officer, American Association of Veterinary State Boards
• Tiffany Dyar, Director of Innovation, National Registry of Emergency Medical Technicians

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Thu 7/17 at 11 a.m. – AEO + GEO: The Future of SEO in an AI World

The future of SEO isn’t just about keywords and rankings anymore, it’s about showing up in the answers AI delivers. That’s where Answer Engine Optimization (AEO) and Generative Engine Optimization (GEO) come in. Explore how AEO and GEO can give your association a powerful edge. Learn how to turn your existing resources into content that AI recognizes, trusts, and surfaces—so your organization becomes the answer, wherever your audience is searching. 1 CAE credit. More info/register.

Host: UST Education

Speakers: Joanna M. Pineda, CEO & Chief Troublemaker, and Leah Monica, Director of Marketing, Matrix Group International, Inc.

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Thu 7/17 at 1 p.m. – The AI Shift: ChatGPT Has Rewired Members’ Web Habits. Here’s How to Adapt.

Generative AI and tools like ChatGPT have introduced new website habits: visitors expect to search with full-sentence questions, they want concise summaries before committing to long pages, and they assume each page will instantly suggest the next best action tailored to their needs. When your association’s website falls short of these expectations, the consequences include declining event registrations, an uptick in “I can’t find it” phone calls, and prospects choosing alternative online communities. Learn how these AI-driven behaviors are reshaping the fundamentals of web strategy for associations. Hear about practical adjustments that can be scheduled within typical budget and staffing limits, along with a longer-term view of deeper AI integrations and the metrics that best demonstrate progress to leadership. 1 CAE credit. More info/register.

Host: UST Education

Speaker: John Hooley, President, Steward

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Fri 7/18 at 3 p.m. – Nonprofit Consultants Collaborative Monthly Networking Meeting

This monthly networking meeting is organized by consultants for full-time consultants who work with non-profits and associations. You don’t have to be an ASAE member to attend. This month’s agenda includes the sharing of good news, topics or questions from the group, and AI and its impact on consulting. More info/register.

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

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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 your event is scheduled.

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Creative Commons licensed photo by Lukasz Szmigiel via Unsplash

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